Oily Hair Guide: How To Stop The Grease For Gorgeous Hair

Not too long after showering and shampooing, you find yourself with greasy, oily hair. Sound familiar?

If you end up shaking your fist and screaming, “Why?” at the top of your lungs (OK, maybe it’s not quite that bad) because of your greasy hair woes, you’re not alone.

In this article, we’ll offer some tips on how to manage oily hair so you can work toward gorgeous locks that are hydrated and healthy, not greasy.

But first, let’s talk about why your hair gets so oily in the first place. After all, understanding potential causes can help you get to a solution.

Why Your Hair Gets Oily

 

The short story is that oily hair is caused by a natural oil (called sebum) that is produced by your sebaceous glands, which are tiny glands in your skin.

The purpose of this oil is not to make your oily-haired existence miserable, however much it may seem that way. It actually serves the good purpose of moisturizing not only your skin but also your hair as it slowly works its way down your hair shaft.

In the right quantity, sebum keeps your hair moisturized, protected, shiny, and healthy. But (you knew there was a “but” here) the problem comes when your sebaceous glands produce too much oil.

With an overabundance of sebum, your hair gets oily in no time and leaves you with that slicked-back, greasy, stringy hair that you probably know all too well.

In addition to cramping your style, oily hair can come with dandruff, too. All in all, you want oily hair to go away, and we get it.

So, if oily hair is due to sebaceous glands that get a little too excited, why do some people have overactive glands that lead to oily hair, while others deal with dry, brittle hair that’s not oily at all? There are several possibilities.

First of all, just as there are different body types (that are all equally good!), there are different hair types. If your skin tends to be oily, it’s no surprise that your hair is oily. Straight, thin hair tends to be greasier, too.

That said, there are also outside factors that can cause oily hair. A less-than-ideal diet, poor hair care, changes in your hormones, the time of year, stress, and certain medications can all be culprits.

 

Now that you know a bit more about the why behind your oily hair, let’s get straight to how to care for it and what you can do to stop the grease!

How To Care For Oily Hair

Don’t Shampoo Too Often

While we know it’s tempting to wash your hair at the first sign of oil, one of the keys to caring for oily hair is to shampoo just enough — not too frequently, but often enough to keep your hair clean and fresh.

There’s a reason behind this. When you suds up and shampoo your hair, the shampoo cleans your scalp of sweat, product buildup, grime, and, of course, the oil that plagues your existence.

While shampoo does away with the bad, it also does away with the good, appropriate amount of oil that your scalp and hair need.

Washing your hair too often can send a message to your skin, alerting it to produce even more oil in the sebaceous glands — exactly what you’re trying to avoid.

This is precisely why it’s important to strike a balance between washing your hair frequently enough to stay clean but not so often that it stimulates the glands to ramp things up.

As a person with oily hair, you probably have the urge to shampoo once or twice a day. But try reducing how often you lather up and evaluate your scalp and hair after some time adjusting to this new habit.

For example, if you currently wash your hair every day, try shampooing every other day. You may need to turn to a baseball cap on the second day, but the wait might be worth it in the long run as your scalp balances oil production.

Shampoo Your Scalp

 

Did you know that shampoo is mostly for your scalp, not your hair? Oil comes from the scalp, which is why the roots of your hair get oily first.

For this reason, you’ll want to shampoo in an upward direction and gently scrub your scalp. But that’s it! Don’t scrub the length of your hair.

The shampoo that washes over your hair when you rinse it out will take care of the rest.

Use A Gentle, Natural Shampoo

Although you need shampoo to do away with excess oil, shampoos that are harsh and drying can end up stripping your hair of all its oil.

Then you’re back to the problem that we mentioned earlier: Your scalp may notice the lack of oil and take action by producing even more sebum.

Plus, no matter how oily your hair is, you still need to go easy on it when you shampoo. An irritated scalp due to drying, chemical ingredients is no good for anyone. Instead, opt for a natural shampoo that cleans effectively but is gentle on your scalp and hair.

What makes a shampoo natural and gentle? We recommend choosing one that’s made with plant-based ingredients and is free of chemical ingredients like sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and silicone.

The impact of these chemical ingredients ranges from causing buildup on your hair to irritating your skin or even acting as an endocrine-disruptor in your body.

We prefer to stay away!

Instead, choose a Babo Botanicals natural shampoo, like Smoothing Detangling Shampoo & Wash, 3 in 1 Eucalyptus Remedy™ Plant Based Shampoo, Bubble Bath and Wash, or Calming Shampoo, Bubble Bath & Wash.

Both the 3 in 1 Eucalyptus Remedy™ Plant Based Shampoo and Calming Shampoo are EWG Verified and packed with hair-healthy organic ingredients, including our own organic Nutri-Soothe™ Complex, which is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Meanwhile, the Smoothing Detangling Shampoo & Wash, a favorite among those with curly locks, tangles, and frizz, is made with evening primrose oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter. And it smells out of this world with absolutely no synthetic fragrances involved!

Condition The Ends Of Oily Hair

 

With oily hair, you probably tend to shy away from using conditioner. You know your hair best, but keep in mind that having oily hair doesn’t automatically mean you should stay away from all moisturizing products.

What it does mean is that you’ll want to apply conditioner only to the ends of your hair — far away from the roots, where your hair is the oiliest.

And, of course, steer clear of heavy moisturizing products. For a natural option that’s safe and hydrating, go with Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Conditioner, a vegan conditioner that moisturizes with oatmeal, organic calendula, and chamomile.

Turn Down The Temperature

Since you’re trying to get your sebaceous glands to chill out, turn down the temperature when you take a shower.

A hot shower only serves to dry out your skin (which includes your scalp) and stimulate oil production.

Avoid Touching And Styling

 

Lastly, avoid stimulating your oil glands by resisting the urge to touch or run your fingers through your hair. It might take some time to break the habit, but it’s worth it to help stop the grease.

The heat of styling tools, like a hair dryer or flat iron, is another factor that can cause your hair to get oily more quickly. If you can, cut down on how often you heat-style your hair and embrace air-drying instead.

Love your natural look!

Care For Oily Hair One Day At A Time

 

We’ve gone over what makes your hair greasy and some of the factors that could be playing a role. The good news is that, regardless of the exact cause, it’s not hard to get into good daily hair care habits that will help cut down on oily hair.

Start by shampooing your scalp often enough to stay clean but not so often that your oil glands are stimulated. Use a natural, non-chemical shampoo, like Babo Botanicals Smoothing Detangling Shampoo & Wash or 3 in 1 Eucalyptus Remedy™ Plant Based Shampoo.

Also, don’t forget to turn down the temperature of your shower water, opt for air-drying, and keep your hands out of your hair.

Care for — and love! — your hair one day at a time, and it will love you back!