The short answer
Most people can wash their hair every day or every other day, and for many, especially anyone with fine or thinning hair or an oily, flaky or itchy scalp, daily washing is best. Washing doesn’t cause hair loss. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp.
How often should you wash your hair?
It depends on your scalp more than your hair. Your scalp is skin: it produces oil and sweat and sheds cells every day. Left too long, that build-up can feed the yeast behind dandruff, irritate the follicles and leave hair flat and itchy. So I often recommend washing daily, with a gentle shampoo and conditioner on the lengths.
| Your hair and scalp | How often to wash |
|---|---|
| Oily scalp, fine or flat hair | Every day |
| Thinning hair or shedding | Every day or every other day |
| Dandruff or an itchy, flaky scalp | Every day, with a shampoo that suits your scalp |
| Normal scalp and hair | Every day or every other day |
| Curly hair | Cleanse the scalp often; condition the lengths well |
| Coily or afro hair | A scalp shampoo weekly, with a co-wash mid-week |
| After exercise | The same day, if you can |
Is it bad to wash your hair every day?
No. Frequent washing gets the blame for dryness that usually comes from harsh shampoo, hot water and heat styling. If your hair feels dry, change your products before you change how often you wash. In my experience it’s almost impossible to over-wash the scalp; it’s far more often the wrong shampoo and conditioner.
Does washing your hair cause hair loss?
No. The hairs in the plug hole had already stopped growing and were due to shed; washing simply releases them. Wash less often and more build up between washes, so each wash looks worse. Losing up to around 100 hairs a day is normal. If you’re shedding noticeably more, look for a cause such as telogen effluvium or low iron.
Signs you’re not washing enough
- An itchy scalp by the end of the day
- Flakes or visible scale
- Spots or bumps on the scalp
- An odour, or hair that goes limp quickly
These often settle with more frequent, gentler washing. If they don’t, it may be dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis or folliculitis.
Related advice
If something isn’t right with your hair or scalp, I’ll take your history, examine your hair and scalp closely and give you a written plan. What happens at a consultation.
Questions
How often should you wash your hair?
Most people can wash every day or every other day. Daily washing often suits fine or thinning hair and oily, flaky or itchy scalps best.
Is it bad to wash your hair every day?
No. With a mild shampoo, lukewarm water and conditioner on the lengths, daily washing is fine for most people and keeps the scalp healthy.
Does washing your hair make it fall out?
No. The hairs that come out had already stopped growing. Washing less often just lets more build up between washes.
How often should you wash thinning hair?
Every day or every other day. Clean hair looks fuller, and a clean scalp is the best environment for the hair you have.