9 Ways To Control Sweaty Scalp and Hair

If there was a portable air-conditioner one could carry around everywhere, we would be the first ones in line to buy it. The heatwave this week had us all sweating crazy, including our scalps, and we dive deeper into summers, it will keep getting worse. 

Too much sweat is not just irksome to deal with but can lead us with greasy hair and an itchy scalp. Sadly, packing our bags and heading off to a hill station for the rest of the summer is not an option for everybody. 

However, we have some exciting plans for summer and are hoping you do too! So we can’t just let a sweaty scalp and hair get in our way now, can we?

Sweat is an integral part of our body's mechanism to stay healthy. It is a mix of water and salt that our body secretes during higher temperatures to stay cool.

Too much scalp sweat can make your hair smell foul and lead to buildup. So to keep your scalp and hair fresh this season (so you can rock that summer OOTD), try these 9 amazing tips!

1. Change your hair wash regimen

We always advise washing your hair less frequently. Twice a week is sufficient for most people. Although, during summers, you can wash your hair more often to keep your scalp clean. 

If you work out regularly or spend a lot of time outside under the direct sun, you want to try washing your hair every alternate day to get rid of sweaty hair.

2. Rethink your hairstyles

Now is the time to go for that short hairstyle you always wanted to try, because with shorter hair, your scalp is more ventilated and able to stay cool, and dry off quickly after an intense sweat session.

If you always wear your hair in a tight bun or ponytail, switching to a looser hairstyle will also help your scalp breathe.

3. Invest in a good dry shampoo

A good dry shampoo can help absorb excess oil and sweat buildup from your hair and prevent your hair from going limp due to summer humidity. 

Plantain, Bamboo and Charcoal Dry Shampoo

5. Avoid spicy foods

Yep, capsaicin in chili increases body temperature which triggers your body to produce more sweat to cool off. So it's best to abandon the hot sauce and reduce consumption of spicy food during summer to counter scalp sweating.

6. Cut down your caffeine intake

Just like chillies, coffee too can stimulate your sweat glands to produce more sweat by warming your body. So, skip the iced lattes and cold coffees for summer and go for fresh juices or lemonade instead to stay cool.

9. Stay cool

Since the eccrine sweat glands are triggered by hot temperatures, keeping your body cool naturally will help reduce scalp sweat. Stay indoors or in shade, limit physical exercises as much as you can and drink natural coolants, fennel sherbet, or water infused with khus (vetiver) roots.

8. Work on stress management

While the eccrine glands secrete sweat to cool you off, apocrine glands release sweat under stressful situations. To find out what situations make you sweat more often and try some relaxation techniques to cut down on day-to-day stress.

9. Skip the head accessories

Yes, a cap or beach hat makes a great accessory to a summer outfit and will help shield your face from the sun. But your hair and scalp tend to sweat a lot more wearing them as they tend to suffocate your scalp. 

And the warm humid atmosphere it creates is also the reason for itching. So it's best to skip them if your scalp tends to sweat more often while wearing them. 

P.s Excessive sweating can also be caused by certain medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism. So if you tend to sweat abnormally throughout the year and not just in summer, it may be time to book an appointment with a doctor to check if everything is alright.