The 5 Most Common Hair Concerns and How to Fix Them
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Good hair days can transform your mood and put a spring in your step, so when your strands aren't looking their best you might not feel your best either. Whether you're dealing with unwanted frizz or strands that don't shine, we have the solutions. Below we have pulled together the 5 hair concerns we hear most in the store and we're sharing the products and tips and tricks you need to fix them fast.
Your Concern: An Itchy, Flaky Scalp
An itchy, flaky scalp could simply be a build-up of dry skin that you need to exfoliate away. Try Ouai's Scalp and Body Scrub, €38, to gently buff away the dead, flaky skin that can cause itching. If the problem doesn't improve with a once-weekly exfoliation then you could have seborrheic dermatitis, an inflammatory condition that can cause itching and flaking of the scalp. Causes include stress, seasonal changes and hormonal changes.
Your Concern: You Want More Volume
You might think volume is best created using styling products, but it actually all starts in the shower. If you want more volume you should invest in a good volumising shampoo that will give your strands a boost. We love Virtue Full Shampoo, €41. Get the matching conditioner and just use it on the ends, too much conditioner near the roots will weigh your hair down.
Did you know you can buy travel sizes of the Virtue shampoos and conditioners?
Another top tip for creating volume is to blow-dry your hair upside down to encourage that all-important root lift. This, combined with the right shampoo, creates the perfect base for you then to use a volumising spray like Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, €46 or Ouai Volumizing Spray, €25.
Your Concern: You've Got Frizz But Want Smoother Hair
Much like volume, fighting frizz starts with your shampoo and conditioner. Look to a smoothing duo like Virtue Smooth Shampoo, from €17, and Conditioner, from €18.
When you come to towel-dry your hair, squeeze-don't rub!-your strands with your towel to help ensure strands stay smooth and don't get frizzy.
Want more frizz-fighting tips? Check out the 7 frizz-fighting tips to know now.
Your Concern: Your Strands Are Dull, Not Shiny
Virgin hair (so hair that has never been dyed) tends to be shinier than tresses that have been bleached. But damage from heated tools can also cause hair to lose its sheen. Why does hair look dull? Well, each strand is covered in cuticles which look a bit like tiles on a roof. On healthy, shiny hair these cuticles light flat and smooth so light can reflect, but colouring and heat styling can cause these cuticles to open - the strands become rough and unable to reflect light, so they aren't as shiny-looking.
Look to products designed to smooth the hair, keep it healthy and hydrated with a shine spray like Ouai Hair & Body Shine Mist, €30, and always use a heat protector before blow-drying, straightening or tonging.
Top tip: After rinsing your hair of conditoner finish by runninng cold water over your strands, this forces the cuticles to close and lie flat so your hair should look glossier.
Your Concern: Your Roots Get Greasy But Your Ends Are Dry
Overwashing your hair can cause the ends to become dry and the hair follicles to overproduce oil. If you wash your hair every day, try dropping down to every other day and then twice a week, gradually your hair will adapt and produce less oil at the roots.
Alternatively, you can try applying conditioner to your mid-length and ends, then shampoo the roots. Rinse your hair, then follow with a second helping of conditioner or a hydrating mask like the nourishing Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque, €65. The Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam, €28, is a quick and easy way to refresh roots without having to wash your hair.
