Oily roots and dry ends? Here’s how to rebalance your hair

If you notice your locks looking a little limp and lifeless at the roots, weighed down by oil, yet strangely brittle, fluffy or prone to splitting at the ends, chances are you’ve got combination hair.

Combination hair has many causes, including colouring and excessive heat styling (both can strip the hair shaft of its natural oils), product build-up (which can block hair follicles, leading to increased sebum production) and an unbalanced, itchy and flaky scalp.

Read on to find out how to bring balance back to your hair.

Healthy hair begins with the scalp, so keep yours happy! One that’s dry and dehydrated can cause irritation and flakiness, leading to excess oil production. The solution? A hydrating and rebalancing treatment. The hyaluronic acid and vitamin B3 in Living Proof’s leave-in wonder deliver a double-shot of moisture while supporting scalp health.

Meanwhile, clogged hair follicles are often the culprit when it comes to oily roots. Just like our skin, the scalp needs a gentle exfoliant to remove old product, dead skin cells or excess oil. Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo harnesses the power of binchotan charcoal to draw out impurities, while strengthening panthenol helps support hair at the root.

It seems logical: a daily scrub with a lathery shampoo should wash that oil right out of your hair, leaving it squeaky clean and silky. Unfortunately, over-washing can lead to even more oil production, and leave the ends even drier over time. Switch up your wash schedule to once every three days or so, concentrating shampoo at the roots and conditioner at the mid-lengths and ends. Try a restorative combination, such as Oribe’s Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner.

Need to address your oily roots in an instant? Nothing does it like dry shampoo. Absorbing excess oil in seconds, it’s a must-have for work, the gym and nights out. Plus, it extends your time between washes which, in turn, helps to keep your scalp balanced and gives the natural oils a chance to travel all the way down the hair shaft.

We love Soap & Glory’s Rushower Dry Shampoo, which remains undetected on even the darkest of hair and each hair flick treats you to a burst of a deliciously fruity scent.

Dry ends (as well as a host of other issues, like colour fade) can be caused by excessive heat styling and exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Feeling the heat? Give your hair a break from the blow-dryer by switching to Aquis’ Rapid Dry Turban and add a protective layer with a UV-fighting, strand-strengthening leave-in treatment from 3MoreInches.

It may sound counterintuitive, but hair oil can actually be a solution for combination hair. Smooth a few drops through your mid-lengths and ends to farewell frizz and restore shine and strength. AVEDA’s Nutriplenish™ Multi-Use Hair Oil is a moisture-locking dream for dry hair, while colour-treated locks will love OLAPLEX’s rebuilding No. 7 Bonding Oil which also offers UV and heat protection up to 232C.