How Often Should You Wash Curly Hair?
This is by far one of the most common questions I’ve ever received in all my years of curly hairstyling. Maybe you want to have the perfect routine. Perhaps you want to make sure you’re not overwashing your hair. Or maybe you just aren’t sure what’s best for your specific hair. Whatever it is, there are a few ways that can help you tell how often you should wash your hair.
Factors that determine when it’s time to wash your hair
There are 4 factors that determine how often you should wash your hair. Here they are:
Lifestyle - What type of job do you have? Do you work outside or inside? Is your hair out or pulled back most of the day?
Activity - Do you go to the gym? Do you spend time walking your dog? Playing with your kids?
Scalp condition - What is your natural scalp condition? Is it usually oily or very dry? Is it prone to dandruff? Is it normal?
Hair Type & Texture - What do your curls look like? Are they wavy and loose? Are they tight and coily? Or somewhere in between?
Read further to see my “Shampoo Frequency Guide” to see how these factors affect how often you should wash your hair.
Is it bad to wash your curly hair every day?
Not necessarily. If you are using a high-quality shampoo and conditioner and you see that it’s not drying or matting your hair, then it is safe to wash it every day. The downside here is that you will ultimately just end up going through a whole lot of products quicker.
Is it ok to wash your hair once a week?
It’s okay to wash it as you want to. As long as you’re using high-quality shampoos. See the section above.
I usually don’t recommend going more than a week between washes. It’s important to wash regularly to keep up with hair and scalp health. Curly hair loses moisture in about 36-48 hours depending on what products you use.
Do different seasons affect how often we should wash?
Yes of course! In the hotter summer months, you may find yourself needing to wash more often because of environmental factors and sweat. Curly hair needs that rehydration from water during your cleansing routine.
Shampoo Frequency Guide
Wavy Hair: Every 3-4 days
Curly Hair: Every 4-5 days
Coily and Tight Coiled hair: Every 5-7 days
Exceptions:
If you workout everyday
If you deal with itchy, dandruff, or dry scalp
If your hair is very tangled the longer you go between wash days
If you meet these exceptions, you may need to wash more frequently (every 3-4 days) to maintain healthy hair and scalp.
