Keep Hair From Getting Greasy

If you have oily hair, it can be tough to keep it from getting greasy. There are easy things you can do to reduce or even resolve oily hair.

Steps

General Care

  1. Avoid touching or brushing your hair as much as possible. This is important especially after eating or preparing greasy foods, as you might transfer the food oils into your hair. The same with oily makeup––pin your hair back of your face before applying the makeup and don't touch your hair with fingers covered in makeup. Keep your hair neat without touching it too much also––use a comb to remove tangles, not your fingers.
  2. Cut split ends off your hair regularly. This will help to keep your hair from becoming more damaged and it will appear thicker and stronger.
    • If you don't do it sooner, you'll have to cut off more of it later because there is only one guarantee and that is that split ends get worse!
  3. Find a quick fix for those moments when you need to go out but your hair looks way too greasy. You can use baby powder or dry shampoo to make your hair look less greasy. Simply rub it in to your roots, but be careful not to put too much in so that people can see whiteness on your hair! Try combing it out afterwards.
  4. Blow dry your hair off your forehead. Your forehead can be an oily skin zone, so keeping hair off your forehead will help to ensure that it doesn't absorb the oils from your skin.
    • If you don't want to blow dry your hair, instead clip your hair off your face as it dries naturally, so that it will still be off your face when it drys.
    • Or, wear your hair with the front clipped back in a quiff when it is dry.
  5. Do not straighten your hair regularly. Straightening the hair really damages it, both through heat or chemical processes. The heat from the straighteners makes your hair produce grease, and since you'll be touching your hair to straighten it, this risks producing more grease.
  6. Embrace your curls! Permed or naturally coarse/curly hair shows grease more slowly, since the hair doesn't lie close to the scalp. If you have natural curls, flaunt them.

Washing Hair

  1. Wash your hair frequently but not every day. Daily washing may cause the oils to be stripped too quickly, encouraging them to come back as even oilier to make up for the loss. If you have naturally greasy hair, it's recommended that you only wash it every 2-3 days.
    • Look for a shampoo guaranteed to work on greasy hair. The best kind of shampoo is one that removes excess oil without drying out your hair. It may take some trial and error to find a good one––ask your hairdresser for advice.
    • Use a clarifying shampoo once a month. This type of shampoo is designed to remove any build-up of grease and hair product. Do not use a clarifying shampoo every day though, as it can strip your hair of oils, causing your hair to produce more in response. Instead, for daily washing use a mild shampoo that doesn't strip your hair of oils.
  2. Be careful with conditioners. Avoid using them at the root as this part of the hair is already moisturised by the natural oils (grease) produced within hours of washing your hair. A conditioner is actually meant to nourish the drier ends anyway, so try to keep its use just for the lower half of your hair.
    • Some people use no conditioner at all, or use it infrequently, say, once a week, to avoid over-moisturising.
    • If your hair gets tangled easily, apply something moisturizing and silky; a very small amount of olive oil works well. Use only enough to make your hands slightly shiny, then apply to hair away from your scalp.
    • If your hair is very oily, you may not need conditioner. However, it is best to condition the ends of your hair to stop them from drying out.
  3. Rinse your hair with warm water and then close the cuticle with cold water to add shine. Hot water strips your hair of oils and your scalp will replenish them immediately, and will make your hair turn greasy and even hard to comb.
    • Try a small amount of vinegar as a final rinse. Start with 1 tablespoon per 8 fl oz (236ml) of water and adjust from there. The smell goes away as the hair dries.
    • Or, try using fresh lemon. Brush the root of your hair with half fresh cut lemon (you can use both halves). Keep the lemon for 5 minutes before taking a bath. Repeat, with every shower, and the difference will come within 2 weeks.

Styling Hair

  1. Be choosy about the styling products you use. Don't use too much or you'll weigh your hair down and residue could accumulate. Stay away from gloppy gels, because they will make your hair look greasy when it's not!
  2. Be careful when looking for a product that adds extra shine to your hair. This can promote the "oily look" in those who have greasy hair. See "Tips" for some brands suggested by readers.
    • When in doubt, just leave products out of your hair.
  3. Brush only as much as needed to make your hair neat. Do not over-brush your hair as brushing is stimuli to the oil glands and this is likely to increase oil production.

Tips

  • Make sure you only put a right amount of shampoo. Do not put too much as this can make your hair oily.
  • If your hair is dry at the ends and oily at the top then condition your hair first and then shampoo it.It will leave you hair soft and not oily.
  • Don't touch it too much and don't wash it everyday, it makes it greasier, and less healthy (this doesn't mean you can't shower; just tie your hair up!).
  • Don't tie your hair too tight. Always tie it up in a loose bun or braid. This will help your hair look less greasy.
  • Keep your hair tied up at night when you sleep. You don't want your hair rubbing against all the excess oils on your pillow.
  • It's better to comb wet hair instead of brushing it.
  • If you do straighten your hair everyday then make sure you use protection for straightening.
  • Eat healthy foods.
  • Try to protect your hair from extreme heat or cold.
  • Always go to hairdressers when cutting/ trimming hair. This will be to make sure you don't cut somewhere you're not supposed to, and so that the ends your hair are all completely level.
  • If your hair gets really greasy, tie it up in a bun and wear a bandanna.
  • Change your pillowcase every time you shower to limit the amount of oils on your pillow and your hair.
  • To make hair appear shinier, readers have suggested such brands as Garnier Fructis, GARDIR, Joico, L'oreal or Frederick Fekkai. Be careful with drugstore serum or cream products though because of an ingredient called silicone. Try to steer clear away from silicone because it actually makes hair heavy and weighs it down contributing to hair loss.
  • Readers have suggested that Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo for greasy hair is really effective, as it removes excess oil but be careful to use it sparingly as it can make hair dry overtime. Baby powder is a quick fix between shampooing (see steps).
  • Washing your hair every other day is fine, as long as you don't over brush it.
  • Don't color your hair; the oil from it will make your hair oily.
  • When using dry shampoo/white powders, remember to use your finger-tips to rub the powder in but then comb it out.
  • Use shampoo for your scalp; conditioner is better for the lower half of your hair.
  • You can put talcum powder in your roots and this will absorb all of the oils.
  • If you don't wash your hair in like 2 weeks then you should add x2 the shampoo you usually put on your hair (This means only if very dirty).
  • Take plenty of showers, use conditioner and shampoo, blow dry your hair and brush it.
  • Make sure you only put the conditioner on the ends of your hair ( a bit lower than the back of your head).
  • Never use the unbranded baby shower or dry shampoo as it could damage your hair and make your hair come out.
  • Usually volumizing shampoos are best for people with oily hair as the hair is not sitting on the scalp.
  • Don't wear a part-line when in the sun for too long. The natural oils can dry up and are really hard to get out.
  • Don't wash it everyday, and after you have touched any oils or creams, wash your hands before you touch your hair.

Warnings

  • Don't use shampoos made specifically for making your hair smoother/silky, that will make it worse!
  • Use shampoos with low acids, too strong and they could make it greasy and cause dandruff.
  • Straightening curly hair without a heat protector can do lots of damage. Be careful how much and how hot you straighten your hair!

Things You'll Need

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Styling products
  • A hairbrush
  • Powder

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