Quick answer: there's no single rule. Most people do well washing their hair every two to three days. If your scalp gets oily quickly, or your hair is fine and goes flat, washing daily with a gentle shampoo is fine. Dry, thick or curly hair usually needs washing only once or twice a week, and tightly coiled hair can often go a week or more. The right frequency is the one that keeps your scalp clean and comfortable, so let your scalp, not your lengths, decide.
It's one of the questions we hear most in salons, and the answer depends far more on your scalp than on your hair. Here's how to work out the right washing routine for you.
What decides how often you should wash your hair?
- How oily your scalp is. Oil (sebum) is the main reason hair looks like it needs a wash. Oilier scalps need washing more often.
- Your hair texture. Oil travels quickly down straight, fine hair, so it looks greasy sooner. On curly and coily hair, oil takes longer to reach the lengths, so hair stays fresh, and often drier, for longer.
- How much product you use. Styling products, dry shampoo and heat protectant all build up, so heavy product users usually need to wash more often.
- Exercise and sweat. If you work out most days, you'll probably want to wash more often, or at least rinse.
- Your scalp's comfort. A scalp that feels itchy, tight or flaky is telling you something about your routine, or your shampoo.
How often to wash your hair, by hair type
| Hair or scalp type | How often | Insight pick |
|---|---|---|
| Oily scalp | Daily or every other day | Rebalancing Shampoo |
| Fine or flat hair | Daily or every other day | Volume Up Shampoo |
| Normal hair | Every two to three days | Energizing Shampoo from the Daily Use range |
| Dry or thick hair | Once or twice a week | Nourishing Shampoo |
| Wavy and curly hair | Once or twice a week | Elasti-Curl Pure Mild Shampoo |
| Coily and tightly textured hair | Every one to two weeks | Elasti-Curl range |
| Coloured hair | Two or three times a week | Protective Shampoo |
| Sensitive scalp | As often as feels comfortable, with a very mild shampoo | Sensitive Scalp Shampoo |
| Flaky scalp (dandruff) | Regularly, two to three times a week or more | Purifying Shampoo |
These are starting points, not rules. Adjust by a day either way until your scalp feels clean and comfortable and your hair looks its best.
Is it bad to wash your hair every day?
Not if your scalp needs it and you use the right shampoo. Daily washing with a harsh shampoo can leave the scalp tight and the lengths dry, but a gentle formula made for frequent use is fine. If you wash every day, keep shampoo on the scalp, let the lather rinse through the lengths rather than scrubbing them, and use conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends only.
Can you "train" your hair to need washing less?
You'll often hear that if you wash less, your scalp will produce less oil over time. There's little good evidence for this. Your scalp's oil production is mostly down to your genes, hormones and age.
"There has been a lot of social media hype about training your hair to not be greasy. You cannot train your hair. Each person is different, and every head of hair needs washing at a different frequency."
Lorraine Matic, Head of Insight UK Education
What does change is how you manage it: a shampoo matched to your scalp, less heavy product at the roots and a good dry shampoo can all help you stretch the time between washes comfortably.
Signs you're washing too often
- Your scalp feels tight, itchy or dry soon after washing.
- Your lengths feel dry, rough or frizzy, especially at the ends.
- Your colour fades quickly.
Try going an extra day between washes, switch to a milder shampoo, and add a weekly mask to the lengths.
Signs you're not washing enough
- Your roots look flat or greasy and your hair smells less than fresh.
- You see flakes, or your scalp feels itchy and coated.
- Your styling products stop working the way they should.
Build-up of oil, sweat and product can make a scalp uncomfortable. If you also see flakes, read our guide to dandruff and how to treat it. For an itchy scalp without flakes, see the best shampoo for an itchy scalp.
How to wash your hair properly
- Use lukewarm water. Hot water strips the scalp and fades colour faster.
- Shampoo the scalp, not the lengths. Massage a small amount into the scalp with your fingertips, never your nails. The lather that rinses through is enough for the lengths.
- Shampoo twice if you need to. If you use a lot of product or haven't washed for a few days, the second wash cleans more thoroughly.
- Condition the mid-lengths and ends. Keep conditioner off the roots unless it's made for the scalp.
- Rinse thoroughly. Leftover shampoo and conditioner can make hair look limp and irritate the scalp.
Stretching the time between washes
- Dry shampoo: Bodifying Dry Shampoo absorbs oil at the roots and adds body. Read how to use dry shampoo.
- Texture powder: Texture Volumizing Powder lifts flat roots on second-day hair.
- Protect styles overnight: loosely tie long or curly hair up, and sleep on a smooth pillowcase to keep hair smoother for longer.
- Refresh curls without washing: mist with water and scrunch in a little curl cream to bring waves and curls back to life.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I wash greasy hair?
As often as you need to, which for many people with an oily scalp is daily or every other day. A rebalancing shampoo such as Rebalancing Shampoo helps keep roots fresher for longer. See our guide to shampoo for oily hair.
Can you train your hair to be less greasy?
No. As our Head of Education, Lorraine Matic, puts it, every head of hair needs washing at a different frequency. Choosing the right shampoo for your scalp makes far more difference than skipping washes.
How often should I wash curly hair?
Usually once or twice a week. Curly hair is naturally drier, so gentle cleansing and plenty of conditioning help curls stay defined. Use a mild shampoo such as Pure Mild Shampoo.
How often should I wash my hair after colouring?
Many colourists suggest waiting a couple of days before the first wash, then washing two or three times a week with a colour-protecting shampoo and lukewarm water. Ask your colourist what's best for your colour.
How often should I wash grey or silver hair?
Grey hair is often drier, so two or three times a week suits most people, using a purple or anti-yellow shampoo once a week. Read our guide to shampoo for grey hair.
How often should men wash their hair?
The same rules apply. Short hair often looks greasy sooner, so many men wash daily. That's fine with a gentle shampoo made for frequent use, such as those in our Daily Use range.
How often should children wash their hair?
Younger children usually only need a hair wash two or three times a week, unless their hair is dirty or sweaty. Use a very mild shampoo: Sensitive Scalp Shampoo is suitable for children, and Leave-In Hair Detangler (suitable from age 3) makes combing through easier.
Should I wash my hair after the gym?
If your scalp is sweaty, a wash or at least a thorough rinse helps keep it comfortable. If you exercise daily, a gentle shampoo you can use every day is the easiest option.
Not sure which shampoo suits your scalp? Explore our shampoos, all vegan, cruelty-free and made in Italy.
About the author
Charlotte Read has spent six years in the hair industry with Insight Professional and holds a First Class BSc in Business Management and Marketing. She writes with reference to real salons across social media and the wider Insight community, and draws on the Insight office team, who between them bring over 100 years of combined experience on salon floors.
Where technical expertise is needed, Charlotte consults Lorraine Matic, Head of Insight UK Education, who brings over 38 years of global experience in colour, technique and hair science.