Want to learn how to get rid of oily hair? Yes? Read on. Our scalps all produce sebum, our hair’s natural oil, for a reason. Sebum is made to act as a natural conditioner, softener and protector of our strands. However, if you have straight or wavy hair, you’re automatically more prone to having extremely oily hair that builds up and gives you that less-than-desirable clumpy look. With these less textured hair types, the scalp’s natural oil travels faster down the hair shaft than with curly or kinky hair. Because of this, your hair is back to its oily state within a day or two of washing!
Have you become tired of shampooing your hair every day and not seeing a difference? Want to lose that greasy, oily feel, but need to keep your hair from drying out? Look no further! Here are ten tips that show you how to get rid of oily hair for once and for all and keep your hair looking clean, healthy and beautiful.
1. Lemon Juice Mask
Consistently applying a lemon juice mask to your hair can, over a few weeks, reduce the oiliness of your hair. The citric acid in lemon juice helps to control the oil secretion in the scalp. This means that over time, you can help your hair to produce less oil!
Be cautious, however – lemon juice can be drying, so diluting the juice with water and a little bit of honey is best for retaining moisture and hydration. Here’s how to do the lemon juice mask:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of honey and 5 tablespoons of water.
- Apply this mask to your hair, concentrating it at your roots.
- Leave on for an hour and wash out with cold water and a gentle cleanser.
- Repeat weekly, or every two weeks. You should see results in no time!
2. Black Tea Hair Rinse
Just as with lemon juice, the acid in black tea makes it a powerful defense against overly oily skin or hair. The acid in this type of tea has the ability to tighten the scalp’s sores, thus lowering the amount of oil secreted into the hair every day. To reap the benefits of black tea, steep a strong pot of tea and let it cool completely. Then, use the tea as a final rinse twice a week after washing your hair. Black tea also helps with shedding, so you’ll notice stronger, more resilient hair as well.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Acidity wins yet again with apple cider vinegar! Used often for weight loss, ACV is perfect for getting rid of oily hair. The acetic acid in ACV helps to balance the hair and scalp’s pH levels, which in turn decreases the level of sebum secretion. Simply use 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 5 cups of water, doubling the amounts depending on your hair length. Repeat once a week to see less oily hair as soon as possible. Don’t be too wary of the scent – it disappears as soon as your hair dries!
4. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a natural astringent that has long been used in skin care. This astringent is used to tone skin and reduce acne and oiliness, and it does the same for hair! By slowing down sebum production, witch hazel ensures that your hair stays looking and feeling its best for longer. Apply witch hazel to the roots of your hair with a cotton ball or baby wipes 1-2 times a week.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera’s healing and soothing abilities are touted as some of the most powerful for skin, and this includes the skin on your scalp. Aloe vera detoxifies the scalp, drawing out toxins/impurities and regulating oil secretion. To reap these great benefits, you can use store-bought aloe vera gel/juice or harvest the gel from the raw plant. Apply the gel to your hair and scalp and leave on for half an hour, then rinse your hair with cold water. Repeat this process at least once a week for the best results.
6. pH-Balanced Shampoo
Keeping your hair’s environment at its optimal pH lets you avoid a range of hair and scalp conditions like itchiness, dandruff, flaking and excessive oiliness. Ditching your current shampoo for a pH-specific shampoo can restore your hair and scalp, solving your oily hair problem for good and keeping your hair clean at the same time. Here is a list of the best shampoo for oily hair.
7. Wash Your Hair Less Often
Though a pH-balanced shampoo is a great choice if you’re looking for ways on how to get rid of oily hair, washing your hair every day with any type of cleanser will do you more harm than good. When you wash away your hair’s natural oils as often as every day, your sebaceous glands work hard to produce even more oil, which then in turn ends up being shampooed away again. It’s a vicious cycle that only becomes worse the more you try to wash it away. Instead, opt for a dry shampoo in between washes, or natural cleansers like clay and mud washes that don’t strip the hair of its natural oil layer.
8. Rinse with cold water after shampooing
When you do choose to wash your hair, do you stand under the hot water and let it run through your hair from start to finish, never changing temperatures? If so, you may be putting yourself at a disadvantage! Hot water stimulates your sebaceous glands to produce oil, so doing your final rinse with cold water keeps your scalp producing normal amounts of oil. What’s more, cold water also helps to seal your hair cuticles, keeping your locks shiny, smooth and frizz-free.
9. Brush With a Boar Bristle Brush
Having oily hair doesn’t automatically mean that you have to remove the oil. Why not simply embrace it instead? Your hair’s natural oils are there for a reason! Boar bristle brushes are perfect for evenly distributing your hair’s natural oils all over your head. By using a boar bristle brush, you can also eliminate that clumpy, streaky look that oily hair is known for. It may be difficult to adjust to not removing all of that oil from your tresses, but keep at it! In no time, your hair will look better than you could have ever imagined.
10. Include Less Oily Foods in Your Diet
Studies suggest that eating high amounts of oily foods, unhealthy fats and carbs are linked to oily hair. If you’re guilty, don’t panic! There’s no need to cut out all of the fats or carbohydrates from your diet. Instead, try to choose more healthy fats more often, and don’t over-eat unhealthy carbs. Though this solution may take months to see results, it’s a great lifestyle choice that affects not only your hair, but also your body and mind.
These these safe, natural and effective tips on how to get rid of oily hair, will have your hair less oily in no time. Try them! What is you favorite tip on how to get rid of oily hair?
Martin says
Hey, Thank you for sharing this guide about oily scalp. I am currently facing oily scalp problems. But the tips and remedies that you mentioned it are quite helpful to me. Thanks for sharing keep updating.