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.
An oily scalp is not entirely bad because minimal oil production is good for the health of your hair. However, excess oil can make your hair feel and look greasy.
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.
Yes, the oily scalp can definitely lead to hair loss in a lot of cases. This is because oiliness attracts a lot of dirt, sweat, impurities and dandruff, all of which end up settling on your scalp and clogging your pores over time.
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.
Sebum provides necessary hydration to both your scalp and your hair itself. 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.
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.
While products like dry shampoo can help reduce scalp oil, you still need to wash your hair regularly for optimal scalp and hair health because not washing your hair enough can cause hardcore dandruff, irritation, clogged pores, breakouts, and even hair loss.
When to wash. Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.
“Washing it more does not cause your hair to grow less,” says Yates, noting that washing your hair less could lead to follicle damage, not the other way around. “A build-up of sebum and/or styling products can clog your hair follicles, leading to follicle damage and ultimately hair loss,” she adds.
"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."
“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.”
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.
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.
Oils and grime can be trapped, creating odor
When you don't wash your hair, oils may accumulate on your scalp. This can cause odor on the scalp and hair. If you use hair care products, these can also build up on your scalp and create odors, even if the products themselves smell good.
Sebum decreases
Over time, hair becomes more accustomed to a water-only cleanse, so your natural sebum and hair oils will decrease overtime if you are consistent with a water only routine. Meaning your hair will be less greasy in between wash days.
Is it OK to wash your hair every day if it is oily? Experts say it is fine to wash your hair daily if you have greasy hair—especially if you exercise every day or just feel fresher with a daily wash. 4 Use a gentle shampoo, focusing on the scalp, and use conditioner only at the ends.
Hair Washing Frequency and Tips
“I recommend washing your hair two to three times a week,” Dr. Icecreamwala says. “If your hair is dry, you may only want to wash it twice a week. If it is on the oilier side, every other day is recommended.”
A single hair has a normal life between 2 and 7 years. That hair then falls out and is replaced with a new hair. How much hair you have on your body and head is also determined by your genes. Nearly everyone has some hair loss with aging.
Going a long time without washing your hair can cause a buildup of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia on your scalp. Over time, this leads to a layer of dead skin cells that shed from your head in the form of oily, yellow-ish dandruff flakes. Dandruff can also make your scalp red, scaly, and itchy.
Oily and fine or thin hair types should wash every one to two days. This schedule allows for removing buildup and the natural oils to stimulate hair health and growth. Wavy or curly hair and dry or damaged hair types should wash in the range of once every four to seven days.