Short answer: Rule of thumb: wash 1–2× a week; every 2–4 days is common too. Too often damages the oil layer, too rarely leads to product buildup — the right frequency is individual.
3 facts you should know
I. Washing too often strips the scalp's natural oil layer, which already has a harder time traveling down curly lengths — the result: more frizz, less elasticity.
II. Sport, sweat and climate change what you need. In summer or with lots of exercise, washing more often (or co-washing in between) can make sense; in winter, less often.
III. Co-washing (cleansing with conditioner only instead of shampoo) isn't a replacement routine, it's an add-on between shampoo washes — for extra moisture without drying out.
2 voices from the curl community
I. curlscontrol.de suggests washing every 2–4 days as a rough guide, adjusted to your own scalp and hair type.
II. saricurls.de stresses: the right wash routine depends more on the state of your own hair than on rigid rules — observing beats following a schedule.
1 question for you
Do you wash on fixed days of the week or based on how your hair actually feels? The second approach usually gets better results.
