Is It Healthy to Shampoo Your Hair Everyday?

How often should you wash your hair? Hair care experts say you shouldn't wash your hair every day, unless you sweat often, are constantly exposed to pollution, or have a particular hair type. Find out what’s best for your hair and start a healthier washing routine.

When we see oily hair, our instinct is to hop in the shower ASAP. But sebum is produced by the scalp for a reason: It naturally distributes healthy oils down the hair shaft and adds necessary moisture.

If your hair washing schedule is a little too overzealous, you might be stripping these important oils away, leaving dry, lifeless hair that’s more prone to breakage. And that's definitely true if your shampoo contains ingredients like sulfates (which can cause irritation while stripping hair of its natural oils.

How to Wash Your Hair Depending on Your Hair Type and Lifestyle

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) says: wash your hair once a day if you have an oily scalp, but wash it less if your hair is chemically treated.

If you have naturally straight hair, sebum production from your scalp can reach the tips faster than curly hair. Wash your hair three times a week.

People with curly or coarse hair can wash less often than people with straight hair. You can wash as little as once per week and co-wash to help it retain freshness throughout the week.

Exercising can lead to heavy perspiration and oiliness, which can trap dirt on your hair or scalp. If you leave this unwashed, it can also cause bad odor. Wash your hair every after exercise.

Bleaching often leads to hair that’s more sensitive to damage and dryness. Wash your hair less and use sulfate-free shampoo to prevent additional dryness. A lot of commercial shampoos contain ingredients like sulfates that cause irritation while stripping hair of its natural oils.

If you use hair products often, not washing can cause product build up. These products can also trap dirt and oil, which can lead to dry and dull hair.

Chlorine can mess up with your hair and scalp health. If you don’t want to wear a swim cap, make sure to rinse your hair in the shower before heading home. There are also shampoos dedicated to swimmers who are in the pool on a daily basis.

What Type of Shampoo Is Best for Your Hair?

When we challenged our team of PhD scientists and salon owners to create the best plant-based hair care duo anywhere, our goal went far beyond shine and manageability: We wanted to extend the time between washes.

There are three types of shampoos in the market, depending on your needs:

• Natural Shampoo That Controls Sebum Production

For most hair types, you can count on 3+ days between shampooing. But if your hair needs to be washed more, this is a gentle, clarifying shampoo you can use everyday.

• Shampoo That Consider Specific Hair Issues Like Dandruff

If you find yourself bothered with white flakes falling off your head and onto your shoulders, get an anti-dandruff shampoo. Choose a shampoo with zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole to target dandruff-causing fungus.

Make sure to massage your scalp and allow the shampoo to do its work for about 3 minutes before rinsing it off.

• Sulfate-free shampoos for chemically treated hair

Most commercial shampoos have sulfates, an ingredient that helps create foam and lather. Chemically treated hair like those treated with keratin or dyed will not benefit from a regular shampoo. A sulfate-free shampoo cleans the same way without damaging or reversing the treatments made on your hair.