This is a question I get asked quite frequently by my clients: how often should one shampoo their hair? I’ve witnessed many debates, some of them quite hilarious, where someone who washes their hair daily ends up questioning the hygiene of the other person, who may wash their hair twice a week!

To wash or not to wash? Unfortunately, due to the excessive marketing by shampoo companies, many of us are forced into believing that it’s necessary to wash hair every day. Truth be told, no one needs to shampoo daily and here’s why.

 Washing your hair daily leaves it smelling great and feeling fresh – but in the long run, it robs your hair of its natural moisture. Our sebaceous glands first start appearing on our scalp when we are inside our mother’s womb (in her fourth month of pregnancy). These glands are connected to each hair follicle and release sebum (oil). This oil is very essential for moisturizing the scalp and making it waterproof. This natural oil released by our scalp is what makes us think that our hair is dirty, when it isn’t really.

Primarily, there are three types of hair texture: thick hair to tight curls or kinks, thick hair to tight curls to wavy hair, and fine/straight to wavy hair.

Thick Hair to Tight Curls 

For thick hair to tight curls, shampooing frequently is highly discouraged. As your hair rarely feels dirty, it requires shampoo only once a week. Shampooing more than once will result in your hair feeling extremely dry. However, to refresh between washes, you can use dry shampoo (check out the one by label.m – it’s great!) or conditioner. Co-washing (washing your hair with just conditioner) is a great option as it retains your hair’s moisture and it smells good too!

Medium Curls to Wavy Hair

For medium curls to wavy hair, shampooing is recommended 2-3 times a week. Skipping a day of shampooing will not make your hair look oily, in fact, your hair will look better as the little bit of natural oil will help texture your curls. Lightweight sulfate-free shampoos or shampoo bars are the best for your hair type. If you work out a lot, then you can co-wash or just wash your hair with water instead of using shampoo.

Fine, Straight and Wavy Hair

People who have fine, straight and wavy hair have to put up with hair becoming oily in the evening after having shampooed it in the morning. When that is the case, you may wash your hair every day or every other day.  Use a shampoo that is sulfate-free and to avoid your hair from getting dry from shampooing it every day, moisturize it with a conditioner. This will make sure to give your hair the right shine and keep it from losing moisture.