Super Simple Hacks to Tame Your Oily Hair

Dealing with greasy hair is far from fun, as the daily struggles that come with the excess oiliness can leave you feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious. Hormone issues, skin conditions, and even challenges within your own life can cause hair to feel slick and oily, so it seems almost impossible to get your roots under control.

The main factor behind our oily roots is the natural sebum we have within our bodies; this natural lubricant keeps our hair and skin protected from dehydrating and losing the vital moisture it needs to function normally. Some of us contain a little too much sebum in our bodies; as Illumai.com states, “when sebum is over-produced, the result is oily, greasy-looking skin and hair.”

No matter the cause of your oily hair, finding ways to tame it and have it looking fresh and feeling comfortable isn’t always easy. The truth is, there are steps we can take and techniques we can use to finally get our greasy hair under control.

#1. Washing Your Hair

Over-Washing Your Hair

With oily hair, it’s hard to keep yourself away from the shower; that urge to wash your hair over and over until it feels squeaky clean is always in your mind. The fact is, over-washing your roots can do more damage and even make it oilier.

Washing hair too often or more than once a day can strip away the important oils your hair needs to stay healthy. This leads to your hair feeling that it needs to overcompensate and produce even more oil, resulting in greasier hair. It’s important to try and wash your hair less often, and even waiting 2-3 days before your next wash can be beneficial. You may start to notice your hair looking and feeling a little less oily, so allowing your roots to steer clear from a wash every now and then could really help.

Clarifying Shampoo

When it comes to the shampoo you’re using to cleanse your hair, washing with a clarifying product can aid in your oily issues.

Clarifying shampoos can clear out any excess build-up and oils within your roots. They are specifically targeted towards those with greasy hair, so you may find one to be an absolute blessing for your own. Keep in mind, these shampoos can be extremely drying, and over-use can potentially lead to uncomfortable results. Using a clarifying shampoo each time you wash your hair is okay, but make sure you’re not washing hair too often.

Allow shampoo to sit

Many of us tend to apply our shampoo, lather it quick, and then immediately wash it out. For those of us with oilier scalp and hair, allowing our shampoo to sit for a moment after lathering can give it some time to soak up some of that excess oil. When we let our shampoo penetrate the scalp, it can aid in maintaining a healthy amount of oil production within our roots. So, don’t feel the need to rush the wash; enjoy your shower and relax for a moment or two!

Being Careful with Conditioners

Conditioners can cause major oiliness within the hair, as they’re main purposes are to detangle, soften, and moisten. Using conditioner too often or applying too much at once can be a big no-no for oilier hair types; although keeping it in your routine is okay, lessening your amount of use to once a week can result in less oily hair.

It’s also not always necessary to condition the entire hair, especially with greasy roots; conditioning just the ends can keep your hair detangled and allow it maintain a healthy amount of moisture.

#2. Be Wary of Your Habits

Touching Your Hair

No matter what hair type we have, touching it from time to time is just a habit and reflex that many of us hold. But, for those of us with extremely oily hair, touching and twirling can lead to further oil and greasier locks.

Our hands and fingers produce a good amount of oil throughout the day, as we use them to explore and touch a lot. When our fingers come in contact with our hair, that bacteria and oil transfers easily, causing more oil to get trapped within your roots. Same goes for the face, as your skin can produce a lot of greases; try to keep your hair away, and don’t certain strands rest on your skin for too long.

Brushing

Some of us like to brush our hair a lot, while some of us barely brush through it at all. The harsh truth is, over-brushing hair can stimulate the oil production within your roots, while not brushing at all can prevent those healthy, natural oils from being evenly distributed throughout hair. Finding a balance can be majorly vital when considering your hair’s oiliness; brush your hair only as needed, in order to keep it tangle-free and handled gently.

Dry Shampoo and Baby Powder

It’s pretty common knowledge that dry shampoo can aid in ridding the appearance and feel of excess oil in hair. Applying it throughout the day can consistently leave you feeling better about your hair, as just a bit can go a long way and soak up that oil.

While dry shampoos come in different formulas and at different price ranges, it may be tough to find the right one for you. So, if you want a less expensive, universally pleasing fix, try applying baby powder to your hair. This surprisingly effective product can act similarly to dry shampoo and leave you hair smelling and feeling great.

#3. Natural Astringents

Although many shampoos and hair products are advertised as miracle solutions for oily hair, affordable, easily-accessibly useful products can decrease the look and feel of root oiliness.

Apple Cider Vinegar

A simple and safe way to get your oily scalp under control is mixing apple cider vinegar into your shampoo. As Draxe.com states, “Apple cider vinegar has the ability to kill fungus and bacteria; it makes a great home remedy for oily hair.”

Remember that it’s important to not overuse this stuff; applying it once in a while to your hair can do the trick!

Witch Hazel

While witch hazel has become popular to apply to oily, acne-prone skin, its benefits for greasy hair are pleasantly surprising.

Applying this alone or mixing it with shampoo on occasion can allow your hair to safely maintain the right amount of oil. Draxe.com states that the use of witch hazel in your hair can “help close up the pores a bit so that less oil is released.” It can also aid in eliminating bacteria within your roots, keeping it fresh and clean!

In all, oily hair can be a major struggle to have to deal with on the daily. Regardless, there are solutions that can aid in balancing out oil production within your roots, so finding ones that work for you don’t have to be an added stress. Experiment with your daily habits and the addition of new products, and let your luscious locks look and feel gorgeously oil-free!