Oily Hair

apprentice

Hi there,
For the last 4 months or so my hair has started to get really greasy. i have to wash it every day. i wash my hair in the mornings and by the afternoon my hair looks like i have dipped it in chip fat! needless to say i have tried nearly every shampoo on the market at this stage. has anyone got any suggestions that might help? much appreciated..

LegacyUser

Hey there!!!

Hmm, well ive heard that washing hair too often can make it more oily, but as I know this can lead to a catch 22 situation as you dont want to then leave your hair as it will feel more oily, so lets try and tackle the problem at hand. By the way I wash my hair everyday myself, and I feel theres no way I can leave it any longer, but I feel myself this is provoked by too much washing.

Firstly, have you ever thought it might be down to diet? Eating too many greasy foods (eg, chips, burgers, crisps) can lead to excess oil in the body showing in your skin and hair. If you think you are, Id recommend cutting down on these foods and giving it a week or 2 or a bit longer to see if you notice your hair becoming less greasy.

If you have a good diet, however, then maybe the best thing to suggest is trying one of those shampoos designed to keep your hair clean and fresh for 48hrs. Sunsilk do a good one, not sure of the name, but its in the blue bottle. If this doesnt work, have you ever tried those dry shampoos? They are simply powder that you shake into your hair, but they mop up excess grease and you can't see then powder, they can be good when hair is greasy and you dont have time to wash it, they leave a lovely fragrance too! You can find dry shampoo in chemists (not sure about supermarkets) around the section where they have dandruff and other specialist shampoos.

Hope this helps!!!!!!

hunnymonster

Are you rubbing your scalp when you wash your hair? This "massage" can lead to more oil production as far as I know. The people in the fashion and appearance forum may have better advice for you.

apprentice

Thanks for your replies. the dry shampoo is a god send alright but for me it only lasts for a couple of hours. i have tried all the specialist shampoos too. i dread to think how much i have spent on them. i might just ask a hairdresser to pour a load of peroxide on it( that might dry it up :-) )

Nala

dye it with a permanent dye, to dry it out a bit

Nightwish

I have really oily hair too. I have yet to find any shampoo and conditioner to properly solve the problem. I have concluded that the Sunsilk stuff is rubbish and the only products that are alright, are Tresemme or Kerastase. I dyed my hair, in the hope of drying it out, but it didnt work - it made my hair a bit dryer looking (frizzy) but still very oily at the roots. A tip I got from the hairdresser is to keep the shower temperature down low when wetting and rinsing your hair. Firstly if you wet the hair with hot water, it opens the pores on your scalp, allowing in residue from shampoo and conditioner leading to greasy build up. Secondly it damages the ends of the hair, which can exacerbate split ends. Cooler water will prevent that from happening and a blast of cold water on your head when after rinsing out the conditioner will add shine to your hair.

dellas1979

Greasy hair became the bane of my life too. As ive gotton older, my hair and skin have gotton greasier. I think you are female (I cant tell from your posts).

1. Moisturiser. Use an oil free moisturiser.

2. I use "Boots" shampoo and conditioner for Greasy hair. Its a green shampoo with a light green conditioner. (Kind of square looking bottles). I have tried expensive and inexpensive shampoos/conditioners and although one of the cheapest, Ive found this one one of the best.

3. Use a clarifying shampoo also, maybe once or twice a week.

4. Do not wash your hair everyday. Get it used to not being washed everyday. I washed mine on a saturday night (oh the cliche!) and its only this evening that I will wash it again (and it is looking good/little greasy, but Ive tied it up to keep it off my face). There is no way I would wash it every day.

5. A suggested above, dont use water thats too hot when rinsing hair. Same equally comes to drying it. When you are drying it, try not to use a brush for a few minutes on the scalp.

You will have to keep this routine for a week or two and you should definately notice a difference.

~Leanne~

I have the same problem, greasy hair a day after i wash it. ive tried many different brands of shampoo but none are "great".

Ive been using Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo and i find it really good. Lets you get an extra day out of your hair and really works well. Its just a dry invisable mist, i think its €7.40 a bottle.

fits

Crikey, there are so many old wives tales in this thread. Diet has feck all to do with oily hair! Its caused by the over-production of androgens (hormones) and can be linked to acne. The only thing that worked for me was taking yasmin (primarily for other reasons), and even still I wash it every second day. Washing every day isnt necessarily a bad thing, but if its greasy again after a few hours, perhaps you should talk to your doctor about it.

I got a great shampoo in boots a few weeks ago that works well on my oily hair called 'Naked' or something. It doesnt have the normal detergents you find in almost all mainstream shampoos, so it doesnt lather as much, but its cleaning effects last much longer.
heres the spiel on boots website about it.
Naked Hair
Be Naked. 97% Natural
Naked hair care products are made from really high quality active ingredients for beautiful hair. Clean formulations for healthy hair use only plant based ingredients and you'll never find Sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens or petrochemicals in our ingredients list.

eta: and dont go around for two weeks with greasy hair like some people suggest, you'll just feel minging and it wont achieve anything except perhaps a bad reputation!
putting permanent dye in might dry out and destroy the condition of the ends but it will have no effect on your sebum production at the roots, so that wont help either..

dellas1979

I dont appreciate my advice here as being old wives tales.

You obviously have a hormonal problem (I meant that in more ways than one).

Everyone is different. I was on the pill and my skin and hair became unbelievable greasy.

Ive never had acne.

Have I proved you wrong yet?

fits

I didnt say 'the pill' I said yasmin. Yasmin and dianette regulate the production of androgens which stimulate the production of sebum, which can cause acne and oily hair. I didnt say they were inextricably linked, I said they can be related. Not all people with oily hair get acne or vice versa, but a lot of people have both. This may not be a good solution for the OP (who may be male), but it mightnt be a bad idea for them to go to a GP about it, as it sounds like it is quite severe. Although it may be perfectly natural for them and will be something they have to live with.

by the way you did also mention you had greasy skin...

old wives tales:
washing your hair more often makes it greasier.
poor diet makes hair greasy
dying hair will dry it out.

Nala

fits wrote:

old wives tales:
poor diet makes hair greasy

This is true, eating excessive amounts of greasy food does contribute to oily hair. Google it.

Pet

Nala wrote:

This is true, eating excessive amounts of greasy food does contribute to oily hair. Google it.

It's more likely to be sugar; increased sugar intake combined with low insulin levels leads to an increase in DHEA, thereby increasing oiliness of the skin.

The Sweeper

The scalp produces oil to protect itself and the hair follicle. Apparently washing that oil away daily can create over-production of oil - so it's not an old wive's tale.

First, depending on the kind of hair you have, buy a natural boar bristle brush. Brush your hair - 100 strokes morning, 100 strokes evening. The bristle helps distribute the oil down the length of the hair shaft, making it glossy and making your scalp less itchy. It also stimulates blood flow in the scalp. That in itself doesn't stimulate oil production.

If you can bear it, stop washing your hair. Leave it three or four days (tie it back if you must) - if you're showering, let it get wet, but no shampoo. Brush it twice a day or more.

When it approaches unbearable, wash it using only conditioner. Use a small amount, massage your scalp and rub through the hair itself. There's enough detergent in conditioner to clean your hair.

Try this for two weeks. I did it, it worked for me. And I've put my hair through the wringer in teh last two years - I had it hennaed for a year and a bit, then peroxide to get rid of the henna. These days I'll wet and condition and massage my hair when I shower, using a tablespoon of shampoo maybe twice a week - and only then if I've been out in the rain or in city pollution or something.

fits

Pet wrote:

It's more likely to be sugar; increased sugar intake combined with low insulin levels leads to an increase in DHEA, thereby increasing oiliness of the skin.

Actually this can be true I guess, as PCOS sufferers will verify. I still dont believe that eating chips=greasy hair...

Another factor to consider would be hair type. I have fine straight hair myself, and so just wouldnt get away with not washing it at least every two days. Its also not as big a job as it is for someone with thick curly hair, but this type will not look as bad when a bit oily. The not washing approach simply has not worked for me, and I'd much prefer wash the hair every day if it needs it. It would be a different matter if I had a different hair type.

dellas1979

Yes. I had greasy skin on the pill. Very greasy skin. More greasy than if I was not on the pill. Ive never had acne.

apprentice

thanks for all the replies. i really appreciate the advice even if some advice contradicts others. i am female and also on Yasmin. my hair is shoulder length and quite fine too. im using the Aveda shampoo and the moment. its not very good. i thought by spending a bit extra i might get something better. im def gonna try those shampoos in boots.
keep the replies coming! thanks

fits

I tried using that sunsilk oily hair stuff in the last few days (my own ran out). It was noticeably less effective than the naked hair shampoo. In fact the naked hair stuff is the best shampoo I have ever used. I really am so impressed with this product!

Nightwish

I went looking in Boots in Jervis for the Naked shampoo, but couldnt find it. Its not stocked in Boots in Kilkenny either (well not a lot is stocked there). Can you tell me where you can get it?

PrettyInPunk

i used Keraste for oily hair and find it really good

fits

Nightwish wrote:

I went looking in Boots in Jervis for the Naked shampoo, but couldnt find it. Its not stocked in Boots in Kilkenny either (well not a lot is stocked there). Can you tell me where you can get it?

I got it in Boots in Dundrum. I'll have a wander down to Stephens Green branch later and see if they still have it.
Its in a clear plastic cylindrical shaped bottle, with beige labelling. And has 'innocent smoothie style' jargon on it...

shapez

I would recommend Redken. Check out www.redken.com for a list of their products. Because I do a lot of sports and training I use Redken Active Express Shampoo & Conditioner. I was in your situation with very oily hair from sports etc. I was introduced to Redken by my hairdresser and haven't changed in over 3 years. Excellent.

fits

I got the naked haircare shampoo in boots in Stephens Green today. They had it on display/offer. I'm sure it will be in the other stores soon. The one I use is naked volume.

apprentice

i have had a look on the redken website. looks pretty good. thanks

lynnsback

Hello

This may be way off but there is an illness called PCOS that effects many many women and often goes undiagnosed for years. Symptoms include acne, oily skin/hair, facial hair, weight problems, irregular and painful periods. Many many doctors don't understand it but there are treatments out there for it. If any of this rings any bells for you try www.soulcysters.net for great info or PM me. If you eat a high high in sugar and refined carbohydrates it can also cause skin and hair problems.

Otherwise are you making sure to use a shampoo formulated for daily use? Normal ones can be too harsh and actually strip your hair of it's oils.