Q) I have combination hair and it's a nightmare. My hair is a combination of extremely greasy at the roots and very dry and brittle at the ends.
Is there any way to satisfy both?
Professional Hair Care Tips - Combination hair is a hard one. Sounds a bit like you might have some problems with hormones or overly active sebaceous glands. The trick is though, to get rid of the oil at the scalp but not at the ends. Get the brittle ends trimmed off first. Since you have an oily scalp, you'll need to wash your hair everyday. To avoid overly drying the ends, only apply shampoo to the scalp when you wash it. (Shampoo to your ends every third day.) After washing it, apply conditioner to your ends only. Keep them on for at least 3 minutes while you're in the shower. Do not put conditioners near the scalp. They can add oils to an already oily scalp.
Then start hydrating your hair from the inside out. Drink as much water as you can to help add moisture. Use leave in conditioners on your ends to help with the dryness. I have had great success with Infusium Leave In Conditioner which can be purchased at Sally's or on the internet. You can also use Olive oil or mayonnaise as a home made moisturizer. To use, simply apply a sufficient amount to the ends to cover them completely. Wrap your hair in a towel or use a cap, and cover for 20 minutes or even overnight. Rinse, shampoo and condition as usual.
To eliminate more breakage, don't use a brush on wet hair. Use a wide toothed comb only.
Let your hair rest too. Don't use irons or apply heat to your hair if possible. Heat is very drying. You can use hot rollers if you like. These are a different kind of heat. Steam rollers are best for dry ends.
In the winter, you may want to get a humidifier for your home. These help add moisture to the air and will help with dry hair or skin.
If you are in a hurry and your scalp is oily, use products like 'Pssstt'. These help an oily scalp when you don't have time to wash. All of these things should help your combination hair!