How often should you wash your hair?

The short answer

Wash as often as your scalp needs. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises washing "based on how often it gets dirty or oily":

• Oily scalp, straight hair: you may want to shampoo every day.
• Dry, textured, curly or thick hair: shampoo when needed — the AAD says at least once every 2 to 3 weeks; its advice for Black hair suggests once a week or every other week to stop products building up.

A dermatology review puts it plainly: how often people wash is mostly personal preference, shaped by hair length, culture and lifestyle, and "frequent and regular cleaning with a well-formulated shampoo will not damage the hair" — as long as you condition.

Signs it's time to wash

• Your roots look or feel greasy, or hair clumps at the scalp.
• Your scalp itches or feels tight, or you can see flakes.
• Products have built up and hair feels coated (see product build-up).
• After heavy sweating, swimming or a lot of styling product.

Not washing often enough can make dandruff more noticeable (NHS) and lets products build up, which dermatologists say can irritate the scalp. Washing very often isn't harmful in itself, but if your scalp feels dry or tight, try a gentler shampoo or washing a little less.

How to wash well

1. Shampoo the scalp, not the lengths. Massage it in gently with your fingertips (AAD).
2. Let the suds run through the lengths as you rinse rather than scrubbing the ends.
3. Condition after shampooing — on the ends for fine or straight hair, through the full length for dry or curly hair (AAD).
4. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Blot, don't rub, with a towel or T-shirt — rough towel-drying can damage hair (AAD).

Does washing every day cause hair loss?

No. It's normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day, so the hairs you see in the shower were mostly already on their way out. NICE guidance says people with pattern hair loss can wash as often as they like without making it worse. (One industry-funded study even found daily washing scored better than weekly for scalp and hair condition, with no harm seen.)

Not medical advice. This guide is general information from the sources listed, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a pharmacist, GP or dermatologist. If you are worried, or symptoms are severe or not improving, get advice. Read our health information policy.