Why oily hair

Love dry shampoo but dislike the ingredients? These 12 picks offer safer, organic formulas that still soak up excess oil. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Owen Kramer, M. Causes of oily scalp. What causes oily scalp alongside dry hair? Oily and itchy scalp. Oily scalp alongside hair loss.

Home remedies and OTC treatments. What to look for in an oily scalp shampoo. When to see a doctor. Read this next. Forehead Acne. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Here's why: How dry or oily a hair type is is really determined by how fast the sebum from your scalp is able to travel down the shaft to the tip. Curly hair, with its twists and turns, takes longer.

But with straight and loose waves, it's a pretty clear path—and therefore doesn't take as much time. Yes, just like your face, your scalp can simply produce more oil than the average person. Some of us just do!

So many people ask how they can "fix" their oily hair—the better frame of mind is to think about managing it. Tending to an oily scalp will only work if you are consistent over time. Here's how:. Sounds counterproductive, yes, but if you go back to our causes of oily scalp—you know that over-washing is a large contributing factor. So often you'll hear people discuss how they're "retraining their scalp" or "balancing their hair," and usually this is what they're doing. See, when you let your scalp live with its natural oils for a while, it will stop signaling to your pores that they need to put in extra work.

Sure, this may make for an awkward and greasy transitory phase, but most experts agree this takes about a month, according to anecdotal evidence. So, how often should you wash, you ask? Well, that just may take some guesswork on your part.

So the most important thing is to be diligent about checking in on your scalp. Are there flakes? Do you see oily buildup? Make this a habit," says Reslan. People don't do this enough. Silk sleep accessories like pillowcases, head wraps, and scarves are practically magic.

A dramatic statement, but for those who know—you know. Silk and satin prevent friction which leads to hair pulling, tugging, stretching, breaking, and tangling , and these smooth fabrics help retain the hair's natural oils," says hairstylist Miko Branch , co-founder of hair care brand Miss Jessie's Original.

So, yes, silk's most famous benefits usually have to do with frizz and styling, but the last part of Branch's sage advice is key: These help your hair retain natural oils. More porous materials, like cotton, absorb oil from your face and hair as you sleep. Not only is this less hygienic, but it means you wake up with drier hair! Here are a few of our favorite silk and satin options. Your greasy appearance may just be traced back to your styling and care products.

First, we recommend cutting out silicones as best you can. Silicones are a large class of ingredient—some more concerning, some less—and they show up in a lot of products.

Read: It's a tall order to cut them out entirely. However, limiting the use of silicones will likely help your scalp and hair over time. Here are some silicone-free hair care and styling products to give a try. Of course, there are plenty of natural ingredients that have been known to help oily hair and scalps.

Here, the best of the best:. Witch hazel is oh-so-popular for those who are acne- and oil-prone. It's a very popular DIY toner, in fact! And for the hair and scalp, it does wonders, too. Witch hazel's astringent nature is great for decreasing oil, as the liquid has anti-inflammatory and sebum-control properties.

Additionally, it can help deal with any buildup you may have. Tea tree is anti-inflammatory, as well as having some clarifying properties.

This is why it's a common addition to washes for those with acne or oil-prone skin. Although sebum benefits the hair, keeping it healthy, smooth and preventing it from drying out and breaking, too much can cause the hair to look slick and greasy. An excessively oily scalp can also be a nuisance and is related to outbreaks of dandruff. The changing of seasons, hormonal fluctuations and extended periods of stress can also have an impact on greasy hair.

Knowing the underlying reason for your problem is essential in order to find the appropriate oily hair treatment. In more serious cases, a dermatologist can prescribe medication that will regulate the sebaceous gland secretions. However, in most cases, implementing a thorough routine using the right products for oily hair will help provide to control and manage the problem on a day-to-day basis.

Note that people with fine or straight hair are most susceptible to a buildup of oil and therefore should consider following one or more of these recommendations every few weeks. Many of the best treatments for an oily scalp can likely be found in your own kitchen.

These products are all-natural and can be used at home:. Adding vitamin B rich foods especially B2 and B6 to your diet is believed to help moderate your sebum production. These means trying to consume more foods like seaweed, leafy greens, and pulses. In general, cutting out greasy foods and increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables, as well as drinking plenty of water every day will help your hair to improve the general condition of hair, skin and nails.

In the process though, you end up stripping your hair of its natural sebum. The result is a never-ending cycle that leaves you with nothing but oily hair. While some products can work wonders on your oily hair hi, dry shampoo! Instead, look for products with volumizing properties, which will help lift your hair and keep it from coming in contact with your oily roots. It may not seem like a big deal, but all of that finger twirling and raking you do throughout the day can really affect the look and feel of your hair.

So, in other words, hands-off! Bad news for those addicted to their flat irons: straightening and blowing out your hair can actually make your strands look even more oily. As is the case with any product that sits on your hair, using too much dry shampoo can result in product buildup, which can dry out your scalp, causing it to produce even more oil.

To help further reduce buildup, we also suggest implementing a scalp scrub or exfoliant into your hair care routine once or twice a week.

Look for something consisting of finely ground textures such as sugar not microbeads and be sure to apply to a wet scalp, as the water will act as a carrier for the product.