Why Is My Hair So Greasy? My Scalp Is So Oily! I Have To Shampoo Everyday. Sound Familiar?

Having an oily scalp is really annoying. You wash your hair, it looks good for a day, by nighttime it’s greasy, and you have to wash it again the next day — and everyday after that. Excess oil makes our hair look greasy, flat, dirty, weighed down — all the things. I know this well, I used to have THE OILIEST scalp ever, I used to shampoo every single day, and my hair would never grow past a certain length because it just wasn’t strong. 

Let’s hop to it —

What Causes an Oily Scalp?

An oily scalp is primarily caused by overactive sebaceous glands, which produce sebum (oil) to keep your scalp and hair moisturized. However, several factors can trigger these glands to produce excess oil:

1. Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in hormones, especially during puberty, pregnancy, or menstrual cycles, can increase oil production.
2. The Wrong Hair Care: Using harsh conventional chemicals, harsh shampoos or using too many hair products that leave build-up on the hair shaft and scalp can lead to an oily scalp.
3. Over-Washing Your Hair: Scrubbing too often with shampoo (especially one that is loaded with harsh chemicals) can cause your scalp to produce excess oil.

How to Treat and Prevent an Oily Scalp

1. Choose the Right Shampoo

Using the right shampoo is crucial in managing an oily scalp. Instead of looking for a shampoo labeled “clarifying,” “volumizing,” or “oil control,” look for a shampoo that is free-of sulfates, silicones, parabens, synthetic fragrance — you want a CLEAN shampoo that doesn't contain chemicals that will mess with your hormones even more, and one that won’t leave a build-up on  your hair or scalp. You want a gentle shampoo that’s going to clean your hair without stripping your scalp, without scrubbing away your shape, and without leaving build-up behind. 

2. Stop Over-Washing, Start Rinsing 

Scrubbing away with shampoo too frequently can strip your scalp of natural oils, prompting it to produce even more oil! I know what you’re thinking — but my hair is so greasy, I can’t go a day without shampoo. I get it, I’ve been there. I love clean hair and a clean scalp, but getting clean in a gentle way (without suds all the time)  is going to be the ticket to transforming your scalp and keeping oily at bay the natural way. However often you shampoo, start alternating shampoo days with A Quick Clean, and get into the habit of RINSING your hair clean instead of always SCRUBBING your hair clean. This will stop the over-washing and over-scrubbing, and will help balance your scalp overtime. 

3. Limit the Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is not actually cleaning your scalp, it’s just making it dirtier. The habit of dry shampoo is this — adding powder (aka build-up) to sweat, dirt, and oil. So really, putting build-up on top of build-up, day after day. A clean, clear scalp is a healthy scalp. We want to remove sweat, dirt and oil in a gentle way, instead of leaving it on, and putting powder on top of it. This clogging habit can cause the scalp to be overly oily, overly dry, and irritated. Removing this habit from your routine can really help clear up your scalp in a gentle, natural way. 

4. Limit Hair Products that Leave Build-Up Behind

Overusing styling products like gels, mousses, and hairsprays can contribute to product build-up, making your scalp oilier. Use these products sparingly and when you do use them, make sure to wash them off to clear up your scalp and strands at the end of the day. 

5. Eat for Your Hair & Scalp Health 

Believe it or not, your diet can have a significant impact on your scalp’s oil production. Incorporating fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins into your diet, and reducing your intake of greasy foods are all natural ways to promote healthier hair and scalp without serums or unnecessary supplements. Staying hydrated is also crucial and helps maintain the overall health of your scalp and hair.

Dealing with an oily scalp and greasy hair can be annoying, we totally get it and know the feeling. But with the right wash routine, clean product lineup, and diet, it can be managed for sure.

Think about your scalp as the foundation of all things hair health. If your scalp is clear and cared for in a gentle way — removing build-up, using gentle, clean products, less scrubbing, more rinsing — it will pay you back with stronger, denser, healthier hair strands.