How Your Periods Can Affect Your Hair

As women, we go through our menstrual cycles on a monthly basis. The week leading up to your period can be filled with all sorts of symptoms. These are all part of what we call PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome. They can include things like breast tenderness, mood swings, headaches, fatigue and more.

Many women don’t know this, but PMS affects your hair and scalp too.

What Happens During PMS

Towards the end of your monthly reproductive cycle, progesterone levels take a dip. This actually causes the skin to produce more oil and sebum, including the scalp. This is why some women report having pimple or acne breakouts.

This increased sebum will actually make your hair more oily in the days before your period. This extra sebum is actually great for those with dry hair. However, if you already have oily hair, this added oiliness can make your hair look limp and heavy.

What Can Those With Oily Hair Do?

During your pre-menstrual week, if you notice your hair becoming more greasy, there’s something you can do. The first thing is to shampoo your hair at least once a day, for two rounds each. Instead of using one shampoo, you can use two types of shampoo. Just make sure that they are both moisturizing shampoos. Use the first one and then wash it off, then move on to the next.

Be sure not to use a moisture stripping shampoo that’s too harsh or else you’ll end up with too dry hair instead. Having your period can be a miserable time, but it doesn’t mean that you neglect your health and cleanliness.