Should you shampoo your hair twice? Yes, if you have this hair type…

There’s been a lot of buzz about hair washing lately.
From the benefits of co-washing to these weird dry shampoo alternatives, you’ve probably heard a lot of advice about how to tend to your tresses.
But curly or super thick-haired girls will want to pay special attention to this expert tip – it could take your strands from dry and unruly to smooth and silky (no extra conditioner required).
According to New York hair stylist and salon owner Liam Carey, if you usually only wash your strands a couple of times a week, double shampooing is the move for you.
So, if you’re prone to putting off a hair wash (and even if you aren’t in the curly and/or super thick category), try shampooing your hair twice when the time comes.
"By the time you're ready to wash your hair, the goal is to deep-clean your roots while keeping your ends hydrated," Carey says.
Makes sense. But how do you cut the grease at the roots without making the rest of your hair dry and ratty?
Well, you shouldn’t use the same formula for both washes, for a start.
The first wash is about cleansing the hair – if your hair is a bit on the dry side, try a cleansing oil shampoo rather than your run-of-the-mill clarifying one (they’re gentler).
"The primary function of a clarifying shampoo is to remove oil and product build-up without depositing much onto the hair," says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson.
"Other shampoos try to balance the removal of oil and build-up by adding conditioning agents," she says.
RELATED: Celebrity Stylist Sam Overton's brilliant hair advice
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The next step is a moisturising shampoo, which you should apply from the mid-lengths down, where it’s needed most.
"Since this area of your hair is older, the elasticity isn't the same as the new growth at the root, so you need to be careful not to dry it out," says Carey.
Finally, finish up with your usual conditioner to help seal the hair cuticle.
Now, I dare you to see if that doesn’t give you the perfect balance of squeaky clean and soft strands!
Here are some shampoo suggestions to get you started…
SHAMPOO #1:
- Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo
- Pureology Purify Shampoo
- Al'chemy Lemongrass Shampoo
- Shu Uemura Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo
SHAMPOO #2:
- bhave™ Hydrator Moisturising Shampoo
- KMS California MOISTREPAIR Shampoo
- V05 Give Me Moisture Shampoo
- TRESemme Moisture Rich Shampoo
Would you shampoo your hair twice?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
74 Member Comments
I shampoo twice, as I only wash my hair once a week and usually use natural brands :) I find it works best for me!
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I would disagree to this article as Using shampoo and washing hair again and again made my hair soft leading to breakage of hair.
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I always shampoo my hair twice but not with two different shampoos. As I have dry hair I don't like to use clarifying shampoo every time I wash my hair as I find clarifying shampoos can be a bit stripping for my hair. I like the sound of cleansing oil shampoos, I need to try it as I love oil cleansers for my face.
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Many years ago I shampooed just once, then there was this rage that you should shampoo twice but there was never any mention that you should use different shampoos for this. I mostly shampoo twice unless for some reason I feel it isn't necessary. The comment above about using two different kinds of shampoo does make sense however and I'll have to look into what suits my hair type. Thanks for that piece BH.
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I rarely shampoo twice but these combinations are good ideas from the looks of things. I do tend to double cleanse my face more often though as it works well for my skin.
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I never wash out my conditioner but I use a very small amount...
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I double shampoo for this very reason!
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I have washed twice forever and have always had curly, or unruly hair! One wash just doesn't seem to cover it!
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I've been shampooing my hair twice since I was a child. That's how my mum taught me and that's how I've taught my kids. One shampoo is to remove any dirt, oil or products u have in your hair and the next is to give it that super clean feel. And it really makes a difference because u noticed how much better the shampoo lathers the second time round.
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I shampoo twice but only once per week.
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Never heard of this technique before. Has anyone benefited from it before?
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I only wash it twice if its been a few days between washes
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I have washed mine twice for the last couple of years on the advice of my hairdresser
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I get really oily greasy scalp with build-up so I always have to shampoo twice. First to clarify (though I need to buy a good shampoo for this, thanks for the reminder BH!). Second time I use a more moisturising shampoo. I was always told to "shampoo, rinse and repeat". I have way too many different shampoos in my shower along with samples so I just experiment with them lol... and I heard that your hair can get used to the same shampoo.
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I've always washed my hair once but there has been a few occasions I've did this twice & it does help so I might do this more often now.
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I thought everyone shampooed their hair twice. I've been doing it all my life. First one for getting rid of actual dirt, smoke and/or grime; second one for adding strength, gloss or moisture (depending on what's needed). Then the conditioner combed through and wait for at least 5 minutes. And I was also taught to never wash your hair in the shower (though you can rinse out the conditioner that way) because you need to take your time and most people rush in the shower.
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I wash my hair twice when I use organic /sls free shampoo, just because they dont lather up. But I wash my hair everyday, so perhps this method is not for me.
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On the advice of my hairdresser, I've been shampooing twice for years now. I often use two different shampoos - one for colour treated hair, a volumiser or a strengthening one. I'll try a clarifying shampoo as well.
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If I shampooed twice I would be in the shower for a very long time. I think its best for me and the environment if I only shampoo once.
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I have been shampooing my hair twice for a while now, just on recommendation from my hairdresser. I think it's a great idea and needed to have two different types of shampoos
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I don't need to wash my thin hair twice because I shampoo every day. Occasionally I try to go for a few days between washes and then need to shampoo twice to remove product build up.
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I generally only shampoo my hair once. Depends on how much styling product I have used in my hair.
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I alwayssss shampoo my hair twice!! I find it leaves my hair so much cleaner. When I shampoo the second time, I always get a better lather up then the first time around and then I just condition the lengths and ends. Always works a treat for me!
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I had never thought of using two different shampoos but it makes perfect sense now I think about it. Thanks for the tip!
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