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How often to wash your hair

The AAD answer: it depends on your hair and scalp.

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It depends

The AAD says to wash your hair based on how often it gets dirty or oily.

Straight hair and an oily scalp

The AAD says that if you have straight hair and an oily scalp, you may want to shampoo every day.

Dry, textured, curly, or thick hair

If your hair is dry, textured, curly, or thick, the AAD says to shampoo when needed, at least once every 2 to 3 weeks as needed.

Shampoo the scalp

The AAD says to apply shampoo to your scalp instead of the entire length of your hair, and to massage it into your scalp. When you rinse, it says to let the shampoo flow through the length of your hair and not to rub it in.

Condition after

The AAD says to use conditioner after every shampoo.

Flakes

The AAD says that if you see flakes in your hair, common reasons could be not shampooing frequently enough, or not using the right conditioner, oil, or scalp moisturizer for your hair type. See a doctor or dermatologist about scalp problems.

How often to wash. Per the AAD.

FAQ

We have no source that sets a different schedule for blonde hair. The AAD says to wash based on how often your hair gets dirty or oily.
We do not give advice on dandruff. The FDA says an antidandruff shampoo is also a drug, because its intended use is to treat dandruff. See a doctor or dermatologist about scalp problems.

General information, not medical advice. Follow the label. We suggest testing a new hair product on a small patch of skin first. Keep it out of your eyes, and stop use if irritation occurs. For hair dye, the FDA says to do a patch test every time and never to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. See a doctor or dermatologist about scalp problems or hair loss.

Next: using conditioner

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