7 ways to combat oily hair

Whether it’s thanks to genetics or the habits you keep, oily hair can seriously derail your beauty game. But don’t fret, because the good news is you don’t have to suffer the indignities of it any longer.

So when your locks are looking greasier than a slice of pizza, take action! Keep oil production under control and beat the grease with any of these easy (and seriously brilliant) oily hair hacks.

Wash less often

Though it might sound a little counterintuitive to stave off the ‘poo in order to keep the slick at bay, the fact is that the more your scalp is constantly being stripped of oils, the harder it works to try and replace it, making your locks greasier than necessary. Re-evaluate your washing routine, and get another day in between each shower session. Also, consider using a clarifying shampoo and alternating between this and your regular shampoo to rid the hair of any product build-up. Clarifying shampoos are notorious for eliminating grease - and hair colour - so just be wary of how often you use it.

try these: Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo, KMS California HAIRSTAY Clarify Shampoo, Shu Uemura Art of Hair Clarifying Astringent Cleanser Cleansing Oil Shampoo

Only condition the ends

Applying too much conditioner to your hair can really weigh it down and cause oily roots. Instead, stick to conditioning from the mid-lengths down.

Rinse thoroughly

If you find one particular area of your head tends to get greasier than the rest, it could be a sign you’re not rinsing all that shampoo and conditioner out of your hair. Once you’ve lathered up and washed your mane as per usual, turn the temperature down to cold for a final rinse. Voila! Perfectly clean hair. It’s not the most fun, but the results are amazing.

De-slick on the go

When you’re out and about and notice the slick comin’ on, tackle the slippery issue of greasy roots with a sprinkle of miracle dust otherwise known as taft powder. It soaks up oil and livens your locks, adding fullness and oomph, sans the white residue.

try these: Schwarzkopf Taft Rough & Tough Styling Powder, bhave Gun Powder Matte Styling Dust

Be smart with your dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is not only going to suck up oil from your roots, but it’ll allow you to spend more time in between washes, making your hair less greasy in the long run. Just be careful not to overuse it: too much of a good thing can backfire, and in the case of dry shampoo, it means more grease - the exact problem you set out to fix. So next time, instead of blasting your scalp, spray a little dry shampoo on your paddle brush and comb it through.

try these: Batiste Fresh Dry Shampoo, Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, Nourish Naturals™ Dry Shampoo

Balance your brushing

On the one hand, not brushing enough keeps sebum from being evenly distributed throughout your hair, however over-brushing can overstimulate oil production, so it’s important to try and find the right balance. If you’re brushing your hair in the morning and evening, you’re onto a good thing.

Refrain from touching

Our hands produce oils that can be transferred, meaning the more you touch and play with your hair, the greasier it’ll get.

Do you suffer from oily hair? What have you done to beat the slick?

72 Member Comments

jaslouisee 22 Oct 2015 4:46 PM

I definitely suffer from oily hair, and I know why.. I'm a shocker for touching, twirling, running my hands through my hair. I'm trying to break that habit though. And I really like the look of the Shu Uemura shampoo and the mattifying products.

Log in or register to commentReply to comment
Likes 0

Ellyloves 22 Oct 2015 9:46 AM

hehe that's funny

Affy92 21 Oct 2015 11:32 PM

Great tips! im definitely guilty of touching my hair too much :P

Trish_D 21 Oct 2015 11:01 PM

Thankfully this is one problem I've never had to deal with but I can sympathise.

CaspianMakeupAustralia 21 Oct 2015 9:12 PM

good tips. i by habit wash my hair every day...one i need to crack. i need to use y dry shampoo more often

MelissaFay89 21 Oct 2015 7:10 PM

I'm probably doing all of these wrong

Anita1502 21 Oct 2015 6:20 PM

When I stopped washing my hair every day it did appear to get less oily and I swear by each and every tip in this article.

zigzagleft 21 Oct 2015 3:23 PM

I remember I used to touch and play with my hair all the time when I was younger. Nowadays I only really touch it to fix it up or get it into a more fuss-free hairstyle when I'm studying.

IndieAna 21 Oct 2015 2:36 PM

I don't get overly oily hair. I only wash it once a week, which seems to work best for me

clearcrystalwater 21 Oct 2015 2:16 PM

Yeah it really does make a big difference to not touch my hair - it gets oilier much quicker if I'm running my fingers through it too much. That Morrocanoil Clarifying shampoo sounds good!

Vi 21 Oct 2015 10:35 AM

I do suffer from oily hair and I hate it. I don't want my hair too often as it's a hassle to straighten it. I use dry shampoo which I love but then at times it gives me dandruff. I need to touch my hair less although it's easier said than done

cwingy83 21 Oct 2015 9:50 AM

i double wash my hair everytime to have a cleaner scalp

Pinkswoon 21 Oct 2015 8:41 AM

I wash my hair on a daily basis as I get sweaty after exercise. I know it is not helping much on the oil control side of thing, but i think picking the right shampoo and conditioner helps too!

Jlgaddes 21 Oct 2015 7:55 AM

Great tips, I don't often have a problem with oily hair though.

Claire88 21 Oct 2015 12:25 AM

I don't tend to have an issue with oily hair and I try to wash my hair every second or third day.

misfortune8 20 Oct 2015 11:18 PM

Oily hair has plagued me forever! I love TRESemmé Deep Cleansing Shampoo. It does strip my hair colour, but controlling the oil is my main priority.

Chicklet 20 Oct 2015 11:16 PM

Not a fan of dry shampoo, but it might be worth spraying it on a brush as suggested rather than directly to hair.

helenmaree 20 Oct 2015 11:06 PM

I overuse conditioner a little too much which leaves me wanting to wash every day.

Rose_P 20 Oct 2015 10:00 PM

Oily hair isn't an issue for me at all.

Temporary Princess 20 Oct 2015 9:20 PM

Be careful where you put your leave in treatment as well - don't get it too close to the roots.

Hayley644 20 Oct 2015 9:12 PM

I used to have oily hair but now I don't wash it as often which really helps.

womble 20 Oct 2015 9:10 PM

I wash my hair twice a week though but it is still really greasy in between washes. I found that mixing bi carb soda and some water and soaking my hair with it works so well to get rid of extra oil in between washes and it is cheaper than using dry shampoo.

Ellelily 20 Oct 2015 9:09 PM

I dont have oily hair. When I was in my teens I did get oily hair. But mum use to wash our hair with a special tar soap and It made my hair really lovely soft and shiney; and it kept the oil right down.

Heidi Purrs 20 Oct 2015 8:48 PM

My hair isn't very oily and I wash it about every second day because I like to keep it ultra clean, and every second day is enough to do that. My sister, however, has always, always, always had really oily hair and has to wash it every day. She can't stand to go a day without washing. I'll pass these tips onto her but I think she'll just continue to wash it every day! (Well, fair enough.)

Amelia987 20 Oct 2015 8:42 PM

I tried cutting back on how often I washed my hair & it definitely works, my hair's improved grease-wise & requires far less maintenance now!

Pages

You need to log in or become a member to post a comment.