15 Ways to Combat Greasy or Oily Hair

Annoyed with oily hair? Wonder why others have soft and shiny hair? You washed your hair yesterday, is it still oily and greasy?

Our suggestions are based on our experience and our readers. You may want to try a combination of some these suggestions for best results.

Hair Products (Shampoo/Conditioners):

Do not use strong medicated shampoos daily: Strong medicated shampoo is encouraged to use once a week. Otherwise, you will have the opposite results and you will never be success to obtain your goals to eliminate oil and grease from your hair.

Forget the conditioner. If you have oily hair that tends to flatten out as the day goes on, the last thing you want to do is coat it with more oil. Try going without a conditioner.

Just aim for the ends. If you find you do need a conditioner, look for a product that contains the least amount of oil or one that is largely oil-free. Condition the ends instead of the roots.

Choose a see-through shampoo. “Clear, see-through shampoos tend to have less goo in them,” says Dr. Goodman. “They clean away oil better, without leaving a residue behind.”

Applying chemical free hair care products: As your hair roots can “stand” easily with bulk of grease, but inversely your body hair appearance looks dry, and dull. Thus, you should apply chemical free hair care product at the end of the hair. Avoid applying it on the layer of scalp as this can worsen your oily hair’s condition.

Nexxus Ex-oil Shampoo is one of the best. This is from Nexxus’ original line which is now available in the regular retail market (grocery, drug, etc.), their new salon line is Photogenics. This product actually helps slow down oil production and does not dry the hair. Another great shampoo for oily hair is Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree, but watch out… it’s like a peppermint patty for your eyeballs!

Talk to Your Stylist:

Ask your stylist to cut body into your hair. Beat the straight, matted-down hair blues by asking your stylist to cut body into your hair. “I cut from underneath, to help make the style stand up,” says Katie Karney, owner of the Hyde Edwards Salon in San Diego. “Make sure there are different lengths on top of the head. Don’t wear your hair long and one length unless you don’t mind having it lie flat on your head.”

Blow dry hair in the opposite direction from which it grows. Left on its own, oily hair tends to be limp and lank. To coax more fullness into it, be creative with your blow-drying technique, says Kingsley. Use a brush to lift the hair up at the roots, or bend forward at the waist and gently brush your hair up over the top of your head.

Natural Hair Product Ideas:

To help prevent your hair from looking oily so soon try this… after your hair is freshly washed and dried, sprinkle in some fuller’s earth (can get from ebay – CHEAP) and ruffle it through your hair. I show longhair cats and we use this to absorb oils in their coats to help get the maximum fluff possible. We sprinkle it on (it usually comes in a shaker), ruffle it in their fur and comb. You can’t see or feel it, but it’s absorbing properties are fantastic and I have seen it do wonders on a greasy cat (un-neutered boy cats have high oil outputs, just like teenagers; it’s hormonal).

As a booster to help your shampoo cut the oil… put about a tablespoon of baking soda in your palm, add a little shampoo, rub palms to mix, shampoo hair and rinse. GREAT for hairspray build up too.

Switch to beer. “Mousse dries the hair too much and clogs the pores,” says Daines. He favors fresh beer as a setting lotion for oily hair. Store it in a closed plastic container in your shower, otherwise it will only keep for a couple of days.

Freshen up with lemon. Squeeze the juice of two lemons into a quart of the best water you can find, says Daines. Distilled water is a great choice. “This is a great rinse” to help cut oiliness.

Try an apple cider vinegar rinse. Try a teaspoon of vinegar in a pint of water and use as a finishing rinse. This solution acts as a tonic for the scalp and removes soap residue that can weigh down oily hair.

Look for hair products that contain any of these ingredients:

Jojoba Oil – Because it contains many of the properties found in sebum, the oil our skin produces naturally, this ingredient helps reduce dryness caused by harsh detergents by replacing the lost sebum. Indians used Jojoba oil to treat their skin and hair problems.

Rosemary oil – This is a great scalp cleanser and hair root stimulator.

Tea tree oil – It’s gentle, it works to strip excess oil, and it helps fight dandruff and bacteria.

Sage – This helps to dissolve built-up deposits of oil and can also make hair shafts thicker.

Eucalyptus – Helps bring the scalp back into balance by regulating the production of sebum. Relieves and reduces inflamed skin, too.

Chamomile – This will enhance the hair’s shine and intensity. Chamomile is not recommended for color treated hair, unless you like to lighten your hair color. If your hair has highlights, products with a lot of chamomile may further enhance these highlights.

Some other everyday ingredients that help control greasy hair include aloe, egg whites, menthol, sorbitol, kaolin, citric acid and/or citrus, and starch.

Once you’re finished washing and conditioning, you can apply hair care products, as long as you use those formulated for your hair.

These help reduce the transfer of oil from the scalp to the hair which keeps excess oils off the hair and encourage a nicer type of shine and make hair easier to style. Your hair does not benefit from products that contain extra moisturizers made from glycerin and silicone, nor should you apply a serum or a cream-based product.

Health and Hormonal Suggestions:

Learn to relax. Hormones have a little-understood effect on oil production. What is known is this: When you’re under stress, your body produces more androgens. And androgens help boost oil production, says Kingsley. His advice? Relaxation techniques can help.

Consider your birth control pill. Birth control pills have a decided effect on a woman’s hormone balance. That in turn affects oil production. Dr. Goodman suggests that you discuss excessively oily hair with your gynecologist when you choose your oral contraceptive.

Bonus Suggestion:

When all else fails…do the opposite. Wash your hair every other. I know, I know…but sometimes doing the opposite works. Here is why, washing your hair everyday may dry it out too much and the body produces more oil to compensate.

The Author:

Ginger Malone is a frequent writer of articles on women’s health, beauty.