A fully debatable topic, as how often should you wash curly hair totally depends on your hair texture, your lifestyle, and also your hair type. Like I have 2c curls, so, I wash my hair twice a week. But even this does not prove that every person having 2C curls should wash their hair twice a week.
Washing curly hair depends on too many things and one of them is knowing your hair in a better way. Like, If I skip my wash day, the next day my hair will be all tangled and it will take more time to detangle and shampoo them.
So, missing my wash hair day is like giving myself and my curls a punishment. Therefore, the first thing is to understand your curls and the way they react.
Let’s understand about the washing of curls in more detail-
How often is healthiest to wash your hair?
A simple question that every person with curly hair is looking for answers for. How often should I wash my curly hair is the biggest question as it directly relates to the health of my curls.
Curly hair is drier in nature, which makes it frizzy and unmanageable. The scalp oil in the curly hair finds it difficult to travel down the curls due to the spiral structure of hair strands.
And this is the reason, it is necessary to make a balance between washing curls. As overwashing, curls can make them drier and frizzier.
But the above point has one exception, if you have an oily scalp then it is recommended to wash your curls because that oil attracts dirt and also produces buildup. This weighs down the curls and also causes dandruff. Oily curly hair must keep the curls fresh and the scalp clean.
Washing your curls 2-3 times a week is a balancing point and manageable. This allows your curls to settle down and also keeps the scalp clean and clear, not affecting the scalp’s health.
Also, washing curls depends a lot on your schedule, as I choose to wash my hair on Wednesdays and Sundays, and both days are off for me. So, you know after washing my curls I can take further care of them which is required. Like applying leave-in conditioner, diffusing and etc.
Let’s break down the points-
- Wash your curls according to your schedule, as after-wash care is also necessary for curls that require applying a leave-in conditioner, using a diffuser, and also trying the L.O.C. method to keep curls hydrated.
- If you have oily hair, you can wash your curls daily, as you don’t need to worry about dry scalp.
- If you have thick coarse curls i.e. type 4 curls, washing them once a week to make the scalp clean is enough. As this curl type is extremely dry frequent washing would damage them.
- Finer curls or type 2 & 3 curls can be washed 2-3 times a week, to make them bouncy and defined.
POV- So, the best thing to do is to understand your curls and wash accordingly.
What to do between washes?
As a curly-haired person, I know that curls look best on their wash days, but what to do on other days. Because washing curls every day is not an option.
Follow these methods to keep your curls fresh between wash days-
1. L.O.C. method-
To take care of your curls between washes, you should follow the L.O.C method after washing your curls, this will keep the curls hydrated and moisturized for a long time.
L- Liquid, O- Oil, and C- Conditioner. These three help to keep the curls soft and smooth for a long time. Liquid denotes the water in the curls after washing. Oil means applying lightweight oil to the hair strands and especially to the hair ends. Conditioner means to apply leave-in conditioner.
All these three things make your curls hydrated and moisturized for long.
2. Sleep on Satin Pillowcases-
You must have always heard this thing, but does it really work? Well, yes it does work. Sleeping on satin pillowcases means you really care for your curls. Satin being soft and silky reduces friction in the curls and avoids dryness.
But, if you have long curls, then apart from sleeping on satin pillowcases, you need to tie them either in pineapple style or braid them to avoid getting tangled.
3. Dry Scalp Massage-
Not many understand the value and importance of this dry scalp massage. Dry scalp massage means just to massage your scalp with the help of fingers, this increases blood circulation in the scalp and benefits the hair strands.
4. Dry Shampoo-
If you feel your curls are oily or greasy between hair wash days, try using dry shampoo on them. Dry shampoo helps to revive the curls and remove the oil and grease from it.
5. Argan Oil-
Have you ever tried this amazing oil? Well, Argan oil is like a blessing for curls, you can use it as a conditioner and as a daily hydration too. It does not feel sticky and helps to moisturize the hair strands.
Buy Now- Argan Oil
10 Reasons to Wash Your Curly Hair
I don’t think you need a reason to wash your curls. Washing curls feels so good and refreshing. But if for any reason, you are thinking of skipping the washing of your curls, let’s understand 10 reasons to wash curly hair-
1. Keep the scalp clean-
Washing curly hair helps to keep the scalp clean and clear. If your scalp is clean and clear that means the curls will be clean and won’t be greasy anymore.
2. No product build-ups-
Product buildups in curly hair are very common,the reason being the coiled structure of hair strands. Washing curls helps to get rid of product buildup and gives your curls a life.
3. Define curls-
When you don’t wash your curls for a long time, over time product, oil, and dirt accumulate in the hair strands and scalp and weigh down curls. Therefore, washing curls helps to define them properly.
4. Hydration-
When you wash your curls, you apply product and that provides the thirsty curls with immense hydration and moisturization.
5. Reduces hair breakage–
Applying shampoo and conditioner on curls helps to reduce friction and hair damage. When you apply conditioner, you detangle your curls and that helps to reduce hair breakage.
6. Bouncy curls-
Wash your curls and get the bounce back. Yes, a good wash with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner helps to restore the volume and bounce of curls.
7. Healthy hair growth-
When your scalp is clean, and free from any product buildups. It increases blood circulation, and this helps to create a favorable environment for healthy hair growth.
8. Relieves from dandruff–
If you have a dandruff problem, then washing curls with anti-dandruff shampoo helps to solve the problem.
9. A good hair styling-
For good hair styling, freshly washed curls are required. Fresh curls are more manageable and they help in better styling.
10. Love your curls-
Well, the most important point. To make yourself fall in love again with your curls, washing them is necessary because when you wash your curls, they become soft and smooth. And those curly hair strands make you look beautiful and you start loving your curls again.
Is Washing Curly Hair Once a Week Good: Final Thoughts
So, to wrap it up washing curls is necessary but when to wash, how often to wash hair all that entirely depends on your hair texture and your hair type. But the question still exists Is washing curly hair once a week good? Well, yes washing curly hair once a week is good only if you have thick coarse hair.
- Thick curls like type 4 are already dry in nature, washing them once a week helps to clean the scalp and hair strands. Apart from that you need to follow the above points to keep curls fresh during washes.
- However, if you have fine curls like type 2 & 3 washing them two to three times a week is good to keep curls defined and bouncy.
- For hair having an oily scalp, wash it daily as an oily scalp attracts dirt and dust and this increases product buildup.
- Also, if you keep using too many hair products on your hair, and also style them more often, then washing curls more often is preferred, as hair products and styling damages hair cuticles.
So, the final thought is that washing curls is more about the health of curls rather than about cleanliness. To keep your curls healthy, soft, and smooth you need to wash them as per the requirement. The main key is to find the right balance between washing curls.
Remember to always use chemical-free shampoo and conditioner to avoid the stripping of natural oil. Also, after washing curls, seal the moisture with a leave-in conditioner to keep curls hydrated and moisturized.
So, did you find the answer to your question- How often should you wash your hair?
FAQs on Is Washing Curly Hair Once a Week Good
1. How many times should I wash my hair?
Washing curly hair 2-3 times a week is considered ideal. As curls are generally dry in nature washing them frequently will rip out the natural oil from the scalp, making them frizzier.
However, the exact frequency of washing your curls largely depends on your hair type, thickness and what lifestyle you follow.
2. What’s the longest you should go without washing your hair?
The longest you can go without washing your hair totally depends on your hair type. If you have thick coarse hair, you can go for 10 days without washing them. For oily scalp hair, a maximum of 2 days is enough. And for fine curls, you can go for 5 days without washing your curls.
After the above timeline, your hair starts to damage and also causes scalp itchiness.
3. Is it okay if I wash my hair every day?
Yes, it is ok to wash your hair every day only if you have oily curls. For curls or scalp with excess sebum production washing daily is the only choice, as it helps to keep the scalp clean and healthy.
4. What happens if you don’t wash your hair enough?
If you don’t wash your hair enough then your scalp starts to become greasy and your hair becomes tangled. Products start accumulating in the scalp, and that can clog pores and lead to itchiness. It is true that curls are not well-moisturized hair, but washing them too little can take a toll on the health of the curls.
