If you’re a curly girl, you know that washing your hair every day is a big no-no. But how often should you wash curly hair? What if you have dandruff or work out frequently? And how can you keep your curls looking good between washdays?
Here is your definitive guide for how often to wash curly hair.
If you’re wondering how often to wash wavy hair or curly hair, it depends on several factors including your curl type, scalp oil levels, product use, porosity, and lifestyle. Let’s explore each of these factors in detail.
Scalp oiliness and how often to wash curly hair
How oily is your scalp? If you notice greasy roots the day after washing, you probably have an oily scalp. If you do, you may need to wash every 2-3 days with a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your curls.
Dandruff
How often should you wash curly hair with dandruff? If you have some dandruff, it can be tempting to wash your hair more often. But this can make the problem worse by drying out your scalp.
Dandruff can be caused by either a fungus or a dry scalp. If you suspect it’s a fungus, try an anti-fungal dandruff shampoo to see if it improves your scalp health.
If that doesn’t help, then your issue is probably a dry scalp. To fix this, work on drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day. Add healthy fats into your diet by incorporating salmon, avocados, flaxseeds, and other sources of Omega-3s.
Curl type
Wavy hair and looser curls can be washed more often than tighter curls and coils. Coily hair can be cowashed frequently and may only need a deep cleanse every 3-4 weeks. Tighter curls fall in between for washing frequency.
If you’re not sure what your curl type is, read my guide to curl types. Check out the social media of the girls in your curl type to see how often they wash their hair.
Hair porosity
If you’re not sure what hair porosity, read this post. Porosity describes how well your hair can absorb and retain moisture. Since my hair is low porosity, it takes longer to absorb moisture. But, it also retains moisture for longer.
If your hair has high porosity, it will absorb moisture and lose moisture more quickly. So you will probably need to wash it more often.
Lifestyle: how often should you wash curly hair
If you’re physically active, your scalp may get sweaty more often, which will require more frequent washing. If you’re concerned about drying out your curls, you can also alternate cowashing (washing your hair with a conditioner) with regular shampoo.
Product buildup
How many products do you use on your curly hair? Some curly girls use only a cleanser, conditioner, and one styling product. Others use a full lineup of products to enhance their curls’ natural beauty.
If you use a lot of different products or you apply a lot of product, you’ll need to wash more frequently to avoid buildup. Also, ensure that you use a sulfate-containing cleanser once a week to cleanse away any stubborn residues.
How often to wash your curly hair
I wash my curly hair about 3 times a week. To decide whether to wash my hair, I look at it and ask myself the following questions:
-Are the roots oily?
-Do the ends look dry and frizzy?
-Are the curls stretched out and dry?
If so, I will wash the hair, condition it, and style it as usual. My go-to styling products right now are these ones:
Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Styling Gel
How to keep curly hair fresh between washes
If you have a very oily scalp, you may notice that your roots get oily on day 2. If you’re not ready to wash your hair all over again, you can use a dry shampoo powder (like this one) on your roots.
If you notice that your curls have gotten stretched out and dry, you can also refresh them. Read this post to learn how to refresh your curly hair.
Let’s Chat:
How many times a week should you wash curly hair? The frequency of washing your hair depends on your curl type, porosity, lifestyle, and product usage. How often do you wash your curly hair? Please share your experiences in the comment section!
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