How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Don't get us wrong: shampooing your hair is a good thing. In fact, it's basically an essential when it comes to cleaning your scalp, freeing your follicles of excess sweat and grime, and growing strong, healthy, shiny hair. But that doesn't mean that you need to do it every day. After all, there really can be too much of a good thing.

RELATED: Grooming Awards 2023: Best Hair Products

If you're looking to save time and money, or just curious about the science of hair cleaning, we did some research to help you optimize your shower routine and find the perfect hair washing frequency for your needs.

The Facts About Hair Washing Frequency

Here's everything you need to know about male hair washing frequency.

How Often Do Most People Wash Their Hair?

Curious how your grooming regimen stacks up against the average guy's? Shampoo companies have been conducting consumer behavior surveys for years, in an effort to discover male grooming norms, and the results consistently show that most men wash their hair every single day or at least multiple times a week. In one of the latest surveys, 51% of men shampooed daily, 33% shampooed "multiple times per week," and just 7% of men shampooed once per week.

Does that mean there is wisdom in crowds and you should just go with the majority? Not necessarily. Those 16% of guys who buck the shampoo frequency trend might have very good reason to do so. 

Shampoo Frequency and Hair Type

One major factor influencing ideal hair washing frequency is your type of hair. If you have thicker hair, your follicles also produce more sebum, which not only nurtures the hair but also protects your scalp from dryness. On the other hand, if you have thinner hair, you also likely produce less sebum.

The thinner your hair, the more frequently you'll need to wash it (dermatologist recommendations range from every day to every other day), while those with thicker hair can choose to do once every other day or even just three times per week. 

How Hair Products Change the Game

Another big factor in determining your ideal hair washing frequency is whether or not you regularly apply hair products like gels or pomades. If you're a daily pomade user, for example, your product stays in your hair long after the hold fades, and if you allow it to accumulate day after day without a shower, you'll likely end up with scalp irritation. 

Incidentally, this goes double for people who apply scalp treatments or topical hair loss medication. Yes, we're looking at you, Rogaine users. Your daily topical might be helping promote follicle growth but if you don't wash it out overnight, you're not doing your scalp any favors.

You Desire a Specific Hairstyle

Regularly rinsing your hair with water has hygienic benefits, but you may want to adjust you frequently you use shampoo depending on the specific hairstyle you're trying to achieve. 

If your hair is wavy or curly, for example, and you'd like to emphasize that, it's better to wash less often (two or three times a week, for example) to help your hair find its natural shape. Similarly, if you're trying to grow out dreadlocks, you'll want to wash no more than once a week, to ensure the locks don't loosen or fray while still being able to keep them clean. 

You're Dealing With Dandruff

If you're dealing with a dandruff problem, shampoo can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Regular shampooing, especially with shampoos that contain parabens and sulfates, is a common cause of dandruff, as the buildup of these skin irritants causes the skin dryness and irritation that eventually leads to dandruff. 

On the flip side, the right anti-dandruff shampoo can do wonders for your scalp. Some of the key active ingredients in good dandruff shampoos include coal tar, pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, and salicylic acid, all of which help address the symptoms of dandruff (dryness, fungal infections and skin irritations) in small doses but may actually exacerbate the problem if over-used (hint: read your shampoo bottle's instructions!). 

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