Why Does My Hair Get Greasy so Fast? How to Fix Oily Hair

Other Causes of the Grease

Oily hair can also come from other reasons beyond sebum. That greasy look can come from several things that our hair goes through during the day. In addition to sebum, dirt and other oils from our hands and even the environment sticks and builds up in our hair.

Sweat, which is different than sebum, gets trapped in the hair and does not evaporate like on the rest of the body, especially in individuals with darker hair color. Although these other issues can be present, excess sebum remains the number one cause of oily hair.

Sticky products, such as hairsprays, gels, and even leave-in conditioners act like magnets for dirt and oils. They can also suffocate the scalp causing the hair follicles and sebaceous glands to work overtime to try to cleanse the scalp of the excess grime.

Hormones

Hormones are the trigger for most of the process in our bodies, and that includes the sebaceous glands that produce sebum and other oils. Hormones fluctuate all the time and can be the result of increased stress, age, even the foods we eat.

Skin Issues

Skin conditions like psoriasis, some types of dermatitis, and even allergic reactions can cause the scalp to produce more sebum in an attempt to moisturize and help the skin deal with the issue. These conditions are often followed by dandruff and itchy dry scalp. We know it is confusing that dry skin conditions can accompany oily hair, but it can.

Some Medications

Many medications, especially those that affect hormone production, can cause an overproduction of oils. This is often due to a recent change in medications. There is no evidence of medications causing increases in oil production after a period of time.

Product Build-Up

A build-up of hair products can cause the hair follicle to produce excess oils in an attempt to eliminate the problem. This can occur when you use excess styling products and the products are not completely eliminated from the hair when washing your hair. The scalp needs to breathe to maintain a balance in oil production. Product build-up effectively suffocates the scalp.

A Signal to Medical Issues

Before we go on, we wanted to take a moment to mention that anytime there is a sudden change in your hair it could be a signal from your body. This is especially important if there have been no changes to your daily routine, diet, or medications. Our hair, after all, is a byproduct of our body, essentially a waste product, any sudden change should be examined carefully.

Stop Washing (your hair) Everyday

Some people may be surprised to learn that you don’t have to wash your hair every day. Infact, unless you work outdoors or at a physically demanding job that causes you to sweat alot, there is no reason to wash your hair daily. Like we mentioned excessive washing can actually lead to an overproduction of oil. Start by backing off to washing your hair every other day, or every third day. In general, most people find that washing their hair only 2 to 3 times per week is best to maintain normal hair.

Decrease Oil in Your Diet

Believe it or not, the amount of oil in your regular diet can increase the amount of oil in your hair. Now it’s not exactly the same kind of oil that ends up on your scalp, but excessive oil in your diet can lead to increase sebaceous activity. So, if nothing else has worked you may want to take a good look at your diet and see if there are ways to decrease the amount of oil you consume.

Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner for Your Hair

OK, this one should probably have been higher, since it is perhaps the most common reason for oily hair. Using the wrong shampoo and conditioner can often strip the hair too much, just like over washing your hair, which can lead to excessive oil production.

It is extremely important to find the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Be careful to avoid shampoos that have harsh ingredients or work too well. It may take some trial and error to find the right one, but in the end, it will be worth it.

Shampoo and Condition Properly

In addition to using the right products, you need to shampoo and condition properly. Many of us are familiar with the routine “wash, rinse and repeat” found on the back of every shampoo bottle. Oddly enough, most people don’t follow those directions. There is actually a proper way to shampoo and condition your hair; just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Wet your hair with warm water and apply Shampoo for most people about a quarter-sized dollop of shampoo will be more than enough.

Step 2: Lather the shampoo throughout your hair focusing on the hair shaft all the way to the tips.

Step 3: Rinse well with warm water

Step 4: Repeat the process, this time focusing on the scalp. DO NOT over scrub your scalp, let the shampoo do the work. Excessively scrubbing your scalp can stimulate those sebaceous glands again.

Step 5: Rinse well with warm water.

At this point, you can choose to add conditioner or not, depending on your unique hair needs. However, if you do use a conditioner, avoid getting conditioner on your scalp. In fact, your best bet is to keep conditioner up to an inch away from the scalp. Your scalp doesn’t need the conditioner, we promise.

Dry Shampoo

In recent years, there has been a huge surge in dry shampoo products. These products include powder, usually talcum powder that when sprayed on the hair absorbs excess oil leaving the hair looking better. BUT you should use dry shampoo sparingly as it coats the hair and, more importantly, the scalp, which can lead to a vicious cycle of excess oil and using dry shampoo to combat it.

Stop Straightening Your Hair

Using a straightener on your hair does two things, heats up your hair, and causes it to lay flat again the head. Both are things that can speed up oil production. As the weight of the hair on the scalp increases throughout the day, it becomes worse. Avoiding using a hair straightener will help to reduce the stress on the scalp. And as a side benefit, you will drastically reduce the amount of prep time on your hair.

Find Your Products

Like we mentioned before, finding the right products is extremely important to establishing great hair care. This may take time, and that is fine. We all have different types of hair and have to find what works for us and what does not. In general, people that fight oily hair will want to make sure to use gentle shampoos that do not strip the natural oils from your hair and scalp. You may also want to use a lighter conditioner or even avoid one completely. At least until you end the oily struggle.

Go Natural

Our hair was not designed to be loaded down with excess products every single day. our hair grows the way it grows for a reason; it’s part of who we are. Taking the opportunity to go natural as often as possible will allow your hair to breathe; to be the best it can be. Embrace the natural, it’s part of you after all.

Establish a Routine

In our busy lives, it can sometimes be easy to let our hair care take a back seat. Making a commitment to establishing a regular hair care routine helps to keep it part of our daily schedule. Routine breeds habit making it easier to stick to in the long run.

Apple Cider Vinegar – The Miracle Ingredient

Now for a little secret, apple cider vinegar could be one of the greatest things on the earth. Ok, that may be a little exaggerated, but just a little. Apple cider vinegar can do amazing things for our bodies, including our hair. Apple cider vinegar can be an amazing tool for people that fight oily hair.

Apple cider vinegar, diluted with water, at about 1 part vinegar 5 parts water, works as a gentle cleanser that effectively cuts through any buildup on your hair and scalp without stripping away the important oils. Apple cider vinegar also helps to balance the pH of your scalp making it healthier.

Diluted apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse or combined with other ingredients, such as coconut oil and applied as a mask to deep condition your hair without the risk of crazy buildup.