Greasy hair, lacking volume, stuck to the scalp and looking unkempt… Some people despair when they see their hair getting greasy again too quickly. However, some reflexes are not the right ones! How to fight oily hair without damaging it further?
Why does hair get greasy too quickly? Classic causes
If you have oily hair, it’s the sebaceous glands at the hair root that produce sebum. “However, this is completely normal, sebum is part of our lipid film,” reassures Véronique Ung, director of hair salon and spa René Furterer. It is produced by the body to protect the scalp from external aggressions. But we will talk about overproduction of sebum if oiling occurs again within 24 hours after shampooing. In this case, people complain of shine at the roots, of sticky, flat hair, some even in the most severe cases give off an unpleasant smell.” Which, however, remains rare!
Why does the scalp get oily more quickly in some people or at certain times? “The causes can be different: the use of inappropriate preparations or their inappropriate way of use, pollution and a problem with feeding,” the expert enumerates. What’s on your plate really does affect your scalp! “When we eat too much fat, our body rejects some of these bad fats, which can turn into acne blemishes on the face or excess oil on the scalp,” she continues.
Be careful not to miss a possible hormonal imbalance. “If it is really very important and if it is accompanied by other symptoms, severe acne, menstrual problems, fatigue, you need to do a hormonal examination,” advises Isabelle Gallay, dermatologist and vice president of the National Union of Dermatologists-Venereologists. In post-menopausal women, oily hair may become more prominent.’
An aesthetic issue that needs attention. Especially if the change is impressive and irritates you. “Because it can have an impact on the lifespan of our hair: you risk losing it faster,” warns specialist René Furterer.
Read also > How to avoid hair loss?
I have oily hair: what should I do? What solutions?
- Check your lifestyle and products
As we have seen, the first instinct is to check the contents of your plate. And if your diets are unbalanced, add vegetables and remove some high-calorie industrial products… Then you can take inventory, this time on the bathroom side. Are your shampoos suitable? Are you using treatments that are too rich for your scalp?
If you don’t like this list of beauty tools, just change a few habits. “In general, it’s quite easy to fix,” reassures our specialist. “People often come to our salon who are troubled by this problem of greasy hair and can easily find something healthier.”
When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, you shouldn’t forget your dressing habits. “Does that person wear a lot of hats, caps, a motorcycle helmet, does he work in the kitchen with charlotte?” asks Véronique Ung. Because it prevents the hair from breathing.” We also notice that in the winter, when you wear a hat every day, your hair gets oily more quickly.
When we have oily hair and are obsessed with it, we tend to wash it every day. But it is rather counterproductive: the more you clean, massage, brush, attack the scalp, the faster it gets greasy. “However, if you go to the gym every day or work with a head covering, it’s still important to wash your hair with regular shampoo every day, rather than keeping these toxins in it for several days,” nuances the expert.
- Choosing a boar bristle brush
“Avoid anything plastic, it will irritate, create static and can create friction that can damage the hair fiber,” assures Véronique Ung. Switch to a natural bristle brush, such as boar bristle, to help detangle fur, loosen excess dust and remove sebum.
- Do not touch the hair
If you triturate, braid, stroke your hair immediately after a stress attack, it can be difficult to break this habit. But it’s good to avoid spreading leftover food or bacteria lying around on the scalp…
- Apply treatments and conditioners only to the lengths
A mistake to absolutely avoid is massaging the scalp with conditioner. “If you clean your scalp with a special shampoo, it can make it feel dry,” says Véronique Ung. especially not on the scalp!” Another tip: take at least 2 minutes in the shower to rinse thoroughly, as the oil sometimes simply comes from shampoo residue. When it comes to dry shampoos that avoid rinsing, they seem to be an alternative to a complete cleanse… but they are false friends! “It’s a beauty product when you don’t have time to wash your hair,” admits Véronique Ung. “It absorbs dirt, but it’s camouflage and doesn’t slow down sebum production.”
- Watch out for water too!
The quality of the water affects the appearance of your hair! “In certain areas of France, the water is very hard, it can have a harmful effect on the hair and make it greasy, continues the expert. People who install a softener or filter against limescale and chlorine in the shower, see improvement.” But the temperature must also be re-evaluated. Rather, aim for a lukewarm shower and for the most daring, even finish with a slightly cold shower on your hair. “If you use too hot water, it will overstimulate the sebaceous glands,” explains the expert. People often appreciate very hot water because it relieves itching and provides comfort at the time, but it is actually counterproductive.
- Avoid gel and hair dryer
All preparations containing alcohol, especially gel, should be avoided on the scalp. On the other hand, it is not a problem to apply a drop of varnish or gel to the lengths after the haircut. “Be careful with the hair dryer! warns our specialist. We can use it, but not at the highest speed or highest temperature.”
What shampoos for oily hair?
You can use specific shampoos for oily scalp. “They will help to cleanse and regulate the production of sebum,” emphasizes Véronique Ung. With a few precautions though. “A special shampoo for oily hair is a maximum of 2 times a week. If you wash your hair more often, it is better to alternate with a gentle shampoo for frequent use.” To these shampoos you can add cleansing or balancing waters, serums that are applied to the scalp before or after shampooing for oily hair. On the other hand, we avoid baby shampoos, which may seem healthy because they are fragrance-free, but are actually suitable for very dry babies’ skin.
“Generally, after a month or a month and a half, we see that the scalp becomes greasy less quickly and we can skip these special shampoos for oily hair,” reassures Véronique Ung. When things get back to normal, we can go back to more regular products.