Tired of your dry, lifeless hair but can’t get rid of oil at the roots? Rhea Dhanbhoora tells you how to care for combination hair and recommends some of the best products you can use...
No matter how well you take care of your hair, are you still left with dry or oily hair and a scalp that does not match? Mahima Trivedi, manager of Club Renaissance & Spa, says, “It is important to treat the oiliness of the scalp and the dryness of your hair (or the other way around) separately.” Here’s your one-step guide to caring for combination hair.
LATHER TIPS
Mahima says that a pH balanced shampoo is best for combination hair. Avoid using shampoo that’s meant for dry or oily hair and be gentle while lathering.
Dry scalp & oily hair Shreyas Kamath, a dermatologist from Laserx, says, “If you prefer a regular shampoo, choose one for normal hair. It should strike a balance between what you need for your scalp and your ends.”
Oily scalp & dry hair Ryan D’rozario, a Bollywood celebrity hairstylist and brand ambassador for Indola Professional, says, “If you have a greasy scalp, you should use a shampoo that takes off the excess sebum and stops the pores from releasing excess oil. If you cannot get hold of a shampoo for greasy scalps, use a volumising shampoo. Apply the shampoo on the palm of one hand and use the fingertips of your other hand to shampoo just your scalp, not your hair ends.”
CONDITIONING SECRETS
If you’ve got combination hair, conditioning is important. Mahima says, “The ends of your hair need a lot of nourishment and conditioning. Apply oil to the end and massage gently, to give them the moisture they need.” She also suggests using a conditioner with sunscreen if you’ve got dry hair as it cuts back on sun damage. For excessively dry hair, try a hot-oil treatment but only on the ends.
TREAT IT RIGHT
If you’ve got combination hair, opt for a deep conditioning treatment once a month. Shweta Sodhi, a national education manager at Kérastase & Kéraskin India, suggests getting pampered with one of their treatments (`700 to `2,500 at Jean Claude Biguine Salons across the city). “The treatment re-oxygenates and balances an over-active scalp, cleansing excess sebum from your hair,” she says. At home, massage your scalp with a mild shampoo.
HOME REMEDY
If you don’t want to spend too much money on treatments, try a home remedy. Mahima suggests using a mixture of egg white and castor oil to shampoo your hair. She also suggests applying jojoba oil to your hair ends to keep them healthy.
MANE DO’S & DON’TS
- Avoid straightening and blow drying treatments, especially during the monsoon.
- Don’t change your hair products too often.
- Skip combing your hair too often.
- Don’t use hot water to wash your hair. Finish off with a blast of cool water to lock in moisture.
- Avoid using harsh shampoos.
- Wash your hair with lukewarm water.
- Avoid exposure to the sun.
- Don’t colour your hair too often.
- Keep stress and pollution levels low.
- Use a dry shampoo only on your scalp if you have dry hair and an oily scalp.
COMBINATION HAIR PRODUCTS
Smooth serum:
If you’ve got dry ends, the Smooth Serum from Indola Professional (`350) works well
Leave-in conditioner:
Another great product for dry hair is the Innova Leave-in conditioner (`225)
Anti-dandruff shampoo: You can use a dandruff conditioner that’s light, such as the Innova Specialists Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (`120)
Kérastase shampoo:
Try the Bain Divalent shampoo (`1,350) from their Specifique range as it targets oiliness at the root and dryness at the ends