How often should you wash your hair? By hair type
How often you should wash your hair depends on your hair type, but on average you wash it 2 to 3 times a week. For most people that's enough to remove dirt and sebum without drying out your scalp.
Why you shouldn't wash your hair too often (or too little)
Washing too often with a harsh shampoo dries out your scalp. Your skin reacts by producing more sebum, which makes your hair greasy faster. A vicious circle that you can easily avoid.
Washing too little has the opposite effect: sebum, dirt and styling product residue build up. Your hair then quickly feels heavy and dull. The right balance depends on your hair type and lifestyle.
There's no universally right frequency. The best starting point is the guideline per hair type below, after which you can adjust based on how your hair and scalp respond.
How often to wash your hair by hair type?
There's no fixed rule that applies to everyone. Fine hair needs a different approach from thick or curly hair. Below you'll find an overview per hair type.
| Hair type | Washing frequency |
|---|---|
| Fine or oily hair | 3 to 4 times a week, or every other day |
| Normal hair | 2 to 3 times a week |
| Thick, curly or coily hair | 1 time a week or less |
Fine or oily hair
Do you have fine or quickly greasy hair? Then you can wash more often, around 3 to 4 times a week or every other day. With fine hair, sebum spreads along the lengths faster, making the hair look flatter and greasier. A mild shampoo helps not to speed up this process. Want to know more about oily hair and how to deal with it?
Normal hair
Normal hair is washed on average 2 to 3 times a week. This is the guideline that applies to most people and keeps a good balance between clean hair and a healthy scalp. If you fall into this hair type, feel free to experiment with an extra day between washes.
Thick, curly or coily hair
Thick, curly or coily hair dries out faster and needs the natural oils along the lengths more. For this hair type, washing 1 time a week is often enough, sometimes even less. In between, you can refresh your hair with just water or a conditioner. Curious about more tips for curly hair?
Which factors determine how often you wash?
Besides your hair type, a few other things play a part.
- Exercise and sweating: after intense exercise you can rinse your hair in between or give it a gentle wash, without immediately doing a full shampoo wash.
- Lots of styling products: gel, mousse or dry shampoo build up and make your hair feel dirty faster.
- Condition of your scalp: if you have an itchy or flaky scalp, it's better not to put off washing too long. You can read more about the causes of an itchy or dry scalp here.
Wash less often with a mild shampoo bar
A mild, sulphate-free shampoo bar doesn't dry out your scalp. As a result, your skin produces less excess sebum and your hair gets greasy less quickly. The result: you can often manage with fewer washes a week.
WONDR shampoo bars are developed as a gentle, daily option for every hair type. No harsh sulphates, but a formula that keeps your scalp in balance and keeps your hair fresh between washes.
Washing less often and a cleaner scalp: the best of both worlds. Take a look at the WONDR shampoo bars and find out which bar suits your hair.
Tips for healthier washing
No matter how often you wash, these habits help keep your hair and scalp in good condition.
- Use lukewarm water: hot water dries out your scalp and can make hair damage worse.
- Massage gently: massage the shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips instead of scrubbing.
- Rinse well: shampoo residue left behind makes your hair go flat and greasy faster.
- Pat instead of rub: pat your hair dry with a towel to prevent breakage.
With the right frequency for your hair type and these habits on top, you keep your hair and scalp in good condition without having to wash too often or too little.
