Everything You Need to Know About Oily Hair

1. So, what causes oily hair?
   
2. How to treat oily and greasy hair?
   
3. How often to wash your hair?
   
4. Lifestyle and diet changes to fix oily hair
   
5. What to look in an oily scalp shampoo?
   

There’s already enough on your plate without having to deal with hair that looks like you woke up in a deep fryer. People with oily hair have to carve out some time from their busy schedules to wash their hair every day. But are you getting to the root of your problem (literally)? Greasy hair—these two words are enough to activate your hair-scare mode and dry shampoo does not offer a permanent solution. Oily, greasy hair makes your hair look neglected, but this is the result of poorly managed hair care regimen combined with your genetic predisposition to having oily hair.

Don’t fret! Hair help is on its way. We’ll tell you how to ‘detox’ your hair of the bad oils and keep the good ones that nourish your hair. Before we take a look to fix oily hair, let’s take a look at what causes oily hair and some good shampoos for oily hair.

One of the major causes of oily hair is the build-up of excess sebum—a naturally occurring oil that is produced by the sebaceous glands. When produced in normal amounts, sebum is quite beneficial for your hair; it keeps your hair smooth and prevents your tresses from drying out and breaking. However, when these sebaceous glands go into overdrive, they produce excess sebum that can make your tresses appear slick and greasy. Nobody wants that.

Other causes of greasy hair include hormonal imbalance and faulty everyday beauty routine. So, it all boils down to how many times you wash your hair, which hair products you use, and how often you style your hair. In addition to these factors, oily hair is also caused by:
• Medications
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Hereditary problems

Moreover, changing seasons and constant stress too has an effect on greasy hair.

While trying to find the right treatment for oily hair, it is important to understand what’s causing all this grease build-up in the first place. There are some amazing hair products that are designed especially for oily hair and leave your hair clean and refreshed. However, if your oily hair is caused by some medical condition, it is advisable to visit a dermatologist right away. The most common ways to manage oily hair include:

Avoid heat styling

Heat styling causes oily hair! We’ll tell you how. When you blow-dry your tresses or use a straightening iron to get sleek, straight hair, your hair strands tend to get oilier. This occurs since straight hair allows oil and grease to seep into your hair shaft, and makes your hair appear slick and oily. Moreover, your hair is flattened and comes closer to the scalp, which causes it to come in contact with the oils in your scalp and face. So ladies, give your styling appliances a break.

Go easy on the hairbrush

Though brushing your hair is a healthy habit, brushing it 100 strokes a day can make it appear greasier. Brushing your hair stimulates oil production, and your obsessive brushing will increase oil production, resulting in your hair looking greasier. To avoid trigger excess oil production, try brushing your hair before washing it. When your hair is wet post-wash, gently use a wide-tooth comb to detangle the strands from the bottom, working upwards towards the scalp to avoid any damage.

Don’t rely too much on dry shampoo

A dry shampoo is a great option for second-day hair, but excessive use can cause oily hair. Since you won’t be washing your hair too often, it can lead to build-up on the scalp. This eventually results in scalp irritation and dandruff. Yikes! Instead of swapping one nightmare for another, you can do a little oil damage control by spraying the dry shampoo on a flat brush first and then brush your hair. This prevents use.

When it comes to washing hair to fix greasy hair, Dr Anotella Tosti, Dermatology Professor at the University of Miami says, “It is a personal choice how often to shampoo your hair…but I advise my patients to shampoo at least twice a week and reassure them it is OK to wash every day. Be sure when you wash to focus on the scalp, and I recommend washing after exercise as sweat can lead to scalp irritation.” Other factors that influence how often you wash your hair includes your workout frequency, the climate you live in, hair thickness, the styling products your use, and the type of hair your have—oily, combination or dry hair.

What you eat and your lifestyle has an impact on your hair’s health. Your diet should consist of foods rich in vitamin B, especially B2 and B6. It is believed that these components in your diet can help keep your sebum production in control. So, consider adding foods like leafy vegetables, pulses, and seaweed. Moreover, you will have to do away with greasy foods and increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget to stay hydrated since it helps the condition of your hair, nails, and skin.

Though dry shampoo works wonders for oily hair, you cannot always rely on it. So, if you are wondering which shampoo to use for oily hair? You have to opt for a shampoo that not only cleanses your scalp and hair but is also quite gentle on your tresses. Enter Pantene Micellar Series — the ideal gentle cleanser for your oily scalp.

Pantene Micellar Gentle Cleansing Shampoo is formulated with a Pro-V blend of Pro-Vitamin B5, antioxidants, sea salts, and micelles. Moreover, this micellar shampoo is gentle on your hair as it contains 0% silicones, dyes, and parabens. This nourishing shampoo removes whatever impurities are nestled in your tresses WITHOUT altering your natural look. Follow this up with the lightweight silicone-free Pantene Micellar Gentle Nourishing Conditioner. This conditioner contains moisturising lipids that gently condition your hair and leaves it strong, soft, and flowing.

Oily hair has the power to ruin your day, but the good news is that there are some effective ways of controlling it. Don’t let these greasy locks get you down. A good hair care routine coupled with the perfect hair care products can turn your day around.