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.
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.
If you have oily hair, it's okay to wash it every day if you use a mild shampoo and a good conditioner after every wash. If possible, you can stretch the time between washes by using dry shampoo. But if you have oily hair and work out, you may feel more comfortable just washing your hair daily.
Simply massage the shampoo into your scalp instead, letting it work into a lather on its own. Don't apply conditioner onto your scalp, especially if it's oily. Avoid using products that aren't designed for color-treated hair, if you currently have dyed hair. Don't skip washing sessions when your hair is oily.
The benefits of water-only washing
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.
"Rinsing with cold water will 'close' the pores on your scalp, which helps prevent dirt, grease and oil getting in. Plus, it can reduce hair shedding."
“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.”
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.
"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."
“I would recommend avoiding hot showers or baths before bed; using a shampoo designed for greasy hair; applying dry shampoo to the roots; tying your hair up to prevent the sebum traveling down the hair shaft; and making sure you're washing your pillowcases regularly to prevent buildup of grime and sweat,” Kate shares.
If you have a very oily scalp, washing with hot water can be beneficial. Warm water allows the dirt and hair product that has accumulated on your scalp to escape the pores and be rinsed away.
Air drying (like over washing) over an extended period can cause scalp to compensate, over produce oil leaving hair more oily, and causing you to fight the imbalance with more and more shampoo for oily scalp and hair.
It's possible that your personal hygiene habits are to blame. 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.
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.
Greasy hair is caused by an excess or build-up of sebum, the natural oils produced by our scalp to support our hair health.
Shampooing in the morning
It encourages the growth of microbes that can even cause irritation and flakes. Washing your hair at night may work for some people but those with fine hair or oily/greasy scalp may develop a lot of oil overnight, leaving the hair looking limp and weighed down come morning.
1. Apply Conditioner the Right Way. Fact: Conditioner is not only OK for oily hair types to use but it's also necessary. It provides a healthy dose of hydration, nourishment, and protection that your locks can't get from shampoo alone.
Dirty pillowcases, washing too little or too often, and agitation as you sleep can all contribute to over production. That said, there is nothing unhealthy about having greasy hair it is more a personal preference but for most it can be a tad discomforting when our hair becomes too greasy.
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.
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.
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.