Exactly How Often You Should Be Washing Your Hair, According to Experts

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Confession: I wash my hair every single day. I know, I know—it’s a cardinal sin for a beauty editor, up there with sleeping in your makeup and not slathering on sunscreen every morning. But hear me out! How often you should wash your hair is fully dependent on your hair type, oil levels, and styling goals. So, I, having an oily, dandruff-prone scalp, need to wash my hair more often to remove buildup, flakes, and sebum. However, someone with dry, coarse, curly hair or 4c hair can often wash their hair just once a week.

Basically, there’s no right or wrong answer for how often you should wash your hair. Instead, you should base your wash-day schedule off of, say, whether you have dandruff or dry scalp, or if you tend to load up on styling products every day. And to help you figure it out, I consulted with dermatologist Iris Rubin, MD, and hairstylist Miles Jeffries for all the details on washing your hair, plus some helpful tips on the best shampoos to use based on your hair type.

✔️ FYI: We updated this article in May 2023 to give you the most up-to-date info on how often you should wash your hair, including the best shampoos for your hair type and a dermatologist’s take on washing every day.

How often do dermatologists recommend washing your hair?

Dermatologists recommend washing your hair two to three times a week, but this suggestion really depends on your hair type. According to Dr. Rubin, finer, straighter hair types generally need to be washed more frequently than coarser, curlier hair types, but the frequency at which you suds up should be based on what your scalp and hair strands are telling you. Example: If you’re experiencing any itching, flaking, product buildup, greasy strands, or unpleasant smells, you may want to consider cleansing, says Dr. Rubin.

How long can you go without washing your hair?

How long you can go without washing your hair will depend on your hair type and oil levels. You should only go a week without washing your hair if you have dry, thick, and/or coily hair—not because you can’t stretch your wash-day out even longer, but because you really shouldn’t if you’re trying to prevent breakage, dryness, and irritation. Your scalp and your strands need moisture to stay healthy, so try to cleanse once a week if possible.

If you’re working with fine or thin hair, or you have an oil-prone scalp, you may need to suds up a few times a week, every other day, or even daily (if you’re, say, running a marathon in scorching heat every morning). And though, yes, your dry shampoo can help absorb some scalp oil, it won’t magically get rid of it or leave your scalp clean. So you’ll still need to wash your hair regularly for optimal scalp and hair health.

What happens if you don’t wash your hair enough?

Not washing your hair enough can lead to dandruff, irritation, clogged pores, breakouts, and even hair loss over time, says Dr. Rubin, explaining that these issues are usually the result of buildup and residue from sebum, hair products, and dead skin cells. "The follicles on your scalp are literally the manufacturing plant for your hair, so for your best hair health, it’s important that they don’t get clogged,” she says.

Is it okay if I wash my hair every day?

It is okay to wash your hair every day if your scalp is very oily, but if you do, you’ll want to make sure to use a mix of gentle cleansers to prevent scalp dryness, irritation, and itch. For example: If you can’t stretch your washings to every other day, you can suds up daily with a gentle, sulfate-free clarifying shampoo that’s filled with hydrating ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera), then, every other week (for one wash only!), swap in a sulfate-based clarifying shampoo to break down oils and hard water buildup.

And if you are washing every day, make sure you’re replenishing your hair’s moisture each time with deep conditioners, hair masks, leave-in conditioners, and/or hair creams to keep your hair from drying out from the water (yes, water itself can actually be drying!). You’ll also want to avoid heat-styling as much as possible—so no blow-drying after your daily showers—or you’ll strip and damage your strands, leading to dull, brittle hair over time.

Now that we have the general basics covered, let's get a little more specific. Here’s how often you should wash your hair, depending on your hair type and needs, plus the best shampoo to use for your scalp:

Peptide Prep Color-Safe Detox Clarifying Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: Based on your hair type

There’s actually no evidence that washing your hair more or less often can help grow your hair faster. But washing can help keep your scalp exfoliated and less prone to clogged pores (which, reminder, can hinder hair growth and even contribute to hair loss. “Clarifying your scalp and removing product buildup can go a long way toward supporting healthy hair growth,” as dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD, has previously told Cosmo. Just swap in a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo like this from K18 every three to four washes to help exfoliate dead skin and wash away pore-clogging oils with salicylic acid and charcoal powder.

Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: 1-2 times a week

Dry scalp can be caused by a bunch of reasons, some of which you can’t necessarily control—like age, skin type, environmental factors, and scalp conditions—and some of which you can, like shampooing too frequently with a too-harsh shampoo. Shampoos that use strong, drying sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate) can strip some of the oils and moisture from your scalp, leaving you tight, itchy, and possibly even flaky over time.

Instead, try washing once or twice a week with a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo, like this one from Amika that hydrates with hyaluronic acid without weighing your hair down. And if you need a little TLC in between, massage a scalp treatment across your head before bed to help moisturize your skin while you sleep.

Balancing Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: Three to four times a week

If you have dandruff, you’ll want to wash your hair three to four times a week, as the excess yeast on your scalp (aka malassezia) feeds off of oil. Lather up with a dandruff shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione, an MVP antifungal, which helps reduce itch, inflammation, and irritation by killing the excess bacteria that causes plaques. If you notice your hair is feeling a bit dry and your flakes are subsiding (usually in two to three weeks), cut down your dandruff shampoo use to once or twice a week and swap in a moisturizing shampoo instead to give your hair a break.

T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo-Scalp Build-Up Control

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: every 2 to 3 days

Scalp acne and oily hair tend to go hand in hand, which is why you might think you need to wash your hair every single day. Instead, treat your zits with this exfoliating salicylic-acid shampoo every two or three days. The formula will not only help prevent future acne, but also chemically buff away some of the oil, dirt, and dead skin on the surface of your scalp that can leave it irritated and inflamed. But if you still notice your roots are still a bit greasy in between washes, spritz on a dry shampoo to absorb excess oil.

Fragrance-Free Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: Every 2 to 3 days

K, so let’s get something straight: There’s no such thing as “normal” or “abnormal” hair, but if you're not trying to address any issues in particular and want to maintain healthy hair and a healthy scalp, stick with a hydrating, sulfate-free shampoo that can be used as frequently as you need. As an added bonus, this formula (which was created by Dr. Rubin and is, I can attest, incredibly good) is free of silicones, fragrances, and sulfates, making it a great pick for nearly any scalp condition, but especially sensitive scalps.

Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: 1 to 2 times a week

Type-4 hair (and scalps!) is usually dealing with itchy buildup after a week of stylers and refreshers, along with persistent dryness and breakage—why is why moisture is so important: “Scalp oils can’t make their way down curly hair shafts as easily as they can with straight hair shafts, which is why coils are drier than other textures,” says Jeffries. He suggests co-washing every three days for moisture, then using a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo every two to three weeks, or a sulfate-based clarifier once a month, to remove buildup.

Detox Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: Every day or every other other day

Yep, you can totally wash your hair every day, as long as your shampoo is gentle and non-stripping (see: a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo). Whether you choose to suds up every day or every other day is up to you, but you’ll want to make sure to clarify once or twice a month with a sulfate-based shampoo to break down the product buildup, waxes, and oils that can be contributing to your grease. Dr. Rubin also suggests opting for oil-free hair products to avoid potential follicle-clogging and buildup.

Tea Tree & Rosemary Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: 1 to 2 times a week

Fun fact: Denser hair tends to disguise oil better than thinner hair, which means that “if your hair isn’t very oily, try to wash it only once or twice a week,” says Jeffries. If you’re prone to buildup or itchiness, try a shampoo filled with the pore-clearing and inflammation-zapping tea tree oil (hi, this sulfate-free Hask formula) to clean your roots clean without making them feel totally stripped.

Nutrient Blends Hair-Volume Multiplier Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: Every day or every other day

Fine, thin hair shows grease and oil more than other hair types do, which means that even if your hair isn’t that greasy, it’ll sure show it. Which is why it’s totally fine to wash your hair every day or every other day to keep it looking fresh, as long as you’re choosing a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo, like this volumizing one from Pantene. And if you blast your roots between washes with volumizing products (think: sprays, mousses, and powders), you may want to add in a weekly or biweekly scalp scrub.

Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: 2 to 3 times a week

Fine waves and loose curls can get weighed down easily from product buildup, especially if you’re loading up curly-hair products rich in butters and oils. So to keep your hair voluminous and defined, wash every other day (for oil-prone scalps) or every two or three days (for non-oily scalps) with this sulfate-free cleanser that uses a mix of other strong-ish cleansers and gentle surfactants to remove dirt and oil from your roots.

Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo

💧WASH YOUR HAIR: Every 2 to 3 days

Subjecting your hair to chemical treatments, bleach, hair dye, and/or consistent heat-styling can eventually leave your hair cuticles rough and broken, resulting in hair that’s dry, dull, and brittle. Which is why Dr. Rubin recommends washing your hair only a few times a week with a sulfate-free, protein-based shampoo (I love this one from Briogeo) to help gently cleanse and strengthen your hair at the same time. Then, once a week, douse your hair in a protein treatment (like Olaplex or K18, which both help repair the broken bonds in your fried hair).

Meet the experts:

• Iris Rubin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY. She’s passionate about scalp care, which led her to launch Seen, a skincare-forward hair line that’s fragrance, silicone, and sulfate-free.

• Miles Jeffries is a hairstylist and groomer based in Los Angeles, CA. He’s worked with celebrities including Nicole Richie, Laura Harrier, and Madison Bailey.

• Geeta Yadav, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Facet Dermatology in Toronto, ON, CA. Dr. Yadav is an expert in both medical and cosmetic dermatology, as well as in treating concerns of BIPOC patients. She was previously interviewed about hair-growth shampoo.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from rosemary oil for hair and castor oil for hair. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to how often you should wash your hair after constantly bugging dermatologists if she’s overwashing her oily scalp.

Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience writing about hair, makeup, nails, and skincare, with stories like the Curly-Girl Method and natural hair dyes. She's interviewed dozens of dermatologists and hairstylists over her career about how often you should wash which helped her write this story.

Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan with more than 10 years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle articles, including flat irons and face breakouts.

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