Don’t fret just yet. CHARMAINE LEE offers some possible explanations as to why your fave hair product no longer does the trick.
Don’t fret just yet. CHARMAINE LEE offers some possible explanations as to why your fave hair product no longer does the trick.
It’s a common dilemma: you find the shampoo of your dreams and enjoy a few blissful months of perfect hair days, but suddenly, it just stops working for you. Well, I hate to break it to you, but more often than not, this beauty woe is caused by the changing needs of your hair and scalp, not the shampoo itself. Here are some factors that can affect how your tresses and scalp respond to your shampoo.
THAT TIME OF THE MONTH
Spikes in testosterone levels during our monthly menstrual cycle promote sebum production, resulting in oilier-than-usual skin and scalp, and greasier hair. That’s why your luxuriously creamy shampoo might feel too rich or even weigh down your mane at certain times of the month.
A BUILD-UP OF PRODUCT RESIDUE
Regular use of hairsprays, hair gels and hair clays can cause product build-up on the scalp and hair, which clogs hair follicles, making it more difficult for your regular shampoo to work effectively. The solution? Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to get rid of all the gunk that your regular shampoo can’t budge.
THE WATER USED TO WASH YOUR HAIR
If you travel often, you’ll notice that your hair looks and feels different from its usual state when you're overseas. Aside from changes in climate, the type of water used to wash your hair is a contributing factor. Water falls into one of two categories: hard and soft. Hard water – water that has a high mineral content – is especially harsh on the hair, and can make it limp and dry (thankfully, the water in Singapore is moderately soft), so if you’re travelling to a city with hard water, such as London and Paris, use a chelating shampoo, which is specifically designed to prevent and remove mineral build-up. Just be sure to use a moisturising conditioner too, as such shampoos tend to be drying. Fun fact: French beauty junkies reportedly rinse their hair with Evian water to prevent hair damage caused by hard water – a fancier alternative for those who want to pamper their locks.
THE EXPIRY DATE
Yes, shampoos have expiry dates too. Once your shampoo has expired or gone bad, it doesn’t perform as intended. The general rule of thumb is to finish using an opened bottle within a year. Even if it hasn’t expired, you should toss it if you notice product separation, or changes in smell, colour or texture. A change in colour could be due to oxidation or exposure to UV rays, so keep your shampoo out of direct sunlight.
EXPERT SOURCES: Dr Eileen Tan, dermatologist at Eileen Tan Skin, Laser and Hair Transplant Clinic; Leonica Kei, trichologist at Philip Kingsley; and Peggy Goh, principal trichologist at DRx Group.
