How Often Should You Wash Your Hair? We Asked Dermatologists and Hair Stylists to Break It Down

Confession: I wash my hair almost every single day. I know, I know—it sounds like a cardinal sin for a beauty editor, up there with sleeping in your makeup and skipping face sunscreen every morning. But hear me out! How often you should wash your hair is fully dependent on your hair type, oil levels, and styling goals. I have an oily, dandruff-prone scalp, aka I need to wash my hair more often to remove buildup, flakes, and sebum. However, someone with dry, coarse, curly hair, or 4c hair can wash their hair more than just once a week.

You should base your wash-day schedule on a lot of factors. How many times should you wash your hair is not a one-size-fits-all answer," says professional hair stylist Gabbi Jeanne. "It depends on your hair type and lifestyle," like whether you have dandruff or dry scalp, or if you tend to load up on styling products every day. And to help you figure it out, our experts break down exactly how often you should be shampooing—and the best formulas for your specific hair type.

How often is it healthiest to wash your hair?

The "best" system for hair washing completely depends on your hair type and the condition of your scalp. Although many dermatologists recommend washing your hair two to three times a week to avoid product buildup and scalp irritation, it can vary. Keep scrolling to find the best hair washing schedule for your specific needs.

Hair Type

According to dermatologist Iris Rubin, MD, finer and straighter hair types (types 1-3) typically need more frequent washing than coarser and curlier textures (type 4). Sophia Emmanuel, Trichologist and Cosmetologist, explains that "with type 4 hair, natural oils don’t easily travel down the strand due to tighter curl patterns, so shampooing once a week is sufficient, but on the other hand, for straighter and finer hair types, oils accumulate and spread more easily along the hair strands, which means they often require cleansing up to three times a week or every other day."

And if you have a protective style in, wash day is also important. "Cleansing your scalp is the only way to ensure your protective style is supporting healthy hair," says Jeanne. "This wash routine is usually spaced out a little longer than traditional wash day." The type of shampoo or cleanser you use may vary depending on your style. "Hair extensions, box braids, twists with hair added in are some styles that can be washed with the style in because you have access to your scalp," explains Emmanuel. "Other protective styles, such as crochet braids, can be more challenging to wash depending on the type of hair that is used and limited scalp access."

But the frequency at which you cleanse should also be based on what your scalp and hair strands are telling you. More on that, below.

Scalp Conditions

If you’re experiencing any itching, flaking, product buildup, greasy strands, or unpleasant smells, you may want to consider cleansing more often. "Regular shampooing up to three times a week helps manage dandruff, itching, and helps control sebum production," says Emmanuel. "If you do not have a scalp condition or an active lifestyle, you can shampoo your hair once a week."

Is it okay if I wash my hair every day?

It's okay to wash your hair every day, as long as you're not stripping your hair and causing dryness. Think about it: You wash your face every day (or twice a day) without fail to wash away the dirt, grime, and gunk. The same could go for your scalp. Especially if you have straight, fine hair.

Keep in mind, though: If you do shampoo daily, you’ll want to make sure to use a mix of gentle cleansers to prevent scalp dryness, irritation, and itch. For example: If you can’t stretch your washings to every other day, you can cleanse up daily with a gentle shampoo that’s filled with nourishing ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera), then, once a week (for one wash only!), swap in a clarifying shampoo to break down oils and hard water buildup. We have all our favorites below.

And if you are washing every day, make sure you’re replenishing your hair’s moisture each time with deep conditioners, hair masks, and/or leave-in conditioners to keep your hair from drying out from the water (yes, water itself can actually be drying!). You’ll also want to avoid heat-styling as much as possible—so no blow-drying after your daily showers—or you’ll strip and damage your strands, leading to dull, brittle hair over time.

What's the longest you should go without washing your hair?

How long you can go without washing your hair will depend on your hair type and oil levels. You should go a week without washing your hair if you have dry, thick, and/or coily hair—not because you can’t stretch your wash-day out even longer, but because you really shouldn’t if you’re trying to prevent breakage, dryness, and irritation. Your scalp and your strands need moisture to stay healthy, so try to cleanse once a week if possible.

If you’re working with fine or thin hair, or you have an oil-prone scalp, you may need to suds up a few times a week, every other day, or even daily (if you’re, say, doing sweaty hot pilates every morning). And though, yes, your dry shampoo can help absorb some scalp oil, it won’t magically get rid of it or leave your scalp clean. So you’ll still need to wash your hair regularly for optimal scalp and hair health.

How to train your hair not to be washed as often:

So, you can't really train your hair to be less greasy, FYI. Essentially, hair training is the idea of scaling back on how often you wash your hair to slowly reduce how oily your hair becomes. Here's the thing, though: The whole "feedback loop" of oil production is a myth, meaning that no, just because you wash less doesn't mean that your hair will naturally be less greasy. For some, this could be the case if you have a naturally dry or normal scalp. But if you're born with an oily scalp (ty, genetics), it doesn't really matter if you skip a few washes—your scalp is still gonna be oily.

What happens if you don’t wash your hair enough?

Not washing your hair enough can lead to dandruff, irritation, clogged pores, breakouts, and even hair loss over time, says Dr. Rubin, explaining that these issues are usually the result of buildup and residue from sebum, hair products, and dead skin cells. "The follicles on your scalp are literally the manufacturing plant for your hair, so for your best hair health, it’s important that they don’t get clogged,” she says.

Now that we have the general basics covered, let's get a little more specific. Here's the best shampoo for your scalp and hair type, as well as how often you should be washing: