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Table of Contents
How Often
Water Type
Hair Washing Steps
Natural Washes
Regular hair washing does more than make you look good; it helps remove dead skin cells, oil, and microorganisms that can build up. It also helps to prevent infection andcontrol odor.
Conditioning hair is also important for countering the effects of detergents, preventing hair damage, moisturizing hair, and keeping hair manageable.
Which products to use and how depends on several factors, particularly hair type. Hair types have different structures, which means they have different needs. Fine,oily hairneeds different products than dry, coarse hair. The appearance and structure of Black hair means unique hair care is required to prevent damage.
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How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
No hair-washing schedule works for everyone. The frequency depends largely on hair type and texture:
Other factors play a role in hair washing frequency as well.
Signs you may need to wash your hair more often include:
Signs you may need to wash your hair less often include:
Choose Products for Your Hair Type
Many factors determine hair type, including:
Curly hair can be classified into nine categories, ranging from slightly wavy hair to tightly coiled hair made up of very tight, densely packed zigzags.
Knowing your hair type can help you know which products to use for your hair’s needs. Talk to your hairstylist if you aren’t sure of your hair type.
Shampoo
Without washing, sebum, the natural oil that protects thehair and follicles, can build up and attract dust and dirt. Because oil is hydrophobic (repels water), washing with just water is usually insufficient to clean hair.
Shampoo contains surfactants, which help the sebum mix with water and allow it to rinse out, along with dirt, dead skin cells, and product residue.
Shampoos contain about:
Within the shampoo category, different formulations are designed to address specific traits or problems. For example:
When using shampoo, apply it to your scalp instead of the rest of your hair. This helps wash away oils and buildup without overly drying out your hair.
Medicated Shampoos
Shampoos can also act as mediums for medications that treatscalp conditions.Dandruff shampoo may contain ingredients such as:
See a healthcare provider to determine if your symptoms could be related to a different condition, such asscalp psoriasis(an autoimmune skin condition).
Moisturizing Conditioners
Conditioners are used to:
If you have fine or straight hair, apply conditioner just to the ends of your hair.
If you have hair that is curly and/or dry, apply a thick conditioner to the entire length of your hair.
If you have Black hair, use conditioner every time you wash your hair, pay special attention to the ends, and apply a hot oil treatment twice a month.
If your hair needs a lot of moisturizing, look for products that contain ingredients such as:
Co-Washing Products for Dry or Course Hair
Co-washing means using only conditioner, withoutshampoo. This can help keep hair moisturized.Co-washing is gentle for hair but can lead to a buildup of residues, so the pros and cons of this practice need to be weighed.
Co-washing products, sometimes called cleansing conditioners, are available commercially. Cetyl alcohol (a fatty alcohol) is a main ingredient of many co-washing products.
Other Optional Products
Other hair products include:
Consider Your Water Type
Hard water has dissolved minerals, such as magnesium andcalcium, which can have negative effects on hair, such as:
If you have hard water, consider investing in awater softener, which treats the water and removes the calcium and magnesium.
If a water softener is not an option, ways to help deal with the effects of hard water on your hair include:
Basic Steps to Wash Your Hair
Your specific hair-washing routine may vary according to your needs, but basic steps include:
After washing, style if desired.
What About Natural Washes?
Many recipes exist for homemade, natural rinses using ingredients such as tea, diluted apple cider vinegar,baking soda, and more. Some of these may work well for your hair, but there is potential for damage to your hair or other safety issues. Check with your hairstylist or healthcare provider before making your own hair rinses.
Summary
Shampoos cleanse hair of oils, dirt, and product buildup, while conditioners add moisture to hair. Which type of shampoo, conditioner, and otherhair productsto use, and how often, depends on your hair type and needs.
Fine, oily hair needs to be washed more often, using products that cleanse well and lighter conditioners. Dry, curly, and coarse hair needs to be washed less often, using gentle shampoos and more moisturizing conditioners. Medicated shampoos may manage scalp conditions such asdandruff.
Talk to a hairstylist or healthcare provider if you have questions about your hair type or symptoms of a scalp condition or before making your own hair rinses.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.DermNet.Shampoo.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?Dias G, Reis MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.DermNet.Selenium sulfide.DermNet.Ketoconazole.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.Dias G, Reis MF.Pro and contra of cleansing conditioners. Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.Luqman MW, Ramzan MH, Javaid U, et al.To evaluate and compare changes in baseline strength of hairs after treating them with deionized water and hard water and its role in hair breakage.Int J Trichol. 2018;10(3):113. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_115_16Atlantic Blue Water Services.4 ways to save your hair from hard water.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.DermNet.Shampoo.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?Dias G, Reis MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.DermNet.Selenium sulfide.DermNet.Ketoconazole.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.Dias G, Reis MF.Pro and contra of cleansing conditioners. Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.Luqman MW, Ramzan MH, Javaid U, et al.To evaluate and compare changes in baseline strength of hairs after treating them with deionized water and hard water and its role in hair breakage.Int J Trichol. 2018;10(3):113. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_115_16Atlantic Blue Water Services.4 ways to save your hair from hard water.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.DermNet.Shampoo.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?Dias G, Reis MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.DermNet.Selenium sulfide.DermNet.Ketoconazole.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.Dias G, Reis MF.Pro and contra of cleansing conditioners. Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.Luqman MW, Ramzan MH, Javaid U, et al.To evaluate and compare changes in baseline strength of hairs after treating them with deionized water and hard water and its role in hair breakage.Int J Trichol. 2018;10(3):113. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_115_16Atlantic Blue Water Services.4 ways to save your hair from hard water.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dry shampoo: dermatologists' tips for getting your best results.
DermNet.Shampoo.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Black hair: tips for everyday care.
HCA Florida Healthcare.How many times a week should you wash your hair?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips for healthy hair.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How often do children need to wash their hair?
Dias G, Reis MF.Hair cosmetics: an overview.Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
DermNet.Selenium sulfide.
DermNet.Ketoconazole.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.
Dias G, Reis MF.Pro and contra of cleansing conditioners. Skin Appendage Disord. 2019;5(3):131-134. doi:10.1159/000493588
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.
Luqman MW, Ramzan MH, Javaid U, et al.To evaluate and compare changes in baseline strength of hairs after treating them with deionized water and hard water and its role in hair breakage.Int J Trichol. 2018;10(3):113. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_115_16
Atlantic Blue Water Services.4 ways to save your hair from hard water.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Teaching your child healthy hair care habits.
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