Washing your hair every three days is a “general rule of thumb,” says UNA’s Kelly Manu, but it depends on your hair type: Someone with fine, straight hair will need to wash it more frequently than someone with curly hair, which tends to dry out more easily.
“It also depends on the density of your hair – is it fine, medium or thick? From fine to straight, two to three days is perfect,” she told the Herald.
“Some people try to style their hair, but no matter what they do, it never lasts more than a day.”
People with thin, straight hair need to wash their hair more frequently than people with thick or curly hair. Photo / 123RF
It won’t work for everyone, but “if you have curly or kinky hair, you may want to leave it on for a little longer — a week is ideal, but anything longer than three or four days is fine.”
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Depending on your hair type, it may take longer to wash, dry, and style, which may affect how often you wash your hair.
Zoe Clark, owner of INCO, adds that the ideal hair washing method depends on your lifestyle as well as your hair type.
How often you exercise, whether you use products, and how dry or oily your hair and scalp are all factors that influence how often you should wash your hair.
“You can wash your hair daily or once a week, depending on your personal needs. I always like to think about what I’m doing throughout the week as I put my head on my pillowcase, thinking about my hair, scalp and skin.”
How do you know what type of hair you have?
You can determine your hair type by looking at the thickness and dryness of your hair.
This is a simple test you can do at home: Manu recommends taking a strand of your hair and comparing it to a sewing thread.
“If it’s small, it’s usually skinny. If it’s large, it’s thick. If it’s in between, it’s medium,” she explains.
How can you tell the difference between straight, wavy, curly and coily hair?
“If your hair dries straight, it’s usually straight hair. If your hair has a slight curve when it dries naturally, it usually falls into the wavy category,” she says.
“If your hair dries in a defined curl and then dries in a tight spiral about the thickness of a pen, you fall into the coily range. And the coilier it is, the more hydration it needs.”
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Is it possible to wash your hair too much?
“If you go too often, your hair and scalp will become overworked and start producing more oil than necessary,” Manu explains, “so it’s hard to train it the other way around.”
Clark adds that this also depends on the hair care products you’re using: “Some products can cause irritation, while others can strip your hair and scalp of its natural nutrients. It’s best to talk to your hairstylist to choose the right product for your hair type and scalp condition.”
How to use shampoo correctly
“Every time you wash your hair, you should shampoo it twice,” advises Manu, with the first wash only removing surface dirt and residue, and the second wash providing a deeper clean and nourishment.
If you don’t properly remove excess oil and dirt from your scalp, the benefits of washing your hair won’t last. “It will increase the oil production on your scalp,” explains Manu. “In the long run, it can even damage your hair follicles.”
While it won’t necessarily work for everyone, going an extra day without washing your hair can help “train” yourself to wash it less often per week.
“The more you push yourself during the day, the more your scalp will actually adjust and produce the amount of sebum and oil that it needs.”
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Does shampooing twice mean using twice the product and spending twice as much money?
“If you shampoo your hair twice with 50 cents’ worth of product, your hair will last longer between washes. You’re not actually using more product, because you’re using the same amount.”
How to care for your hair between washes
Clark agrees that double shampooing is a must and helps keep hair cleaner between washes.
“This ensures maximum cleanliness between shampoo cycles,” she explains.
It is also effective to change the style every time you wash your hair.
“It also helps to have a routine for what to do with your hair between shampoos. I like to wear my hair down, down, then up again between shampoos.”
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Manu recommends investing in a good quality dry shampoo to help maintain cleanliness.
“Not all dry shampoos are the same, and some can cause terrible build-up, but if you’re using a salon-quality dry shampoo recommended by your hairstylist, it can make a big difference.”
“Put it on the night before you feel you need it, allowing the dry shampoo to absorb the oils overnight, rather than putting it on five minutes before you head out the door, like most people do. It’s even more effective if you put it on the night before and then go to sleep.”
