6 COMMON HAIR PROBLEMS AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM
No matter your hair type, you’ve probably experienced one or more of these issues.
Split ends
These happen when a strand of hair separates into two or more fragments due to damage caused by excessive stress on the follicle, usually chemical (e.g. colouring or perms) or mechanical (e.g. styling tools). All hair types can suffer from split ends due to several non-genetic or ethnic reasons. Use a decent conditioner or apply oil to the ends of your hair as needed. Visit your hairdresser regularly (every ten weeks is a good rule of thumb), and avoid using heat tools, which may exacerbate the problem. If you insist on using heat, incorporate a heat protectant into your routine.
Oily Scalp and greasy hair
Factors that cause these issues include too frequent brushing, shampooing and conditioning, using too much product, or tying your hair up too often. Another lesser-known cause is hot water, which stimulates your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum.
Apple cider vinegar can help restore your scalp’s ph balance and, therefore, control oil production. Dilute a 1:8-ratio solution with water and pour through your hair. Leave for a few minutes, then rinse. Tea tree oil has natural antifungal properties and, used sparingly, can help to cleanse your scalp. Avoid products for oily hair that contain proteins or lipid-replenishing substances such as oils or silicone, as these only make a difficult situation worse by weighing your hair down, making it greasier than it was before.
dryness and breakage
If your hair’s coarse and dry, that could be related to menopause, birthcontrol pills, pregnancy, anaemia or a hormonal imbalance. It also could be a sign you’re washing your hair too often, and stripping it of its natural oils. Avoid things that are harsh on your hair such as chlorine, heat styling or chemical treatments. Begin by using a gentle shampoo, followed by hair
masks or oils to restore hydration. Research shows taking vitamins such as B5, omega-3 and omega-6 helps. Hair breaks more easily when it’s wet, so never pull out wet tangles with a brush. Instead, slowly work a widetooth comb through damp strands, starting from the bottom and working your way up the hair shaft. If you hit a tangle you can’t work through, apply conditioner or a detangling spray. Go for regular trims and try different hairstyles as continuously wearing hairstyles such as braids or ponytails can pull on your hair and cause tension that can lead to breakage.
dandruff
You can almost always control unwanted itching and flaking. For mild dandruff, first, try cleansing daily with a gentle shampoo to reduce oil and skincell buildup. If that doesn’t help, try a medicated dandruff shampoo. You may need to experiment with more than one shampoo to find the hair care routine that works best for you. Pay attention to the ingredients in your favourite products, particularly sprays. Products that contain alcohol can cause dryness, triggering more sebum production, which leads to dandruff. Avoid excessive use of styling products, such as hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes, which can lead to a build-up of oil on your hair and scalp, predisposing you to dandruff. Combing and brushing hair more regularly can help because it encourages your scalp to shed skin at a ‘normal’ rate. Maintaining a healthy diet that includes zinc, B vitamins, and essential fatty acids is also beneficial.
heat, colour Or bleach damage
While shampoo and conditioner are a need-to-have, a deep-conditioning treatment is essential. Once you’ve finished washing your hair, apply a leave-in hair treatment to damp strands to seal in moisture and keep them hydrated. If heat, colour or bleach damage has affected your natural curls, sealing moisture back into your follicles with a hair mask or deep-conditioning treatment can help restore its natural bounce. It’s also advisable to shield your hair from the sun.
FRIZZ
Dry hair that lacks moisture causes this. When selecting a shampoo, look for products with glycerin listed high up in the ingredients. The closer it is to the top, the higher its concentration in the product. Glycerin helps combat frizz by penetrating your hair and hydrating it from the inside out. In addition to glycerin, ensure your shampoo is sulfate-free. Drying your hair naturally or with the cool-shot button on a blow-dryer is another way to create sleek locks.
Hairspray is often enough to tame frizz if your hair’s fine, but wavy and curly girls should opt for a crème or mousse to add moisture. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase can help decrease friction that causes frizz. Argan oil is a decent choice for adding weightless moisture and shine to hair. While silicone products can create a barrier around the hair to prevent frizz, too much can cause a build-up, making it more difficult for strands to absorb moisture from oils or conditioners.