How Often Should Men Wash Their Hair?

We see guys in the chair daily at First & Mane who think about their hair as if it were the rug in their house and wash it vigorously with strong soap each morning. You’ve got to clean your hair, but you might be doing more harm than good with what you’re doing. Your hair needs a little bit of thinking outside the box when it comes to the rinse and repeat cycle. If you’re ever in town, a Scottsdale men’s haircut can help you determine the best approach for your individual needs.

Our clients are always surprised to learn that shampooing not only cleans one’s hair but also helps to maintain the natural oil produced by one’s scalp. The natural oil produced by one’s scalp has its name as sebum, and it plays a crucial part in ensuring that one’s hair remains hydrated. Over-washing one’s scalp leads to the removal of these oils, hence making one’s skin look dry and irritated, while under-washing leads to clogged pores and dull skin.

Understanding Your Profile

Before giving you schedule advice, it is important that you analyze the variables that are involved. There is no one set rule that applies to all men because all heads of hair are distinct and unique in their own way. 

How often should men wash their hair? The first variable that we look at is the type of hair that you have. It is important that you understand that the role of genetics is vast with respect to how oily your head is and how fast the oils travel on the hair shaft.

Your lifestyle and environment also play a huge role in this. If you are spending five days a week in the gym sweating it out, your scenario will be entirely different compared to a person sitting at a desk in an air-conditioned environment. If you are working in an outdoor setup in a polluted city or a construction site, your hairs will be exposed to dust that will need more frequent washing. 

Another common question is, should men wash their hair every day? The answer is likely no, but let’s break down some different hair types. 

Managing Oily Hair

If you realize that you have greasy hair or flat hair by the end of the day, it means that you either have fine hair or that you have an oily scalp. For such men, we would advise them to wash their hair either on a daily basis or every other day. 

You may ask, how often do men wash their hair when it’s oily? The goal that you want to achieve in this process is to get rid of the extra oils without drying your scalp. This is because your scalp might end up producing more oils as a result.

Dealing with Dry, Coarse, or Curly Hair

On the other hand, for clients with thick, coarse, or curly hair, it is difficult for the natural oils to run down the hair strands. If these clients were to wash their hair on a daily basis, it is bound to become brittle and frizzy. That is why we recommend that our curly or dry clients only wash their hair once or twice a week. If one is required to shower on a day when one is not supposed to wash one’s hair, one only needs to wash the hair with water or co-wash with conditioner only. Can guys wash their hair every day? Yes, but it’s not advised if you have these hair types. 

The Routine for Normal Hair

You are one of the lucky ones if your “normal” hair isn’t either excessively oily or dry. In any case, we always recommend washing your hair every two to three days. This means your natural oils can condition your hair as it was intended to, but it keeps any product or grime from building up on your locks. This is your call to wash your hair if it looks like it needs it or if it lacks its natural shine.

Find Your Rhythm

In short, we think that listening to your hair is the most important thing we can tell you. Perhaps you are washing it too frequently if you have an itchy scalp or a tight feeling on your scalp. Perhaps you are not washing it enough if you notice flakes or if your hair looks oily. We encourage you to try this guide to help you determine what’s best for your hair. Also, visit First & Mane for personalized advice during your next cut!