Natural Black hair comes in a variety of textures.  From extremely coarse to loosely curled, people of African descent vary widely in terms of their approach to hair care. 

Shampooing Can Hurt
Coarse natural Black hair has a difficulty distributing Sebum and is often dry.  Shampooing which removes dirt and odor as well as natural and artificial oils, can actually lead to further drying of the hair and scalp.  In many cases this dryness is as much the result of the frequency of shampooing as it is the type of shampoo.

Most over-the-counter shampoos are manufactured for loosely curled to naturally straight hair.  Unlike Black hair which post-shampoo generally needs the addition of oils in the form of moisturizers, oil sheens and hair dressings, naturally straight hair distributes sebum more readily and often appears naturally oily within a matter of days.  This is why people with naturally straight hair shampoo so frequently.  They do so to remove sebum (natural oil) Build-up.

Manufacturers keep this in mind when launching a product line.  They design shampoos to remove excess oils and unfortunately in the case of people with African/Black hair, these products strip.  Meaning, most shampoos not only remove excess oils, but they often leave the hair bone dry.  Is it any wonder our hair is more susceptible to damage and grows slower by comparison?

B
efore you ask how often you should shampoo, you should consider what you're shampooing with.

Shampoos to Avoid
Refrain from using shampoos that contain Lauryl Sulfates.  These are harsh Surfactants often found in dish detergent and carpet cleansers.  They will rob your hair of moisture and negate the beneficial effects of shampooing.

A slightly less aggressive alternative would be to use shampoos that contain only Laureth Sulfates (preferably Sodium Laureth Sulfate).  This surfactant is milder by comparison and does less damage to Black hair.

A better alternative would Sulfate-Free Shampoos.  Sulfate-Free shampoos lack harmful surfactants.  They work to cleanse hair without stripping it.  Hair that is clean, yet moisturized grows healthier, stronger and longer.  Given that they do not rob hair of moisture and protective oils, sulfate-free shampoos also lead to healthier scalp.  Your hair and scalp can't be dry when they're better able to retain moisture.

How Often to Shampoo
Now that you know the importance of finding the correct shampoo, how often should you use it?  Again, this varies based on your hair Texture and hair style.  What products you use are also key factors.  In general however, people with coarser hair should shampoo less frequently than those with loosely curled hair.  Reason being, individuals with coarser hair will distribute oil far more slowly and therefore need less frequent cleansing.  But regardless of when you shampoo, choosing a moisturizing shampoo will insure that when it's time for soap and water that everything doesn't go down the drain.