Greasy hair can be a nightmare, especially in hot weather. Excess oils can make our locks feel heavy and dirty – and has anyone ever felt confident on a bad hair day? I see no hands in the air.
And while some people’s greasy hair is caused by the body producing too much oil, it’s not usually the cause.
“Unfortunately, some people’s sebaceous glands will just produce more oil than others,” expert Joanne Dodds from Hairtrade.com explains.
“However every pore on your body has a sebaceous gland, better known as oil glands, that are responsible for maintaining proper hydration levels by producing sebum, or oil.”
So what could the causes be of your greasy hair? Here’s the lowdown:
1. Playing with it
Ever tried to count how many times a day you fiddle with your hair out of stress, nerves, or just simple boredom?
Try to keep those hands away, as every time you touch your hair, you transfer dirt and oil from your fingertips which can contribute to grease build up.
Read more: 4 hairstyles to get your crowning glory off your face
2. Brushing too much
Brushing your hair from the scalp to tip a few times a day might seem like the perfect way to make it smooth and glossy, but it can actually do the opposite.
Over brushing can spread scalp oils all over your locks, resulting in greasiness – so try to limit the amount of times you brush a day. Instead, simply detangle it or comb the ends if you want to refresh it.
3. Using a dirty hairbrush
It’s not something we think about often, but your hairbrush actually holds plenty of dust, bacteria, oil residue, and dirt from all the places you put it in – your room, your bathroom, your purse.
If you don’t clean and replace your brush regularly, this nasty, greasy cocktail can transfer on to your hair and scalp.
4. Over washing
If our hair is greasy we need to wash it more often to get rid of the excess oil, right? Well, not exactly.
Shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils and, in response, your scalp produces more to replace what it has lost. In other words, you could actually be making your hair greasier.
To stop this cycle, try to gradually cut back on washing your hair from every day to every other day.
Read more: 5 easy steps to longer, glossier hair
5. Applying the wrong products
Everyone’s hair is different and requires its own balance of ingredients to look and feel its best. So, make sure the products you use meet your hair’s needs. The wrong blend of ingredients in your shampoo might cause irritation, product build-up and even trap excess oil.
Use lightweight products that quickly absorb into your hair, as well as a pure clarifying shampoo once a week to gently cleanse any build up left.
6. Styling with heat
Using heat-based styling tools can dry your hair and cause your scalp to produce more oil in response.
Similar to what happens when you wash your hair too often, your scalp naturally makes more sebum to protect itself from dryness. So, try to step away from the straightening or curling irons and embrace your a natural look more often.
7. Being on your period
Unfortunately, apart from targeting our mood, cravings, bloating, and breakouts, our monthly hormonal fluctuations can also cause excess oil production.
Although there’s not much we can do here, try to switch from your normal shampoo and conditioner to products with salicylic acid during that time of the month, as it helps to remove excess oils.