Your hair feels greasy by Tuesday, parched by Friday, and confused all weekend. The salon verdict might surprise you.
British hairdressers now point to a simple, adjustable range rather than a one-size-fits-all rule. The sweet spot sits between one and three shampoos per week, with tweaks based on scalp oil, hair type, length and lifestyle. Get the balance right and your roots stay calm, your lengths stay smooth, and your colour lasts longer.
What hairdressers say about frequency
Most heads sit happily on one to three shampoos a week. Oily scalps lean to the higher end. Dry or tightly coiled hair leans lower. Routines need seasonal changes and lifestyle edits. Your scalp, not Instagram, sets the rhythm.
Start with 2 shampoos per week. Move up or down by one wash. Track how your scalp behaves for 14 days before changing again.
Why this range? The scalp produces sebum, a protective oil that forms part of the hydrolipidic film. It shields skin, but it also traps sweat, pollution and product. Wash too often and you can trigger more oil and fragile lengths. Wash too little and build-up can clog follicles, dull shine and worsen flakes. The trick is a steady routine that cleans without stripping.
How many shampoos for your hair type
| Hair/scalp type | Typical weekly shampoos | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oily scalp | 2–3 | Use gentle, purifying formulas; consider a double cleanse after heavy sweat. |
| Fine hair | 3 or every other day | Light shampoos and lightweight conditioners keep lift without residue. |
| Dry scalp | 1–2 | Nourishing shampoos; add scalp hydration between washes. |
| Curly or wavy | 1–2 | Co-wash between shampoos; detangle wet with conditioner. |
| Coily or afro-textured | Every 1–2 weeks | Rich cleansers; pre-shampoo oiling to protect the fibre. |
| Colour-treated or sensitised | 1–2 | Use sulphate-free shampoos; rinse cool to slow fading. |
| Short hair | 2–3 | Less length means less dryness risk; keep formulas mild. |
| Long or mid-length | 1–2 | Focus shampoo on roots; condition mid-lengths to ends only. |
Oily and fine: more frequent, but gentler
If your fringe wilts by midday, wash two to three times weekly. Pick gentle purifying shampoos rather than harsh degreasers. Work the lather on the scalp for 60 seconds. Rinse well. Condition from ears down. For gym days, a quick second wash can help, but keep water lukewarm to avoid stimulating oil.
Dry, curly and coily: less washing, richer care
Texture slows oil travel, so lengths dry out faster than roots. Shampoo weekly or fortnightly for coily hair. Add a co-wash midweek if your scalp feels dusty. Use a pre-shampoo oil or butter on the ends. Avoid rough towel-drying. Squeeze with a microfibre towel, then air-dry or diffuse on low heat.
Colour-treated or sensitised: protect pigment, reduce friction
Two shampoos a week keep colour fresh. Choose sulphate-free formulas and lukewarm water. Massage gently with fingertips, not nails. A weekly mask restores slip and reduces breakage, which helps colour look brighter for longer.
Short vs long: why length changes the plan
Short cuts can tolerate more frequent washing, as oil spreads quickly and ends are young. Longer hair benefits from fewer washes, as older ends need every drop of moisture they can keep. Target shampoo at the scalp and keep conditioner below the crown.
How to stretch days between washes without looking flat
- Use dry shampoo the night before, not just in the morning. Oil absorbs while you sleep.
- Finish every wash with a 20–30 second cool rinse to smooth the cuticle and add shine.
- Brush with natural bristles in the evening to redistribute sebum through mid-lengths.
- Clean your brush weekly. A dirty brush pushes residue back onto clean roots.
- Swap tight ponytails for looser styles to reduce root oil pooling.
- Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to cut friction and next-day frizz.
Dry shampoo is a bridge, not a substitute. Limit to two consecutive non-wash days to avoid build-up.
Season, sweat and city grime change the math
Heat and humidity demand extra cleansing. If you sweat daily, add a gentle midweek wash or a scalp-only cleanse. Urban pollution clings to oil and styling products. A monthly clarifying shampoo resets the scalp, but follow with a hydrating mask. In winter, central heating dries ends, so you can often reduce frequency by one wash.
A two-week plan you can test
Week one: wash Monday and Friday. Use dry shampoo on Wednesday night. Apply a mask on Friday after shampoo. Week two: if roots still look greasy by Thursday lunchtime, add a Wednesday scalp-only wash. If ends feel straw-like, remove one wash and add a leave-in conditioner midweek. Keep notes. Hair responds to patterns, not guesswork.
Warning signs to act on
Persistent itching, thick yellow scale, sudden shedding or sore patches need medical advice. These can signal conditions such as seborrhoeic dermatitis or psoriasis. Do not try to mask symptoms with more dry shampoo. When in doubt, book a trichology consult or speak to a GP.
Technique and tools that make each wash count
Use a £1-coin-sized amount for short hair, £2-coin for long hair. Emulsify in your palms before it touches the scalp. Massage for a full minute to lift oil and sweat. Rinse until the water runs clear. Condition from mid-lengths to ends for two minutes. Blot, do not rub. Aim the hairdryer at the roots for 60–80 seconds to set lift and slow oil spread. Hard water dulls hair, so consider a simple shower filter or a monthly chelating treatment if you live in a limescale-heavy area.
Smart extras for specific situations
Swimmers can use a pre-swim leave-in or oil on ends and rinse hair with fresh water before entering the pool, then do a gentle shampoo the same day. Heavy styling weeks with sprays and creams benefit from a double cleanse: first to break down product, second to clean the scalp. If you wear protective styles, schedule scalp cleansing with a nozzle bottle and water-diluted shampoo, then pat dry with a cool diffuser.
Finally an article that explains why my scalp freaks out when I wash daily. I’m going to try the 2x/week start and actually track 14 days—love the tips about cool rinses and using dry shampoo at night. Quick Q: on heavy run days, is a scalp-only cleanse with conditioner on the ends enough, or will that still trigger more oil? Also, any guidence for switching routines with the seasons?