One of the most hotly debated topics in haircare is how often you should shampoo. If you’re most guys I know, you shampoo every single day. And if you’re like most guys I know, you’re damn certain it’s necessary, because your hair gets oily, or something. So let me say this here and now: You do not need to shampoo every day. In fact, you should not shampoo every day. The exact number depends on your hair, but think more like two or three days a week.
Shampooing removes oil. And it's totally logical to think that shampooing more would mean less oil—totally linear. But we don't live in that kind of world, and forcing yourself to space out those washes—let’s say, every other day, to start, then you actually train your scalp to produce less oil over time. It learns and responds. For daily washers, part of the reason it gets so oily on a daily basis is because you’re washing it every day. That hair wants so badly to stay nourished, and so the scalp overproduces sebum, so that the sebum can make its way up the hair shaft and stay hydrated. By going to one extreme (the daily wash), your scalp goes to the other extreme (the overproduction of sebum). So, take it easy on your head, and simply shampoo less. Healthy hair should always focus on moisture and conditioning, not excessive cleaning.
Now, don’t get me twisted—you should still shower daily. You can (and should) rinse your hair every day, which will flush away most oily and sweat and hair product (since most products these days are water soluble anyhow).
Plus, you can, and should, use conditioner as much as you want, though daily might be a stretch for many guys. If you have more textured hair, it’s also worth trying to co-wash (“conditioner-wash”). This is where you let your fortifying conditioner help rinse away excess grime and oil buildup. This could buy you time between shampoos—perhaps a couple extra days.
While we'r on the topic of conditioner: Any time you shampoo, you should always follow it with a conditioner. (Don't even get us started on 2-in-1 products, which you should banish from your shower permanently.)
Try your best to switch to an every-other day routine. For help, consider another key oil-reducing product: Dry shampoo.
Dry shampoo is a daytime style assistant. You spray it at your roots before applying any other styler. (Your hair needs to be rinsed and dried, however.) The dry shampoo—which comes as a spray, powder, or styling paste—in turn soaks up the excess grease your scalp produces, and also gives your hair a bit of aloft at the root, since there isn’t any oil weighing it down. This prevents you from having to wash out the natural oil and nourishment from the rest of the hair strand, and buys you an extra day before shampooing again.
However, it’s recommended you do a full “wet” shampoo the same day or following morning after a dry shampoo, to avoid any buildup of product at the shaft of the hair. Be sure to rinse it out thoroughly before bed, if you prefer to shampoo in the morning.
When you do use shampoo, look for ones that include scalp-friendly ingredients. People often think they’re just washing the hair, but really it’s as much a skincare regimen (for the scalp) as it as a hair care one.
Get clean hair without nuking it with shampoo.
