11 Reasons Your Hair Is So Oily & 10 Ways To Fix Greasy Hair

Are you constantly asking yourself, “Why is my hair so oily?” If you have an oily scalp, you’re not alone. We know that excess oil buildup can make your hair greasy, brittle, and grimy, which provides an excellent habitat for fungus to expand. In addition, it produces dandruff, a foul scalp, and makes your skin oily and acne-prone. To prevent this, you can tie your hair in a ponytail.

So, how can you protect your scalp and hair from becoming oily? Remember that understanding why your hair becomes greasy is the key to finding a remedy. Here’s a rundown of the 11 most prevalent causes of oily hair. Let’s get started!

11 Reasons Your Hair Is So Oily

1. You Overwash Your Hair

It is natural to wash your hair if it becomes oily and greasy. However, overwashing can lead to excess oil production to compensate for the natural oils that have been stripped by the shampoo.

2. You Over-Condition Your Hair

Check if you are using excess conditioner. Fine, thin, or porous hair is prone to absorbing and retaining moisture. Using excess conditioner can make the hair limp and oily and the roots greasy. Apply the conditioner only to the tips instead of from the roots. Ensure you wash the conditioner out properly.

3. Your Parents Have Oily Hair

Genetics can also be responsible for you having an oily scalp. You have a higher chance of having oily hair if your parents have the same.

4. Hormonal Imbalances

Sudden hormonal changes can also lead to an increase in sebum production. Puberty, pregnancy, an increase in stress levels, or menopauseⁱ  Marks the end of menstrual cycles in women due to the decline in female reproductive hormones, which often causes hot flashes. could cause these hormonal fluctuations that have a direct effect on your hair and skin. In some cases, these hormonal changes may also hint at an underlying medical condition.

5. Excess Product Buildup

Styling gels, dry shampoos, thermal protectants, or mousses can make your hair look oily if not washed properly. Alcohol-based products can lead to bigger issues. These products can weigh your hair down when they mix with the existing sebum.

6. You Brush Your Hair Too Much

Brushing improves blood circulation and promotes faster hair growth. However, if your brushing habits include overdoing it, it can redistribute the scalp oils throughout your hair length. Your hair may look oily the very next day after washing.

7. You Use A Dirty Hair Brush

Is your hair brush clogged with hair, dirt, or oil? Do you wash your brush every weekend? The answers to these two questions will tell you why your hair is too oily. Your hygiene habits can also make a difference to your scalp condition. An unclean hair brush coats clean hair strands with dirt and oil, making your hair sticky and smelly.

8. You Consume Junk Food

Eating excess oily, fried, or processed foods can stimulate the production of excess sebum.

Inadequate consumption of nutritious food also leads to hormonal imbalances, causing your hair to go oily.

9. You Live In A Humid Climate

Humid climates tend to over-stimulate your sebaceous glandsⁱ  Microscopic glands on the skin and hair that release an oily substance called sebum to prevent dryness.  and sweat glands. If you reside in a humid area, your hair may go oily too, resulting in clogged pores. Excessive sun exposure can also damage your hair.

Moreover, pollution and exposure to environmental toxins can also lead to oily hair by weighing it down and stimulating excess oil production. Protecting your hair from environmental factors like climate change and extreme sun exposure is thus crucial in maintaining its health.

10. You Touch Your Hair

Do you consciously or unconsciously run your hands through your hair? Doing so not only transfers the oil secreted by your hands to your hair but also distributes the oil from your scalp throughout the length of your hair.

11. You Style Your Hair Too Frequently

Using gels, creams, curling creams, hair sprays, or hair straighteners daily for heat styling daily,can leave your scalp oily.

These are the 11 major reasons your hair looks oily. There are ways you can train your hair to be less greasy. A few minor adjustments to your lifestyle will do it. Read below for more!

How To Fix Greasy Hair

1. Switch To A Clarifying Shampoo: Maintaining scalp health is crucial, and choosing the right clarifying shampoo is the first step towards it. A regular shampoo may not wash out the excess oil and product buildup. Switching to a clarifying shampoo can help. These shampoos wash out the product buildup and grease effectively from the scalp and the hair strands.

2. Use A Light Conditioner: Use a conditioner that is light and not heavy (like a cream). Those with low-porosity hairⁱ  A type of hair that does not easily allow water to be absorbed due to densely packed cuticles with no space between them. can apply the conditioner from halfway the hair length to the tips.

Quick Tip

Do not use clarifying shampoo daily as it can dry out your hair and scalp. Use it once or twice a week if you have greasy hair.

3. Consult A Dermatologist: Talk to a dermatologist/hair care specialist if you have hormonal problems. An expert can help you get to the root cause of your problem.

4. Avoid Washing Your Hair Daily: Washing your hair daily may only make it oilier. You can wash your hair once every two days to let your hair breathe and be free of product buildup.

5. Clean Your Hair Brush: Cleaning your hair brush ensures you do not end up distributing the grease throughout your hair. Clean your hair brush once or twice a week.

Quick Tip

You can use dry shampoo once or twice a week between washes to absorb oil and dirt, and to avoid clogged pores.

6. Avoid Excess Hair Styling: Avoid using hair sprays, mousse, creams, dry shampoos, thermoprotectants, or hair serums too frequently.

7. Eat Healthy: Consume food with little or no oil. Eat green veggies, root vegetables, fruits, plant and animal sources of protein, and almonds. Keep your diet and nutrition in check and avoid consuming oily and fried foods like fries, fried chicken, chips, etc.

8. Use Cold Water For The Final Rinse: After a regular hair wash (you may use lukewarm water), rinse your hair with water at room temperature. The cool water will seal the hair cuticles and keep the scalp oils from penetrating the hair strands.

9. Water hardness: Hard water may lead to hair breakage and hair loss. The first sign of hard water is that it prevents soap from forming any lather.(1)

10. Try Home Remedies:
    i) Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is acidic in nature, and according to anecdotal evidence, may help regulate excess hair sebum. Mix 2 to 3 tablespoons of ACV in 1 cup of water, apply it to your hair after shampooing with a gentle clarifying shampoo, leave it on briefly, and rinse it off with cold water. This routine can be repeated 2 to 3 times weekly.
    ii) Argan Oil: Massaging argan oil into your scalp and hair may redistribute the excess sebum, thus potentially controlling sebum secretion. It may also aid blood circulation, but there is limited evidence to prove its effects on oily hair. Apply pure argan oil from the scalp to the tips, wrap a warm, damp towel around your hair for 60 minutes, then rinse it off with a gentle cleanser. Repeat this treatment 1 to 2 times a week.

Infographic: A Simple Guide To Oily Hair

Oily hair is a common problem faced by women worldwide. While the weather and pollution contribute to this issue, it mostly develops due to wrong hair care practices. Knowing what you are doing wrong can prevent a greasy scalp and reduce the risk of dandruff. Check out the infographic below to understand the reasons behind oily hair and three simple ways to tackle this problem.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What shampoo is ideal for oily hair?

A clarifying shampoo is ideal for oily hair. It helps wash out the excessive grease and product buildup.

Can a vitamin deficiency cause hair to go oily?

A deficiency of vitamin B6 may cause hair to go oily.

Does short hair get oily faster?

Yes, short hair can get oily faster. The scalp oils would need lesser time to get distributed along the hair length.

How often should you wash oily hair?

Wash your oily hair once every two to three days.

Does touching your hair too frequently make it greasy?

Yes, touching your hair frequently transfers the oil from your fingertips to the hair strands. This practice also further distributes the scalp oils along the length of the hair strands.

Would you damage your hair by washing it every day?

Yes, you would damage your hair by washing it every day as it strips your hair of its natural oils.

Can you have a dry scalp and oily hair?

Yes, you can have a dry scalp and oily hair. This is a sign of seborrheic dermatitisⁱ  Common skin conditions that cause red, scaly patches on the oily areas of the skin, such as the scalp and face. that must be treated. Visit a dermatologist.

Is it good to let your hair get oily?

Moderate accumulation of oil on the scalp may be okay and even help nourish the hair strands, making them softer and more manageable. However, if the hair and scalp get too oily, it can attract dust, grime and even lead to dandruff.

Does hair get greasier with age?

No. Sebum production tends to decrease with age. However, hair loss, which may be associated with aging, can make your hair feel greasier with less hair to absorb the natural oils produced by the sebaceous gland.

Illustration: Reasons Your Hair Is So Oily & 8 Ways To Fix Greasy Hair

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Get rid of grease from your hair and make it super bouncy. Watch this video to learn more about how to make your hair shinier and oil-free.

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Vd. Naveen SharmaBAMS, Ayurveda Specialist

 

Dr. Naveen Sharma is a renowned Ayurveda specialist with an experience of 10 years. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery(B. A. M. S) from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, in 2007.

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