Hair benefits from oil because it makes it shiny, healthy, and strong, but an excess can weigh hair down and make it appear greasy and lifeless. Overwashing, environmental conditions, and using specific hair care products are common causes of oily hair. Excessive heat and humidity after heavy activity might also contribute to this condition.
Some people’s hair is naturally oilier than others because their scalps produce more sebum than average. While an oily scalp is a cosmetic issue, it’s vital to remember that your scalp’s natural sebum serves a protective and preventive function for your hair.
Why do you get oily hair?
Oily hair is the worst when attempting to achieve a certain look or simply dealing with oily roots after a wash. There are numerous potential triggers for oily hair, just like for oily faces. You probably got your oil excess from a mix of the following factors. Check them out and see if any of them sound familiar:
1. Hair product buildup
Oily hair can result from a buildup of styling products. Products, along with dirt and grease that accumulate around the follicle orifice (from which hair emerges), can suffocate the hair root and lead to inflammation. Increased oil production is just one of many outcomes of this. Oil and silicone, which may be present in the products, contribute to an oilier-than-usual appearance of the hair and face.
2. Direct result of stress
Skin conditions can reveal a lot about emotional health. Anxiety alters hormone levels, which can result in oilier skin. Dermatitis, dryness, acne, and premature aging are a few of the skin conditions connected to anxiety.
3. Imbalanced hormones or seborrhea
Seborrhea, a prevalent skin condition that causes redness, scaling, and itching of the skin, can be a cause of excessively oily hair. Excess oil production by the sebaceous glands, also known as sebum, is the root cause of seborrhea.
Most seborrheic individuals are healthy overall. Yet underlying conditions like hormone imbalances may sometimes be to blame.
4. Over-washing your hair
Too many washing sessions can strip the hair of natural oils, leaving it brittle and dry. Your oil glands increase oil output, giving you oily hair. Using a product that is too abrasive on your skin or washing your hair too frequently are the one to two ways to over-wash your hair.
What can you do to prevent your hair from getting oily?
Undoubtedly, prioritizing your hair’s health is required if you want to prevent the development of oil on your scalp. However, the root reasons for oily hair must first be addressed before any treatment may be effective.
Protecting your hair with natural oils is essential to maintaining a healthy head and shiny hair. Here’s how to reduce oil without causing harm to your hair or skin.
1. Use shampoo correctly
A small quantity of shampoo should be massaged into the scalp and hair follicles for a proper wash. Keep your fingertips out of your hair, and avoid rubbing it too much. Excessive scrubbing can irritate the skin and cause it to create more sebum than is necessary.
Focus on your head because that is where most of your sebaceous glands are. When washing your hair, be careful not to get shampoo in the tips. Only rinse the hair detergent out of the tips.
2. Invest in some oil-control hair products
If your regular shampoo isn’t making it, try switching to a clarifying shampoo with stronger surfactants. This may assist on days when you engage in sweaty exercise. For regular days, you may find that mild baby shampoo is less irritating and more suitable.
3. Use a lower frequency of washing
Despite regular shampooing, you may want to cut back if your hair is getting oily by the end of the day. Too much shampooing can strip the hair of its healthy lipids. It may attempt to rehydrate itself by releasing extra oil. The natural oil equilibrium of an oily scalp can be restored by reducing the frequency with which it is washed.
4. Clean your hairbrush
You can’t use the brush to brush your cleaned hair if it is dirty. Due to brush lint, your freshly cleaned hair might appear dirtier. The remaining debris from hair care products that is on your brush can be removed with shampoo or a mild cleaner. Remove stray hairs from your brush after each use to avoid grime and grease buildup.
5. Use silk pillowcases
Sleeping with a silk pillowcase, a silk head cover, or a silk scarf is like sleeping with a wand. Slip your hair easily from your cushion with a silk or satin pillowcase, headscarf, or cap. Smooth materials like silk and satin help keep hair’s natural oils in place and reduce the risk of damage from pulling, tugging, stretching, breaking, and tangling.
Commonly cited advantages of silk include reduced frizz and easier grooming. They keep your hair’s natural lipids in, which is helpful. The nightly accumulation of facial and hair oil can ruin cotton and other absorbent fabrics. This is not only less sanitary, but it also results in dryer hair in the morning.
Say goodbye to ‘bad hair days’!
Having oily hair can be a major downer. Fortunately, there is no shortage of treatments that can help you manage it. Keep in mind that your oil production fluctuates and, in general, decreases as you get older. Your youth’s excessively greasy hair will not eternally haunt you.
