How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

Your friend washes every day and swears her hair is healthier. Your cousin shampoos twice a month and has gorgeous curls. A video says “never wash,” and an ad says “every morning.” You’re standing in the shower, with the bottle in your hand, wondering which of them is right.

By hair type

The AAD’s¹ curly hair guidance says to wash a minimum of every 2 to 3 weeks, and notes that frequent washing can leave curly hair dry and frizzy.

For oily scalps, the AAD’s² dandruff page says that with fine or straight hair, you may need to wash often, even daily.

If your hair feels greasy by day two, wash more often. If it’s dry, dull or breaking, wash less. Our articles on dry, brittle hair, thinning hair and hair shedding cover what else can be going on.

How to shampoo

The AAD’s³ healthy hair tips say to apply shampoo to the scalp rather than the entire length of the hair. That cleans away built-up product, dead skin and oil, without drying out the lengths.

How to condition

The same AAD³ page says to use conditioner after shampooing, applied only to the ends for fine or straight hair, and to the entire length for dry or curly hair. The AAD’s curly hair page says to condition your whole head of hair rather than the ends alone, and mentions ingredients like argan oil, glycerin and fatty alcohols. It also recommends a clarifying shampoo before styling products.

Be gentle when it’s wet

The AAD’s³ healthy hair tips say hair is delicate when wet, so use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush, working from the ends upward. It says to wrap your hair in a towel or t-shirt to absorb moisture, since rubbing it dry can cause damage, and to use low or medium heat with a protectant if you style with heat. See tight hairstyles and hair loss.

For curly hair, the AAD’s¹ curly hair page says to avoid brushing while it’s dry, to protect it with a wide-brimmed hat, and to sleep with it in a loose “pineapple” ponytail on top of your head or a loose braid.

When it’s flakes

If you have flakes, itch or an oily scalp that won’t settle, the AAD’s² dandruff page lists zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, sulfur, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole and coal tar shampoos, lathered on the scalp and, for some, left on for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing. It says to use a dandruff shampoo twice a week for straight, oily hair, and about once a week for curly or coily hair if tolerated. See an itchy, flaky scalp.

That page also says a dermatologist can check whether dandruff reflects seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis or a fungal infection.

The play

Try this: a two-week wash test

Pick a wash schedule based on your hair type above. Stick to it for two weeks. Apply shampoo only to the scalp and condition according to your hair type.

Note how your scalp feels at the end of each day between washes: oily, itchy, flaky, comfortable. Adjust by one wash a week in either direction.

Keep the changes that work and drop the rest.

When to get checked

The AAD¹ says to consult a board-certified dermatologist for a persistent hair or scalp condition, and to see one if dandruff doesn’t go away after following its tips or if it’s severe.

Book an appointment if any of these fit:

• Flakes or itch haven’t improved after a few weeks of a dandruff shampoo
• Your scalp is red, crusted or painful
• You’re losing more hair than usual
• Your hair breaks, or feels dry no matter what you do
• You’re not sure what’s right for your hair type

The right schedule is the one your scalp tells you. A calendar is a place to start.