What causes oily roots and dry ends?
If you have an oily scalp but dry hair, it may indicate an imbalanced scalp coupled with damage from environmental stressors. It’s important to note that the amount of oil your scalp produces is directly tied to how many sebaceous glands you have – but there are plenty of external factors that can also kick your sebum production into overdrive. On the other hand, dry ends point to a lack of moisture – which often comes from your hair habits. Continue reading as we dive into these hair concerns.
Oily roots
If you struggle with oily roots, it’s likely down to these factors:
- Your scalp is over-producing sebum or you have more sebaceous glands in general
- Scalp buildup from sweat, dead skin cells, and hair product residue
- Improper hair care products – especially those with harsh chemicals or heavy oils
- External pollution like dust, dirt and other debris can add to oil buildup
- Over-washing or under-washing can disrupt the balance of natural oils
Dry ends
Dry ends are typically the result of damage from external stressors:
- Excessive heat styling can rob the hair of natural moisture
- Chemical processing like bleaching, colour-treating, perming, and relaxing
- Environmental changes – UV damage or cold, dry weather can dry out the hair
- Over-washing can remove the hair’s natural oils
- Not getting regular trims at the salon can lead to dry, split ends
8 tips to manage your oily scalp and dry ends
Luscious, healthy-looking hair is all about balance. And when you have an oily scalp or dry ends, it signifies a disruption to this balance. Either too much moisture – or not enough. The trick is to focus on scalp care without neglecting your ends. This means integrating hair care for oily hair to rebalance sebum at the scalp, while ensuring your strands still get enough hydration. Below, we have curated eight hair care tips for oily roots and dry ends.
1. Adjust your hair washing schedule
When you have an oily scalp and dry ends, it’s also important not to over-wash your hair as this can rob the scalp of moisture – which may trigger more sebum production. Conversely, under-washing your hair can lead to scalp buildup and further imbalances.
There is no hard-and-fast rule about how often you should be washing your hair, but we suggest approximately two to three times per week to properly cleanse your scalp without drying your ends. Keep in mind that you cannot ‘train’ your hair to produce less oil if your scalp naturally secretes more sebum.
2. Introduce a scalp serum
Before washing your hair, one of the most effective oily scalp treatments you can incorporate into your routine is a purifying scalp serum. This is going to help remove buildup, excess oil, and dead skin cells – which all contribute to greasy strands.
Formulated with a powerful blend of salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid, the Hyaluron Pure Oil Erasing Scalp Serum For Oily Hair works by gently lifting excess oil and impurities without disturbing the scalp’s natural balance. To use, simply apply to dry roots twice a week for gentle exfoliation.
3. Switch to a shampoo for oily scalp and dry ends
Hair care for oily hair should deeply cleanse scalp buildup without removing all moisture from the hair. We suggest washing your hair with the Hyaluron Pure Purifying Shampoo for Oily Hair. A shampoo for oily scalp and dry ends, this formula is enriched with salicylic acid to dissolve scalp oils and hyaluronic acid to deliver lightweight hydration throughout your strands.
After using your oily scalp treatment, Apply a small amount of the shampoo to your wet hair. Gently massage the product into the scalp, then rinse thoroughly. If you have a very oily scalp, you might find it beneficial to do a second wash to properly remove sebum buildup.
4. Apply conditioner to your ends only
Conditioner is an essential step to fix dry hair – specifically your ends – but it important to avoid weighing down hair that’s already prone to limpness. After washing, apply the Hyaluron Pure Rehydrating Conditioner for Oily Hair conditioner to the ends of your hair. This formula is designed to nourish the lengths and ends of dry hair without weighing it down. Leave your conditioner on for a few minutes before rinsing to properly nourish your ends.
5. Use dry shampoo – sparingly
Dry shampoo can feel like an oily scalp’s best friend. And while it’s great for a quick refresh between washing, it is not an oily hair treatment. It should be used sparingly to avoid product buildup on the scalp which can ultimately clog your hair follicles (and exacerbate the oily you were trying to control). Try not to use dry shampoo more than two consecutive days between washes.
6. Nourish your ends
If your ends are still feeling a little thirsty, you might consider introducing a lightweight conditioning mask or rinse-out treatment a couple of times a week.
Enriched with hyaluronic acid, the Hyaluron Pump Wonder Water can be used on wet hair after washing for lightweight nourishment. Simply leave on for eight seconds, then rinse out.
On an alternate day, opt for the Hyaluron Plump Hair Mask with Hyaluronic Acid, which imparts a layer of deep hydration without weighing down strands. Apply evenly onto wet shampooed hair, focusing on your mid-lengths to ends. After two to three minutes, rinse.
7. Brush your hair to distribute natural oils
Outside of your hair care for oily hair, you can also adjust your brushing habits. When you have an oily scalp and dry ends, you can use a boar bristle brush (or vegan equivalent) to gently brush your hair from roots to ends. This will help distribute some of the natural oils down to your ends. If your hair is especially tangled, you can start brushing from the ends and gradually move up the hair as you detangle.
8. Cut back on heat styling tools
Our final tip is an important one: reduce your use of heat styling tools. While they may afford you versatile styling options, they can significantly impact the health of your hair, causing dry ends and even exacerbating oil at the root. Opt for heat-free styles where you can and, if you are reaching for a hot tool, ensure that you always spritz your hair with heat protectant first.
Now that you’ve learned how to fix oily hair and nourish your ends, discover our tips on how to prevent hair breakage.
