Why is my Hair so Greasy?
With so many women complaining about their scalp being too greasy, we all must be doing something that is causing our hair to become oily too quickly. Having an oily scalp myself, I decided to investigate my own daily routine and determine whether I am doing anything that is contributing to my scalp’s excessive oiliness. I have rounded up the top 10 common mistakes a lot of people make and solutions that will help you skip hair washes and enjoy cleaner hair for longer.
10 common mistakes that lead to a greasy scalp
1. Facial oils and creams
2. Oily hands
3. Excessive hair touching
4. Naturally oily skin
5. Oil based makeup
6. Dirty hair brushes
7. Not brushing your hair with the right tool
8. Washing hair too frequently
9. Not washing hair properly
10. Too much hair product
#1. Facial oils and creams can lead to greasy hair
If you’re moisturising your face and neck twice daily, congratulations, you’re on the right path to ageing gracefully. However, if your fringe is touching your forehead and your hair is touching the side of your face, then the oil that might be still sitting on your skin, will only end up on your hair follicles.
Determine whether you are using too much oil or cream and reduce the amount accordingly. Make sure that the face cream that you are using is completely absorbed without leaving any residue. If you put too much moisturiser on, grab an oil absorbing wipe and dap it all over your face so that any excess oil is soaked up.
#2. Hand, face and body moisturisers can lead to greasy hair
Do you wash your hands after you apply facial and body oils? This is a very common mistake that many of us do without realising. As soon as you touch your hair, the oils sitting on the palm of your hands will very conveniently attach itself onto your hair strands, making your hair feel greasy very quickly. Always wash your hands after applying face and body oils. You only need a small amount of cream when using hand moisturisers and make sure that it is completely absorbed.
#3. Excessive hair touching can make your hair look greasy
Do you have hands in hair syndrome? Excessive hair touching will not only make your hair oily but you are also adding dirt onto your clean hair. The solution? Stop touching your hair! Easily said than done, right? Fiddling with your hair is not only time consuming but you’re making your hair oily and dirty at the same time. If you can't stop touching your hair, check out our Hands In Hair Syndrome article where we guide you on how to stop this highly addictive habit. Article includes free challenge sheet too.
#4. Naturally oily skin can lead to greasy scalp and hair
If you have very active sebaceous glands on your face then these oils will very likely end up on your hair as well, unless you put your hair up in a ponytail or in a bun. Suitable facial products for oily skin will help control and reduce the size of the oil glands and pores on your face. There are also oil absorbing sheets and wipes that you can use to instantly soak up any excess oils during the day without smudging your makeup. These wipes can be easily carried in your handbag and are excellent at removing extra oils whilst on the go.
#5. Oil based make up can leave your hair feeling oily
Make sure that the makeup you are using compliments your skin type. Check out reputable brands such as MAC, Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Urban Decay and Benefit. If in doubt you can always go and see a make up specialist where they can recommend make up products specifically for your skin.
#6. Dirty hair brushes
When was the last time you washed your hair brush? Brushes tend to gather loose hair, oils and dirt and you can notice this build-up on the bristles even after one use. When brushes are not cleaned, some of the oils and dirt trapped in the bristles will end up back onto your clean hair. How frequently you need to wash your hair brush depends on the type of tool you’re using, how many times you brush your hair and how oily your scalp is. Cleaning your hair brushes is quick and very easy to do and I would recommend doing this every few days. Firstly, remove any hair and dirt trapped in the bristles, then fill a small bowl with warm soapy water. Soak the brush bristles in the bowl and leave in for about 15 minutes, then remove and towel dry.
#7. Not brushing your hair with the right tools
If you would like to start skipping hair washes and enjoy a less greasy scalp, you need to invest in a good quality boar bristle brush. For a more detailed post on why boar bristle brushes are so beneficial to your hair, click on the link. Boar bristle brushes help distribute your scalp’s natural oils from root to tip, whilst trapping dirt and excess oil. You will notice a build-up on the brush’s bristles pretty much straight away so make sure that you clean your boar brush frequently, click on the following link to read and find out more on how to clean your boar bristle brush effectively. So instead of reaching for your shampoo, start brushing your hair more frequently and ensure that you cover each strand from root to tip.
#8. Washing hair too often
Our natural oils on our scalp help condition the hair and protect our locks from getting too dry. When hair is washed too frequently, follicles start to appear dryer and more brittle due to the sebum no longer being present to protect and moisturise our hair. In the meantime, the sebaceous glands on our scalp start producing more sebum to replace the oils that have been removed. Aim to wash your hair once to twice a week maximum. Skip hair washes more often by brushing your hair from root to tip using a boar bristle brush. The bristles in a boar brush are amazing at trapping dirt and excess oils whilst distributing your natural hair oils evenly which help condition your tresses.
#9. Not washing hair properly can leave your hair feeling greasy
Are you cleansing your hair properly? Not washing your hair properly can lead to a build-up of either hair products or hair sebum. Make sure you give your hair and scalp a good cleanse by using two rounds of gentle shampoo. Too much hair conditioner can also make your hair feel greasy. Apply conditioner to the mid and lower sections of your hair, avoiding the roots.
#10. Too much hair product can lead to oily hair
Make sure that you don’t overdo it with hair products, the list includes: hair spray, hair gels, dry shampoos, hair oil and leave in conditioners.