Categories: Hair

Helpful Ways To Take Care Of An Oily Scalp

Dealing with an oily scalp can be exhausting, especially when it feels like everything you have tried to reduce your oil build-up has been unsuccessful. Some people embrace their hair, happy with its appearance, but for others, dealing with greasy hair may be one of their insecurities. If this sounds like you, then here are a few helpful ways for you to take care of an oily scalp:

1. Dry Shampoo

Perhaps the most common and well-known way to take care of an oily scalp is to use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo typically comes in a can with a spray nozzle that you use to spray a white powder onto your hair. The powder then absorbs any oil residue that is left, giving your hair a fresh, clean look. There are multiple different brands that sell dry shampoo, so it is important to find a brand that works well with your hair! Instead of washing your hair every day, try every other day and use dry shampoo in between washes.

2. Braided Hairstyles

Although this may not seem like a solution, braided hairstyles actually help out a lot when it comes to dealing with an oily scalp! Because braids help keep your hair in place, it reduces the number of times you may touch your hair. Wind also may cause oil build-up. Because your hair does not blow around in the wind while in braids, this helps to reduce oil build-up as well! Finally, if you are in a rush and don’t have time to wash your hair again, use some dry shampoo and braid your hair for a fresh and classy look!

3. Keep Your Hands Off Your Hair

It may seem crazy, but you can prevent an oily scalp simply by avoiding touching your hands to your hair or brushing your hair too often. When you run your hands through your hair or brush through your knots, you are actually distributing the grease and oil from the top of your head all the way down to your ends, spreading it throughout your hair.

4. Let Your Hair Dry Naturally

Although it may seem hard, avoid adding heat to your hair as often as possible. Both hot water and hot air act as stimulants and cause oil to produce faster on your scalp. When you dry the top of your head with heat, your sebaceous glands are “activated” in a way that causes them to produce oil more quickly than they naturally would.

5. Slowly Space Out Your Washes

It is actually possible to train your hair to be less greasy. While struggling with an oily scalp may make you want to wash your hair every day, try to change up your hair care routine. Start by washing your hair every other day, and ideally and with time, you should eventually reach a point where washing your hair every two to three days is possible without heavy oil build-up! On the days when you do not wash your hair, start by training your hair and using dry shampoo until your hair becomes naturally less greasy.

6. Watch What You Eat

Yes, just like your diet affects your skin, it affects your hair, too! If you are trying to lessen the amount of oil your scalp produces, then avoid eating greasy and fattening foods like french fries and cheeseburgers. Although they are tasty, they increase oil secretion on your scalp. Replace heavy, saturated fats with unsaturated, healthy fats and carbs. It can also help to integrate Omega-3 into your diet. Omega-3 serves to promote a healthy scalp and slow oil secretion.