You washed your hair yesterday, and so you did today, yet at the first glimpse in the mirror, it still looks greasy. Sounds familiar? If that’s you, you know how annoying it can be to have oily hair. Let’s be realistic: nobody wants glued strands on their head! It makes us look messy and dirty. And no, simply washing your hair to make it less greasy is not a solution since it may have the opposite effect in the long run. The good news is that there are more ways to overcome it and train your hair to be less greasy. You’re not alone in this. I already gathered together all the info you need to make your hair less oily without washing!
How does hair become greasy?
The hair oils are naturally produced by the sebaceous glands on your scalp. So, yes, we need those glands since they are keeping our hair hydrated and soft. But the problem happens when they produce more sebum than we need. And that excess of sebum is what can make hair look greasy.
Now, several factors are known to cause oily hair. For instance, if one of your parents has it, there is a good chance the gene will be passed on to you. Then, vitamin C plays an active role in sebum regulation, so its lack could cause greasy hair too. Or maybe you live in a place with high humidity? This will most likely make your hair oily. In the end, let’s not forget about hormonal disorders. Your hormones may be out of balance if you are in puberty or menopause. Hence, the greasy hair.
How to train your hair to be less greasy
First of all, stop over-washing your hair. Over-washing is a common mistake people with oily hair often make. Washing the hair strips away its natural oils, and when you wash it too often, your glands will overreact. They will try to produce more oil to compensate for the loss, which can cause the hair to look greasy.
So, how often should you wash your hair? Every three days. However, skipping washing and shampooing for three days can be challenging simply because the hair gets very greasy. When this happens, it just feels right to wash your hair, but that’ll be a mistake. Hair can actually look much less oily once it adjusts to less frequent shampooing. But you first have to train your hair this way. The good news, however, is that there are things you can do between these no-washing days to keep your hair clean and non-greasy. Here’s what you have to do:
Dry shampoo
The thumb rule is that the less frequently you wash your hair, the better it’ll be. But the problem with oily hair is that its greasy texture makes you want to wash it every hour because if you don’t do it, it looks careless. But that’s clearly not a good idea. So what do you do to keep your hair less oily without washing it? It’s simple, use dry shampoo.
Dry shampoos are life-savers for people with oily hair because they pick up the excess oil instantly and increase the time between washes. They don’t actually clean hair but rather absorb oils, giving a fresh, natural, and healthy look in a minute. But good as it is, it has cons as well!
Over-using dry shampoo or leaving it on your hair for longer periods will clog the hair follicles, causing irritations. Using dry shampoo once to two times a week is enough. When you feel your hair is too greasy, although you’ve already washed it on the same day (or a few days before), apply dry shampoo. Spray the hair and not your scalp, and just the greasy areas. Use your fingers or comb to spread it evenly through oily areas, and be careful not to flatten hair with excessive brushing.
Baby powder
Who thought baby powders aren’t just for babies? Baby powders are another thing you can use between washing days that’ll make your hair instantly feel less greasy. They work like dry shampoos by absorbing the excess oil from the hair. Apply the powder to your greasy roots and make sure you’ve blended all of it with your fingers or a brush, otherwise, the powder may build up in your scalp and cause excess sebum production.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a great natural remedy for oily hair because it removes extra oil and soothes the scalp. You can apply aloe vera gel directly to your hair and scalp. Leave the aloe vera in for about 30 minutes and then rinse off.
Don’t brush your hair too often
This is so logical, yet we never really think of it. As we brush our hair, we carry the fat to the entire length of it. So, you should limit brushing your hair to two times a day, morning and evening. Besides, frequent hair tailing can cause higher secretion of oil on that part of the scalp, which leads to unbalanced oily hair.
Quit playing with your hair
Touching hair, over and over again, is a big no-no. You risk spreading the oil, sweat, and dirt from your palms to the hair. So, next time you move your hand towards your hair, remember that it is not a toy!
Be careful with the heat
The heat from straighteners and curling irons soften the oil and melt it, making it easier to spread all over the strands. So, limit the use of heat-producing hair tools. Equally, styling products build-up makes hair look greasy, so limit their use too.
Just rinse your hair after working out
Are you a gym-goer? Good for you! But please don’t wash your hair every time after the gym, that’s not oil; it’s just sweat that you can remove with water only. Yes, it’s fine if you just rinse your hair with water after working out rather than washing it with shampoo.
Change the sheets once a week
Okay, I am sure this goes without the saying because you do it anyway, but I’ll say it anyway: make sure to change the sheets once a week. When sleeping, sebum and sweat from hair are transferred to the pillow. If your pillow gets dirty and greasy, you will just spread it all back to your hair the next time you lay on it.
Refresh your hair with herbal remedies
What you should do is once a week, skip washing and shampooing, and rinse with a herbal solution instead. If you use the right plants, you will keep oil production under control.
Here’s a quick recipe that will make your hair less oily: Put a teaspoon or two of dried herbs such as nettle or grated orange or lime peel in a bowl and pour hot water over it. Leave the plants to soak in water for 10 to 15 minutes and cover the pot. Strain and pour on the hair, massage into the scalp, and leave on for three to five minutes. Then rinse with colder water. The result? Shinier hair without the annoying grease.
