How Often Should I Shampoo My Hair?

How often to shampoo hair has been a debate in the beauty world for a long, long time. When modern shampoo as we know it first became widely used in the early 20th century, beauty experts at the time recommended that women wash their hair every two weeks. However, by the 1970’s, daily hair washing became the norm. Lately, the no-shampoo or “no-poo” movement has become popular. No-poo involves skipping traditional shampoos in favor of natural substitutes like apple cider vinegar, or simply “co-washing” hair with water and conditioner.

With all the conflicting information out there, you’re probably wondering, “How often should I wash my hair?” Keep reading to find out!

How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

In general, you should wash your hair every two to three days. However, this can vary by hair type. Everyone’s hair is different, and you may find that you need to wash your hair more or less depending on a number of factors:

• Fine, straight hair needs to be washed more often because it’s easier for sebum, or natural oils, to travel down the shaft.
• People with curly or textured hair can go longer between hair washes, since sebum can’t as easily work its way down the hair shaft.
• Lifestyle should also be taken into account. The more often you exercise, the more often you’ll need to wash your hair. Sweat can clog your pores, and make your hair look greasy and dirty.
• Those who live in a very humid climate may find it necessary to wash their hair more often.

Is Shampoo Bad for Hair?

No, shampoo is not bad for hair. Shampoo is an emulsifier, a fancy way to say that it captures sebum and dirt and washes it away. Washing your hair regularly is critical for healthy hair. In fact, if you don’t wash your hair enough, scalp oils can build up and cause dandruff.

However, not all shampoos are created equal. Some shampoos are too harsh, stripping the hair of its healthy, natural oils. To keep hair healthy, choose a sulfate-free formula like Toppik Hair Building Shampoo. Sulfate-free shampoos cleanse hair of excess oil and dirt without excessively drying the hair.

How to Wash Hair Correctly

A good hair day starts in the shower! Washing your hair correctly is key to having healthy, beautiful hair. Follow these five steps for a great shampoo at home:

1. Start with the water itself. Always wash your hair with lukewarm water. Steaming hot showers feel great, but they actually dry out hair and fade hair color. You may also want to consider investing in a shower water filter, which will remove hair-damaging chemicals like chlorine from your showers.
2. Gently massage a quarter-sized amount of shampoo into the scalp and roots with your fingertips. Do not use your nails or scrub too much. The massaging is meant to break down the sebum and dirt buildup on your scalp. As an added bonus, a scalp massage improves circulation and can help to stimulate hair growth.
3. The old advice of “lather, rinse and repeat” is wrong. When you wash your hair, you usually only need to shampoo your hair once.
4. Always follow with a high-quality conditioner like Toppik Hair Building Conditioner to ensure that hair is adequately moisturized. Apply conditioner only from mid-shaft to the ends of your hair. Applying conditioner too close to the roots will weigh down hair. Allow conditioner to sit in hair for at least 60 seconds, up to five minutes, before rinsing out.
5. Rinse hair thoroughly to avoid product buildup and scalp irritation. We also recommend rinsing hair with cool water to seal the hair cuticle, preventing moisture-loss.

How often do you wash your hair? Let us know in the comments!

Colleen Welsch

Colleen Welsch is a freelance beauty writer and blogger specializing in hair care, hair growth education and beauty.