How to Keep My Hair from Getting Greasy?

Greasy hair is nothing short of a nightmare. When you wake up with oily and messy hair, it’s a sure sign that your day is not going to go too well. But it’s not just the look — a greasy scalp can be itchy and just feel wrong at the same time.

So it might seem that oil is the enemy of beautiful hair and can throw off an otherwise great look. In reality, you shouldn’t try to strip your hair. Oil plays an important role in actually protecting your hair and scalp in the long term.

The key to a greasy hair fix is understanding what causes greasy hair in the first place and then adjusting your routine to calibrate it without damaging your hair or irritating your scalp.

What Causes Greasy Hair?

Most of the time, greasy hair is the result of either issues in the scalp or an incorrect haircare routine.

Sebum, a substance that makes your hair look shiny or oily, is produced by the glands in your scalp. If your hair doesn’t get enough sebum, it’ll become dry and break easily. Too much of sebum, on the other hand, creates a greasy hair look.

The production of sebum is regulated by hormones. That’s why we produce less sebum with age and a different amount during pregnancy. Plus, even regular levels of sebum are somewhat unique to everyone.

Functionally, sebum travels from the gland up the hair follicle to moisturize your hair. People who have thin, straight hair generally also have more sebum throughout, causing their hair to look more greasy. People with curly hair, however, more often have a problem with dry hair, as sebum has a hard time reaching the ends.

Haircare routine also plays an important role in maintaining optimal sebum levels. Make sure to use the right haircare products for your hair type.

Now, let’s look at some other ways of how to get your hair less greasy.

Adjust Your Shampoo Use

It’s interesting that using a shampoo too frequently or not frequently enough can cause greasy hair.

If you don’t wash your hair regularly, dead skin cells and excessive oil buildups will weigh it down. Conversely, washing your hair several times a day will strip your scalp of all the oil and make your body produce even more.

On average, washing your hair every two days seems to be the sweet spot for most. But if you have thinning, straight hair, consider shampooing every day. Also take your environment into consideration. With clean air and low humidity, you might not need to shampoo as much. In urban environments (especially if you work out daily), cleansing your hair daily might be a good idea.

When shampooing your hair, concentrate on the scalp, scrubbing it enough to let the soap do its job. Rinse thoroughly.

Finally, using good haircare products for greasy hair is key. For example, take a look at My Hair. My Canvas. Me Time Everyday Shampoo with its vegan moisturizing formula that adds smoothness and works with most hair types. For cleansing, give My Hair. My Canvas. New Beginnings Exfoliating Cleanser a try.

Condition the Right Way

Using conditioner is a must because it keeps your hair from getting tangled and adds necessary moisture throughout your locks.

To avoid making your hair greasier, don’t apply the conditioner on the scalp directly. Instead, work it through your ends to direct moisture where it’s needed the most.

If your hair still gets oily, try occasionally skipping the conditioner altogether or just switch brands. My Hair. My Canvas. Me Time Everyday Conditioner works with most hair types and greatly improves hair smoothness and manageability.

Switch to Cooler Showers

We know, a scalding-hot shower is sometimes the best way to relax, especially at night. But exposing your scalp to hot water might dry it out and stimulate the production of oil.

Our advice here is to try to stick to warm showers or at least rinse your hair in warm-to-cool water.

Brush Less Frequently

When you brush your hair all the time, you’re actually telling your glands to make more sebum and thus make your hair look greasy.

Brush your hair thoroughly before you wash it and then carefully untangle your strands after the shower with a wide-tooth comb.

Add a Dry Shampoo

If you’re not washing your hair every day, a dry shampoo can be a great product for your second-day hair, since it helps absorb the oil, add volume, and make your hair appear fresh.

Don’t use a dry shampoo for weeks on end though. Actually washing your hair is necessary to remove any buildup. If you need to use your dry shampoo more often, you can apply it through combing your hair with a sprayed-on brush.

When it comes to choosing a dry shampoo for greasy hair, My Hair. My Canvas. Another Day Dry Shampoo has everything you need to keep your hair fresh and soft.

Avoid Moisturizing Styling Products

If you already have greasy hair, adding more oily styling products might not be the best idea. Instead, look for lighter substitutes and only use the minimum amount on the ends of your hair to achieve the desired result. A hair spray or mousse might work well here.

As you can see, having greasy hair is not the end of the world if you know a few tricks for how to manage it properly. One of the best things you can do here is pick the right haircare products that won’t weigh your hair down.

To do so, make sure to take Alterna’s Hair Quiz and receive a personalized haircare treatment plan straight to your inbox.