Why does my hair become oily?

Oily hair forces its owner to wash her hair every day, which is not very convenient and does not have the best effect on hair health. After all, according to professionals, the optimal frequency of washing your hair should be once or twice a week. But what to do if the law is not written for hair? We’ll talk about why hair quickly becomes oily and what to do about it in this article. 

What determines the oiliness of hair?

Probably, we will not reveal the secret if we say that it is not the hair that is oily, but the scalp. But despite this, it is the hair that suffers from increased secretion of the sebaceous glands of the scalp. Sebum in normal quantities is very beneficial for hair. It protects curls from harmful environmental influences and moisturizes them. However, excessive oiliness harms not only the hair, but also its owner. A hairstyle with such strands does not last long, dandruff appears, and the hair itself looks unkempt. Before treating oily hair, it is worth knowing the reason that created the problem. And let’s immediately clarify what problematic fat content is. If your hair feels calm with a frequency of washing once every two to three days and only then becomes greasy, then there is no problem with it, this is normal and natural. If your hair is washed in the morning and by the evening it looks as if it hasn’t been washed for a week, it’s time to take measures to correct the situation.

So, oily hair becomes abundant due to the following factors:

• Hormonal imbalance. Therefore, very often the problem of abundantly oily hair arises in adolescence, when there is a surge in hormones, as well as during menopause, when the body similarly undergoes hormonal changes. Most people whose hair is oily at a high level have a high level of testosterone in the blood, since it is this hormone that is responsible for the production of sebum.
• Poor nutrition. Salty, fatty, fried, sweet, alcohol and other junk foods directly affect the amount of fat produced. Review your diet and try to give up or at least reduce their consumption to a small amount.
• Disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. An equally common problem is that of increased oiliness of the scalp. In this case, consuming fermented milk products will help, but it all depends on the type of problem. For example, with ulcers and gastritis, you need to seek help from a specialist.
• Frequent and incorrect use of oils in hair care. Recently, it has become increasingly fashionable to take care of yourself using natural cosmetics, and oils are the most popular. They are very useful, this is undeniable, but if they are used incorrectly, for example, take the wrong oils that suit your hair type, then they will only cause harm. If your hair is naturally prone to oiliness, and at the same time you also make masks, for example with burdock or castor oil, then you should not be surprised that your hair begins to become oily too often. Before preparing oil formulations, be sure to check which ones are suitable for you and which ones are best to stay away from. 
• Using too hot water to wash your hair. Proper washing involves using cool to slightly warm water. When washing with hot water, the sebaceous glands are activated and the hair becomes dirty in a shorter time. Also try not to massage your scalp for a long time.
• Incorrectly selected care and cleansing products. Cheap mass-market shampoos work very aggressively and negatively affect the health of the scalp. They disrupt the lipid layer of the dermis and provoke not only excessive oiliness, but also the appearance of dandruff. If you rely on such products too often, for example, washing your hair with them every day, then the harm can even result in baldness. So, be careful and buy products that suit your hair and are gentle on it.
• Have you ever noticed a habit of digging in your hair? This, of course, is good for the hair, because it creates a blood flow to the hair follicles, which nourishes the hair roots, but this is what stimulates the sebaceous glands and the hair gets dirty very quickly. And one more piece of advice for those who have a similar problem. Comb your hair as little as possible, and during the process, try not to touch the scalp, working only with the hair.
• Neglecting hats during the cold season. The body tries to protect itself with increased production of sebum, so if you want healthy hair, keep your head warm, but you shouldn’t get too warm. 

These are the main and most common reasons why hair gets dirty and greasy very quickly. As is clear from the entire list, the majority of factors can be eliminated quite simply, you just need to change your lifestyle or some habits. Only after this can you begin to restore the health of your hair and scalp dermis and expect visible results.

How to reduce oily hair

You can reduce the oiliness of your hair only by applying a set of measures; unfortunately, you can’t do it with just one point, so let’s start in order.

An important aspect in hair care is washing it. After all, one wrong action will lead to the sebaceous glands starting to work more actively. Try to overcome yourself and no matter how tempted you are, don’t wash your hair every day. Gradually increase the interval between washings, starting with one day. To make it easier to cope with withdrawal, you can use dry shampoos or even simple baby powder (this option may not be suitable for those with dark hair).

While your hair is washed frequently, purchase special shampoos that are designed for daily use and labeled “for oily hair.” In such instances, the composition is the softest and frequent washing will not harm the hair much. The optimal washing frequency is an interval of two to three days. If you use a balm, then, firstly, give preference to light formulations that do not weigh down the hair, and, secondly, apply the balm no closer than 2-3 cm from the hair roots, i.e. Free the dermis of the head and roots from such a procedure. If your hair is very oily, then it is better to avoid frequent use of conditioner altogether, using it no more than once a week. Be sure to finish washing your hair with cool water, or even better if you first dissolve vinegar or lemon juice in this water.

Try to select oils for hair care especially carefully, but you should not refuse them. After all, among them there are those that not only do not provoke fatness, but, on the contrary, reduce it. These include lemon oil, ylang-ylang, fir, juniper and others. They can even be applied to the roots, but should be diluted in a light base oil to avoid burning, such as grape seed oil. If the rest of the hair is dry and requires serious nutrition and hydration, which requires the use of heavy oils, then when applying, do not touch the hair near the head, just like the dermis itself, but distribute the composition exclusively over problem hair.

We've sorted out hair washing, now it's worth mentioning other, no less useful recommendations that will significantly reduce the oiliness of your hair. To begin with, don’t get carried away with dripping in your hair. Firstly, your hands are dirty and stain your hair, and secondly, if you constantly touch the scalp, the stimulation of the sebaceous glands will make your hair feel oily on the same day. If you blow dry your hair, use only warm or cool air. Hot heat drowns sebum and it spreads over a long length of hair, making it quickly dirty.

Try not to get carried away with tight hairstyles, but at night it is useful to braid your curls so that they do not rub against the pillow and do not collect dust from it. Choose a comb made from natural materials, preferably wood or natural bristles. In winter, protect your hair from cold air and frost, and in summer from the scorching sun and hot air. Hats and protective equipment suitable for your hair type are used.

Masks for oily hair

• Take kiwi (it’s better to take hard ones, they have a higher acid content), peel it and grind it into a paste, or grind it on a fine grater. Pour in just a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar, mix and apply to your hair, touching the hair roots. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb. After half an hour, the mask can be washed off your hair.
• Dilute a couple of large spoons of the simplest potato starch with water to a paste, pour in a small spoon of honey and the same amount of aloe juice. Knead everything and distribute it over the roots and hair, leaving it to act for forty minutes. This mask not only perfectly reduces oily hair, but also gives volume, which is so lacking in oily strands.
• To reduce oily hair, you need to rub a mixture made from lemon juice (4 large spoons) and vodka (200 ml) into the roots every day.
• Beat one egg yolk and add a small spoon of vodka to it. Rub into the hair roots and distribute a little throughout the hair, leaving for ten minutes, then rinse.
• Grind a couple of eggs with two large spoons of natural honey. Knead thoroughly and apply to hair under polyethylene and a cap. It is advisable to make such a mask at night and wash it off in the morning, but if this is not possible, then apply the composition to your hair as much as you can, but remember, the longer the better.
• One very simple way to care for oily hair is to apply tomato juice on it for half an hour. It will be just wonderful if it is freshly squeezed nectar. Hair should also be warmed during this time.
• The simplest sea salt significantly reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands. It needs to be taken in a small amount and very carefully, so as not to damage the skin, rub into the roots of the hair. This massage should be done for five minutes, then rinse with water.
• In half a glass of not very fatty kefir you need to add three drops of rosemary, citrus and bergamot oils. Mix and distribute over the scalp. Wrap your hair under film and leave for half an hour, then rinse with shampoo.
• To a couple of spoons of honey dissolved in a water bath, add the juice of two garlic cloves, a small spoon of lemon juice and a large spoon of aloe juice. Knead everything thoroughly and apply to the roots and strands themselves, leaving to act for half an hour.
• Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of gelatin in half a glass of water and heat in a water bath until the powder disappears. Then add a small piece of rye bread crumb to the mixture, pour in a small spoon of lemon juice and stir to form the consistency of sour cream. Apply to strands and leave for an hour.