All Your Hair Stresses, Sorted!

Say goodbye to bad hair days: these easy fixes or the most worrisome issues will save your strands – and your sanity.

The Stress

Dullness

Dirt from pollution and build-up from styling products can stick to strands and linger, explains Sean Santiago, scientific liaison for L’Oréal Professional Products Division. Not only does the grit feel icky, it can also make hair look lacklustre by preventing light from being reflected off it.

The Fix

Just as charcoal in face masks sucks grime out of pores to reveal a glowing complexion, it can help make your hair gleam. Try sudsing with a charcoal-infused shampoo, like Hask Charcoal with Citrus Oil Purifying Shampoo (R149) a few times a week to gently lift away residue, revealing super-shiny strands.

The Stress

Thinning

A quarter of women are anxious about this, a SurveyMonkey poll found. Thinning is genetic, but physical and psychological stress can also cause it, says dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner. As for length, a healthy scalp should grow about 1,25cm of hair monthly.

The Fix

Keep everyday anxiety in check with aromatherapy oils or walks outside. For optimal growth, a scalp exfoliator will remove product buildup that can weaken hair follicles, says dermatologist Dr Mona Gohara. The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Refreshingly Purifying Cleansing Hair Scrub (R200) uses Japanese green tea, mint menthol and salt crystals to exfoliate. Also take a supplement with collagen, like Wild Beauty Spell Collagen Plain Jane (R249), to strengthen hair and promote new growth.

The Stress

Dryness