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.
Not Getting Enough B Vitamins
"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 most common cause of greasy hair is a build-up of a natural oil called sebum, which everybody produces. Can diet prevent greasy hair? Diet can be partly to blame: diets high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats can increase your skin's oil production.
Overwashing Your Hair
It's not your imagination—the more you wash your hair, the quicker it may seem to need another wash. If you rinse your hair of its natural oils too frequently, it could be trying to overcompensate. Your scalp could be amping up oil production, which means greasier strands in record time.
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.
Vitamin D deficiency: Vitamin D is responsible for regulating the sebum content in the body. A deficiency could lead to an imbalance in our scalp oil levels. Humid climate: The production of sebum touches an all time high in humid conditions.
Modern lifestyles have led to an increase in anxiety and stress levels, making them one of the most common causes of oily hair. “Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol stresses out the oil glands to produce more sebum, naturally leading to oily hair,” explains Sethi.
One hormone, androgen, surges, increasing the production of sebum in the scalp. Sebum is vital to our hair, protecting it from environmental damage and keeping it supple, but too much can lead to a greasy look.
Hair and puberty
These are both likely caused by the sex hormone testosterone, which is a major player in both female and male reproductive development. Testosterone is thought to increase the production of sebum which is the substance that can make both skin and hair feel oily.
"As the estrogen levels fall after ovulation, there is a relative excess of androgen hormones causing increased oil production, clogged pores and growth of bacteria," Weiser told SELF.
Symptoms of Zinc deficiency: The seeming paradox of a greasy/oily scalp, but often with dry, brittle hair. This hair/scalp anomaly is sometimes accompanied by a flaking, irritated or pustular scalp. White spotting seen on the fingernails; a dry, scaly acne of the forehead and face.
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.
Regulates oil production: Zinc pyrithione can control the oil production and dandruff often found in those with seborrheic dermatitis. Improves overall scalp health: Dandruff disrupts the health of the scalp by clogging follicles with flakes and by causing inflammation and irritation.
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.
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.
Why your hair gets greasy overnight. Hair gets greasy overnight as at night time your body produces more sebum. A normal substance, sebum coats and protects your hair shaft providing that glossy shine. Dirty pillowcases, washing too little or too often, and agitation as you sleep can all contribute to over production.
A common mistake is that people treat greasy hair and don't understand that they may actually be dealing with a sebum imbalance.” Increase your consumption of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), both of which can assist in regulating sebum production.
Refined carbohydrates like sugar, refined flour, white bread, bakery products, desserts are quickly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a spike in insulin levels. High insulin levels increase the level of androgens, which stimulates excessive sebum production, oily skin and acne.
Men have an increase in testosterone, and women produce more estrogen. The increase in hormones can stimulate the production of oil from the sebaceous glands, which may result in oily hair.