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.
Product Build-Up: Using too many styling products or not properly washing them out can lead to greasy roots while the ends remain dry. Improper Washing Routine: Washing your hair too frequently can strip natural oils, leading to dryness, while not washing enough can cause oil accumulation.
Persistently greasy hair may be due to an overproduction of sebum, which can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition. However, the way people wash and care for their hair, and the type of hair products they use, may be the cause.
Oily or greasy hair must be washed with clarifying and lightweight shampoos to remove the excess oil from the scalp and hair. They are formulated to remove sebum from the hair shaft, along with hair spray, gel, and mousse that cause buildup in the scalp and hair.
But if your hair is too oily, it could be low zinc. Zinc is one of the most important trace minerals yet 2.2 billion people are zinc deficient. Zinc helps decrease your androgens and DHT, which is a powerful form of testosterone that can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
Hormonal Imbalances
Androgens are hormones that play a role in regulating the activity of sebaceous glands. An increase in androgen levels can lead to an overproduction of sebum, resulting in oily hair.
A common cause of this is using hair-care products that are too heavy for the thin strands to handle, weighing them down. “People with thin hair should steer clear from masks, overly moisturizing shampoos, and heavy oils,” Toth says. “These products can make thin hair look flat, greasy, and dirty.”
Over-washing can make your hair look greasy because it strips the hair of its natural oils. This loss of natural oils causes the body to overcompensate by producing more sebum. Over-conditioning can also lead to greasy hair because it weighs down the hair and this in turn increases oil production.
Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
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.
Most of these hair follicles also contain the sebaceous glands, the glands that produce oil. These oil glands keep the skin and hair healthy and moisturized. They also help prevent skin infections. Sometimes, these glands can produce too much oil, causing oily skin and hair.
Medical conditions
Disorders of the pituitary or adrenal glands, which control hormones, can increase sebum production and result in an oily scalp. Medications, like oral contraceptives, that regulate hormones can also cause excess oil.
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."
The good news is you can generally see hair regrowth if it stops growing as a result of oily scalp by simply removing that blockage and giving it time. Keep in mind that this is important to overall hair health, too. If your pores are clogged with oils, that can lead to the buildup of debris in them.
Diet: Certain foods can contribute to greasy hair. Diets high in processed foods, excessive dairy and sugar, unhealthy fats can stimulate the production of sebum. Try sticking to a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water to maintain a healthier feeling in your scalp and hair.
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.
An third or fourth generation oestroprogestogenic pill can can help limit the production of sebaceous glands and make hair significantly less greasy. Most pills combine an estrogen in varying doses (some contain no estrogen) with a progestogen.