Question
I’m a 30-year-old woman and my scalp is very oily. I colour my hair every 15 days to cover up the grey. My hair falls out a lot and has started to thin. What can I do to prevent this?
Kiran Benjamin, via e-mail.
Answer
“Stop what you’re doing right now!” says hairstylist Andrew Collinge. “Let’s start with the technique you use to shampoo your hair. Don’t vigorously rub your scalp, because that can over-stimulate the follicles that make the oil. Gently cleanse the hair to lessen the grease problem and then you should be able to get down to two or three days between shampoos.
“Colouring your hair every 15 days does seem a little excessive. If you’re putting a very dark colour in your hair, the grey regrowth will be more obvious. You could try coming down a few shades, so the grey isn’t so different to your natural colour, or try moving into highlights to make the grey less noticeable. Another option is to try a more semi-permanent colour, rather than a full tint, that’s kinder to your hair.
“Your hair loss problem could be down to various causes, including diet. If you don’t eat red meat, make sure you get enough vitamin B12 and iron. Spinach is great hair food, but avoid oily fish if you tend to have an oily scalp.”
The AWW Beauty Team