HAIR CARE TIPS FOR OILY SCALP---- BY MEGHA

The monsoons may be romantic, but in reality, this weather takes a toll on your biggest accessory, your hair. Monsoon humidity makes the scalp oily and itchy. As a result of this oily scalp, you face severe hair fall( I know everybody right now can relate to this) and your hair becomes lifeless and brittle.

Not to forget there are some people (me for example) who have an oily scalp, monsoon, or no monsoon. So if you are one of those then you have come to the right place. Just so you know I am no hair expert. I am just sharing some tips with you which works for my hair, and I hope they work for yours as well.

1. Do not wash your hair too often

I know this is something, which is difficult for those who have an oily scalp. It was for me at least. I always thought that if I have oily scalp then I have to wash my hair every alternative day to keep my scalp and hair oil-free, but unknowingly I was making them even more oily. When you wash your hair too often the scalp becomes dry and as a result, it produces its natural oil which makes your scalp even more oily. It is advised to wash your hair twice a week.

TIP:  If you feel that your scalp is still oily and your hair looks lifeless there is something you can do. Take some talcum powder and rub it in your scalp, it won't make your hair look scanty and will surely give you that bounce. 

2. Use sulfate and paraben free shampoos and conditioner 

 All these years many of us have been using shampoos such as Dove, Garnier, Head and shoulders, Loreal Paris, Matrix, etc. and wonder why our hair keeps falling even when these brands claim it won't. Well, they all have sulfate and paraben which is not good for your scalp and your hair. Instead, you should use herbal shampoos of the brands such as Himalaya, Khadi, WOW, Mama earth, and many other brands that make sulfate-free products (check the ingredients before using).

TIP: If you have oily scalp then try using shampoos which have apple cider vinegar in it, trust me it will do wonders on your scalp.

3. Apply conditioner after every wash

This is something which most of you already be doing but you still won't be getting any results instead, you might feel that it is causing build-ups in your scalp. You are applying your conditioner all wrong. You just have to apply it on the length of your hair (just like in the picture), you do not have to apply it on your scalp. This will make your scalp oily and your roots weak. Hence will cause hair fall. 

TIP: Do not apply conditioner on extremely wet hair. After shampoo remove extra water from your hair and then apply conditioner. You can also use a wide-tooth comb to remove the knots of your hair.

4. Use hair brush with flexible bristles

Okay, so I just figured out the importance of hairbrushes. All these years I was using a basic plastic comb, I know many of you can relate to it. But using a plastic comb to brush your hair will make things worse as it produces static and friction in your hair and causes breakage. Switch your plastic combs with either wood comb or hairbrushes with flexible bristles.

TIP: People with oily scalp should brush their hair before sleeping. I feel like this is the time when our scalp produces maximum oil and buildups so brushing it will induce circulation and the oil on your scalp gets evenly distributed and you don't feel that oil the next day you wake up.

5. Do not use hot water to wash your hair

We all will agree to this, a hot water bath is the most relaxing thing to do. But every good thing does come with some consequences. Hot water makes your hair super dry and also causes hair to fall. Lukewarm water is best to wash your hair. 

TIP: If you feel like washing your hair with hot water then make sure that the last rinse has to be with cold water. It seals the moisture in, preventing your scalp to get dry.

6. Avoid using heat appliances 

Styling your hair is something we all love to do. Who doesn't want that straight, silky and bouncy hair? But these heat appliances damage your hair and you lose your natural volume. I will suggest not to use these appliances as much as possible but again sometimes you cannot avoid it. So it is suggested to use a good heat protection spray or serum before using any heat appliance.

TIP: Let your hair air dry, not use blow dryer often. Regular trimming of hair is important. You should trim your hair every 2 months at least.

7. Do not use hair products more often

We all want that smooth texture of our hair, nobody likes dry and frizzy hair. And to achieve that texture we use some hair products which claim to remove that frizz. But again using these greasy serums and other products regularly is not good for your hair in the future, whether be dry hair or oily you should not use these products way too much. 

TIP: My advice? Even if you are using these hair serums, use sulfate-free herbal products. They might not give you that smooth texture but they will not harm your hair as much.

8. Watch your diet

One of the most important points is eating healthy. Yes, your gut health is connected to our scalp health as well. As much as we love to eat these fried foods especially in monsoon, we somehow ignore how it will affect our body. Eating clean has to be part of your life if you want a healthy body, be it your skin, your scalp, or your weight.

TIP: Drink at least 2-3 liters of water to improve your scalp health. It helps to reduce the occurrence of dead skin and dandruff.