Trichologist says hairbrush mistake could be giving you greasy hair

An expert has warned that a simple hairbrush mistake could cause greasy hair. Rachel Valentine, a certified trichologist who shares hair tips on TikTok as @rachelvalentinehair, shared the advice.

In her video, the expert reacted to a video shared by a TikTok user complaining about how greasy her hair looked just one day after washing it. However, Rachel said the common problem might have been caused by a few little-known mistakes.

If you're suffering from greasy hair, it could be down to your hairbrush or the time of the day you shower, Rachel explained. First, the trichologist explained that washing your hair before you go to sleep could cause the issue - if you don't dry your hair.

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She claimed: "There's probably a couple of things happening here. The first thing is, if you are going to bed with damp hair, you are gonna wake up with hair greasier than if you blow-dried it, and there are studies to prove this.

"Basically, when you blow dry your hair, the sebum evaporates quicker off your scalp than if you was to let it air dry. Using a heat protector, medium heat, and even if you just blast off your roots and leave the ends, you will get less greasier hair by the morning."

Rachel added: "The other thing is to make sure you're washing your hair brushes. We have millions of bacteria live on our scalp, and if you are using a dirty hair brush to brush your clean hair, you're gonna be transferring all that dirt and grime back onto your clean hair."

There are more reasons why it's recommended to dry your hair before going to sleep, whether you prefer to use a hair dryer or let your locks air dry. The common mistake can also contribute to hair breakage, bacterial growth, and scalp breakouts.

Certified trichologist Bridgette Hill told British Vogue:"Wet hair fibres are more fragile and can only sustain so much manipulation. The friction created between wet hair and fabric while sleeping can cause fissures and tears on the hair shaft."

Hadley King MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, added: "Wet hair tends to be more fragile because water temporarily breaks hydrogen bonds in the protein structure of hair strands. This increases elasticity, which can make the hair more prone to breakage."

However, you don't need to panic if you sometimes sleep with wet hair. The experts simply advise against making it a habit. You can also help to protect your hair by using satin or silk pillowcases, which could decrease friction, and styling your hair so that oxygen can flow through the hair to the scalp while you sleep.

For straight hair, this could include plaits or loose braids, while pineappling the hair could be preferable for curly or coily textures, according to the pro advice.