This is how often should you really wash your hair

In the same way that your skin type dictates the type of moisturiser that would suit you best, your scalp type dictates how often you should wash your hair. If you’ve got a dry scalp, you’ll need to hit up the shampoo less often. If you’re very oily, however, you’ll probably want to reach for it several times a week. But, here’s the myth buster. Are you ready for it? According to the experts, including salon owner and hairdresser Candice Donadel, it’s perfectly fine to wash your hair every single day.

“If you’ve got oily hair and are using a daily shampoo or a sulfate-free shampoo, there’s nothing wrong with washing your hair every day”, she says. “It’s constant heat styling that can ultimately damage your hair, not washing, so if you’re letting it air dry, you’re in the clear. In the same way that washing your face every day isn’t going to damage it, neither will washing your scalp”.

Still, Donadel stresses that it’s vital you use the correct shampoo for your hair type. “Using a hydrating shampoo that’s often silicone-heavy or full of oils on oily hair will only make it oilier and using a volumising shampoo that can be quite clarifying on very dry hair will only make it drier.”

To help you out, we’ve put together some top picks to best suit your hair type.

Oily, fine or lifeless hair

If you've got thick hair and lots of it, you can have an oily scalp and not notice. If your hair is fine, however, the first sign of grease will leave it looking limp. In this case, you want to look out for shampoos that promise to volumise or make it clear they’re suitable for daily washing.

Dry, thick and curly hair 

Those with dry, thick or curly hair that’s prone to frizz should be using a shampoo that serves up moisture in the form of hydrating ingredients like oils, shea butter and silicone. The latter is a great way to seal the hair shaft in a way that sleekens it while trapping moisture within. 

Damaged hair 

When your hair is damaged, be it due to too much heat styling or colouring, the takeaway is a loss of keratin, the protein that gives your hair its structure and elasticity. You can’t grow it back, but you can temporarily fortify your hair with products containing proteins like wheat protein and keratin.

Colour treated hair 

If you’ve bleached your hair, you may need repairing products for damaged hair. However, if you've "added" a darker colour to it, one that can wash out, you'll want to use a shampoo for colour treated hair. Typically, these are sulfate-free or contain a lower concentration of “soap” so they’ll be slow to fade your colour. 

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