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Why Is My Hair So Oily?

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Oily hair can be exasperating, but it doesn't have to be. There are very effective ways to deal with it, and you can find a solution that works for your hair and your lifestyle. There are many reasons why your hair might look damp, flat, greasy, or just plain dirty. There are many causes of oily hair, and fortunately, most of them have an easy fix. Most people can fix greasy hair and oily hair in a matter of minutes once the cause of their hair's distress is identified.

Wondering why your hair gets so greasy so fast? Hair that looks oily isn't very uncommon. A lot of people struggle with oily or greasy-looking hair. Oily or greasy hair is not only unattractive, it's unhealthy. Oily hair causes your scalp to become inflamed, which can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, greasy hair is easily fixed with a few simple hair care moves. This article will explain to you why your hair is oily, and how to fix it.


What Causes Oily Hair?

There are many reasons why your hair might be greasy, but most people can easily identify what is causing their hair to look oily. The most common reasons why your hair is oily are:

Hair products

Hair products are some of the most common reasons for oily hair. The more products you use on your hair, the more chemical-based they are, the more likely you have oily hair.

Hair serums, gels, sprays, and other hair products coat your hair with a layer of oil. This keeps your hair shiny and styled for a short while, but it also blocks the hair follicles, preventing them from taking in the moisture they need to stay hydrated. Oils are also commonly used in hair products. This makes your hair look healthy and shiny, but the oils also coat the hair follicles, preventing them from absorbing moisture. The more oils you use in your hair, the greasier your hair will look.

Quick Fix: Typically, washing your hair often is the solution to this issue. You can also just use fewer products, or try a different brand. If you use a lot of products, it might be time to start using fewer. If you have greasy hair, it's also a good idea to switch to a sulfate-free shampoo, as many dyes and chemicals are being released into the water, causing your hair to look greasy.

Diet

Your diet is one of the most overlooked causes of greasy hair. Foods with a high-fat content are known to cause greasier hair. Fatty foods are broken down by the body, with some of the fats being converted into oils. The oils are then released into the hair follicles. If you are eating a high-fat diet, your body will be producing more oils, which will be released into your hair follicles.

The greasier your hair looks, the more you will wash it. Washing your hair too much can strip it of its natural oils, so it's important to find a good balance.

Not washing your hair enough will also make it greasier. When you don't wash your hair, oils are built up in your hair follicles. If you don't wash your hair enough, the hair follicles overcompensate by producing more oil than they normally would, so you get greasier hair.

Quick Fix: An easy fix is to eat less fatty foods, such as fried foods, red meats, and fast food. Not only will this improve the health of your hair, but you'll feel better overall.

Infrequent Washing

If you don't wash your hair often, your scalp is probably producing more oil than the hair is absorbing. When this happens, the grease is more likely to build up, making your hair look oily. Your scalp produces oil to hydrate the hair follicles, and when the hair follicles aren't absorbing that oil, your scalp will produce more, which creates a bit of a cycle. This is why healthy hair tends to look less oily.

Quick Fix: In order to get rid of the excess oil, you'll need to wash your hair more often. This is especially important if you work out often or if you live in a hotter climate.

On the other hand, shampooing excessively can create the opposite problem: dry hair. Trial and error will help you find a good balance. Most people with longer hair wash their hair at least once every two days, but if you have a shorter haircut, you might be able to go a bit longer. In the meantime, use a dry shampoo to soak up the grease between washes.

Hormones

Hormones can cause your oil glands to produce more oil than usual. This is why many people have greasy hair during adolescence. The oil glands are producing more oil, and it is blocking the hair follicles.

This can also happen during pregnancy or menopause, though this is more common in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the body produces more estrogen, which can cause your skin to become oily. This is one of the reasons why pregnant women can have greasy hair.

Quick Fix: If your hair is becoming greasy, and you suspect it may be because of a hormone imbalance, you might just need to wash it more regularly. In addition, try getting a dry shampoo, which you can use to absorb the extra oil in your hair.

Are There Shampoos That Cure Oily Hair?

Oily hair is a common problem, and there are many shampoos that can help deal with it.

The best oils to use on oily hair are those that are lighter and less greasy. These include argan oil, jojoba oil, and black cumin seed oil. These oils will moisturize your hair, but they will also hydrate your scalp, allowing it to absorb the oil. These oils won't leave your hair feeling greasy or weighed down.

A few drops of tea tree oil can also be an excellent solution to oily hair. Tea tree oil can help to clean your scalp, allowing your hair to breathe and absorb moisture. It can also help to fight dandruff and other scalp conditions that cause a lot of scalp build-up.

If you have oily hair, you may want to try a shampoo that has a lot of natural oils. These will help to hydrate your hair and scalp, and they will provide a lot of shine and luster.

Tips For Oily Hair:

1. Avoid Shampoos or Conditioners That Are Labeled as Hydrating.

Hydration shampoos are often made with ingredients that weigh your hair down like dimethicone and cetyl alcohol. These shampoos are often filled with silicones that coat the hair, locking in the oil. This makes your hair look shiny, but it also prevents your hair from absorbing moisture, leaving it greasy.


2. Look for Shampoos and Conditioners That Have Lightweight Ingredients.

These include ingredients like argan oil, jojoba oil, and black cumin seed oil. These ingredients moisturize your hair without weighing it down too much.


3. Try A Shampoo With Tea Tree Oil.

Tea tree oil is a natural astringent that will clean your scalp, allowing your hair to absorb moisture. A good shampoo with tea tree oil will help to keep your hair clean without stripping it. It's also helpful for fighting dandruff and other scalp conditions.


4. Choose a Shampoo That Contains Natural Oils.

These will help to hydrate your hair and scalp, making your hair look shiny and healthy. Natural oils are also great for preventing frizz. This includes ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil.


5. Be Careful with Conditioners.

Conditioners with a lot of silicones will coat your hair, keeping it from absorbing moisture. In fact, some conditioners can actually make your hair more oily. When you condition your hair, only saturate it from the top of the neck down, and be sure to wash the remainder out completely.


6. Avoid Products That Have Petroleum in Them.

Petroleum products will coat your hair, making it look shiny, but they will also make it look greasy. Products that have petroleum in them include mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, and paraffinum liquidum.


7. Try a Dry Shampoo In-between Washes.

If you're having trouble keeping your hair clean, you can spray a dry shampoo at the roots or rub a dry shampoo between your hands and run them through your hair. This will soak up excess oil and give your hair some volume. If your hair is very oily, you can try a dry shampoo with many powders in it. These will soak up oil and leave your hair looking fresh and clean.


8. Use a Clarifying Shampoo.

If you have oily hair, you may need to use a clarifying shampoo regularly. These shampoos are formulated to remove residue and grime from the hair and scalp. They remove build-up, making hair appear less oily, and they can even help to remove dandruff.

A clarifying shampoo is also good for those with oily hair because it can help to fight scalp acne. If you have oily hair and suffer from acne, you may want to try a shampoo formulated specifically to fight acne.

The best clarifying shampoos will include ingredients like tea tree oil and turmeric. These ingredients have antibacterial properties that can help fight scalp acne, and they can even help reduce the scalp’s oiliness.

If you have oily hair, you may want to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week. This will help to keep your scalp from becoming excessively oily.

Other Remedies for Oily Hair:

  • Lemon Juice — Lemon juice is said to help to purify oily hair, and it also helps to brighten hair color.
  • Baking soda — Baking soda helps to remove excess oils from hair and scalp. It also helps to eliminate odors from hair and scalp.
  • Apple cider vinegar — Apple cider vinegar helps to promote hair growth, and it also helps to balance the pH of hair.
  • Tea tree oil — Tea tree oil helps to cleanse hair and scalp, and it also helps to fight dandruff.
  • Jojoba oil — Jojoba oil helps to balance the pH level of hair, and it also helps to prevent hair loss.

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This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Your specific circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider. All statements of opinion represent the writers' judgement at the time of publication and are subject to change. Phoenix and its affiliates provide no express or implied endorsements of third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products, or services.

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