Washing and conditioning

There is no single right number of washes a week. The right routine keeps your scalp comfortable and clean while leaving the lengths soft rather than stripped.

How often should you wash?

Let your scalp guide you. As a rough starting point:

• Fine or straight hair often looks best washed every day or every other day, because oil spreads quickly.
• Wavy and thicker hair usually manages two or three times a week.
• Curly and coily hair is often washed once a week or less, sometimes with a conditioner-only wash in between.

Wash more often if you exercise a lot, wear hats or helmets, or your scalp gets itchy or flaky when you leave it longer. Training your hair to "need" fewer washes by skipping them works for some people and not others; if your scalp becomes sore or spotty, go back to washing more often.

Choosing a shampoo

Shampoo is for the scalp. Look at what you want it to do rather than the marketing:

• Gentle or moisturising shampoos suit dry, curly, coloured or fragile hair.
• Clarifying shampoos remove build-up from styling products, hard water and oils. Most people only need one every couple of weeks; used daily they can be drying.
• Colour-safe shampoos are milder and help coloured hair fade more slowly.
• Medicated or anti-dandruff shampoos are for specific scalp problems. Follow the instructions on the pack, including how long to leave them on.

Conditioner: lengths and ends, not roots

Conditioner smooths the cuticle, reduces tangles and makes hair easier to comb without snapping it. Apply it from about the middle of the hair to the ends, where hair is oldest and driest. Most people don't need it on the scalp, where it can make fine hair flat and greasy.

• Rinse-out conditioner after every shampoo, for almost everyone.
• Deep conditioner or mask once a week or so for dry, coloured, bleached or curly hair.
• Leave-in conditioner for hair that tangles easily or feels dry by the end of the day.

A simple wash routine

1. Detangle gently before you get in the shower if your hair knots easily.
2. Wet your hair thoroughly with warm, not hot, water.
3. Shampoo with your fingertips, not your nails, concentrating on the scalp. Let the lather run through the lengths as you rinse.
4. Squeeze excess water out, then apply conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends. Leave it on for a few minutes.
5. Detangle with a wide-tooth comb while the conditioner is in, starting at the ends and working upwards.
6. Rinse, then squeeze water out with a soft towel or cotton T-shirt. Avoid rubbing, which roughens the cuticle and causes frizz.

Last reviewed: November 2026