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Scalp Type Quiz

What is my scalp type? Answer seven quick questions to find out whether your scalp is oily, dry, balanced, flaky or sensitive — with a wash rhythm and product types to match.

Question 1 of 7

How many days after washing does your scalp start to feel oily?

Think of a normal week without workouts or heavy products.

How to use the Scalp Type Quiz

  1. Think about a normal week

    Answer for a usual week, not a day after a new product or a heavy workout. Look at your part a few days after washing.

  2. Answer seven quick questions

    Say how soon your scalp gets oily, what kind of flakes you see, whether it itches or feels tight, how it reacts to new products, how often you sweat and whether build-up shows.

  3. Read your scalp type

    You get a main type — oily, dry, balanced, flaky or sensitive — plus any second tendency, a wash rhythm and the product types to look for and to go easy on.

  4. Plan your wash days

    Open the wash frequency calculator with your scalp type filled in. If flakes keep coming back, or you see redness or sores, see a board-certified dermatologist.

How to use the Scalp Type Quiz (50 s)

How the scalp type quiz works out your scalp type

Your scalp is skin with more oil glands than most of your body, and it behaves in fairly predictable patterns. Some scalps make a lot of oil and collect build-up fast. Some make little and feel tight. Some shed flakes, and some react to fragrance and new products. The quiz asks about the signs you can check yourself and adds them up.

How the answers are scored

Each answer adds points to one or more of four tendencies: oily, dry, flaky and sensitive. Larger, oily or yellowish flakes count most toward flaky, day-one oil counts most toward oily, and red or burning reactions to products count most toward sensitive. The highest total sets your type. 

highest tendency ≥ 3 points → that is your type
no tendency reaches 3 → balanced
next tendency ≥ 2 points → secondary tendency
tie → sensitive, then flaky, then oily, then dry

Ties go to the tendency that changes your product choice most: a sensitive scalp needs fragrance-free products whatever else is going on. The maximum is 7 points for oily, 6 for dry, 6 for flaky and 6 for sensitive. These point values are an editorial rule of thumb, not a clinical scale.

What the result gives you

A wash rhythm to start from, the product types to look for and the ones to go easy on. Oily and flaky scalps do better with more frequent washing and light products kept off the roots. Dry scalps need gentler cleansers and less clarifying. Sensitive scalps need fragrance-free products and a patch test before anything new. The wash frequency calculator turns the rhythm into a schedule for your hair type and style, and the ingredient checker helps you check a label against the list.

What the quiz cannot tell you

It cannot diagnose a scalp condition. Dandruff, a dry scalp and several skin conditions can look alike, and only an examination can tell them apart. The quiz suggests product categories, never medicines. If flakes keep coming back, or you have redness, sores, pain or patches of hair loss, see a board-certified dermatologist.

Scalp type chart

Scalp type Signs the quiz counts Wash rhythm Look for Go easy on
Oily Within a day (oily after); After 2 or 3 days (oily after); Larger, oily or yellowish flakes (flakes); Only as wash day gets close (itch); A few times a week (sweat); Most days (sweat); Some, near the roots by wash day (build-up); Yes, a lot (build-up) Every 2–4 days A regular shampoo for every wash, and a clarifying shampoo every 2 to 4 weeks Heavy butters, thick creams and oils on the scalp itself
Dry It hardly ever feels oily (oily after); Small, dry, white flakes (flakes); A little tight for a while (after washing); Tight, dry or uncomfortable (after washing) Every 7–10 days Gentle, sulfate-free or low-lather shampoos Clarifying shampoo every wash
Balanced Fewer than 3 points for every tendency Every 5–7 days A regular shampoo you like, and a clarifying shampoo once a month Changing everything at once if something feels off — swap one product at a time
Flaky Small, dry, white flakes (flakes); Larger, oily or yellowish flakes (flakes); Only as wash day gets close (itch); Often, even right after washing (itch); Most days (sweat); Yes, a lot (build-up) Every 3–7 days A shampoo labeled for dandruff, used as the label directs, alternating with your regular shampoo Heavy oils, butters and grease on the scalp
Sensitive Often, even right after washing (itch); Tight, dry or uncomfortable (after washing); Sometimes it tingles, stings or itches (new products); Often red, burning or bumpy (new products) Every 5–7 days Fragrance-free and dye-free shampoos and conditioners Fragrance and essential oils, including tingling mint or tea tree products

Wash rhythms are rules of thumb for textured hair. Persistent flakes, redness, sores or hair loss are not a scalp type — see a board-certified dermatologist.

Frequently asked questions

What is my scalp type?
Most scalps fall into one of five patterns: oily, dry, balanced, flaky or sensitive, often with a second tendency on top. The quickest clues are how many days it takes your scalp to feel oily, what kind of flakes you see, and how it reacts to new products. The seven questions above sort those clues for you.

How can I tell dandruff from a dry scalp?
Dry-scalp flakes tend to be small, white and powdery, and the scalp feels tight. Dandruff flakes are usually larger, oily or yellowish, and come with itch and an oily scalp. The two can look alike, though, and only a board-certified dermatologist can tell you for sure what is going on.

Should I put oil on a dry scalp?
A few drops of a light oil massaged in after washing can make a dry scalp feel more comfortable. Skip heavy oils and grease on the scalp if you also have flakes or build-up, because they can make flaking worse. Oil does not add water, so a moisturizing conditioner matters more.

How often should I wash an oily scalp with natural hair?
Usually every two to four days, with a water rinse or co-wash after workouts in between. Textured hair often does not need washing that often, so you can focus shampoo on the scalp and condition the lengths. The wash frequency calculator builds a schedule for your hair type.

Can my scalp type change?
Yes. Weather, hormones, stress, sweat, new products and protective styles can all shift how your scalp behaves. Retake the quiz when the seasons change or after a big change in your routine.

When should I see a dermatologist about my scalp?
See a board-certified dermatologist if flakes keep coming back despite regular washing, or if you have redness, sores, scabs, pain, thick scaly patches, or patches of hair loss. Those are not a scalp type, and they deserve a proper diagnosis.

Sources

Last data update:

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. Dandruff: how to treat. Dandruff is common and usually manageable with regular washing and dandruff shampoos; see a dermatologist when it does not improve.
  2. Draelos ZD. Essentials of hair care often neglected: hair cleansing. Int J Trichology. 2010;2(1):24-29. How shampoo surfactants and conditioners work; cleansing needs differ by hair type and scalp.

How we research and update pages: editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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