Why you get oily hair and how to get rid of it

Many experience that their hair quickly becomes oily, and nothing seems to help get rid of it. Why do some people get oily hair quickly? What causes oily hair? Is it possible to solve this problem?

The scalp and hair need oil. Similar to the skin, the scalp produces oil, also known as sebum. This oil acts as a protective layer for the hair and hair strands. In other words, it’s important for the health of the scalp and hair that this oil is present, as it also contains nourishment for both.

However, sometimes there can be an overproduction of sebum on the scalp, which causes the hair to quickly appear oily—despite having been washed recently.

Why does one get oily hair?

The reasons behind hair becoming oily very quickly can vary. Some causes may include:

A dry scalp, which compensates by producing more oil.
Use of overly strong hair products that dry out and irritate your scalp.
Sulfates in shampoo that dry out and irritate the scalp.
Washing your hair too frequently, which prompts the scalp to produce more oil.
Stress.
Hormonal imbalance.
Diet.
Genetics.

A dry scalp becoming oily?

It might sound contradictory that an oily scalp is actually a dry scalp—how can it be dry when it feels the opposite—greasy and oily?

Here’s how it works—when a scalp is dehydrated, it starts to overcompensate for the dryness by producing more oil. This means that the more dehydrated a scalp is, the more oily and greasy it can appear. The skin is clever in this way—if it becomes dehydrated, it starts producing extra oil to compensate for the dryness.

Don’t wash your hair every day!

It may feel tempting to wash your hair more often to get rid of the oily hair. However, this can create a vicious cycle—because the more frequently you wash your hair, the more your scalp will need to produce oil to compensate for the oils that have just been washed away. So even if you find that your hair gets oily quickly, try to reduce the frequency of washing. Over time, your scalp will adjust and produce less oil. In other words, try to avoid washing your hair every day.

Use gentle hair products.

A good starting point is to use gentle and mild hair products that nurture and protect both the scalp and hair. Avoid products with sulfates, as while sulfates are very effective at removing all traces of oil and grease, they also dry out the scalp by washing away oils so effectively that they can leave it very dry and, in some cases, irritated. This can lead to the scalp overcompensating and producing more sebum, resulting in hair becoming oily faster.

Look for high-quality products that contain beneficial ingredients to balance and stabilize the scalp’s pH level.

Here are some quick tips to avoid oily hair:

Avoid excessive hair touching: Try not to play with your hair too much throughout the day.
Evaluate your lifestyle: Are you under a lot of stress? Do you have time to eat a good and varied diet?
Apply conditioner away from the scalp: Focus conditioner application on the lengths and ends of your hair, avoiding the scalp.
Double shampoo with sulfate-free shampoo: When washing your hair, shampoo twice to thoroughly remove oils, styling products, etc.
Clean your hairbrush regularly: Oils and styling products can accumulate in your brush, so clean it regularly.
Tie your hair up: On days when your hair feels oily, consider styling it up to conceal the greasiness.
Use dry shampoo: Apply dry shampoo on days when your hair looks very oily to extend the time between washes.

Implementing these tips can help manage and prevent oily hair effectively.