Our hair follicles are surrounded by sebaceous glands. Overproduction of sebum leads to blockage, inflammation, and hardening in the pores. That, in turn, leads to the thinning of the hair with accompanying hair loss. So, oily scalp can cause the hair to fall out faster than it can grow back.
All hair produces some oil to keep it nourished and healthy, as well as to protect the scalp. But too much oil production can lead to seborrheic dermatitis, a condition that causes red, scaly patches to form on the scalp, along with dandruff that is difficult to get rid of.
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.
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.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
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.
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.
There are changes to your daily routine you can make to stand a chance of reversing sebum hair loss: – Eliminate the use of soap on your hair (soap strips away essential oils and nutrients from your scalp). Use a natural shampoo such as Phytodefrisant to maintain healthy hair. – Keep the scalp clean.
Vitamin B deficiency is the hidden reason why most of the people have an oily scalp. Vitamin B helps in regulating oil production in your scalp and further manages the pH levels. Not having enough vitamin B can cause excess production of sebum in your hair due to an imbalance in the pH levels.
Avoid hair oiling with an oily scalp
But even if you have dry hair and an oily scalp, oiling will seldom lead to any good as it can further clog pores. Applying aloe vera gel is your best bet as it soothes the scalp and softens hair without making it greasy or clumpy.
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.
Prolonged periods of not washing can cause cause buildup on the scalp, damaging hair and even impeding its ability to grow, Lamb said. Grime from dirt, oil and hair product can show up within four to six days for people with finer, straighter hair.
Depending on your hair type, you can wait three to five days between washes, and we've got the scoop on how to survive the process while you're waiting for sebum production to slow down. We'll admit, the first two weeks are the most difficult, but after about week four, you should see a significant difference.
"The average individual can typically go 2 to 3 days without shampooing their hair. However, if your hair is visibly oily, you may not want to wait that long," she says. "Usually, you can go longer without washing your hair when your hair is styled up, but no one should ever go more than 14 days."
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, people with really oily hair may need to shampoo up to once a day. Just don't go ham—over-washing can deprive your scalp of its natural oils, causing a rebound effect that can produce more oil.
“Shampooing your hair twice is beneficial because it allows for proper cleansing, giving you longer periods of time with a clean scalp and keeping away the oily hair problem,” he says. “It also keeps you away from over-shampooing your hair, which is a mistake that most women make.”
“If you have oily scalp, then daily washing is needed,” she explains. “Sometimes, people think they have dry scalp because they have dandruff, but in those situations, more frequent washing is also helpful.”
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Thinning hair can grow back depending on what caused it to thin in the first place. People who experience thinning hair due to nutrient deficiencies, stress, pregnancy, and other nongenetic reasons could experience regrowth. If you're experiencing new hair loss or hair thinning, it's best to consult your doctor.
"Although sebum is good for the hair, too much can make your hair look slick and greasy. Common causes of oily hair are unhealthy eating habits, medications, improper hair care, stress, hormonal fluctuations, and change in weather."