Hair texture and density are crucial when it comes to deciding how often you should wash your hair.

In general, thicker hair takes longer to get oily because of the sheer amount of it.

“It’s quite common for people with thick hair to wash their hair only once or twice per week,” says Daiva Valioniene, a senior hair specialist nurse at the Belgravia Centre, London.

Curly hair also tends to require less frequent washing. “I compare thick, curly hair to denim,” says New York-based hair artist Abraham Sprinkle. “Denim seems to feel best a couple of days after wearing, and this holds true for curly hair.”

“The curlier your hair is, the longer you can go between washes,” explains dermatologist Dr. Doris Day. “The straighter it is, the faster the oil wicks down, so that can make it oilier faster. If you have superstraight hair, you may not be able to go more than two days without washing.”

However, most stylists agree that while fine hair may require washing around three times a week, daily shampooing would only be called for if you have very fine hair.

On the other hand, if you’re the owner of porous, coarse hair that dries almost immediately after you shower, washing less often is recommended.

“It should be shampooed no more than twice a week as it’s capable of soaking up large amounts of water which weighs down each strand, resulting in loss of elasticity and leading to breakage,” says Leonora Doclis, trichologist and a colleague of Valioniene’s at The Belgravia Centre.

How often should you really wash your hair? What the experts say