Sebum production is controlled by our hormones, so a sudden surge in scalp oil production could be down to hormonal changes. If you've recently gone through a major life event that's known to have an impact on your hormone levels, this may be having a knock-on effect on the amount of sebum your scalp is producing.
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. Our haemoglobin levels also tend to decrease during at this time of life, and this can affect hair health.
Greasy Hair Can Become More Pronounced With Age
As you age, you may have noticed your hair getting greasier. Your sebaceous glands secrete an oily lubricant called sebum, which gives your hair its natural shine.
Nearly everyone has some hair loss with aging. The rate of hair growth also slows. Hair strands become smaller and have less pigment. So the thick, coarse hair of a young adult eventually becomes thin, fine, light-colored hair.
“Medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can also cause an overly oily scalp. After menopause, sebaceous glands on the scalp tend to produce less sebum.” People with naturally fine hair may find that their hair gets greasy faster than those with other hair textures.
Those with fine or thin hair, however, may find their hair looks greasy after just one day. It's all to do with the amount of oil your scalp produces, as well as how well your hair can carry that oil.
If people are using oily or waxy hair products or not cleansing their hair thoroughly, it can cause a buildup of oil, skin cells, and sweat in the hair. This may make it still appear greasy after washing. Oil may also come from items a person uses on their hair frequently, such as: hair towels.
"A sufficient intake of the B vitamins, particularly of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), can help combat greasy hair by regulating sebum production," the site explained. The good thing is, B6 is found in a lot of foods including beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits and vegetables.
The amount of oil excreted by the scalp runs the gamut depending on the person, which explains why some of us have greasy-looking hair less than 24 hours after a shampoo and others can easily go a week without washing their hair.
You're over-washing it
“Over-shampooing depletes vital moisturising elements from the scalp and hair,” explains hair stylist and Rahua founder Fabian Lliguin. “In response, the scalp's sebum glands produce more oils, giving rise to a greasy scalp.”
Apply apple cider vinegar
Yes, the cooking staple can now be used to de-slick your greasy hair, too. “Apple cider vinegar has astringent properties that help remove excess oil from the skin,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Make sure you include an adequate amount of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in every meal. It's also important to incorporate mono-saturated oils, such as olive oil and sesame oil, into your diet. Drinking green tea and taking vitamin B6 and folic acid supplements may help restore hair growth as well.
An ACV wash can be made very simply. Mix 2 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 16 ounces of water. After shampooing and conditioning, pour the mixture over your hair evenly, working into your scalp. Let it sit for a couple of minutes.
Yes, Tea Tree Oil is good for that.
Treating your oily hair is yet another wonderful use for tea tree oil. It may be better known for banishing acne, but it's also the main active ingredient in CHI Tea Tree Oil Shampoo.
You want to leave it on the hair for at least a few minutes before rinsing out. You can also leave it in your hair overnight! If you leave it in, it will help prevent tangles. Since it restores your scalp's pH level, it will also help and prevent an itchy scalp.
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.
Greasy hair may be a symptom of an underlying scalp condition that causes excessive sebum secretion. This often leads to itching, redness, and seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). However, people with any skin type can produce too much oil if they do not take proper care of their scalp and hair.
Lack of vitamin B
If you have a vitamin deficiency, your skin and scalp can take a toll. In particular, the intake of B vitamins is directly linked with your level of sebum production.
Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends the scalp the signal to produce more sebum. If you're washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be in oil production overdrive. This can result in oily buildup on your scalp.
Zinc is one such element that has been proved to be effective at controlling sebum production from the sebaceous glands present under the follicle sheath below the scalp skin surface. Mineral absorption in the body is a result of the present vitamin that induces it.
If you have oily hair, you can shampoo every day or every other day. If you have dry hair, you can wash it a couple times a week and or go even longer between washings.
Generally speaking, older adults may only need to wash their hair around once per week. For seniors who are hesitant to wash with greater frequency, dry shampoos can be effective in the days between wet washing.