But you can train your hair to be less oily with a technique called hair training. This involves slowly reducing the frequency of hair washes to get your scalp used to not being rinsed often, naturally minimizing oil production.
Wash less often
Overwashing can strip your scalp of its natural oils. This may cause it to produce more oil to rehydrate. If you tend to have dry skin or a dry, itchy scalp in addition to oily hair, slowly stretching how frequently you wash may help balance out your scalp's oil production.
"You can train your scalp to be less greasy in the course of three to four days, however, it will take some time for your body to fully adjust," Potempa says. "Take some time to do research about the type of hair you have and establish a new routine that gives your body enough time to adjust to the change."
Try going down to four times a week, then gradually down to three times, then twice a week, and see how that works for you. She also recommends avoiding hot water when you shower, because that could also dry out your scalp — and trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum.
The oil and grease come from the oil glands on your scalp that produce sebum. Oily hair can be genetic and is a condition that can occur when the glands sense that the scalp needs major hydration, so they end up working in overdrive and produce excess sebum.
It's a common problem: scalps produce oil and sebum so greasy hair can be inevitable, especially among those with finer textures. Often it's the result of skipping wash days, over-washing or exercising, but the weather can also play a part. “Many people find greasiness is worse in the warmer months.
Hair growth flourishes from a clean, healthy scalp. The bottom line is that dirty hair doesn't grow any faster than clean hair, so you may as well have a clean scalp and fresh tresses. Your strands will look better, feel better, and be healthier, too.
The short answer is yes! The slightly less short answer is that an oily scalp definitely contributes to hair loss but is often not the sole cause of it. Excess amounts of oils can trap and attract dirt, dandruff, and product build up, which clogs pores and prevents new hair growth.
Exfoliate your scalp
“Shocking your hair back to health through scalp exfoliation will help to reset your scalp and help alleviate conditions like dandruff,” says Graciano. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, oil, and dandruff, and is “the key to healthier, shinier hair from roots to ends,” adds Korab.
Oil training is an effort to "train" the scalp to be less oily, so that you can go longer without washing your hair. It involves three critical things: Getting rid of products that dry out your hair, such as harsh, sulfate-based shampoos.
Shampooing too little or even too often can contribute to greasy hair. Typically, if you have greasy hair, you should shampoo daily. Washing more than once a day can cause your glands to overreact and produce more oil to make up for the extra shampooing. You'll also want to choose a shampoo that's made for oily hair.
Some factors may contribute to the likelihood of developing an increase in sebum production. These factors include hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders, digestive problems, poor scalp hygiene, and the accumulation of bacteria or fungi that irritate the scalp.
Everyone's scalp can get a little oily sometimes. But a little oil is OK! Oil (sebum) helps protect and support healthy hair. But an abnormally oily scalp can feel like a problem if it makes your hair feel greasy or dirty all the time.
Your hair at this age: Sebum (oil) secretion tends to diminish in our 60s and 70s+, and this can make the hair dry and brittle.
Why Greasy Hair Looks Thin. According to hair expert Jean Will of NiaWigs, an oily scalp makes your hair look thinner because a buildup of excess oil at the base of your hair follicles causes strands to clump together. “Greasy hair looks thin because of its oily look,” she said.
People with oily hair or who use hair care products daily should consider washing their hair once every 1–2 days. People with dry hair can wash their hair less frequently. Those with textured or coily hair should only wash it once every 1–2 weeks.
Your hair needs oil to be healthy, but too much oil can lead to buildup on the hair and scalp. Oily skin may also contribute to a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition in which your skin becomes inflamed and itchy and causes the skin to flake.
Not Getting Enough B Vitamins
What you eat does affect every inch of your body, right down to the ends of your hair. According to HealWithFood, a person's B vitamin intake directly affects a person's level of sebum (oil) production.
One hormone, androgen, surges, increasing the production of sebum in the scalp. Sebum is vital to our hair, protecting it from environmental damage and keeping it supple, but too much can lead to a greasy look.
Any hair loss that occurs as a result of seborrheic dermatitis is usually reversible. Typically, the hair will grow back once a person has received treatment for the inflammation that triggered the hair loss and stopped scratching or rubbing the scalp.
Lifestyle and diet changes to fix oily hair
Your diet should consist of foods rich in vitamin B, especially B2 and B6. It is believed that these components in your diet can help keep your sebum production in control. So, consider adding foods like leafy vegetables, pulses, and seaweed.