How Often Should You Shampoo Your Hair Topper? (Hint: More Than You Think!)

Washing a hair topper in the shower with shampoo lather for scalp health and topper care
We’ve been seeing a trend lately: more scalp issues in our guests who wear toppers and hair systems. One of the biggest culprits? Not shampooing often enough.

Your topper may look amazing, but it doesn’t come with a “self-cleaning” button (we wish!). The truth is, your scalp still sweats, produces oils, and sometimes goes into overdrive thanks to stress, diet, or hormones. Add in the styling products we all love to use — hairspray, texture spray, gels, or mousse — and you’ve got even more residue sitting on both the topper hair and your scalp.

If this scalp buildup isn’t washed away, it can leave the hair looking dull, cause tangling, and irritate the scalp. Left unchecked, scalp buildup can snowball into oily dandruff, itchiness, and even cause your topper attachment to slip.

At the bare minimum, shampoo once a week. But for a healthier scalp (and a topper that looks fresher for longer), we recommend washing two times per week or more with the right products.

Why Is My Scalp So Itchy? A Trichologist Breaks It Down

Woman scratching her itchy scalp with a frustrated expression, text overlay reads “got itch?”—visual concept for blog post about oily scalp and scalp inflammation.

Got Itchy Scalp? It Might Not Be What You Think

Think it’s dryness or dandruff? The real culprit is likely excess oil—and your current routine may actually be making it worse.

If your scalp itches, your first thought is probably, “It must be dry.”
You might reach for conditioner, scalp oils, or even Head & Shoulders—only to find it gets worse.

Here’s the thing: most itchy scalps aren’t dry. They’re oily.

And that “itch” you’re feeling? It’s often inflammation from oil buildup—not a lack of moisture. As trichologists, we see this every day. Understanding the real cause is the first step toward relief.