Every shampoo and conditioner I use seems to make my hair greasy at the top with dry ends, what am I doing wrong?

[used2bthin]

I was on holiday last week, just within the UK but I think the water must have made a difference because my hair was a bit better. It used to look ok but even the hairdressor commented on the build up in it, but recommended L'oreal Elvive (if I was going to "just" use something from Boots )which was just as bad.

Does anyone know of one which won't leave build up? I would try something more expensive but it doesn't seem worth it as they all seem to do the same. TIA.

Don't put conditioner on the top - just the ends

put shampoo & conditioner on your hands rub them together then apply to your hair, this is a common mistake lots of people make, never poor straight from bottle onto your hair.

If there is build up, then;

Use less
Only shampoo the roots
Only condition the ends
Don't rub shampoo into scalp too hard
Rinse really well
After rinsing, rinse again with cold water

agree with DSMM

I use the Aussie range, love it

I agree with DSMM too, TBH I suspect the method is far more important than the product.

Thanks for the replies, I will try the mixing together thing, although would that be ok for my dry ends?

Flamesparrow, I have been trying only putting it on the ends, it still seems to have build up or something at the top, maybe the shampoo?

It was the Aussie stuff I was using before seeing the hairdressor, she asked had I used a home dye, or pantene, or aussie as she said they can all do cause build up. I know others who like it though so it must be good on some hair types not others.

I will try using less too, thanks.

Just put conditioner on the ends. Lush do specialist shampoos for hard and soft water areas, which may be useful for you if you find that changing area normally improves your hair (they come in a solid bar, but work fine -- you use them like soap to get a lather going).

Thanks anniemac, I remember doing a vinegar rinse when I was about thirteen and into natural beauty! I will try it, iirc it gave my hair quite a shine.

This happens to me too. I have very straight fine hair. I have started to just shampoo the top with a tiny amount and just condition the ends and it has improved a bit.

Sorry PortandLemon must have cross posted with you. That is interesting about the shampoos for hard and soft water areas, I am not sure which my area is but am guessing hard water. When I go abroad it always becomes really well behaved!

suwoo my hair is quite fine I think too. It is wavy but I straighten it which probably causes the dry ends actually.

change your shampoo regularly. I find that helps. When my hair starts to feel, i dunno how to explain it, heavy i guess, not really. oh anyway, that doesn't matter point is, I change shampoos and it freshens right up again.

conditioner only on ends like everyone has said, and always brush it through, rather than massaging it. I also find combing as you rinse leaves it really nice and smooth and shiny.

oh, i tell you what i did once - i had run out of shampoo and my hair was awful, so i used washing up liquid. It was amazing!! needed about twice the amount of conditioner afterwards, but it felt so clean!

I have done it a few times since, but i do worry that it's not actually good for my hair.

you can get stuff that removes build up but i cant remember what it was.Not much point in my posting then really.

you again?

I had the same problem and have been using head and shoulders citrus (for greasy hair) with a decent conditioner on the end only (Kielhs do a fan advocado one).

Hecate my aunt swears by washing up liquid! I wouldn't be brave enough although I bet its much the same as shampoo. In fact my hairdressor said cheaper shampoos are like using it (she is very opinionated and was digusted by me not spending a fortune on hair products!) I do the same with head and shoulders every now and then, it does remove the build up but then I get dandruff when I stop using it.

I know what you mean with the heavy thing actually! Mine gets kind of heavy and frizzy at the ends, its just been cut too. On holiday it actually looked as if it was in a style but it just doesn't now as it looks heavy at the ends.

washing up liquid is the bees knees for getting your hair squeaky clean! I'd use it more only i do feel I should use shampoo and I wonder if i am stripping those essential oil things they bang on about.

I think Neutrogena do a shampoo that removes buildup.

Use a clarifying shampoo - I think herbal essences do one; or vosene is good as a one off or occassional treatment to get rid og product build up.

NEVER use a 2 in 1 product

You have to be careful if your hair is dyed if using washing up liquid as it will strip the colour.

Hi, try making a rinse with lemon juice in it. It has to be cold water and just squeeze the juice of a lemon in it and then use it as a final rinse. It really helps my hair when it gets greasy on top and it leaves it shiny.

A vinegar rinse is good occasionally too.

Agree with just condition the ends of your hair and make sure you rinse really well

Also make sure you brush your hair in one swoop from root to tip to get the oils from your head all the way down your hair

If your roots are greasy and the actual hair is dry, try using a very mild conditioner alone at every other wash. It really does work. I use Sainsburys Basics conditioner (25p!! for a big bottle) without any shampoo at every other wash and it has sorted my greasy roots out a treat. The idea behind it is that if you use shampoo every day, you're stripping out the natural oils so your hair/scalp tries to redress the balance by making more oil. If you use a gentler cleansing method it lets your scalp rebalance itself a bit. My hair is honestly not dirty or smelly but it is softer than before and much shinier and more manageable.