How Often Should You Shampoo Your Hair?

You do all the right things when it comes to your hair. You eat healthy. You avoid heat-styling as much as possible. You steer clear of sulfates and treat your tresses to nutrient-packed products instead. But if you’re washing your hair too much or too little, all of your efforts might be in vain. So, how often should you shampoo your hair to get shiny, healthy-looking locks? Let’s take a closer look.

What Happens When You Over-Wash Your Hair?

In a nutshell: more bad hair days. Just like your skin, your hair needs sebum (oil) to keep it healthy and moisturized. When you over-wash your hair, you strip the natural oils that protect the hair shaft. The end result? Dry, frizzy locks, split-ends and dull-looking hair.

To get a little more sciencey: Shampooing too much also disrupts your scalp microbiome, the term for the billions of good bacteria residing on your head. These microbial communities help maintain your skin pH and reduce the growth of bad bacteria that may contribute to dandruff, inflammation and other scalp problems. 

And, yes, you can (and should!) use a concentrated conditioner bar to restore moisture to your dehydrated locks. But truthfully, the best thing you can do for your hair is to go easy on the shampoo.

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Should I Just Skip Shampoo, Then?

Before you swear off shampoo altogether, you should know that going too long between suds can have consequences as well. For starters, skipping shampoo too much can cause a buildup of oils on your scalp, leading to an abundance of yeastlike fungus that feed on the oils and cause dandruff (yes, dandruff can be the result of over-washing and under-washing!). 

Another reason you shouldn’t skip shampoo? It can lead to a buildup of oils on the scalp. This buildup can block new hair follicles from growing normally, potentially resulting in hair loss.

So, How Often Should You Shampoo Your Hair?

Nailing down the perfect hair-washing frequency can be tricky because we’re all different individuals with different hair care needs. That said, a good place to start is by figuring out your hair type. 

If your hair is fine and thin, you’ll probably want to wash your hair every other day since fine hair tends to become oilier faster. Conversely, if you have thick, curly or coarse hair, you should go longer in-between washes to preserve your scalp’s natural oils. And if your hair type falls somewhere in the middle, aim to wash your hair every three days.

Your lifestyle also plays a role in how much you should be shampooing your hair. If you hit the gym regularly, for instance, you’ll probably want to shampoo more often to prevent sweat buildup from damaging your hair. 

What You Use to Wash Your Hair Matters, Too

Do you feel like you need to shampoo every single day because your hair just gets too dirty and greasy? And somehow, your hair still feels dry? We hate to break this to you, but your shampoo could be to blame.

Traditional shampoos often contain a lot of questionable ingredients: sulfates, parabens, silicones, fillers — the list goes on and on. If your hair is in a tizzy and you can’t figure out why, it may be time to make the switch to a gentle shampoo bar. 

What makes our shampoo bars the best option for fussy hair, you ask? Allow us to break it down: 

• No Questionable Ingredients – Our shampoo bars are completely free of SLS, preservatives, fillers and silicones, making them a great choice for people following the Curly Girl Method (or anyone who wants the best for their hair!).
• Nutrient-Dense – Unlike traditional shampoos, our shampoo bars are loaded with nourishing, plant-based ingredients such as vitamin E, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and vegetable glycerin.
• Balanced pH – Most traditional shampoos aren’t pH-balanced and are therefore too acidic for the scalp and hair. Our shampoo bar has a pH of 4 to 5.5 to keep your hair and scalp happy and healthy. 
• Zero Stress – Tired of combing the beauty aisle for a product that works with your specific hair type? Our bars work wonders on every hair type, including curly and color-treated hair.
• Sustainable – If you’re looking to make your hair care more sustainable, shampoo bars are the way to go. Our bars replace two to three plastic bottles and are shipped in 100 percent plastic-free packaging! 

Still not convinced? Check out the reviews of our shampoo bars and see what all the fuss is about!

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The Takeaway

To sum things up, there is no universal answer to the question, “How often should I wash my hair?” because we’re all different. But in general, most people should wash their hair every two or three days with a nourishing shampoo to achieve healthy, luscious locks.

Ready to embrace plastic-free shampoo? Pick up a shampoo bar from The Earthling Co. and give your hair care routine a sustainable upgrade!