First, stop washing your hair every day and gradually add days between washes. If you need to rinse your hair daily, use cool water to preserve oils. At some point, your scalp will get used to this routine and you will achieve less greasy hair. Then, scrub well with warm water every 7-10 days.
Water won't really do anything on its own to remove natural oils from your hair, and yes it will be drying if you don't follow up with a bit of leave-in conditioner, dry-oil or something like that. :)
Despite the rave reviews of some vloggers, most hair professionals do not recommend the water only hair washing method. “Sebum is naturally quite waxy (and smelly), and water alone may not be able to remove the buildup which can be problematic for people with scalp conditions or a predisposition to scalp conditions.
Here are the 3 best ways to get rid of your greasy hair. firstly, use a dry shampoo. to absorb the grease without having a full on shower. Secondly, use a scalp exfoliator. to remove build up on the scalp. that's causing your hair to get greasy a lot quicker. And 3rd is to stop wearing hats.
“Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or aloe vera, which hydrate without leaving a greasy residue,” says Garshick. “Use a lightweight conditioner and avoid heavy oils or creams. A leave-in conditioner spray or a volumizing conditioner can also help add moisture without making hair flat.”
Use dry shampoo
An obvious one, yes, but dry shampoo will not only suck up oil from your roots making your hair appear less greasy in the moment, but it will also allow you to spend more time between washes which will make your hair less greasy in the long run too.
If you struggle with greasy hair, incorporating a clarifying shampoo or a scalp scrub into your routine can be very beneficial. Clarifying shampoos are designed to deeply cleanse your hair and scalp, removing product buildup, excess oil, and impurities.
Combat grease with lemon juice
It can be used in the same way too. Mix the juice of two lemons with a cup of warm water and apply to your hair as a final grease-busting rinse.
The no-poo (or “no shampoo”) method is a hair-cleansing technique that removes shampoo from the equation, says Yadav. Instead of using shampoo, followers of the practice use alternatives such as apple cider vinegar, a cleansing conditioner, or just plain water.
As with many hair care trends, certain hair types may see better water-only hair washing results than others. According to McDaniel, water-only washing “works best on thick, coarse, curly/coily textures or those that tend to experience dry scalp or hair.”
Rinsing with cold water will give you smoother, shinier, more moisturized hair. However, doing the entire wash with cold water isn't necessary–it won't clean your hair as well as warm water will, and your hair could look greasy and flat at the end.
“When you wash your hair upside down, you're giving the root a little lift and allowing the product to spread much easier, resulting in a better cleanse.” If you use leave-in treatments or styling products, don't underestimate this value.
"With more natural oils lubricating the hair [from water-only washing], the hair shafts glide over each other, leading to less tangles." Skipping shampoo also allows for the hair's sebum to distribute throughout, and this may make hair appear more shiny and less frizzy.
Believe it or not, the simple act of repeatedly wetting your hair alone can be bad for your hair. "Wetting the hair repeatedly (and then using heat to dry it) can weaken the cortex and cuticle layers of the hair," Longsworth says. "And if the hair stays wet for extended periods of time, hygral fatigue can be an issue."
Washing your hair every day contributes to an oily buildup. The more you clean your hair, the more oil your scalp produces to compensate. If you normally wash everyday, it'll take time to get used to washing it less. So start by going an extra day or two in between your normal washes.
Generally speaking, it's recommended to wash your hair once it's greasy or unclean to the touch. For some people, that means washing every other day. For others, it could mean shampooing once a week. You may be familiar with the idea that washing your hair less often will “train” it to be less oily.
Long hair doesn't necessarily get greasy faster, but it can be more noticeable. The oil has more hair to travel down, which can delay the appearance of greasiness. However, long hair can also accumulate more product residue at the scalp if not washed properly, contributing to a greasy appearance.
To get the most out of it overnight, try applying a moisturizing hair mask such as Colour Fanatic Instant-Deep Conditioning Mask on freshly washed damp hair. You can either loosely tie up your hair in a ponytail or wrap it in a warm towel. The heat this creates can help the mask work as you sleep.