Are you having trouble spacing out your shampoos because your hair gets greasy quickly? You're not alone. Every day, we receive messages from people struggling with oily hair and asking for advice. So, today, LAO is sharing 3 tips for purifying your scalp and thus, at least partially combating oily hair! But first, let's try to understand together how this oil forms at the roots of your hair...
“Why is my hair greasy?”
Contrary to popular belief, it's not the hair that produces this oily layer, but the scalp! Oiliness is actually the secretion of sebum from your scalp, at the base of your hair. This sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands at the root of the hair and flows down the lengths. This is why the longer you wait to wash your hair, and the more you brush your hair, the more the sebum will spread over your lengths.
But what is this sebum for? Sebum is secreted by your scalp to protect the hair fiber, especially the scalp. Yes, it's not there to annoy us, but to protect us from external aggressions! Your scalp will also adapt its sebum secretion depending on your hair's exposure to aggressions such as pollution, poor diet, or even unsuitable hair care, according to a study conducted by QIMA. Hormones can also play a role in variations in sebum secretion by the scalp.
So here are 3 tips for taking care of oily hair.
Protect your hair
This advice will probably seem logical to you after explaining the cause of a scalp that gets greasy quickly. The first thing to do before treating it is to find the cause of your oily hair: do you live in a polluted environment? Do you regularly expose your hair to heat? Do you have an overly rich diet? Are your hair care products suited to your hair and scalp type?
It's often said that prevention is better than cure! So let's ask ourselves the right questions, try to find the cause of this oily scalp, and find a solution to reduce what he may consider an aggression!
Use a purifying shampoo
When your scalp gets greasy quickly, you should avoid using a shampoo that's too rich, which could amplify this greasy or heavy effect, due to oils or silicones. You should also avoid shampoos that are too harsh on the scalp, especially those containing sulfates, because they can encourage the scalp to produce more sebum to protect itself.
If your hair gets greasy quickly, it's best to use a purifying shampoo that's gentle on your scalp and free of sulfates, fatty oils, and silicones. LAO's 100% natural purifying shampoo contains nettle hydrosol, an active ingredient well-known for its sebum-regulating properties, which can help combat oily hair and even oily dandruff.
Tip : Apply your shampoo only to your scalp to cleanse it, then massage it in without leaving it on. Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of shampooing isn't to cleanse your hair. Start by applying a first shampoo to cleanse your scalp, rinse. Then, apply a second shampoo, which will lather significantly more than the first!
Avoid oils and products that are too rich
You're probably going to ask us: "But if I have oily hair and dry ends, what should I do?"
You should avoid overloading your scalp with rich products like oils and hair masks, as this can weigh your hair down and make it difficult to wash. If your hair is already producing sebum, it won't need it.
On the other hand, you can definitely condition your lengths and ends by applying a suitable mask or oil if your ends are dry or brittle. This will condition your hair without making your scalp greasy or weighing it down!
Lastly, just because we've often read that you absolutely have to space out your shampoos, doesn't mean you should hold back from washing your hair! Sebum buildup isn't good for the scalp either; it suffocates it and can even cause problems. Wash your hair when you feel you need to!
Did you enjoy these tips? Also check out the “All About Hair” episodes on the Hair Library and on the Instagram account @lao.care 🌿
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