CHRISTMAS MIGHT BE over, but baby, it’s still cold outside. 

However, your hair could be feeling the effects of your over reliance on the old radiator, as the dehumidified atmosphere strips it of moisture. If you’ve been feeling like nothing is getting you hair clean, it could be as a result of the dehydration triggering an over-production of oil.

Artist's interpretation of you at the absolute end of your tether with your gruaig

Before you go reaching for products, there’s a couple of simple things you can do, like drinking more water. If you’re arsed, you can put bowls of water near your rads but who could honestly be bothered?

Moving on to your head, then …

Don’t go scrambling for your purse just yet. That handy dandy salt mill in your cupboard could do wonders for your scalp. Beauty writer Sali Hughes has previously recommended mixing sea salt with whatever shampoo you’re using and scrubbing the shite out of your scalp before your normal shower routine.

You can buy scalp exfoliators as well, but they’re not as cheap (obviously.) Bumble & bumble’s Scalp Detox (€34 for 150ml. Insanity) is a mousse containing micellar water and salicylic acid to exfoliate away dry flakes and remove itchy-product buildup (dry shampoo addicts, take note.) You apply weekly, pre-shampoo, direct from the nozzle, and work into the scalp. 

Bumble and bumble Scalp Detox

If you’re feeling thriftier (it’s January, I understand), Boots do an own-brand build-up removal shampoo that only costs €5 that people swear by. If you’re feeling even thriftier, washing up liquid will also do the job, but rest assured you will feel like an absolute degenerate doing it. Once you’ve the build-up dealt with, “treat yourself” to an apple cider vinegar rinse. There’s no formal research been done on the benefits of the latter, but having done it myself, I definitely found my hair was shinier and more manageable.

Elsewhere, it might be an idea to start bringing a wide-toothed comb/Tangle Teezer/Wet Brush into the shower with you to make sure you are properly, properly rinsing everything out of your hair.

Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler Hair Brush

Yes, I know brushing your hair while wet is technically bad, as your hair is at it’s most elastic and most breakable. Those recommended above should minimise breakage, but I still wouldn’t recommend this long term – maybe until we can all stop bringing hot water bottles to bed. (And as long as you’re not reefing the head off yourself, you’ll probably be grand.)

If dryness is your issue, cut down on your use of hot styling products and invest in a decent oil. Depending on what your specific dry issue is, you’ll need a product containing a specific oil to treat it. For example, coconut oil is considered to be a kind of cure-all oil, whereas argan oil is best for people with frizzy hair. Macadamia oil is the big daddy, helping those with with very damaged hair. Peep that ingredient list, and away you go.

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