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Lank, thin and greasy hair is the bane of many lives, but it can actually be easily overcome if you learn what might be causing it in the first place.

In order to help everyone out of their greasy hair rut, the hair and beauty experts at online retailer Hairtrade.com have compiled a list of the most common things to cause a build-up of grease – and some of them might be surprising.

 A bit of grease in your hair can help when styling your locks in particular ways, and many hairstylists will say they prefer to work with hair that hasn’t been freshly washed as it can be too soft and fluffy.

However, a big build-up of grease can also weigh your hair down, making it look flat and lifeless, and greasy roots don’t look pretty either. Here are seven reasons your hair is greasy:

Washing It Too Often

This might seem contradictory as you probably feel the need to wash your hair more often to get rid of the fast build-up of grease but in doing so you’re only feeding into a vicious circle. Shampooing your hair strips your scalp of its natural oils, and when you’re doing this everyday your head will try to produce even more oils in a bid to replace the ones you’re washing away, which is when your hair becomes greasy. It’s a hard cycle to break but try to gradually cut back on washing your hair to every other day at least, or 2-3 times a week at best. Your hair will thank you in the long run.

Touching Your Hair Too Often

When you fiddle with your hair out of boredom or habit, you’re transferring dirt and oils from your fingertips to your strands which then contributes to a build-up of grease – so keep your hands away!

Your Hairbrush Is Dirty

It’s not nice to think about, but your hairbrush could be harbouring all sorts of nasties, with stale product build-up and dust being the obvious ones. If your hairbrush is clogged, it’s only going to transfer these onto your hair and scalp, making it feel dirty. So, clean your hairbrush or buy a new one, pronto!

You’re Using The Wrong Shampoo

Everyone’s hair is different and requires a different balance of ingredients to look and feel its best, so if you’re using the wrong products this can irritate your scalp. It can also cause shampoo and products to build-up at the roots and trap oil there, making your hair feel greasy, so make sure you’re using the right shampoo for your hair type and use styling products that are lightweight and absorb thoroughly into your hair. It’s also a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo once a week, as it will gently cleanse anything that builds up in your strands.

You’re On Your Period

As if a woman’s monthly menstruation didn’t already wreak enough havoc on her appearance with bloating and breakouts, hormonal fluctuations can cause your oil glands to go into overdrive, too. As a result, your scale may feel dirtier than normal. Using a salicylic acid shampoo can help to remove excess oil from the scalp during these times.

You’re Brushing Your Hair Too Much

Brushing your hair too much can stimulate oil production, which at first looks glossy, but soon looks greasy. Try just sticking to detangling the lengths and ends throughout the day.

You’re Using Hot Tools Too Much

Using heat-based styling tools automatically results in dry hair, but funnily enough this can actually contribute to greasy hair in the long run. Your scalp will secrete more sebum to cater to the drying condition, resulting in abnormal oil production which inevitably makes hair look and feel greasy. So, step away from the straightening irons and opt to go au naturel more often.

Alicia Joy