How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

When it comes to hair care, many people wonder if they are washing their hair too much or too little. If you are wondering how often you should wash your hair, the truth is that the answer will vary on a person-to-person basis. While 2 to 3 times per week is the recommendation for the average person, some individuals will need to wash their hair more while others will only need to wash once per week. To help you determine how often you should wash your hair, the hair experts at Lively Salon have put together a list of important factors to consider.

Read our winter hair care tips to keep your hair healthy this season.

4 Important Factors to Consider Before Washing Your Hair

While shampoo is designed to clean the scalp and remove excess oil, it can damage your hair if it is used too often. To determine how often you should wash your hair, you will need to consider the following factors:

1. Oil

Oil is often the largest culprit behind what most people would consider “dirty” hair. Excessive oil can leave your hair feeling limp and clumpy, so many people wash their hair to prevent it from building up. Oil production can vary greatly based on age, genetics, gender, and environmental conditions. While some people produce enough oil to require daily washes, most people only produce enough oil to require washing every two to three days. You will need to observe how oily your hair becomes after one or two days to determine how often you will need to wash it.

2. Hair Type

In most cases, straight and thin hair will need to be washed more frequently than thick, curly, and wavy hair. This is because straight hair is more easily coated by sebum, meaning that it looks oily much faster. Thick, curly, and wavy hair tends to be drier since the oil does not coat each strand as evenly. If you have thin or straight hair, you will need to wash more frequently than someone with curly or thick hair to prevent it from looking and feeling oily.

3. Sweat

In addition to oil, you will need to consider how much you sweat every day. If you produce a lot of sweat during a workout or a day at work, you will need to wash your hair more often. Wearing hats can also cause excess sweat production and spread sebum throughout your hair, increasing the frequency of required washes.

4. Styling Products

Styling products can build up on the scalp and lead to irritation or damage over time. If you use styling products every day, you may need to wash your hair more frequently to remove them and keep your scalp clean.

To learn more about our hair services or to schedule a consultation, get in touch with the team at Lively Salon. We can be reached at 403-380-4680 and will be happy to discuss your hair goals or answer any questions you may have regarding our services.