Washing your hair once a week may benefit or hurt your scalp, depending on your hair type.
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Washing your hair once a week can help your scalp feel more moisturized and less irritated, greasy, and dry.
For people with fine or oily hair types, washing your hair only once a week may lead to scalp irritation and build-up.
Once-a-week hair washing helps people with dry, curly, or thick hair types maintain a more hydrated scalp.
What happens to your scalp when you wash your hair once a week mostly depends on your hair type and lifestyle. Washing your hair once a week can affect your scalp’s oil production, skin barrier, and overall health—for better or worse.1
Benefits of Washing Your Hair Once a Week
For many people, washing your hair once a week is convenient and helps improve scalp health.2 People with dry, curly, or thick hair types may only need to wash every one to two weeks.3
Decreased Scalp Irritation and Dryness
Like your face, your scalp has oil glands that produce natural oils (known as sebum) to moisturize your scalp and hair. If your hair feels brittle and your scalp is dry and irritated, you’re likely shampooing too often.1
