If your hair is limp and greasy 24 hours after washing it, you probably suffer from oily hair. With thousands of shampoos, conditioners, hair products and natural remedies, it’s hard to choose a regimen that will keep the grease at bay. Most conditioners are laden with heavy moisturizers that can spell disaster for oily hair, and hair products can irritate the scalp and cause even more grease. What’s an oily hair sufferer to do? Read on for some suggestions that will have your tresses in tip-top shape in no time!
What Causes Oily Hair?
Before you can treat oily hair, you need to have a better understanding of what causes it. All greasy hair is not created equal. Some people have a grease problem from their scalps to the ends of their hair, while others have an oily scalp and dry hair.
Reasons Your Hair Is Oily
There are a variety of reasons that hair can become oily:
- Genetics can play a big part in what type of hair you have. People with balding, fine or thinning hair tend to have oily hair as well.
- Some people have perfectly normal hair, but use the wrong products for their hair type. Chemicals in some hair products can cause waxy buildup and make hair seem greasy. Using too much styling product can stress out the scalp and cause greasiness. It may be a good idea to switch to a sulfate free shampoo or conditioner.
- Sometimes the issue is simply not shampooing enough. Even hair that is dry can become limp and greasy from a lack of washing.
- Some studies show that spending time around cigarette smoke and other pollutants can cause an increase in the scalp’s oil production. It’s also believed that the body tries to protect the skin on the scalp by producing excess oil. Avoiding smoky rooms and other heavily polluted places or wearing a hat or scarf in those environments can help curb oil overload.
- Sweating can cause oil glands to overproduce.
- Hormones can throw the body’s chemistry out of whack and cause greasy hair. Therefore, most people notice an increase in greasiness during puberty and many women report the same during menstruation or menopause.
- Short, thin hair is more likely to be oily. Greasy hair occurs less in those with curly and long hair because the oils have a harder time working down the hair shaft.
How to Choose the Right Shampoo and Technique
Experts agree that a clarifying shampoo or special oil reducing shampoo works best. They also advise against using conditioners on the scalp area. Below you can find the best shampoo for oily hair:
Best Shampoos For Oily Hair List
1. Degrease by Maple Holistics
Designed to strip your hair of unneeded oils, this therapeutic shampoo increases circulation, while balancing pH and sebum levels. It kills germs, and cleans out your pores and hair follicles without leaving your scalp flaky or itchy. Whether you have very oily hair, or mildly oily hair, this shampoo will work for you. It’s also rich in vitamins and antioxidants! If you’re looking for an all in one therapeutic shampoo, this is the one for you.
2. Oily Hair Shampoo by Just Nutritive
If greasy limp hair is a daily struggle for you, check out this shampoo. It reduces the amount of sebum or oil your scalp forms stopping your hair from appearing oily and greasy. Although it doesn’t contain all the benefits as the shampoo above, it’s still a good shampoo for oily hair.
3. Neutrogena T-Gel for Greasy Hair
A shampoo designed to eliminate sebum excess while also preventing hair and scalp dandruff, what could be better? It does not leave your hair high and dry or stripped of natural oils resulting in an itchy scalp. Say goodbye to that excess oil. Your treated hair will thank you!
4. Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two, Clarifying
Paul Mitchell shampoo for oily hair helps your hair long-term by minimizing oil production so your hair will becomes less oily over time. If you need to unclog your pores, try this shampoo!
5. Apivita Balancing Shampoo for Oily Hair
Do you have oily hair and love the smell of peppermint? Then you may have found a winner. This is another shampoo that can take the oil away without irritating your skin.
How Often To Wash Oily Hair And How To Wash It
There are two schools of thought when it comes to how often to shampoo oily hair. The first says to shampoo daily to remove oil and hair products that can cause oil glands to go into overdrive. The second says to shampoo every other day or less frequently, because shampooing everyday will stimulate oil glands. The jury is out as to which method works better – try both ways and see what works for you.
Stylists recommend washing hair in cool or lukewarm water. Hot water can encourage oil glands to increase production and exacerbate your problem. Concentrate shampooing efforts on the scalp. In addition, be sure to use an appropriate shampoo on your lower locks if you have oily scalp and dry hair. Shampoos containing salicylic acid are a good option to try. To avoid transferring scalp oil to the hair, don’t pile your hair on top of your head. Gently massage your scalp when you’re shampooing; too much stimulation of the scalp can lead to an increase in oil production. Comb conditioner two inches away from the scalp to the ends of your hair.
If hair is super oily, only condition the ends. In addition, there are special conditioners for oily hair, but they should be used very sparingly. Be sure to rinse with cool water to cut down on oil production. In between shampoos, also use a dry shampoo to give your hair a lift and minimize oiliness.
Additional Hints Tips For Your Oily Hair
- Don’t brush your hair more than is absolutely necessary. Brushing can stimulate oil follicles on your scalp and cause them to produce even more oil. Oil can also transfer to brushes and combs and be redistributed throughout the hair.
- Wear your hair off of your face and ditch the bangs. Oils from your hair can transfer to your face and vice versa also causing issues with acne.
- How you style your hair can help. Style your hair in sleek styles with neat lines. Additionally, layers can help add volume and body to limp tresses. Choose a style that doesn’t require the use of a lot of hair products as many styling products irritate the scalp and cause an increase in oil production.
- Chemically processing your hair can help minimize greasiness. This is because perms, color and straightening treatments all add a slight lift to the hair and rough up surface of the hair shaft, which makes it more difficult for oil to coat the hair shaft. (You may also want to take a look at these sulfate free shampoos for damaged hair)
- Zinc and Evening Primrose Oil supplements have been successful remedies for oily hair for some people. In addition, some studies show the homeopathic remedy phosphoric acid can help as well.
- Wash or change your pillowcase often. At night, oils from the hair can rub off onto your pillowcase and then transfer back to your hair. Frequently wash your combs, brushes, hair accessories and hats as they can collect oil from the scalp and transfer it back onto your hair.
- The link between diet and excess oil production has been known for quite some time. Therefore, cutting down on processed foods, sugar, and refined flours has helped in certain cases.
Oily Hair Can Be Fixed
If you’ve tried everything, a visit to your doctor may be in order. Severely greasy hair that doesn’t respond to treatment can also be a symptom of a hormonal disorder. Your doctor can perform tests and, if necessary, direct you to a specialist.
Oily, limp hair doesn’t have to be a permanent issue. Using the tips and remedies in this article just might be your ticket to healthier hair.