People with dry hair might condescend at this article and sneer at the fact that oily hair a problem that needs handling. However, it is true that oily hair is indeed, an actual problem which needs to be treated effectively. This is coming from a person who has had to deal with oily hair her entire life. Your hair tends to get oily at the end of the day, which also happens to be the day that you shampooed your hair. You touch your hair and there is grease on your fingers. It is difficult to get the oiliness out of your scalp. All these are real problems that you can solve right at home. Today’s article is about the best possible natural home treatment for oily hair.
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Before we can get into how you can treat oily hair at home, and prevent your hair from becoming matte and heavy all the time, here is a little more info about the general quality of your hair.
Suggested read: The Best Homemade Hair Masks You Need To Combat Oily Hair
What causes oily hair?
There are a number of sebum glands that are present in scalp which are responsible for secreting vital amounts of oil which hydrates, moisturizes and nourishes the scalp and the hair. It strengthens hair, and makes sure that the cuticles, which is the protective layer that surrounds each strand of hair, do their job properly.
However, sometimes it so happens that the scalp produces more oil that is required, which seeps into your hair, making it appear oily and greasy. Even though it causes no real harm to your hair, it makes your tresses heavy and greasy, and can also sometimes lead to hair fall and other problems. Here are some of the reasons why you may develop oily hair.
1. Hair type
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
This might sound like a strange cause for oily hair, but it is one of the most important. The oiliness of your hair comes from your scalp, and sometimes the kind of hair you have can be the cause of your oiliness. For example, if you have thick and curly hair, then the oil that is produced on your scalp doesn’t travel all the way to your tips and gets accumulates on your head itself, which makes your head oily and grimy.
2. Hormone fluctuation
Greasy hair can also be the result of hormonal fluctuations in your body. Your body tends to produce excessive amounts of hormones, which also directly affects the rate at which your glands secrete things. This includes the sebum glands, which are present in your scalp, and which are responsible for secreting oil. Hormone fluctuations can occur because of stress, pregnancy, puberty, menstruation and menopause. `
3. Genetic factors
A lot of people also have greasy and oily hair because they inherit it from their parents or from their family members. You might not have done anything in particular to make your hair greasy, because you were just born with it.
4. Using the wrong shampoo
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Your scalp reacts to the kind of products that you use on your hair. If you end up using the wrong shampoo or the wrong conditioner or any other hair product which doesn’t suit your hair, it might send your sebum glands into overdrive and cause more oil to be produced, which gets distributed throughout the length of your hair.
5. Washing your hair too much
People who have oily hair tend to think that the more you wash your hair, the less oily it is going to be. If you wash your hair every day, then that could be the reason your greasy hair stays greasy forever. Over washing is also another reason why your glands secrete more oil, so it is best to keep it to 2-3 times a week.
6. Touching your hair too much
Touching your hair with your hands and your fingers is another reason why hair gets oily. When you touch your hair, the oil that is secreted from the pores on your fingers gets transferred to your scalp. Fingers also stimulate the glands in your scalp, and some of the oil from your facial pores also gets transferred to your hair, making it appear oily.
7. Weather and environmental conditioner
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
External weather conditions like frequent changes in temperature, along with environmental factors like pollution, humidity, dust, etc. can all be the root cause of your greasiness. External particles might settle down on your hair, making it greasy and heavy and oily.
Now we have to talk about what we can do to combat greasy hair at home. For starters, you should look at what is causing your oily hair, and stay away from it as much as possible (unless it is hormonal or genetic). Apart from that, you can check out some of the best home treatment for oily hair that are listed below, which can help you combat greasiness in the most natural way possible.
Suggested read: 11 Super-awesome Home Remedies For Oily Hair That Help Control The Grease
1. Use the right hair products
When you are treating your oily hair, make sure that you choose the right hair products. Using the right products can go a long way in keeping your hair light and feeling fresh. Things that you should be avoiding include serums, creams, gels, mousses and shampoos and conditioners which have silicone in them. This weighs your hair down, and has a greasy finish, which is a disaster for people who have naturally greasy hair.
Stick to products which have a lightweight and fresh formula. Water-based products are great, especially if they come in the form of sprays and mists which do the job, but don’t add any weight or oily shine to your hair.
2. Use a fluffy brush
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
A fluffy brush evenly distributes the oil from your scalp to the rest of the length of your hair. Most of the time, your hair becomes oily because the oil accumulates on the scalp, while the tips of your hair remain dry and dead. A thick bristled, fluffy brush will make your hair soft and shiny and add volume to it, while at the same time, preventing it from getting too oily, too soon.
3. Use dry shampoos with discretion
People with dry hair tend to depend a lot on dry shampoo. It is a miracle product, which gets rid of your oily hair problem in a matter of minutes when you don’t have time to shampoo your hair. However, even though dry shampoo can soak up the excess oil from your scalp and leave you with soft, voluminous hair, it can also remain on your scalp as residue.
Wash your hair once every alternate day to get rid of the dirt, the dead skin cells, the oil and the residual products in your hair. This will act as the perfect solution to your oily hair problem.
4. Keep your hair tied and covered
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Keeping your hair covered is a great way to keep oiliness under control. A lot of the times, dust and dirt and pollution block your pores, which activate the sebum glands which produce higher amounts of oil. When you keep your hair covered, you are not only protecting it from the elements, but also ensuring that the amount of oil produced is controllable, and your hair doesn’t become greasy at the end of the day.
5. Use hair masks
Image source: Shopify
Another great way to tackle oily hair is by using hair masks. Here are some of the best hair masks for oily hair that I have listed below.
- Strawberry hair mask
strawberry has Vitamin C, which adds bounce and freshness to your hair and regulates the production of oil from the sebum glands. Blend a cup of strawberries and apply it to your hair after straining out the seeds. Wash off with mild shampoo. - Yogurt hair mask
Mix a cup of yogurt with a little baking soda and lemon juice to make a refreshing hair mask for oily hair. This will regulate your hormones, massage your scalp, and reduce the production of oil, with immediate effect. - Egg whites hair mask
egg whites are loaded with good proteins and fats which can add shine and bounce to your hair. Beat a batch of egg whites with salt till it forms stiff peaks. The salt will help absorb all the excess oil while nourishing your hair at the same time. - Aloe vera-honey hair mask
aloe vera and honey have healing properties, and antibacterial properties, which can clear the dirt and grime from your scalp. It also smoothens out your hair strands, allowing for better oil distribution. Mix aloe vera gel with a little bit of honey. You can also add a little lemon juice and egg whites to make the perfect hair mask for oily hair.
Suggested read: The A-Z Guide On Hair Care For Healthy, Strong And Manageable Tresses
Oily hair is a pain to deal with, because your hair gets greasy within a day of washing it. However, if you wash your hair too much, you run the risk of damaging it. It needs to be taken care of properly and with patience, which is why you need to refer to this guide for the best home treatment for oily hair.
Let us know your oily hair hacks in the comments section below!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Facebook
Disqus
Google + 
