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How often should you wash your hair? This is the answer!
Washing your hair sounds like a simple thing: you wash it every few days with a nice smelling shampoo, treat it afterwards with a conditioner and you’re done. Right? Well, no. Unfortunately. Especially for curly hair there is way more to it. Are you wondering how often you should wash your hair, if you should wash it with or without shampoo, or maybe with something else like vinegar or baking soda? After reading this article all your questions will be answered!
Also read: How to keep your curls looking fresh for several days
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In this article:
How many times a week should you wash your hair?
There are several correct answers to this question. Just like the Curly Girl Method -routine is different for each curly head, so is each washing routine.
That is why it is important to analyze your own hair properly. Do that based on the following factors and you will have your answer!
Your hair type
Determining your hair type is one of the first and most important steps in the process of getting to know your curls. It also depends on your hair type how often you should wash your hair.
The Curly Girl Method assumes 3 hair types: wavy, curly and coily. In general, the more curly your hair is, the less often you wash it.
- Wavy hair can sometimes feel greasy after just one day. Still, it’s best to delay washing to at least once every 2 to 3 days. Try experimenting with co-washing, which means washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Depending on the characteristics of your scalp, your hair may seem greasier at first, but this will decrease. And if not, dry shampoo offers the solution.
- Curly hair can easily do with one wash per week. If you exercise a lot, you can co-wash it in between gym sessions or just rinse it with water.
- Coily hair is best washed no more often than once a week. If it doesn’t feel dirty even better once every 2 to 3 weeks. To give your hair a refresh between washes, you can try co-washing or washing your hair with just water.
Haven’t figured out what your hair type is yet? Then read the following articles to find out:
Your scalp
Your scalp naturally produces an oily substance called sebum. Sebum accumulates on your hair over time and attracts dirt from the air.
The amount of sebum varies from person to person, so it also varies from person to person how often you should wash your hair.
The porosity of your hair
Porosity is about how much moisture your hair absorbs and can hold. Hair with low porosity repels moisture and is almost impermeable, making it susceptible to build up.
Build up is an accumulation of hair products on your hair. It closes off your hair, so to speak, preventing it from breathing.
This is exactly what you don’t want, as it prevents the right nutrients from reaching your hair and dries it out in the long run. High porosity hair can absorb moisture quickly but does not retain it, which can damage it if you wash it too often.
Read this article to find out the porosity of your hair.
The hair products you use
Some hair products cause build up faster. Ingredients you want to avoid for this reason are silicones, mineral oil and wax.
The heavier the hair products you use, the more often you will need to wash your hair to restore the resilience of your curls.
Your lifestyle
Finally, your lifestyle also affects the frequency of washing your hair. If you exercise a lot, for example, you may want to wash it more often.
But your place of residence and work also matter. For example, your hair may start to smell a little if you live in a big city with a lot of pollution.
Or if you work in a snack bar, for example, the smell of french fries will soak into it. Fortunately, washing your hair with just water is sometimes enough to get rid of these odors.
Washing your hair without shampoo
So to get rid of unpleasant odors, you can wash your hair with just water. Are you looking for alternatives to shampoo?
Then there are other options, such as washing your hair with vinegar or baking soda. Below we explain how that works.
Washing your curly hair with vinegar
Apple cider vinegar – also called apple cider vinegar – removes build up from your hair, keeping your scalp and hair clean and healthy. It lowers the pH levels of your scalp and hair, allowing your hair cuticles to close better.
Something that already happens naturally in hair with low porosity, but unfortunately not or less in hair with high porosity. In addition, the vinegar nourishes your hair, provided you use organic apple cider vinegar.
This contains vitamins B, C and potassium, among other things, which helps you get and keep healthy hair.
Note that you do need to mix vinegar with water. Keep 1/3 apple cider vinegar and 2/3 water. Wet your hair first, pour the rinse over your scalp and hair, massage it in and let it soak in for a while.
Then rinse it out thoroughly, if you don’t want to keep smelling like apple cider vinegar all day. 😉 After this you can possibly use a deep conditioner, to pamper your hair optimally.
Washing your curly hair with baking soda
Baking soda has a degreasing effect, especially if your hair is not yet used to washing without shampoo. It rids your hair of build up, giving it a nice shine.
Baking soda does have a high pH, so to restore it, it is important to rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar. In general, it is advised to mix one spoon of baking soda with one glass of warm water, and distribute over your wet hair.
After that, rinse well and so rinse with vinegar for a while.
Hopefully, thanks to these tips, you’ll manage to figure out how often to wash your hair!
Do you have any other questions? Let us know at Instagram, we’d love to help you.
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Washing your curly hair with shampoo
Washing your curly hair with a clarifying shampoo
A clarifying shampoo is designed to remove build-up from your hair.
A clarifying shampoo promises to give your hair a fresh start by removing those deposits and restoring shine, softness, manageability and a fresh feel to your hair.
Rinse well. Apply again, and this time it should become frothy. Let the shampoo sit on your head for a minute or two.
Letting the shampoo sit breaks down and releases the product build-up, which is crucial. Then rinse well again.
If your hair has been doing particularly badly lately, you can repeat this step, but only if dryness is not a regular problem for you.
Follow with a deep conditioner, even if your hair is not normally dry, to restore moisture.
Wash your curly hair with a moisturising shampoo
A moisturising shampoo is all about extra care moisture to ease the cleansing process, keeping hair supple and protected and not washing away the natural oils. Works especially well for people with frizzy hair!
Moisturising shampoo can also minimise tangles, which will lead to less breakage if your hair is dry.
If you do use a moisturising shampoo, choose one with the right moisturising botanicals and a pH level tailored to skin and hair.
Leave the shampoo in your hair for 2 minutes so it can do its job properly: moisturise.
Wash your curly hair with a Co-wash
Co-washing is an alternative cleansing method where you replace shampoo with a conditioner or co-wash.
A game-changer in the curly hair community, curlies love this hydrating way of washing.
First, you work the co-wash or conditioner into your roots as you would a shampoo.
It’s the friction of scrubbing that removes build-up and dirt, so give yourself a good scalp massage to really cleanse your hair.
Then rinse completely and use a second round of conditioner. Work from the ends to the middle of your hair and gently pluck out the tangles with your fingers.
Keep your hair soaking wet and drip water while applying the conditioner – this will keep the moisture in your hair. Leave it on for a minute or two.
Rinse it out completely, or leave some on if your curls are extra dry.
1 Comment
I started shampooing my hair only once or twice a week because I style it every day.