How Often Should You Wash Curly Hair? Expert Tips

October 22, 2026 · 6 min read

Most people with curly hair should wash once a week, but if you have really thick, coily, or tightly curled hair, you might be better off washing every one to two weeks. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing curly hair only when necessary, but at a minimum, every two to three weeks to keep the scalp and hair healthy.

No two curly heads are the same, so there’s no one-size-fits-all washing routine. Your optimal routine will depend on the curl tightness, scalp oil, sweat, product buildup, activity, environment, and whether your hair feels dry or oily. Curly hair generally needs less shampooing than straight hair, because the natural oil from the scalp has a harder time traveling down the twists and turns of each strand, leaving the lengths drier.

Why Curly Hair Needs a Different Routine

How Often to Wash by Curl Type

Hair type	Suggested washing frequency	What to watch for
Loose curls or wavy hair	Every 2 to 4 days, or about twice weekly	Oiliness at the roots, limp curls, or product buildup
Classic curly hair	Once or twice a week	Dry ends, frizz, or scalp itchiness
Tight curls	Once a week	Flaking, odor, or heavy styling-product buildup
Coily or tightly coiled hair	Every 1 to 2 weeks	Scalp buildup, dryness, or irritation

These are reasonable beginning points, not hard and fast laws. Dermatologists often recommend that persons with coarse, curly, or textured hair wash once or twice a week and those with thicker, coiler hair just once every one to two weeks.

Thick curly hair does not need to be cleaned every day, or even weekly, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In fact, washing every two to three weeks is the minimum needed to keep the scalp and hair healthy.

Signs You Need to Wash Sooner

If you detect any of these signs, you’ll want to wash your curls sooner:

You have an itchy, oily, or inflamed scalp.
You can detect obvious flakes or build-up around the roots.
You smell your hair after sweating or styling in protective styles.
Your curls feel heavy, lifeless, or weighed down by product.
You’ve been using heavy oils, butters, gels, or styling creams for several days straight.
You’ve exercised too hard, gone swimming, or been in dusty, humid, or polluted conditions.

The basic advice of dermatologists for curly hair: wash it “when needed.” If your scalp is happy and your curls are clean, you don’t have to shampoo just because it’s been a few days.

Signs You Are Washing Too Often

People who are used to shampooing their hair every day tend to over-wash. With curly hair, it could look like:

Drier or coarser.
More frizz than normal.
Split ends and breakage.
Curls that don’t hold their shape for long.
A sense of tightness, dryness or squeakiness post-wash.
Dry or itchy scalp.

If this is the case, shampoo one less time per week and concentrate on conditioning the lengths and tips. When it’s dry, curly hair is weaker, so washing and drying it gently is just as important as washing and drying it often.

Shampoo, Co-Washing, and Conditioner

Wash with a mild, moisturizing shampoo. Use it particularly on the scalp where the oil, sweat, and build-up collect. Rinse the lengths gently with the runoff, not scraping the ends aggressively.

For most curly hair, conditioner is not optional. Work it mid-length to ends where the dryness is normally the worst. A rinse-out conditioner can help soften the hair, which minimizes friction and assists with detangling.

Co-washing, washing with conditioner instead of shampoo, can work for some people in between shampoo sessions, especially for those with very dry curls. But it doesn’t get rid of all the accumulation. If you co-wash frequently, apply a clarifier or light shampoo periodically to clear the scalp. The correct routine will depend on how much oil your scalp produces, your lifestyle, and the products you use.

How to Wash Curly Hair Properly

Disentangle before washing. Use fingers or a wide-tooth comb on moist, conditioned hair to minimize breakage.

Saturate the hair. Hot water is frequently less comfortable than lukewarm water.
Shampoo your head. Gently massage with fingertips, not fingernails.
Wash off thoroughly. Leftover shampoo can cause dryness or irritation.
Condition ends. Leave the conditioner on for the time advised on the product label.
Put on conditioner and detangle. Work from the ends upwards.
Rinse with cool or tepid water. Don’t use water that is too hot to be comfortable.
Use sparingly. Don’t massage; just squeeze the water out with a soft T-shirt or microfiber towel.

If you have textured hair that tends to get dry with regular washing, dermatologists recommend using shampoo to the scalp and keeping the hair lengths hydrated.

What If You Exercise Often?

You don’t need a full shampoo every time to get rid of sweat. If you work out many times a week, rinse your scalp with water, apply a light conditioner wash, or rinse your scalp with a mild shampoo when you see perspiration and product accumulation.

If your scalp begins to itch, flake, or smell, cleanse it. If your scalp feels clean but your curls feel dry, don’t shampoo your whole head—just refresh the lengths with water and conditioner.

What About Swimming?

Chlorine, saltwater, and sun exposure can dry out curly hair. Before swimming, wet your hair with clean water and apply a conditioner or leave-in product to assist reduce absorption of pool or sea water. After swimming, rinse well and use a mild shampoo to remove chlorine, salt, or sand from hair.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Washing daily as a matter of course. Curly hair doesn’t need to be shampooed every day as this can cause further dryness.
Harsh shampoo on the ends. Shampoo is for the scalp. Conditioner is for the lengths.
No conditioner, thanks. Curly hair seems to need more moisture than straight hair.
Wiping your hair with an ordinary towel. This will cause friction and frizz.
Neglecting scalp health. Your scalp shouldn’t be itchy, flaky, or painful just because you don’t wash as frequently.
Assuming one schedule suits all. The ideal routine depends on scalp oil, hair texture, products, and activity levels.

Simple Routine You Can Follow

Try this for an easy starting routine:
Loose curls: Wash every 2-4 days.
Medium curls: Wash 1-2 times a week.
Tight curls: Wash every week.
Coily hair: Wash every 1-2 weeks
Any curl type: Wash sooner if scalp is greasy, itchy, flaky or has buildup.

2 or 3 weeks: “Adjust.” Your routine is working if your scalp is comfy and your curls feel soft and defined. Wash more often if you have an oily or itchy scalp. If your ends are dry and brittle, wash less, condition more.

When to See a Dermatologist

If you have itchy skin that doesn’t go away, painful pimples, heavy flaking, unexpected hair loss, bald spots, or scalp irritation that doesn’t improve after changing the way you wash your hair, see a dermatologist. These symptoms could be connected to diseases of the scalp that require medical care and not a changed shampoo routine.

Most people? The answer is simple: Wash your curls when your scalp needs it (typically once a week for various curl types and every one to two weeks for thicker or coiler hair), while keeping the lengths conditioned and protected.

Sources

Topics:

Curly Hair Curly Hair Care Frizz Free Hair Hair Care Tips Hair Washing Routine

Reviewed by editorial staff before publication.
Fact-checking and source verification applied.
Updated regularly for accuracy and clarity.
Aligned with newsroom ethics and publishing standards.

About The Author

Oliver Hughes Senior Lifestyle Correspondent

Oliver Hughes is a Senior Lifestyle Correspondent at New York Editor, where he covers lifestyle, health, wellness, travel, fashion, entertainment, food, home living, relationships, and modern culture.

On This Page