Hair Routine Builder
What's your hair type?
What's your hair's porosity?
What's your main hair concern right now?
How often do you currently wash your hair?
This routine is a starting point based on general hair-care principles — adjust based on how your hair actually responds over a few weeks.
What is the Hair Routine Builder?
The Hair Routine Builder is a free tool that puts together a simple, personalized hair care plan for you. Answer a few questions about your hair and scalp, and you’ll get a routine you can actually follow, covering how often to wash, condition, treat and style.
How it works
- Answer a few questions about your hair type, scalp, concerns and lifestyle.
- Get a step-by-step routine with daily, weekly and occasional steps.
- Follow it for a few weeks, then adjust based on how your hair responds.
What a good routine includes
- Cleanse: Washing at a frequency that suits your scalp and hair type.
- Condition: Adding moisture and making detangling easier.
- Treat: A weekly or occasional treatment, such as a deep conditioner, when your hair needs it.
- Protect and style: Using heat protection and gentle styling methods to limit breakage.
- Night care: Protecting your hair while you sleep, for example with a silk or satin pillowcase.
Tips for sticking with it
- Start simple. A short routine you follow beats a long one you skip.
- Change one thing at a time so you can tell what’s working.
- Give it at least a few weeks before judging, since hair changes slowly.
- Adjust with the seasons, or after a haircut, colour or change in your scalp.
Important note
This routine is general educational guidance, not medical advice. If you have sudden hair loss, bald patches, or a sore, red or itchy scalp, please see a doctor or dermatologist. Our Hair Loss & Thinning Guide explains when to get checked.
What to do next
- Not sure of your hair type? Take the Hair Type Quiz.
- Find out what to look for in products with the Hair Product Finder.
- Learn the basics in our Hair Care Routine Guide.
- Track your progress with the Hair Health Score Calculator.
What is a good hair care routine?
A good routine covers three basics: cleanse (shampoo suited to your scalp), condition (moisture for your lengths and ends), and style with protection (leave-in, styling product, and minimal heat). The details, like product weight and frequency, depend on your hair type and porosity.
How often should I wash my hair?
It depends on your hair type and scalp. Straight and oily-prone hair often needs washing every 2 to 3 days, while curly and coily hair usually does better with washing about once a week, since natural oils travel down the strand less easily.
Should my routine change based on hair porosity?
Yes. Low porosity hair does best with lightweight products and gentle heat to help absorption, while high porosity hair needs richer products and sealing to keep moisture in. Medium porosity is the most flexible and needs less adjustment.
What is the LOC method?
LOC stands for liquid, oil, cream. You apply a water-based leave-in (liquid), seal with an oil, then lock it in with a cream. It’s popular for curly, coily, and high porosity hair, and some people switch the order to LCO based on what works.
How often should I deep condition?
Most hair benefits from deep conditioning every 1 to 2 weeks, and dry, curly, or damaged hair often does better weekly. Fine or oily hair may only need it every 2 to 4 weeks so it doesn’t get weighed down.
How long does it take to see results from a new hair routine?
Give a new routine at least 4 to 6 weeks before judging it. Hair changes slowly, and your hair may need a short adjustment period, especially if you’re switching products or cutting back on washing.
Do curly and straight hair need different routines?
Yes. Curly and coily hair tends to be drier and needs more moisture and sealing, gentler detangling, and less frequent washing. Straight hair usually gets oily faster and does better with lighter products and more frequent cleansing.