How Often Should You Wash Curly Hair​?

Spiral hair and lush shape is irresistible. Maintaining hydration, taming frizz and finding the right care routine often come with a price for embracing your curls – but we’re here to help! One of the most common questions from curly-haired individuals, especially beginners.

This answer varies from curl type, lifestyle and needs. So let us reveal this mystery and help you build a washing routine that works with your curls.

Why washing is vital to curly hair.

Simply, washing your hair isn’t about cleanliness alone—it’s about balance. By washing your curls properly, the dirt, extra oil, product build up from your hair is washed away, hydrated and pretty!

But again, over washing can remove your hair’s natural oils, leaving your hair dry and brittle and more likely to break. However, spending too much time in between each wash may allow for a sebum and product build up, giving you a weighed-down look.

By its very nature, curly hair is drier; sebum, the scalp’s natural oil, can’t travel down the twists and turns in a curl. That’s why curly hair needs a washing routine that washes it clean without drying it out.

How to Find the Right Washing Frequency

Curly haired folks don’t really need to wash their hair that often but the frequency depends on your curl type, lifestyle and environmental factors. Here’s a breakdown by curl type:

Wavy Hair (Type 2)

• Washing Frequency: Every 2–4 days.
• Why: However, while wavy hair is less dry than its tighter curl types, there are moisturizing shampoos for wavy hair to add some workability without the dryness. Heavy products can weigh your waves down, so avoid these.

Curly Hair (Type 3)

• Washing Frequency: Every 4–7 days.
• Why: Cleansing and hydration is needed in a balance for Type 3 curls. To keep the moisture in, co-wash (use a conditioner instead of shampoo) into your routine. Mid week, your curls may feel dead, so spritz water, leave in conditioner, or curl enhancing products for refresh.

Coily/Kinky Hair (Type 4)

• Washing Frequency: Every 7–10 days.
• Why: The driest and most fragile of the curl types are coily hair. Especially when it comes to co-washing, it loves it, the occasional clarifying shampoos here and there to remove buildup. Deep conditioning, protective style, retaining moisture.

Factors of Lifestyle and Environment

External factors also influence how often you should wash your hair:

Active Lifestyle: If you sweat a lot or if your work keeps you exercising and you want to stay away from athlete’s foot, then you will have to wash your hair more often to keep your scalp clean. Co wash or a gentle shampoo.

Climate: Some areas may need to be washed more frequently in humid environments, and less frequently during cold, dry winters to prevent losing moisture.

Tips for Washing Curly Hair

• Choose the Right Products: About sulfate free shampoos and hydrating conditioners for curly hair.
• Focus on the Scalp: Leaving your scalp tender, use the shampoo to massage it up, and use its rinse to work through your curls.
• Avoid Hot Water: Lukewarm or cool water will help you to retain moisture and lessen frizz when you wash your hair.
• Deep Condition Regularly: It’s also good to ensure curls are hydrated and defined by incorporating a deep conditioning treatment into your routine.

Ways You Can Tell That You’re Not Washing Enough Or Too Much

• Over-Washing: If you suffer from dry brittle strands, excess frizz or completely lack curl definition.
• Under-Washing: Sweaty scalp, dandruff, or limp, weighed down curls.

Conclusion

It’s a matter of what’s best for our hair knowing what our hair needs, and finding a washing routine that works for us and what is going to be best for us. If you have wavy, curly or coily hair, a formula exists for how to keep your curls healthy and shiny, it’s consistency and observation.

Are you still unsure about your routine? Head to our blog for more tailored advice, product recommendations and expert tips to help keep your curls healthy and happy. You can fall back in love with your natural texture again with the right approach!