Hair sweat, or more commonly referred to as scalp sweat is a normal condition. The skin on your body is made up of millions of tiny pores. Sweating is your body’s natural response to release toxins. When your body is exposed to heat, heavy activity or even a hormonal change, it can trigger sweat. Although sweating is healthy and it is a necessary mechanism, excessive sweating might be an indicator of an underlying health problem. Excessive sweating is also known as hyperhidrosis. It usually causes excessive sweating from the head and the face especially areas like your upper lips, forehead, neck and scalp. If you find that your head is sweating more than usual, you should definitely consult a doctor to rule out any health conditions.
Table of Contents
Hair Sweating Causes
Side Effects
How To Prevent
FAQs
What Causes Excessive Hair Sweating
Just like face and body sweating, hair sweat is a common condition a lot of us face because of our lifestyles and our location. Heat and exercise are the two main contributors to hair or scalp sweat. Apart from that, hot and humid climates, keeping our hair tied all the time and wearing accessories like caps and hats are some reasons your head might be sweating a little more than usual.
Also Read Hair Mask For Straight Hair
Effects Of Hair Sweating
As a result of excessive sweat, there are a few side effects that you should look out for.
- If you don’t allow your hair to dry properly after sweating a lot, your hair and scalp can get smelly.
- If you don’t wash your hair often and you do sweat a lot, sweat can clog the pores on your scalp leading to problems like dandruff and other bacterial infections.
- Whenever you sweat, allowing your hair to dry naturally before you tie it up is a must. It’s the only way to avoid your scalp turning into a humid, breeding ground for bacterial growth.
- Excessive sweating also causes your hair to get oily more often which basically means you have to wash it more frequently.
- Sweat contains lactic acid, if you don’t keep your scalp healthy and clean this might cause damage to your hair and in some cases, even hair loss. This is primarily because sweat might end up dehydrating your strands or block the pores and hair follicles from breathing and therefore hinder hair growth and even cause a loss in certain cases.
Also Read Underarm Hair Removal Tips
How To Stop Sweating In Hair
While there’s not much you can do to completely STOP head sweat, with a few minute changes you can reduce the effect it has on your daily life.
- Don’t let your hair hang on your neck and shoulders on a hot, sunny day or when you workout. This way, the sweat on your body won’t get tangled up in your hair and damage it.
- After a workout or a hot shower, let your hair air dry or blast dry it with a blow dryer before you tie it up
- If you have an oily scalp, wash your hair more frequently to ensure that there is no buildup of dirt, sweat, oil and bacteria on your scalp.
- Wear comfortable clothing and try to avoid covering your hair with a hat or a cap if you are prone to sweating a lot.
Also Read: Easy Home Remedies for Frizzy Hair
- Avoid tying up your hair too tightly, especially if you have thick hair. When you tie up your hair tightly, your scalp is restricted and might not be able to breathe, causing it to sweat. If you can’t avoid tying your hair entirely, tie it up for a few hours and leave it open for the next few.
- Massage your scalp regularly to stimulate blood circulation.
- If your scalp is prone to getting very oily and sweaty, use a clarifying shampoo once a week or once in 15 days. This will get rid of all kinds of dirt, dust and product build-up and allow your scalp to get a deep clean!
- If you’re running late and have no dry shampoo at hand, you could even dust a little bit of baby powder on your roots to get rid of the greasiness. But don’t make this a habit, it will cause you more harm than good in the long run.
Also Read Overnight Hair Masks For Gorgeous Hair
FAQ’s
1. How do I know if my hair sweats a lot?
Your hair, or rather your scalp like the rest of your body has pores. Some of us have more sweat glands on our heads than others so we tend to sweat more. The easiest way to know if your hair sweats a lot is if it gets sort of an unclean scent if you don’t wash it for more than a day or two. If you are very active and workout regularly, your hair may get oily quicker than someone who leads a rather sedentary life. If you find your hair feeling wet and sticky after some cardio or activity, your scalp may be sweating a lot.
Also Read Top Hair Serum For Tangle-Free Hair
2. What causes my hair to smell funny and how to fix it?
When your scalp sweats and you don’t allow your hair to properly dry, that’s what causes your hair to smell funky. If you have sweat a lot after a workout or cardio activity, let your hair loose and allow it to air dry. Alternatively, use your hairdryer and blast dry your hair. This is the best way to keep your hair smelling and feeling clean and fresh.
3. What can I do to get rid of sweaty hair?
Keep your hair tied up in a bun or in a high pony when you’re doing any kind of activity. If your hair is hanging loose on your shoulders and neck, it is more likely to get wet due to the sweat that forms at the nape of your neck and shoulders while you work out.
Also Read What Is Brazilian Blowout
4. Are there any home remedies for excessive hair sweat?
While there’s nothing you can really do to control the amount you sweat, there are a few things you can do to keep your hair and scalp clean and absorb excess oils. You can make your very own dry shampoo by using a mixture of equal parts of cornstarch, arrowroot powder and cocoa powder. Dust this onto your oily roots and brush it through your hair using a hairbrush. It will absorb excess oils and the unpleasant smell and make your hair look fresh and bouncy throughout the day. Alternatively, take a spray bottle and fill it up with some rosewater, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to it. Shake it up well before use and spray this as hair perfume for girls to keep your hair smelling great.
5. Does hair sweating lead to hair loss?
It might, but it’s not necessary. Sometimes excessive sweating causes oil build up. This, in turn, clogs the pores and hair follicles on your head not allowing them to breathe. This might end up weakening your roots and increasing hair fall. This could easily be avoided if you keep your hair clean and dry!
6. What shampoo will cure my sweating scalp?
Shampoo won’t stop your hair from sweating, but you can use store-bought or DIY dry shampoo to freshen up your hair whenever required. If you are worried about the health of your scalp, use an organic, paraben and sulfate-free shampoo.
Images: Shutterstock
POPxo is now available in six languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bangla.
AWESOME NEWS! POPxo SHOP is now Open! Get 25% off on all the super fun mugs, phone covers, cushions, laptop sleeves, and more! Use coupon code POPXOFIRST. Online shopping for women never looked better!
You Might Like These
11 Things To Avoid While Oiling Your Hair
Easy Hairstyles For College Girls That Are Cute & Chic
Simple & Pretty Hairstyles For Short Hair Girls
20 Hair Protectant Serum To Use Before Straightening
Hairstyles Men Love On Women
Read More From Wellness
Ananya Panday On Being Called ‘Chicken Legs’ and ‘Flat Chest’ In School & Why We Must Talk About It
Isha Jain