The Know Daily - Monday 24 November 2025

_{Read in 4m 43s ∙ Listening to Spice Girls∙}

A “Tree of Kindness” has popped up outside Charing Cross station, inviting people to donate gifts, essentials and toys for those experiencing homelessness. Run by the charity Social Bite is supporting vulnerable individuals, including families living in temporary accommodation. Want to join in? Their gift wishlist makes it easy to spread a little warmth where it’s needed most 🌟

💧Hard water & your scalp

Polytar’s new Hard Water Hair Report reveals that 82% of Brits live in hard water areas – and it’s quietly taking a toll on our scalps.

Let’s unpack it.
Scalp dryness, flakes and irritation are much more common than we tend to acknowledge, and most of us are left guessing at the cause. We often assume it’s down to stress, colder weather or product buildup – but Polytar’s new research points to something much simpler that we tend to overlook: hard water.

Hard water contains higher levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, and over time these can build up on the scalp. This can make it harder for the skin to stay comfortable and balanced, leaving it more prone to tightness, itchiness or visible flakes. It’s subtle enough to miss, but persistent enough to affect how your scalp feels day to day.

So what’s the day-to-day impact?
For a lot of people, it’s not just about the inconvenience – it’s influencing confidence and behaviour in very real ways. Over a quarter of Brits (27%) now avoid social events because of their hair or scalp, and many more adapt their styling or cover up with hats when irritation or flakes appear. Younger adults seem to feel it most, with many saying they regularly hide their scalp or feel judged when flakes are visible. 

So what can actually help?
Here’s the good news. A consistent, supportive routine is often enough to bring the scalp back into balance. Polytar, the UK’s original medicated shampoo trusted for over 60 years, is formulated to calm irritation and manage conditions like dandruff, psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis. By helping reduce inflammation and flakes, it can give your scalp the reset it needs, even in hard water areas.

Here are a few gentle ways to tune into your scalp:

🌧 Keep track of how your scalp feels after washing or during colder months
💬 Talk about it with friends – it’s much more common than it seems
🧴 Swap to a medicated shampoo – plus, The Know readers get 10% off Polytar when you use KNOW10 at checkout. 

💫 Thank you to Polytar for partnering with us. Show them some love and help keep The Know free for all. 

💰 Money Monday: Heading into Black Friday? Apparently the smartest move isn’t scoring the biggest discount but planning before you shop.

• The bigger story: The Guardian says the biggest Black Friday regrets come from impulse buys, not bad deals. Going in with a clear list and budget can save you from overspending – you can use price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel to help you spot which discounts are actually real. There are plenty more tips for the week ahead to help avoid the overwhelm.

🇺🇦 The US and Ukraine say they’ve put together an “updated and refined” plan to end the war with Russia, shortly after European countries released a competing proposal that dropped several pro-Russia points from the earlier leaked US-backed draft.

💬 ChatGPT has announced it will be launching group chats – the idea is that it will silently observe until called for to offer context or help with decision making (if anyone can survive the chaos of 20 people typing at once, it’s AI!).

🚆 London commuters will save up to £350 a year from a rail fares freeze, Rachel Reeves has promised amongst a series of cost-of-living measures in her upcoming Budget this Wednesday. 

🏖️ Private beaches are set to be banned on this popular island in efforts to safeguard culture and avoid ring-fencing coastlines.

🌶️ The Spice Girls could be reuniting after Mel C hinted at a tour to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: What magnesium can really do, making zips more eco-friendly and the gender investment gap.

Your Boss Will Think You’re an Ecom Genius

Optimizing for growth? Go-to-Millions is Ari Murray’s ecommerce newsletter packed with proven tactics, creative that converts, and real operator insights—from product strategy to paid media. No mushy strategy. Just what’s working. Subscribe free for weekly ideas that drive revenue.

Sign up now

Help your friends feel better about the news. Get them to sign up using your personalised code 👉 https://theknowmedia.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

Trivia answer: C) Coffees made with extra ingredients like mushrooms, protein and collagen are known as "functional coffees". Food research company, Tastewise, has listed them as one of its top trends for 2026.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.