How Often To Wash African American Hair For Growth

Curious about how often to wash African American hair for growth? In our complete guide to washing natural black hair, you'll find the answer you've been looking for!

African-American hair boasts a unique and beautiful texture unlike any other type of hair. Hence, hair care for natural black hair is a lot different than recommendations for other types of hair. From the type of conditioner to use to how often to wash your hair, there are a lot of special rules to follow to keep your afro hair strong, healthy, and moisturized.

All that said, let's focus on one of the most important factors of natural hair care: washing. In this article, we will talk about how often to wash African-American hair for growth, depending on how you wear your hair.

Does it Really Matter How Often to Wash African American Hair for Growth?

Growing up, you have probably been told not to wash your natural black hair too often. The reasoning behind this rule is that natural black hair tends to be drier and more fragile. Hence, frequent washing can potentially damage it and make it weaker. Although there is some truth to this claim, all hair types should be washed regularly to remove excess oil, dirt, and product that build up on the hair and scalp.

But the question is: how often should you wash African hair?

The right answer depends on your hair type, how you wear it, and your specific hair care habits. It is extremely important to know how often to wash your hair so that you don't unintentionally damage it and--at the same time--don't let it get too dirty, either.

All that said, how often should you wash African-American hair? Well, the right frequency depends on several factors:

Factors Affecting How Often to Wash African American Hair for Growth

While it would be nice to provide you with a straight answer on how often to wash African American hair for growth, there are far too many factors at play. There is no black-and-white answer when it comes to how often to wash African American hair for growth. Some people wash their afro hair only once a week and get optimum results, while others need to wash their hair more often than that. The correct frequency varies from person to person, and it heavily depends on these factors:

How You Wear Your Hair

There are three ways to wear natural black hair: all-natural, relaxed or straightened, and in protective styles. The rate at which your hair gets dirty depends on how you wear your hair. For example, natural afro hair should be washed once every 7 to 14 days, while black hair in protective styles can be washed once every 2 to 3 weeks. This is because natural hair accumulates dirt and debris faster than hair worn in a protective style, and thus requires more frequent washing.

Lifestyle

If you lead an active lifestyle, your scalp will produce more natural oils and sweat. That said, you need to wash your hair more often than normal to prevent oils and sweat from building up and causing dandruff and other scalp conditions.

Hair Styling Habits

The more products you use on your hair (gel, hair spray, dry shampoo), the more frequently you need to wash it. Doing so will prevent these products from accumulating in your hair and making it weaker as a result of the chemicals staying too long on your head. Moreover, washing off these products regularly can prevent a dry and irritated scalp, which can also make your hair look dry and limp.

Weather and Pollution

Your environment also plays a big role in how often you should wash your hair. If you live in a city where air pollution levels are high, you likely need to wash your hair more often to remove impurities from the outdoors. The same goes if you live in a very hot or humid area; the more you sweat, the more dirt you will have to remove from your hair with each wash.

So - How Often Should African Americans Wash Their Hair?

Now that you know all the factors affecting when you should wash natural hair, you're probably eager to find out - how often should African Americans wash their hair?

Black hair grows fast in optimum conditions, i.e. when your hair and scalp are clean and nourished. With that being said, knowing how often to wash afro hair is imperative if you want to maximize its growth.

For natural afro hair, the rule of thumb is to wash every 7 to 14 days, or more frequently if you live an active lifestyle. Straightened or relaxed hair can be washed at the same frequency after 3 days have passed since the treatment (washing freshly processed hair can lead to damage, so don't do it!). Lastly, afro hair in protective styles (braids, twists, knots) should be washed every 2 to 3 weeks.

At the end of the day, however, the right frequency of washing depends on the specific condition of your hair. Some people with natural afro hair may need more frequent washing than once every 7 to 14 days, while there are also people who wear their black hair in protective styles that get the best results with washing just once every two weeks. That said, you may need to do a bit of trial and error before finding the perfect frequency of washing.

Other Tips for Taking Care of Your Natural Hair

Aside from knowing how frequently you should wash afro hair, here are some other useful tips on how to maximize your hair growth:

Learn All About Black Hair Care

Black hair requires special care and attention, so knowing how to properly take care of the specific hair type you have is vital to its healthy growth. Check out this article on black hair care for beginners to learn more about taking care of natural afro hair. Aside from washing, we also talk about conditioning, picking the right shampoo, and styling your hair safely.

Switch Your Shampoo

It is important that you know what ingredients in shampoo cause hair loss so that you don't accidentally undermine your hair growth efforts. Unfortunately, there are a lot of shampoos out there that can be harmful to afro hair especially, so make it a point to pick a shampoo that is safe for your hair and scalp.

A clarifying shampoo is recommended for all types of afro hair. Clarifying shampoos cut through oils and product buildup to leave the hair and scalp ultra-clean. Unlike regular shampoos, clarifying shampoos get rid of dirt and debris without removing natural oils, thereby preventing dryness.

Optimize Your Diet For Hair Growth

Foods rich in biotin, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and other key nutrients can help your hair grow faster and stronger. Learn about the different foods that promote hair growth so that you can incorporate more of them into your diet and get stronger and longer hair in no time.

Eliminate Sources Of Stress

Can stress stop hair growth? Yes, it can--and that's often the least of your problems. Aside from stopping hair growth, stress can also cause hair loss, which is definitely a more difficult issue to deal with.

To keep your hair growth on the right track (and reduce the risk of hair loss), learn how to manage stress in healthier ways, such as getting more sleep, meditating, and exercising.

Use A Hair Growth Serum For Black Hair In Particular

Restore your hair to its former glory with a hair growth serum specifically designed for black hair. Aside from speeding up hair growth, using a serum on your hair can also help address bald spots, thinning hair, invisible edges, and other hair issues to make way for healthy, strong, and voluminous hair!

How Often Should African Americans Wash Their Hair? Wrapping Things Up

So, how often should African Americans wash their hair? You now know the factors affecting how often you should wash afro hair. If you keep your hair natural, washing your hair every 1 to 2 weeks should effectively remove impurities while keeping the natural oils on your scalp intact. If you are wearing a protective hairstyle, on the other hand, the rule of thumb is to wash your hair once every 2 to 3 weeks.

As long as you keep your hair clean, healthy, and strong, you will likely achieve faster hair growth. But if you want a helping hand, Allurium Beauty has the best hair growth products for African Americans that address all types of hair issues from hair loss to stunted hair growth! Black women around the world have transformed their hair texture and health with our serum. Try our amazing Allurium Hair Growth Serum today and see astonishing results in as little as 2 weeks!