How Often Do You Really Need to Wash Your Hair?

How Often Do You Really Need to Wash Your Hair?

While some choose to lather up daily, washing too often can do more harm than good, and strip your strands of essential oils. Like your favorite silk blouse, hair tends to lose its shine and dimension when given a run through the rinse cycle one too many times. Think of your hair like different categories of fabrics---silk, denim, lace, etc... Of course, you would not wash these differnt fabrics in the same detergents, and this holds true for hair and shampooing as well. 

Recommendation on washing for different hair types

Fine hair:

Because fine hair doesn't hold as much volume, it has the tendency to feel oily much faster than its thicker counterparts. Still, lathering up every day can have detrimental effects on your strands. If over or under-shampooed, it can lose movement. For normal, fine hair, shampooing 3 times a week is sufficient. Look for something that is light in conditioning, as any added weight can cause the hair to become lifeless. You can use a a volumizing formula like the Biolage Volumebloom Shampoo ($17;  ulta.com), and concentrating your conditioner only on certain areas to keep your roots from getting weighed down with product. In any case, you should use a small amount of conditioner and only apply the product on your mid-shaft and ends.
Thick, straight hair: Thick hair may take some work in the styling department, but the plus side is that you can rock a solid blowout for days on end. With thick hair, you can wait a few days between washes. It is not recommended that you wash more than every other day. To make your strands a bit more manageable, look for a shampoo with smoothing qualities, or one infused with keratin or argan oil. Thick, straight hair benefits from extra shine.

Curly hair:

With more bodacious curves, oil from your scalp won't travel as quickly down a curly strand as it does on a bone-straight one, so curly girls can also go a few days between lathering up. You can compare thick, curly hair to denim---denim seems to feel best a couple of days after wearing, and this holds true for curly hair as well. It is recommended towash your hair twice a week with a shampoo heavy in moisturizing qualities. Alternatively, opt for a cleansing conditioner like Living Proof's Curl Conditioning Wash ($26; sephora.com), which whisks away any dirt and unnecessary oils without stripping hydration from your hair. The priority for all curly girls is to protect the integrity of the curl by steering clear of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the ingredient in traditional shampoos. SLS is a detergent that can actually corrode the hair follicle and cause strands to fall out, so pay close attention to the ingredient list on products already in your shower.

Chemically-straightened or relaxed hair:

Relaxed or chemically-treated hair tends to be more fragile, so give it some TLC when you shampoo. You can place this hair type in a delicate category, like lace or hand-washables---the least amount you have to alter its pH, the better, as it's more vulnerable when wet. It is recommended to shampoo once a week with a gentle formula. You can try Lisa's Hair Elixir shampoo by Carol's Daughter ($20; carolsdaughter.com), which infuses the hair follicle with nourishing ingredients like biotin, eucalyptus oil, and soy, while leaving harsh parabens and sulfates out of the mix.

Keratin-treated hair:

Keratin-treated hair can be tricky---on one hand, you don't want to wash the protein out of your hair, but on the other, your roots can feel a little oily after a few days from the intensity of the treatment. It is recommended to lather up every other day, but make sure to swap your existing formula for a keratin-safe version. It is important to use a sulfate-free shampoo, otherwise the keratin can easily be stripped from the hair. Try picking up the Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care shampoo ($20; ulta.com), which keeps your hair rich with the protein, and gives both new life and shine to your existing hue.

Color-treated hair:

When you wash, condition, and style color-treated hair, be careful not to strip it of anything except dirt and excess product. This is because the dye compromises the health of your strands and makes them more porous, too much shampooing can cause the color molecule to slip out of the hair follicle. It is recommended to wash twice a week with a color-preserving formula---such as, L'Oreal's Color Vibrancy Nourishing Shampoo ($5; drugstore.com).