working out your hair washing schedule can be tedious at the best of times, but don’t fret, that’s where we come into the picture. we’re here to answer the age-old question once and for all, so you can create the perfect routine for you and your doo.
let’s be real: how often should you actually wash your hair?
want to know how often you should wash your hair? as always, the answer is kind of complicated. there's no be-all and end-all answer for everyone. instead, the amount of times you should wash your hair per week varies depending on your hair type.
here’s a bit of guideline to follow:
- for curly hair: leave the washing to once per week, so you can give the oils in your scalp time to reach and nourish your strands.
- for fine hair: sometimes fine hair is prone to getting oily quite quickly, so keep the hair-washing to every other day.
- for thick hair: to allow time for sebum to make its way down mid-lengths and ends, try washing hair every three days at a minimum.
- for oily hair: encourage your scalp’s oil production to stabilise by washing every third day.
- for normal hair: every other day, once it’s greasy and feels unclean to the touch.
is it bad to wash your hair every day?
would you be shocked if we told you washing your hair too often can do more harm than good? well, whether you are or are not surprised by this, it can have a huge impact on your hair and scalp’s health… but how? it all balls down to how over washing your hair can strip natural oils in the scalp which leads to dryness and brittleness in the hair, and can also throw off the scalp’s microbiome. but there’s more… this can all be made even worse if you’re using products which have harsh ingredients.
so, what are the benefits of not washing your hair too often? first off, it allows your hair's natural oils to protect your hair, helps in enhancing texture, and also prolongs the vibrancy of colour-treated hair. on the other hand however, if you don’t wash your hair enough, you may experience an itchy scalp or even dandruff, as oil can block the hair follicle and lead to build-up. all in all, it’s about finding *the* balance between keeping your hair clean whilst maintaining its precious protective qualities.
the *right way* to wash your hair
now comes the fun part, the basic step-by-step guide to how to wash your hair properly…
- first up, wet those strands to help get all that oil, dirt and product build-up loosened up
- start by squeezing a small, coin-sized amount of shampoo into the palm of your hand (you may find you need a little more, depending on the length and thickness of your hair), then lather up, starting at the scalp before massaging down towards the mid-lengths and ends
- rinse thoroughly (hot tip: if your hair is feeling super-duper dirty, repeat a shampoo and rinse)
- now it’s time to apply some conditioner to your ends. same principle as shampoo, start out with a small coin sized amount of conditioner, then depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you may need to use more or less
- leave this on for 2 minutes and rinse thoroughly (hot tip: if you’re after some extra nourishment for your doo, replace conditioner with a rinse-out hair mask like the great hydrator)
level up your hair care routine
you’ve reached the next stage of your quest, and it’s time you come prepared with the right products at hand to enhance your routine… lucky we’ve got some complimentary products that you can mix n’ match for your own personalised result.
recommended for curly, wavy and coily hair, springsclean is your “sometimes” shampoo, especially for when you’re after a deep clean to remove product build-up, dirt and excess oil. use once a week.
mane attention protein treatment
if you’re looking for that extra oomph in your hair routine, it might be time to start incorporating a treatment into the mix. use mane attention if your hair is colour-treated and feeling damaged. apply after cleansing and conditioning with ritual salvation shampoo and conditioner for extra repairing.
has it been a day or two since you last washed your hair? are your roots starting to feel a little on oily side? don’t worry, we’ve all been there… keep your hair fresher for a little longer by applying water killer in between your wash days, whenever your hair is starting to feel a bit oily. better yet, it will also provide extra volume and texture.
the bottom line
to put it simply, whether you reach for your shampoo once, twice or three times a week really boils down to your hair type. and once you’ve got this detail ironed out, make sure you’re reaching for high-quality products with simple ingredients that will do only good, no harm. go one more and level up your hair care routine with a deep clean rinse, treatment or dry shampoo so you can reap all the benefits of healthy hair (and the many compliments that come with).
