Greasy Hair? 9 Things You Need To Stop Doing Now!

It may sound illogical, but washing your hair too often can, in fact, lead to more greasiness! Every time you shampoo your hair, you strip the scalp of its natural oils. Your scalp, in turn, produces more oil to compensate for this. It creates a vicious cycle of more and more hair washes and progressively more greasiness. Avoid falling victim to this cycle and stick to washing your 2-3 times a week at the most. It may seem icky at first but soon your scalp will stop generating too much oil. You may even be able to get away with a weekly hair wash after a few months. In case you have to wash your hair more often, stick to an SLS-free shampoo that is gentle on the scalp.

Do you know what makes your hair the dirtiest? It is your fingers! I understand the appeal of casually flipping your hair with your hand but it does make your hair dirty each time you do it. Avoid brushing your fingers through your hair as much as possible to prolong the time between two washes. You will notice a massive reduction in the greasiness once you start practicing this habit.

Brushing your hair too often spreads the oil hidden at your roots throughout the lengths of the hair, weighing it down in the process. Also, if your hairbrush is dirty or has too many hair strands stuck to its bristles, then the dirt from the brush will make your hair greasy too. Keep your hairbrush clean and avoid brushing your hair more than twice a day to keep it bouncy and voluminous.

A lot of us make the rookie mistake of applying conditioner too close to our roots. This leads to greasiness at the scalp, which will make your hair look limp. Also, if you do not rinse your conditioner fully then your hair will look greasy after a few hours of drying. Those with fine hair should be particularly careful about using a light-weight conditioner only on the lengths of the hair. Rinse the product thoroughly with cold water to lock the moisture in.

If you are someone whose hair is prone to turning greasy, avoid hair care products that contain oils as their key ingredients. Any product that claims to add shine to the hair can be your worst enemy. Look for products that claim to add volume to the hair instead. Also, rather than opting for oil-based serums, you can opt for silicone-based serums. Silicones in small quantities do not harm your hair and, in fact, form a protective layer to shield the strands from heat damage.

If you use a lot of styling products then these can leave a residue on your scalp and hair. This product buildup can clog the scalp and make your hair look greasy. A clarifying shampoo is the best weapon to get rid of product buildup. These shampoos are specially designed to exfoliate the scalp and remove product residue. They will leave your scalp and hair squeaky clean but can be a little drying if used too often. The most effective strategy to incorporate a clarifying shampoo in your haircare regimen is to use it 2-3 times a month. This way, your hair will remain residue-free without the shampoo making the strands brittle and frizzy.

If you are an oily-haired gal, then you should avoid straightening your hair. Not only does straightened hair lose volume, straightening also exaggerates greasiness. Your hair will look greasier and limper than it looked before. Instead, try creating soft curls or beachy waves that add volume to the hair and take the attention away from any oiliness.

Hormonal imbalances and health conditions such as PCOS can cause greasy hair and hair loss among other things. We recommend consulting with your doctor if you suspect you might have a health problem.

Every night, the grease from your hair transfers to your pillowcase and the oil continues to build up on the fabric. This oil is again transferred to your hair when you rest your head on the pillow the next night. It is, therefore, advisable to wash your pillowcases at least once a week. Silk or satin pillowcases absorb less oil and prevent bacterial growth too, so you may want to switch to those.