Dairy products will increase oil production too. How many of you are guilty of this? All the ice creams and milk chocolate. I want to eat. :(
Hello there! In this article, we’ll talk about something greatly relatable by all, on whether eating oily food makes the hair more oily. To some people, oily food might be the greatest invention ever. Imagine biting into a very juicy and crispy fried chicken wing. It makes you happy immediately, that’s the power of it.
The moment the teeth sink into the fried bits, the sound of the crunch is angelic to the ears. I’m swallowing my saliva as I’m typing this. Why did I decide to write about this and sabotage myself? First world problems. Hahaha. Hey, wait, this is a hair blog, not a food blog. Let’s come back to reality.
What really happens for oily hair is that the sebaceous gland is producing more sebum (oil), resulting in a build-up, and it will slowly become visible as the oil accumulates throughout the day. The sebum is extremely important as it protects our skin and hair, like a natural hair conditioner.
I mentioned in the previous article that the first 10cm to 15cm of our hair is protected by the sebum, after that, it will require a good haircare routine (conditioning) to maintain healthy hair.
You can’t stop the sebaceous gland from producing sebum as this is a natural process by the body, it has to happen so that the scalp can work properly.
So… does eating oily food produce oily hair in return?
Yes. A very big yes. I always stress the importance of eating right and this is extremely important. Eating fried food regularly will cause a body change so it naturally causes a change to your hair structure too. It affects everything, yes, every single thing.
The excess oil in fried food will seep from the body to the hair and the skin because the oil glands are being over-stimulated. Otherwise, where do you think the excess oil will go? It doesn’t magically digest and goes away.
While we‘re on this topic, other than fried food, dairy products also will increase sebum production too due to the high amount of fats. And it also contains components related to an excessive amount of hormone testosterone which leads to the extra sebum.
Back in the dandruff topic, I shared that I had suffered from dandruff for many years but after learning about it on a deeper level. If you also suffer from dandruff, you will know that it comes with other symptoms too, such as either a dry or oily scalp. What I had was dandruff with an oily scalp. Yeah, totally not proud of that. Other people are usually boasting about their cars and houses and here I am, talking about my dandruff and oily scalp. Haha.
Jokes aside, the current condition is a lot better after I made some changes to my diet. If your scalp has overactive sebum and you have no plans to cut down on the juicy chicken wings, you need to have a balance to eat things that can regulate the sebum production well.
2 important vitamins.
B Vitamins
The 2 heroes that we need, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). There were studies and evidence that suggest a sufficient intake of both B vitamins can help to regular sebum production and combat greasy hair. Some examples of such food are beans, eggs, almonds, and salmon.
Zinc
I wrote about zinc a couple of times, let me bring it up again -
Zinc is a mineral that helps support the hair growth and repair cycle. It also helps to keep the oil glands around the follicle working properly.
Previously I mentioned oyster is a very good source of zinc as it prevents telogen effluvium, some form of hair loss. But too much zinc may cause the opposite effect too, my usual words, eat in moderation! You can also eat cashew, eggs, potato, or other shellfish (shrimps or mussels).
In conclusion, you are what you eat. But to have a balance, we don’t have to strictly adhere to a super healthy diet but remember, there has to be a balance. Which means, the weight on the right side has to be the same as the left side. Otherwise, it would be out of balance. For the same amount of fried chicken that you’re enjoying, are you balancing it with enough B vitamins and Zinc? Think about that.
If you need any help with your hair issue, you know where to find us. Just head to our fb page and send us a message. Or if you have booked an appointment with us on our website, you should have my number. Send me a message. Ask me anything, hair loss, hair care routine, hair maintenance. I’m always here to help you! :)
Steve V Hair Studio
Bugis Cube (opposite Bugis Junction)
#04-04 S'pore 188735
Tel no: 6336 14761
Tiong Bahru (beside Tiong Bahru Plaza - 3 mins walk)
11A Boon Tiong Road #01-02
Singapore 161011
Tel no: 6259 4631
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