The American Academy of Dermatology does not give one number. It gives a rule: wash when the scalp is dirty or oily, which might be daily for straight oily hair and every few weeks for dry, curly, or thick hair. Shampoo the scalp, not the lengths.
Hair-wash frequency is a scalp-oil and hair-type problem, not a moral calendar. The American Academy of Dermatology tells people to wash based on how often hair gets dirty or oily: daily can make sense for straight hair with an oily scalp, while dry, textured, curly, or thick hair may only need shampoo every two to three weeks as needed. Shampoo belongs on the scalp. Lengths need less detergent. Flakes can mean you are not washing enough, not only that you are washing too much.
AAD guidance on gentle hair care includes specific technique changes, like massaging shampoo into the scalp instead of the hair length, and a clear signal for when persistent shedding needs a dermatologist, not just softer products.
Hair feels heavy when film-formers accumulate faster than shampoo removes them. Dimethicone viscosity, oils, waxes, and dose relative to hair diameter matter more than a silicone-free badge. Fine hair is the canary.
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