6 Common Causes of Dirty Hair: What makes your hair dirty?

Many of us struggle with hair that gets oily very fast. While it’s true that you produce natural sebum that hydrates and protects your scalp and hair, many factors may make your hair look dirty. The amount of sebum your scalp produces depends on your hair washing habits, hair type, and many outside factors.

Common Causes of Dirty Hair

The oil you produce is an essential part of your defense system that nourishes and protects the hair and scalp. The oil, or sebum, mixes with dirt, sweat, and various products you apply to your hair. It creates a coat over your scalp and your hair strands – which is perfectly normal. Moreover, it’s unavoidable and good for your sensitive hair and skin.

However, some people produce more sebum than others, and we all have different habits, routines, and daily exposures to various elements that may cause an oily hair day. Some people’s hair looks greasy and dirty less than 24 hours after washing, so they need to wash it every day. Others look good even if they wash their hair once per week. So, what’s the catch?

We all know intense exercise makes your hair look oily, but what about other, not-so-obvious factors?

These are the top 6 reasons why your hair gets dirty, according to hair care experts from Ayam Beauty:

1. Touching your Hair

You probably know that touching your face makes it oilier. The same goes for hair. Fiddling with your strands allows the oil from your fingertips to transfer to your hair. Many people do it out of boredom and make their strands and scalp look oily very quickly. Remember, the less you touch your hair, the better (and cleaner) it will look.

2. Washing Too Often

Probably the most unusual cause of oily hair is washing too often. Each time you wash your hair with a cleansing shampoo, it cleans out all the sebum and sends a signal to the scalp to produce more. The more often you wash your hair, the more sebum you’ll make.

Washing your hair too often may put your scalp in sebum production overdrive.  As a result, your hair will get oily very fast, and you’ll need to rewash it soon. It’s a never-ending circle you need to stop if you want to keep your hair looking clean longer.

3. Using Too Much Conditioner

Conditioner is great for your hair, but using too much of it or using the wrong type may make your hair look greasy. Many people don’t wash the conditioner out properly and end up with oily strands within a day or so.

You should use the right conditioner for your hair type, never use too much of it, so it doesn’t weigh your hair down, and never apply it to your roots and scalp.

4. Brushing

Brushing hair promotes sebum production, which is why the hair looks so shiny after a good, long brush. However, if you brush too much and stimulate excess oil production, soon enough, the glossy effect will turn into greasy-looking hair that’s lost all its charms.

Dirty brushes are another potential problem. A brush can collect all types of nasty things, starting with dirt and styling products. A clogged brush transfers all of that to your strands and makes them feel dirty.

Moreover, if your hairbrush is full of hair, you’ll transfer the oil from old strands to your clean hair.

It’s essential to clean your brush regularly and to restrain from brushing too much. Brushing for a long time may look romantic and super-pampering in old movies, but the harmful effects overshadow the glossy look.

5. Hair type

Straight hair gets oily much quicker than textured hair. When your hair is straight, there is no texture for the hair shaft to wave to, and the oil spreads all over your strands. Wavy and curly hair is usually far dryer and less prone to getting oily.

Different hair types require various products and washing frequency.

6. Products

The products you use can be a critical factor for oily hair days. The sebum you produce is a type of natural oil, and you can’t break it down with only water. Not every shampoo can break up your natural oils. Only certain ingredients can do that.

Skipping the shampoo or using a shampoo that doesn’t cleanse your hair correctly may result in oil and product buildup.

While your hair may look fresh and clean during the drying process and shortly after, within several hours, you’ll see (and feel) the oil peeking out.

If you use styling products, you should know that they can clog up your strands and scalp and make them look dirty. Giving your hair a detox from all product buildup is very important if you want it to look fresh. Use a clarifying shampoo a few times per month to keep your locks clean.