Why do you get greasy hair, and how to look after it

Why do you get greasy hair, and how to look after it

Does your hair go from soft and bouncy to heavy and greasy quicker than you can say “dry shampoo”? Do you wash your hair in the evening only to find it looking oily again by morning-time? Don’t worry, we promise you’re not the only one! Greasy hair is a common and frustrating problem. Don’t even get us started on the woes of regular hair drying sessions, and carefully having to plan your hair-wash schedule around your social life. If you’re searching for a solution to end greasy hair days, then look no further. We’ve got all the answers. 

Why does my hair get greasy after just one day?

Oily hair is the result of our scalp’s sebaceous glands overacting and producing too much sebum. Sebum (our hair’s natural oil) isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s vital for keeping our scalps healthy and prevents our hair from becoming brittle and snapping off. However (as us oily-haired people know all too well) excess sebum can leave our hair looking limp, heavy and unclean. And we know what you’re thinking — why does my hair get greasy even after I wash it? Well, there’s a wide variety of factors that come into play, from your stress-levels, to your diet, to using the wrong shampoos:

You might be in need of some downtime 

Whilst most of us know that stress can wreak havoc on our skin, not quite so many people realise that it can also leave your hair greasier than usual. This is because stress can cause the release of a hormone called cortisol. When our cortisol levels increase, our skin’s sebaceous glands (including the ones on our scalps) go into overdrive, resulting in the overproduction of sebum. So, if your hair’s feeling greasier than usual, it might be a sign that you need to take some time to unwind. 

Keep your diet well-balanced 

Our diets can have a big influence on how much oil our scalps produce. Diets that are rich in meats, sugars and dairy products can cause our sebaceous glands to go a little crazy with the old oil production, leaving both your hair and skin looking greasy (so go easy on the chocolate and cheeseburgers). 

Deficiencies in essential fatty acids and vitamins (most specifically vitamin B6) can also cause your sebaceous glands to go overboard with their oil production. Fortunately there are plenty of foods abundant in fatty acids, such as nuts and seeds, avocados, and plant oils (soybean oil, flaxseed oil and canola oil). To up your vitamin B6 levels, simply enjoy a banana, a handful of peanuts, a bowl of porridge in the mornings, or find a new recipe involving soya beans. 

When did you last give your hairbrush a clean?

You might be in the habit of cleaning your makeup brushes regularly but what about your hairbrush? Overtime, it accumulates a lot of loose hairs, sebum, dead skin cells, dust, and residue from hairsprays, serums and leave-in treatments. To avoid greasiness, get in the habit of washing your hairbrush regularly.  

Go easy on the conditioner

Most of us love conditioners for the silky-smoothness that they bestow on our locks. However, if you’re dolloping it on then we’re sorry to tell you, but you’re overdoing it! Your overenthusiasm for conditioner may well be the culprit behind your oily hair problem. If you don’t want to ditch your conditioners entirely, then just apply a small amount (about the size of a two pence coin) to the lower half of your hair whenever you give it a wash.

It might be time to switch up your shampoo 

A good shampoo will keep greasiness at bay, helping you to go longer between washes. However, not all shampoos are created equal. A lot of big brand shampoos use sulfate-based cleaners which overstrip the hair of its natural oils. If you’re prone to greasy hair, it might be tempting to purchase a harsher shampoo. However, this would most likely do your hair more harm than good in the long-run, as a dehydrated scalp will overcompensate for any loss of hydration by producing even more oil (yikes!). For this same reason, you should also try to avoid washing your hair too frequently.

On the flip side, your hair’s oiliness could also be caused by your shampoo having an overly rich and hydrating formula. What you want is something in between the overly stripping and the overly hydrating — a Goldilocks shampoo —  to keep your hair bouncy and the greasiness banished.

All hail the natural shampoo bar 

The best shampoo for greasy hair types (and all hair types really) is the humble natural shampoo bar. This type of shampoo has recently rocketed in popularity, and for good reason too. 

Natural shampoos are free from those sulfate-based cleaners (and other nasties) which overstrip the hair’s natural oils. Instead, they are packed with ingredients that provide just the right amount of nourishment in balance with just the right amount of cleansing. Your hair will be left squeaky-clean and lusciously soft. At KiteNest, we make our shampoo bars with cedarwood essential oils, which are especially great at balancing the sebaceous glands. We also include lemon peel powder which promotes a healthy scalp, and plenty of other fab ingredients to meet all your hair’s needs.

Go natural with your dry shampoo 

If you struggle with greasy hair, then you’re probably already well acquainted with dry shampoo. However, as with regular shampoos, not all dry shampoos are created equal. Some big brand dry shampoos contain a lot of chemical nasties that can irritate your scalp. Going natural will keep your scalp happy. 

Brush your locks regularly

Now that you’ve had ample time to give your hairbrush a good clean, we’ll make a point of saying you should brush your locks regularly. This not only prevents tangles, but also helps to distribute any sebum on your scalp down into the rest of your hair, preventing excess oiliness around the roots and keeping your ends nice and hydrated.

There are a lot of sneaky culprits behind oily hair. However, maintaining a healthy diet, keeping your brushes clean, your mind healthy, and investing in a good natural shampoo bar, should help you to keep the greasiness at bay.