For a while I was zealously washing once, twice per week. But my hair is fine and broke off under all that manipulation. Once I just started to wash every two weeks or more, I retained my length and finally got the longest portion of my hair to APL. When I got married seven years ago, my hair was mid-back and I remember washing about every three weeks, not combing, and just leaving it alone. It turned out to be a winning formula for me. I guess I'm going back to the basics.