Dirty hair tools

“It may sound simple but check when you last washed your hairbrush,” suggests Wood. “Dirt, bacteria and products transfer easily onto your brushes and then your hair. The same is true of your pillowcases, which are in direct contact with your hair for seven or eight hours a night.”

If your hair tools and sheets are sorted, it’s then time to consider if you’re washing your hair correctly. “When you are in the salon we always spend a long time massaging your scalp during the cleansing process and we barely touch the mid-lengths and ends,” says Wood. “This is because your scalp needs the most love, care and gentle exfoliation.”

Hard water

“The minerals deposited from hard water can build up around your follicles, creating a barrier that prevents effective cleansing which in turn leads to a build-up of sebum and product residue,” explains Wood. “Also having your water too hot or too cold when washing your hair can stimulate your sebaceous glands – so it’s always best to keep it to a medium, warm temperature.”

Stress

“Stress has an impact on our hormone levels, which can also have an affect on the skin’s barrier function, and this in turn may disrupt the microbiome of your scalp,” says Kingsley. “Due the nature of the hair growth cycle, the effects of stress will not be noticeable on your hair until six to 12 weeks later, so people do not always connect the two events. However, stress can impact the scalp much faster.”

Hormones

Whenever hormone levels change, scalp secretions can change too. “The scalp usually becomes oilier during puberty, in times of intense stress and also during ovulation,” Kingsley explains. “Medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can also cause an overly oily scalp.” If you can’t get to the root of your greasy hair woes, it might be worth booking an appointment with your doctor or a trichologist to see if they can help.

“Why does my hair get greasy so quickly?” Experts reveal how to fix it