How often should you wash your hair?
There is no single right answer, which is why the question comes up so often. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests washing your hair based on how often it gets dirty or oily. That depends mostly on your hair’s texture and on how quickly your scalp makes oil.
This quiz turns those into a starting point. It runs in your browser and nothing you answer is saved.
What dermatologists suggest
- Straight hair and an oily scalp: you may want to shampoo every day.
- Dry, textured, curly or thick hair: shampoo when needed, at least once every two to three weeks.
Whatever your hair, the AAD suggests putting shampoo on your scalp rather than along the whole length, which cleans away build-up, dead skin and oil without drying your hair too much, and using conditioner after every wash.
How the quiz decides
It weighs five answers. Your texture and how quickly your scalp gets oily count most, then how dry your lengths feel and whether you sweat a lot or use a lot of product. Flakes are an optional question. The answers point toward washing often, every two or three days, or only when needed, and ties go to the middle answer.
The result is a starting point, not a rule. Try it for a few weeks and adjust: wash sooner if your scalp feels oily or itchy, later if your lengths feel dry.
If you see flakes
The AAD says common reasons for flakes include not shampooing often enough, or not using the right conditioner, oil or scalp moisturiser for your hair type. Mild dandruff can usually be treated by washing regularly, and if that does not help, with a dandruff shampoo. If flakes do not clear, or become severe, see a dermatologist, who can tell whether they are a sign of a condition such as seborrhoeic dermatitis or psoriasis. Our scalp type quiz looks at your scalp in more detail.
Washing curly and coily hair
For curly and coily hair, the AAD suggests washing when needed and, if you use a dandruff shampoo, applying it only to the scalp, because its ingredients can dry the hair. Condition the whole length, and comb while damp with a wide-tooth comb.
Plan wash days in the HairLens app
The HairLens app scores scalp oil, flakes and moisture from your photos and plans wash days around them.