Short answer: it depends on your scalp, your style, and your schedule. If you’ve got an oilier scalp or layer on styling stuff every day, washing every 1–2 days keeps things fresh. If your hair runs dry, stretch it out. Folks with textured or coily hair usually do a dedicated coily hair wash day about once every 1–2 weeks to protect moisture.

Most people can wait until hair looks or feels greasy, looks dull, or there’s visible product buildup on the scalp. As we get older, scalps make less oil, so you can often space washes farther apart. Chemically treated hair (color, perms, relaxers) also tends to like fewer wash days.

Daily washing isn’t a must. Some super-oily scalps do fine with a quick daily cleanse, but plenty of people are happier every few days. A well-made shampoo won’t stunt growth, and used with conditioner it won’t wreck your strands—just pick formulas that fit your goals (think sulfate-free shampoo if you’re dry or color-treated, clarifying if you’re dealing with heavy buildup). If you’re battling slick roots by lunchtime, look for the best shampoo for oily scalp and keep your conditioner mid-lengths to ends.

Signs it’s time to wash:

• Roots look stringy or “matted” from oil
• Hair feels coated or looks flat and dull
• Scalp shows obvious residue from sprays, creams, or dry shampoo

Pro tips by hair type:

• Oily/fine: every 1–2 days; lightweight conditioner on ends; avoid heavy leave-ins.
• Normal/medium: every 2–4 days; balance with a hydrating conditioner.
• Dry/thick or curly/coily: weekly or every other week; cleanse gently and deep-condition with heat.
• Active lifestyle: rinse sweat as needed; you can co-wash between shampoos to dodge overwashing hair damage.

Cultural norms, hair length, and personal preference all play a role, so build a routine that actually works for you. If products sit on top instead of soaking in, clarify first, then moisturize. And if wash day’s a project, it’s totally fine to space it out—as long as your scalp is clean and comfy, you’re doing it right.

What actually changes how often you should wash your hair

Real talk: “how often should I wash my hair” depends on what’s in your hair and what your scalp’s doing.

• Sweat & workouts: Post-gym or after rocking a hat all day, sweat can leave a funk and make roots feel gritty. A quick cleanse (or a co-wash routine between shampoos) keeps scalp happy.
• Pollen, dust, city grime: If you’ve been out in a windy Texas afternoon or through a New York subway blur, wash to clear allergens and dirt so they don’t irritate skin.
• Oil production: Some scalps pump out more sebum than others. If oil stacks up and hair looks stringy or “matted,” reach for the best shampoo for oily scalp and cleanse more often.
• Styling product buildup: Mousse, gels, sprays, dry shampoo—great until polymers pile up and itch. That’s your cue for a clarifying shampoo session.
• Hair type & texture: Straight/fine hair shows oil fast, so more frequent wash days. Curly, thick, or coily hair holds moisture longer—many folks wash weekly or every other week to protect the curl pattern and prevent dryness.

Common shape/texture buckets you’ll see on a hair types chart: straight, wavy, small curls, big curls; strands can be fine, medium, or thick—each combo tweaks your ideal rhythm.

How to pick a shampoo that won’t wreck your vibe

Choosing the right bottle matters as much as timing:

• “Normal” hair shampoos: For untreated hair and average oil. Often clean well with light surfactants; pair with a basic conditioner.
• Dry or chemically treated hair: Go creamy, sulfate-free shampoo with extra conditioning. Kinder to color, highlights, relaxers, and heat-styled hair.
• Oily hair formulas: Minimal conditioners, stronger cleansers to lift grease at the root—good for fine hair that falls flat by noon.
• Everyday/gentle shampoos: Mild surfactants; fine for frequent washers. If you use one daily, add a separate conditioner so mid-lengths don’t crisp up.
• Clarifying shampoo: Use weekly-ish if you’re a product lover (gel/mousse/hairspray) or swim a lot—it strips buildup so hair resets. Follow with a hydrating mask.
• Baby shampoos: Very mild detergents; gentle on eyes/skin but may not remove heavy styling gunk.
• Medicated shampoos: Target dandruff, seb derm, psoriasis, or fungal/bacterial issues. Look for active ingredients (ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, coal tar, salicylic acid) as directed by your derm.
• Pro-only/prep shampoos: Salon back-bar cleansers used before cutting/styling—great in-chair, not your daily driver.

The least damaging way to wash (so your ends don’t scream)

• Go gentle on the dose: Start with a small blob; add water, not more shampoo.
• Roots first: Massage the scalp with fingertips (not nails). That’s where oil and buildup live.
• Don’t scrub the lengths: Let suds slide down during the rinse to clean the shafts without over-stripping.
• Condition smart: From mid-lengths to ends; keep heavy conditioner off oily roots.
• Rinse well: Product hiding behind ears and nape causes itch and flakes.
• Finish based on climate: In a dry Colorado winter, leave a whisper of conditioner; in humid Florida summer, rinse cleaner and use a lightweight leave-in.

Sprinkle in what serves your lifestyle—if you’re active, sweat-rinse or co-wash between shampoos; if you’re product-heavy, schedule a clarifying reset. Your best routine is the one that keeps the scalp clean, the ends soft, and your style doing what you want.

Best way to wash textured or coily hair

If your hair lives in the coily/textured lane (a lot of Black hair does—thick, springy, gorgeous), don’t overwash. Most folks do best with a true wash about once a week or every other week, then keep moisture on lock the rest of the time. The big hitters:

• Always condition after you cleanse. Slip matters—think a rich, leave-in conditioner to detangle and keep ends soft.
• Wash no more than every 1–2 weeks. Your curl pattern hangs onto moisture; too many wash days = dryness.
• Hot oil love 2x a month. A quick warm jojoba or olive oil treatment helps seal in hydration—chef’s kiss for brittle ends.
• Easy on the tension. Keep protective styles (weaves, cornrows, braids) comfy, not tight—your edges will thank you.
• Heat with a plan. If you’re blow-drying or flat-ironing, use a heat protectant and keep temps reasonable.
• Relaxers = proceed carefully. Space out chemical services and prioritize bond-building and protein masks afterward.
• For wash day, reach for a sulfate-free shampoo or a gentle co-wash—both play nice with curls. If your scalp runs oily or you use lots of gel, rotate a once-monthly clarifier just at the roots (follow with a deep conditioner). This fits right into a natural hair care routine and still keeps the scalp clean.
• If you’re searching products, terms like best shampoo for coily hair or curly hair routine will steer you to formulas that actually work for Type 3–4 textures.

Shampoo alternatives

Not every cleanse has to be a suds party. These swaps keep the scalp fresh without stripping:

• Cleansing conditioner (co-wash): Mild cleansers + conditioner in one. Great between shampoos to refresh curls and add slip.
• Detergent-free or “no-poo” shampoos: Skip harsh sulfates; look for cream or gel cleansers that lift sweat and light product without wrecking your moisture barrier.
• Dry shampoo (use thoughtfully): Handy for fine roots or under wigs to stretch time between washes, but it doesn’t remove dirt—buildup can itch. If you use it, clarify the scalp on your next wash day and follow with a hydrating mask.