This Is How Often You Should Wash Your Hair, According to Your Type
Your BFF swears she only washes her hair once a week, but yours starts to fall flat if you don’t lather up daily. Sound familiar? Here’s a reality check: Depending on your hair’s texture, you might actually be washing it too often, and spending more time than you need to on styling each day, says stylist Nik Martel. She worked with contestants at the Miss USA 2017 pageant to get them show-ready and sets the record straight on exactly how often you should shampoo, based on your hair texture and type.
Question: My thin hair seems to get greasy so easily; do I need to wash it every day?
Nik Martel says: Absolutely not. When you wash your hair every day, you actually can make your scalp more oily. It is trying to overproduce to counteract the dryness that some shampoos can cause. Instead, try a wonderful dry shampoo in-between washes. My favorite is CHI Rose Hip Oil Dry Shampoo ($19). It doesn’t cake-up, flake, or show on dark hair.
Q: My thick hair looks okay, even if I only wash it once or twice a week — is this normal?
Martel says: Absolutely! Only washing a few days a week is fine. I personally have very thick hair and never wash more than twice a week unless I really need it. I also use dry shampoo in between regular washings to keep it clean. I find my hair stays healthier this way because the natural oils can do their thing.
Q: My curly hair is so high maintenance! What do you recommend for weekly styling?
Martel says: It depends on the texture. For fine waves, wash two times a week. For coarse strands, just wash once weekly. To reactivate curls in-between washes, use a spray bottle of water with a half-dollar’s worth of serum. I prefer CHI Silk Infusion Reconstructing Complex ($28).
Q: What’s the best weekly routine for coarse or natural hair?
Martel says: It’s usually not necessary to wash course hair more than one time, but it depends on your lifestyle. If you are active, every second or third day is fine. Just make sure to use a deep conditioning mask at least once a week.
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