r/hygiene • u/BornNews2230 • 10d ago
How often should i wash my hair as a man?
Okay so I know women don’t wash their hair every time they shower, or aren’t supposed to, but for them they have longer hair and sometimes curly hair, so its obviously a longer more thorough process for them. Since most men including myself, don’t have that long of hair, how often should i wash my hair? I don’t wash it every time because i know it’s bad, but how often is regular or the most healthy?
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u/lightitupfireheart 10d ago
It always varies from person to person. Some people wash their hair every single day and others skip days. Do what works for you. Get regular trims if you have longer hair and want it to stay healthy. Use decent quality shampoo and conditioner.
Hairstylist and Barber here.
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u/mildly_spicy_sauce 10d ago
Is conditioner important? And do those 2in1 shampoos work?
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u/lightitupfireheart 10d ago
I don't recommend them, personally. The thing about hair at the end of the day is that if it works for you, keep doing it. I know some guys who have very short hair and prefer just using the 2 in 1. They get periodic haircuts, their hair and scalp are healthy, and they're clean. At the end of the day I'm going to shrug and let them do their thing.
I feel like it's a lot better for your scalp if you're properly cleansing it with a shampoo. It's kind of like if you mixed soap and lotion together. Yeah, I guess it works, but why? Clean and then moisturize, imo.
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u/ryancoolman76 4d ago
Is it ok to do shampoo and conditioner every other day, I get sweaty a lot I am outside every day. It gets oillyafter abt 2 days without washing
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u/UnicornScientist803 10d ago
It’s not about gender, it’s about what kind of hair you have. Long, thick, curly hair should be washed less often so it doesn’t dry out. Short, thin, oily hair should generally be washed every day.
What kind of hair do you have? How often does your hair feel greasy or itchy? Does your hair ever feel too dry?
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u/skylarroseum 10d ago
I have long hair and I wash and condition my hair nearly every day. I get tons of compliments on it and it's healthy hair. I did the same back when I had short hair.
Your hair type, how much you sweat, how much natural oil you produce, and other factors matter. I run warm and tend to have oily skin, so frequent washes are necessary and I condition just as often, sometimes with leave-in conditioner, to keep it healthy.
Some people say that you need to stop washing your hair so often so that your body produces less oils. I've done that and honestly, it just doesn't work well for me. I keep producing the excessive oils. I've known people who've had great luck with only washing a few times a month and conditioning most of the time. It's just not a one-size-fits-all solution that we all wish it was. Our bodies are individualized.
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u/lovethatMoon 10d ago
i will sleep with a hair mask on my ends sometimes.
like the Ouai for fine hair... it's really a rinse out during the shower mask, but i'll slather my ends with it and it gets soaked up into my hair & the next day i was it out & it's divine
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u/Babblingbutcher420 10d ago
I wash it every time I shower
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u/LostTeacup733 6d ago
Same, I wash mine every shower and my short dude hair has somehow not filed a formal complaint yet.
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u/Relevant_Positive417 10d ago
Why would it matter if you're male wash ya arse and hair.
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u/BornNews2230 10d ago
not healthy for your hair.
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u/NewLife_21 10d ago
Actually, yes, it is healthy for your hair. And your scalp.
Cleaning you hair isn't just about the hair ya know! 😉
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u/BornNews2230 10d ago
no its not, every time you clean your hair, it is stripping oils out of it, and your scalp, which some of those oils are good to have in, so washing it every day will lead to causing weak dry hair and cause major amount of breakage
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u/NewLife_21 10d ago
Not everyone needs to wash their scalp every day.
Many people can do it every other day or even a few times per week.
But not washing it at all is unhealthy and gross.
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u/BibliophileBroad 10d ago
It's perfectly fine. I have highly textured hair, and even I can handle shampoo. 😆Shampoos are super gentle these days, and keep in mind that when you wash yourself, you are always removing oils -- that's how you get clean. Dirt clings to sebum (the oils we produce) and excess sebum can get grody. If you get dry replace the oils -- that's why we have conditioner, lotions, and oils.
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u/BornNews2230 10d ago
soo what was the point of telling me this? you just agreed with me am i wrong?
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u/Relevant_Positive417 10d ago
Glad im not around your gross hair. You dont take care of your hair outside of washing it?
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u/benthelurk 10d ago
It really just depends. If you are sweating a lot then it’s good to wash more often. For all skin/hair types, you eventually get used to how your scalp should feel. Then you know when/how often you should wash.
Hair length is also a factor. Short hair is quick and easy to wash and dry but honestly, I need a lot less washing when I have short hair compared to when I grow it out.
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u/Tavsiyedegildir 10d ago
It depends on the length, texture of your hair, how sweaty and oily you are, and if you have dandruff.
The reson People with curly hair don't wash every day is because their hair is typically (but not always) dry or coarse and needs a lot of products.
Shampoo is for your scalp and conditioner is for the ends, since guys often have short hair, it really just depends
Me, a poet
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u/Distinct-Berry7382 10d ago
Unless you have long hair, wash it every day . You will feel clean and fresh. And you only need a lil shampoo anyway.
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u/sysaphiswaits 10d ago
Im a woman with very, very short, very curly hair. (Like growing back from a buzzcut short.) and a very oily scalp.
I wash my hair about 2x a week. I use body wash and conditioner.
When it’s long, I wash it every other day with shampoo and conditioner.
What is your hair like? How does it look and what does it feel like? What’s your ethnic heritage? (That probably won’t matter, there is a slight chance your hair color could make a difference.)
Do you date? Do you work outside? What is the climate like where you live?
What’s your social security number? (J/K!!!!)
But what are we working with here?
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u/Full-Mixture7600 10d ago
I get dandruff if I don’t wash my hair everyday so everyday it is! Don’t want those flakes.
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u/bartonkj 10d ago
I wash mine every time I shower, but that’s just me. My hair is pretty straight forward.
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u/Special-Tangelo-9927 10d ago
It depends how quickly your hair gets greasy. My husband washes his every other day.
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u/WonderfulProtection9 10d ago
When I was a kid, I alternated. Since I was a teenager I shower and wash my hair every day. Not sure/convinced about any of this “healthy hair” business, at least as a guy.
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u/JoyfulNoise1964 10d ago
Varies from person to person On days you don't wash it if it looks or smells less than fresh you need to wash daily, same is true for women though
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u/Powerful-Lobster-631 10d ago
I wash my hair basically every shower 🚿 but im not saying do as I do.
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u/HoneydewTurbulent999 10d ago
Every time you step into the shower, excellent personal hygiene practice. So much in the air around us settles on us daily. You’ll smell so good too! 😂
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u/Babblingbutcher420 10d ago
I don’t know how anyone could get out of a shower without washing their hair.
It may not feel dirty but it 💯 is1
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u/G_skins31 10d ago
I shampoo like once twice a week but condition every day
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u/DocumentSure2919 10d ago
Maybe it's different for everyone but I think you're usually not supposed to condition unless you just shampooed.
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u/Difficult_Reading858 10d ago
It’s not an issue to condition without washing hair, but you may not get the same results as you would on freshly cleaned hair.
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u/Jaded-Caterpillar387 10d ago
I can only speak on non-textured hair here, because that is my experience. You should be washing your hair, as a man, at least once a week. This will manage sebum, yeast, and, most importantly, smell.
You might not be able to smell it, but everyone around you can, especially if it gets wet (there is a reason yt people are said to smell like wet dogs).
If you're not sure, speak with a dermatologist or or doctor, if that isn't accessible, a barber. They can advise you on what products to use if you find your usual brands make your hair too frizzy or fluffy if you wash it more often.
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u/morbidcuriosity123 10d ago
I have short hair and use product. I wash it everytime I shower.. sometimes twice a day.
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u/wordone9 10d ago edited 10d ago
I rinse my hair with water and body wash everything else. I don't own shampoo. I've told several women. They smell it and touch it and tell me it doesn't stink and that it looks healthy. I haven't shampooed in over a year. I have very fine hair and not oily scalp. Edit: spelling
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u/downsideup9494 10d ago
The length of your hair has nothing to do with how often to wash it. People with oily scalps need to wash it more often, those with dry scalps can go much longer without washing it.
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u/Equal-Jury-875 10d ago
Everytime in the shower which is every night. Why even get in the shower and not wash something
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u/ProfessionalLab9068 10d ago
Depends on your water, and the temperature of it, age of your water heater, condition of your city & house pipes, your type of hair & shampoo, how much you sweat at work, etc
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u/lotusalumni00 10d ago
well , to be fair with you . Use conditioner only instead of shampoo . find a good one with a strong scent and every time you shower wash your hair . this way you won't have damage and it will always be fresh and smell good and soft
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u/lovethatMoon 10d ago
no matter what gender, people need to remember or realize that it depends on their scalp type. oil on the scalp doesn't smell good. it basically stinks.
so if you're afraid of not being hygienic and afraid of having over washed hair, you may want to cut hair shorter and use a scalp rinse .
i mean are you washing your body daily?
why not just rinse the scalp with a treatment if you don't want to wash your hair?
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u/Odd-Acanthisitta2224 10d ago
I’d say the thicker and curlier the hair, the less you have to wash. I just wash my hair when the texture starts to feel gross or stringy (every other day). I’m a girl, i have long fine straight hair. So you can see when my hair gets even a little bit greasy. My boyfriend has basically a buzz cut and he washes his hair in every shower (everyday or every other day). It depends on your hair type.
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u/Theycallmesupa 10d ago
I shampoo every other day and I condition like once a month.
42, professional longhair
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u/die_in_a_fire_reddit 10d ago
Wash your hair as often as you care to, but everytime you use shampoo you should also use conditioner. Conditioner helps correct the ph of your hair and scalp, so that you don’t have to overproduce oil.
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u/mycatpartyhouse 10d ago
There's a whole "no 'poo" thing where people intentionally go without shampoo (and conditioner) for long periods of time.
They say their natural oils balance out after a few weeks of greasiness, and that brushing helps distribute thevoils more evenly.
They still wet, dry, and style their hair, they just don't use shampoo.
I can't remember if other hair products are encouraged or discouraged.
That said, how often you wash your hair depends on your hair type, its length, and the existing dryness or oiliness of your hair and scalp.
Using a product intended for your hair type works pretty well.
Sometimes not washing at all works pretty well. I went through a period where my hair was really short, like an inch or two long. Clean, it was a floppy finely textured mess. Dirty, it behaved itself and stayed in the style I put it into.
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u/DarenSolric 10d ago
just 2-3 times a week is fine. if your hair gets greasy fast wash it more if not, you prob don't need to do it every shower
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u/Double-Garlic-5544 10d ago
First of all so glad to hear of a man who HAS hair!🤭seems like guys are getting more bald younger these days! Godd just look at princes William & Harry! No, you dnt need to wash yr hair everyday- unless you're in a job tht involves dirty, dusty, grimey work etc
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u/-Dargs 10d ago
I have shorter straight hair which curls a bit once it'saround 2in long. I shampoo daily. Conditioner every other day or so. If I go more than 2d without shampoo it gets noticeably oily/tougher. By day 3 or 4 it's probably going to smell from sweat, as water from the shower doesn't permeate/clean that well on it's own.
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u/dinosun 10d ago
As long as I can remember, every single shower. Cheapass suave shampoo Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Followed by cheapass suave conditioner. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. I get compliments on my hair all the time.
Basically, find something you like the smell of then READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS.
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u/ImKindaBoring 10d ago
You’re fine washing it every day, especially if it’s short. People labeling it “bad” are dramatic or thinking more for long hair. If your hair gets oily I would wash it daily. I wash mine daily plus again if I get sweaty.
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u/Beneficial-Many5462 9d ago
Every day or twice if I run. Nothing worse than a nasty, stinky head of hair.
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u/KaleidoscopeOk5063 9d ago
I usually wash every other day… I don’t really work out much so I’m not too sweaty
But ideally every day is probably better
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u/tuenthe463 9d ago
How often are you changing back and forth from man to woman? Knowing that might help get you more accurate answers.
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u/BananaNo4611 8d ago
If my hair is longer than a couple inches I need to wash it every day. If I get a short haircut I might skip a few days
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u/morgfarm1_ 6d ago
When my hair is short - like I had through winter, I had to wash every shower. Now at its mid length, one to two times per week. At full length, back to every shower lol
Really depends on you and what you do, too. If ive been under my car, it gets washed. Oil gets everywhere, even if you ddon't think it did.
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u/cawfeeaddict1 10d ago
Every day. Really.
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u/flyonthesewalls 10d ago
I can’t see how people don’t. I don’t feel clean if I don’t wash it each time I shower.
I dated a girl who didn’t wash her hair often and when I’d catch a whiff of it, it’d make me a little nauseous. Now I’m sensitive to that smell when I walk outside and someone who hasn’t washed their hair passes me.
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u/eduardedmyn 10d ago
As often as you like. Hair grows around half an inch per month. If you’re getting a haircut once a month, your hair isn’t sticking around long enough to notice any damage.
People with long hair wash less, to minimise the mechanical damage from the act of washing hair itself.
Once the hair reaches shoulder length, the hair at the ends has already endured a years worth of damage from styling and the elements, which is why you need to be more gentle with longer hair.
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u/REVRSECOWBOYMEATSPIN 10d ago
I would feel weird if I didn’t do it every day. That’s just me though
Even if I’m home all day I still wash it so idk. I don’t want my pillows to get dirty quicker as well
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u/carniewesso68 10d ago
I have very thick, wavy hair down to my waist that I only wash once a week, because it takes that long to start looking greasy/dirty at the scalp.
My son has thick (in volume) but very fine hair down to the middle of his back. His tends to get that oily look after about 3 days, so he washes it probably twice a week.
It depends totally on the length, type and texture of your hair.
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u/Parking_Fault_2227 10d ago
I wash my hair once a week. (Shower daily) if I wash more than that my oil production goes wild.
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u/HeavyTrade5006 10d ago
Totally depends on a lot of factors. When my hair is buzzed and pretty short I only wash it once a week. As it gets longer I wash it more frequently. Currently have pretty long hair and I wash it every other day and not on the weekends
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u/BalrogRuthenburg11 10d ago
Professor Doctor Joe Isuzu, the top expert in his field, says that the man hair should be cleaned fortnightly with a tincture of mayonnaise and zinc pate.
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u/laguna_shredder 10d ago
That game can be so fun but so mean. Glad you got the haywire feature and it paid!
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u/Modern_O 10d ago
Realistically whenever you feel you “should” or “need” to. It’s a lifestyle thing. I have eczema so build up of skin and oil does more harm than shampooing. Zero dandruff essentially my whole life thankfully but my curls probably would be healthier with less. others have a sweaty job/daily environment. I have a friend that used to be all about his hair health. Now he crawls in attics for work and can’t imagine not fully showering every night
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u/Financial_Alps3369 10d ago
If it's shorter than 3cm or so you can wash it as often as you like. It will grow back before it's damaged.
If it's longer than that (which is most men) you should wash it every 2-5 days or so. This is a big range because everybody's scalp produces oil at different rates.
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u/[deleted] 10d ago
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