1. Manage the Frequency of Washing Your Hair:
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, people having excessively oily hair should apply shampoo once daily. High-quality, chemical-free shampoo can be very effective to reduce excessive oil and debris from the scalp.
And if you are already washing your hair with shampoo almost every day, you should play with washing them less frequently! Yes, over-washing can also be one of the causes of oily hair. You should maintain a balance while washing your hair. And that balance is hard to guess without trying! Some people need to wash their hair every day, and some are comfortable with washing twice or thrice a week. So, going ahead with a “try and test” formula is advised.
2. Condition the end of hair instead of the whole length
People usually condition their hair from the roots, and that’s not always the best idea. You should not apply the conditioner to the scalps and hair roots to avoid the possible buildup of the product. Always follow this simple rule – “Use conditioner on hair and shampoo on the scalp only”
3. Shampoo and Condition Your Hair Properly
Following the formula mentioned above, be careful while shampooing or conditioning your hair. Because washing your hair wrong can also damage your hair and make them oily and greasy.
How to wash hair correctly?
Look, this is not rocket science, and one idea doesn’t necessarily suit everyone. But we can discuss a general rule here.
- Apply a very little amount of shampoo on your scalp.
- Massage very gently without using your nails.
- Avoid aggressive scrubbing, as it can irritate the scalp and may cause unwanted production of oil.
- Avoid using shampoo directly on hair ends. Instead, use a conditioner.
- Wait for a few minutes so that shampoo itself can run through hair ends.
- And for the goodness of your wallet, you don’t necessarily need to use a conditioner or shampoo every day!
4. Use Good Quality “Hair Products” Only
There is so much hype around a lot of hair products, but not all of them are good for your hair. You should be very selective while purchasing hair products. Check out the ingredients carefully and avoid purchasing products containing harsh chemicals. Shampoo with stronger detergents is considered a better treatment for oily hair.
However, if you have no other option but to wash your hair daily, go for a mild shampoo. Some people also consider using “baby shampoo” due to its mild and skin-friendly ingredients. And same applies to hair oil and conditioner as well! Don’t purchase cheap products with a lot of promises and hype. After all, it’s not only about hair; your skin is in question too! And it worth investing a bit in good products rather than pondering over unhealthy, sluggish, and oily hair.
5. Avoid Overbrushing Your Hair
Brushing your hair frequently can be very tempting, especially when you have sticky, greasy hair. But you should avoid this, as overbrushing, especially at roots can cause overproduction of natural scalp oil and can make your hair even more sticky.
Also, avoid using a dirty hair comb to avoid the buildup of bacteria, dust, and other unwanted substances on hair.
6. Use Aloe Vera Gel for Deep Cleaning
Aloe vera gel can also be a very good natural remedy for oily hair. And it is not only good for hair in summers! Aloe vera can give you a very good scalp mask and can remove excess oil from the scalp, fights dandruff, and soothes the scalp. In the end, you will get soft, shiny, and healthy hair.
7. Don’t Use Hair Products Containing Silicone
A lot of hair products including creams, conditioners, shampoo, and styling gels, etc. contain silicone to make hair “look” smooth and extra shiny.
Silicone products like cyclomethycaine, dimethicone, and amodimethicone, etc. are not good for your hair and can cause your hair to look dirty, oily, and weight down. Silicones are never recommended for hair due to some other obvious reasons also. They can reduce beneficial and necessary moisture from hair shafts. So, always avoid hair products made even with a few traces of silicone.
8. Lemon Juice for oily hair
The topical application of lemon juice can be beneficial for your hair. Lemon lightens your hair naturally, reduces excessive oil and dandruff, and makes them healthier and shinier.
Lemon contains a natural bleach called “citric acid” and can be used very effectively with hair colors and bleaches. Citric acid also works on hair roots to eliminate dryness and dandruff. However, you should use lemon with some precautions, as there are numerous side effects of lemon on hair too.
- Lemon can increase skin irritation.
- May even cause contact irritation especially to sensitive people.
Some other risks associated with using lemon for hair are:
- Burning
- Dryness
- Redness
- Stinging
- Increased dandruff
Is lemon good for hair?
Applying lemon juice on your hair is not the worst idea, but there are some risks associated with it too. If you get better results from lemon, don’t go in direct sunlight while having lemon juice on your hair. The citric acid in lemon can become more acidic in direct sunlight and can increase scalp irritation.
So, we recommend you not to go for lemon always when it comes to hair treatment. There are some more effective and gentle home remedies to get rid of oily hair.
9. Can I Wash My Hair with Just Water?
Washing hair with only water is also a decent idea. Water can effectively remove away dirt, dust, and other water-soluble debris from hair as well as scalp, and that too, without affecting the sebum.
But if you have very oily hair, don’t wash your hair with water only because water can’t completely remove the oil on its own. Choose the best and most suitable shampoo and conditioner for your hair, and use twice or thrice a week to wash your hair.
10. Dry Shampoo is Another Option
Dry shampoo can also be a nice idea if you are struggling with oily hair. Yes, the sudsy wet wash is still the best option, but it can help dry out the extra oil and can give your hair a balanced and cleaner look. Dry shampoo from a few well-known brands comes with a very light scent as well.
There is a downside too! Dry shampoo can add residue to your hair that can make the scalp dirty and gritty. It can dry out your hair more than you want. So, using it frequently is not a good idea. Use it once or max twice a month and wash your hair properly.
11. Don’t Play with Your Hair
If you frequently keep looking for answers for “how to stop hair getting greasy”, you will have to stop playing with your hair. Unwanted head-scratching, frequent touching, brushing, and playing can stimulate the oil glands, and hence can be responsible for unwanted oil on the scalp and hair. So, give them some free time without disturbing them.
12. Go for Natural Oil-Fighting Ingredients
Shampoo or oil with natural ingredients should be on your wish-list to fight greasy oil. Look for ingredients like aloe vera, tea tree oil, and seaweed extract. They have anti-inflammatory properties and can very effective to remove extra oils from your scalp and hair.
13. Try a Dandruff Shampoo if You Have Dandruff
If you are unable to control excessive hair oil, you’re very likely to develop dandruff more frequently. Because excessive oil buildup on the scalp is also associated with unwanted growth of a natural yeast known as “Malassezia”.
Although the small amount of Malassezia is good for hair growth, overproduction can cause symptoms like thick, flaky scalp, itching and tenderness, etc.
That’s why, before looking for home remedies for oily scalp and dry hair, go for dandruff shampoo instead. Because dandruff is more of a scalp issue than a hair issue, and working on the scalp is more important.
Anti-dandruff shampoo from some well-known brands contains zinc pyrithione, which doesn’t work directly on the oil but reduces dandruff by working on yeast.
Here is a tip: Once you apply the anti-dandruff shampoo on your hair, don’t wash away immediately. Leave it for a few minutes to work on dandruff.
14. Blowing your hair is a good idea instead of waiting for air dry
Over-drying your hair is not good at all, but leaving them in the air to dry is not a smart idea as well. Blow drying is very helpful if you are working on the greasy air. Leaving your hair in the air for long can also be one of the causes of oily hair.
Blow your hair at the root to allow plumping of hair follicles to help them absorb the oil. Don’t overheat your hair while blowing. Use the lowest temperature to avoid damaging your hair due to heat. And that applies to other products like curling irons and flat irons too.
15. Don’t put oil on your scalp
Since, you are already annoyed with greasy hair, adding more oil can only increase the buildup and make your hair greasier. Don’t apply the oil directly on the scalp, and it applies to all the oils including coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, and olive oil, etc.
16. Add Green Tea in Your Daily Regime
Green tea is also a very effective natural remedy for oily hair. And you can use it in both ways – internally as well as typically. Drink at least one cup of green tea every day, and also use green tea extract topically on your scalp and hair. It will nourish your hair and will also reduce the production of sebum.
Final Words:
Oily hair can be very annoying and can force you to spend a lot of time in your hair-care routine. Hopefully, you will find these DIY tips and tricks helpful to get rid of oily and greasy hair. All of them are equally effective, as well as easy to follow. We will be very happy if you can share some more tips and tricks for greasy hair. Whether you have some tips, suggestions, questions, or anything, hit the comment box.
