How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

(via iStock)

Lately, successfully aligning our wash days with events feels like we won the Powerball. Though dry shampoo (our second religion) makes dealing with dirty hair a walk in sunny Central Park, even we diehard dry shampoo-ers must face wash days eventually. Don’t wash your hair everyday, wash it everyday, wash it every other day–talk of the hair town can get confusing. That’s why we went straight to the industry’s top Mane Masters with our burning questions about washing hair.

So, how often should you actually lather up? King of lived-in locks and co-founder of Ramirez Tran Salon in Los Angeles, Anh Co Tran says that depends on your scalp and hair texture. Anh explains, “Curly and extra curly hair tend to be on the dryer side. People with curly textures should wash less than people with straight hair, who typically wash more. The scalp builds and produces natural oils that the hair needs for hydration and nutrients, so the straighter the hair is, the easier it is for those essential oils to be dispensed throughout the hair. Straight hair should be washed every three days, extra curly hair once a week, and every texture in between will fall within those days.”

(via theouai.com)

To keep oily scalps in check, Mane Addicts CEO Jen Atkin recommends using her OUAI “Oily” Supplements to help reduce the amount of oil your scalp produces. If your hair is an oily-curly hybrid, we love Sally Hershberger’s 24K Get Gorgeous Shampoo.

As far as the ideal water temperature for washing hair? While we live for a hot shower, our hair (and its color) feels happiest in minimal heat. Badass girl boss and CEO of her eponymous line 24K, Sally Hershberger says, “Warm water opens the cuticle more than cold water does. If you want your color to last, shampoo less and use cool water.”

(via Sephora)

Keeping your color crisp can require a different wash routine though. “If you’re someone who loves fun pastel colors, or have a vibrant red hair color, you want to be sure to only wash once or twice a week so the color doesn’t fade as quickly!” Jen tells us.

Peep their top picks for the best shampoos and conditioners.

Anh Co Tran loves:

L’Oréal Everpure Shampoo

L’Oréal Nutrifier Nourishing Shampoo

Jen Atkin loves:

Christophe Robin’s Color Fixator Wheat Germ Shampoo

OUAI Repair Shampoo

Sally Hershberger loves:

Shu Uemura Moisture Velvet

Inphenom Shampoo and Conditioner

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For 6 post-workout hairstyles that don’t require washing your hair, click here.