‘Why does my hair get so greasy so quickly?

“Does your hair look and feel like an oil slick, even though you only recently washed it? If you’re washing daily, it might be best to cut down.  Siobhan Haug, co-founder of Haug London Haus and award-winning colour technician, recommends using a gentle, pH-balancing shampoo and cleansing your hair every two to three days. 

“Too much shampooing triggers the over production of natural oils and too little will allow it to build up in the hair making it look greasy,” she adds.

A diet filled with processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats, such as those found in crisps and fried foods, can also lead to increased inflammation in the scalp, triggering the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, resulting in grease. An over production of sebum, the natural oil our scalps produce will make hair look greasy. Bring the scalp back into balance with a gentle, ph balancing shampoo and cleanse your hair every two - three days. Too much shampooing will trigger the over production of natural oils and too little will allow it to build up in the hair making it look greasy.”

Why is my hair suddenly getting thicker and growing?

“Just like leaves on trees, your hair has seasons of growth and shedding. But, thicker, healthier hair is no bad thing.” writes Lucy. Siobhan adds “A balanced diet with a mixture of vitamins and minerals like biotin, iron, zinc and selenium will promote hair growth and general hair health.  Rising estrogen levels during Pregnancy also causes hair to feel fuller as well as looking shinier.

Why can I not get rid of my split ends?

You can temporarily seal split ends by using a hair polish or oil but you can’t get rid of them without having a haircut.

There are a few things you can do to stop them from appearing worse then they are: firstly, avoid over brushing your hair as this disturbs the cuticle layer, increasing porosity and visibility of split ends.

Next, be sure to use a heat protection spray when using any kind of heated styling equipment for blow drying or styling your hair. A heat protection spray works as a barrier, protecting the cuticle layer from drying out and becoming damaged which is when split ends are most noticeable. It also evens out the porosity of your strands, encouraging shine and sealing in that much-needed moisture. Our favourite is Super Shield from Schwarzkopf Professional’s Osis range.

Why is my scalp flaking?

Firstly, look at if it could be caused by external  factors like a build up of product in the hair / not rinsing hair properly after shampooing. It could also be down to the shampoo you are using, some products will upset the pH balance of the scalp causing dryness, irritation and flaking. Try switching to something gentler to reduce sensitivity and opt for sulphate and paraben free products.

What’s making my hair so dull? 

“Hair looking a little lifeless? It could be down to your choice of products.

Products which are heavily perfumed and packed full of heavy cosmetic conditioning agents start to layer themselves up on your hair creating a film that only a good clarifying shampoo and a change in wash routine will fix, says Siobhan.

Environmental factors like pollution in the air also play their part in making hair dull. Siobhan suggests double shampooing to thoroughly remove the film that’s preventing your shine.”

Is there a reason why some days my hair is so knotty?

Going to sleep with wet hair causes friction that can create knots or worse still, breakage. Plus it’s not good for microbiome of the scalp and can cause bacteria to build up. Hair should be gently de-tangled when damp using a soft bristle brush or a detangling comb, combing from the ends first and then working up towards the root area. If your hair is prone to knotting use a leave in conditioner  after washing and dry thoroughly before going to bed.

Read Lucy Gornall’s full article in the Sun Wellness News here.

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