How To Get Rid Of Greasy Hair? Try a Clay Mask or a Hair Exfoliator

What exactly is happening to your scalp, what are the most common mistakes we make in hair care and styling, and what helps with oily hair? Try these hairdressing tricks and tried-and-tested old wives’ remedies for oily hair that really work.

Why Is My Hair So Greasy

The production of sebum is completely natural—and even essential for the health of your hair and scalp. But only to a certain extent. As soon as the sebaceous glands begin to work too hard, you’ll start to suffer from an oily scalp, and your hair will get oily again the very next day after washing it so it needs to be washed again. In this case, it is necessary to identify the problem.

Do you suffer from oily hair? Most often it's due to:

• Hormonal imbalance – it surely comes as no surprise that fluctuating hormone levels during puberty or pregnancy can make your sebaceous glands work harder.
• Stress and lack of sleep – yes, your scalp reacts even when you’re missing deadlines or simply not getting the sleep your body needs. Higher levels of stress hormones mean a greater likelihood of oily hair.
• Unsuitable hair products – thick, silicone or oil products can burden both hair and scalp.
• Frequent washing – paradoxically, this can disturb your scalp's natural protective film which then retaliates by increasing sebum production.
• Diet and lifestyle – dehydration, too much sugar, or fatty foods will eventually take their toll on your scalp as well.
• Constantly running your fingers through your hair, combing – you can transfer oil and impurities from your hands to your hair. In addition, contact with a comb stimulates the scalp, causing it to produce more sebum.

What Really Stops Hair Getting Oily

The foundation of any hair care routine is gentleness and balance. Your scalp doesn’t need harsh treatments, but rather calmness and a gentle approach. However, in our efforts to wash our hair thoroughly, we often make many mistakes. What should you do about oily hair, and what should you avoid? Choose proven dermo-cosmetic or professional hair care products, and be gentle when washing—avoid using your fingernails or scrubbing your scalp roughly.

1. The right washing technique

Always wash your hair twice – the first wash removes styling products, oil, dust and perspiration. It also helps to open hair cuticles so that active ingredients from shampoo are better absorbed during the second wash.

While washing your hair, gently massage your scalp with your fingertips; do not use your fingernails and avoid scratching your scalp. A gentle, soothing massage stimulates blood circulation, promotes hair growth, and helps distribute sebum evenly—which can help regulate the sebaceous glands over time.

2. Choose products which do not burden your hair

Use gentle silicone-free shampoos for oily hair without heavy oils. Choose from products by Uriage, Vichy or Biodermy, for example. The professional lines for oily hair Kérastase Specifique and Moroccanoil Scalp Balancing also work wonders.These collections also include other products you can use to combat oily hair. But be careful! Try to use no more than two products per wash, and always only apply conditioner to the lengths of your hair. It doesn’t belong on your scalp.

3. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water

Hot water may feel nice, but it causes the sebaceous glands to go into overdrive. So opt for lukewarm water instead, and be sure to rinse out all product residue thoroughly. Otherwise, it could put unnecessary strain on your hair and scalp.

4. Blow-drying and styling 

When blow-drying your hair, opt for cool air—just like cold water, it won’t unnecessarily open your pores. Use styling products sparingly as well: less is more.

5. Extra care that stops oily hair 

The top names among active ingredients are salicylic acid and clay. While salicylic acid takes care of gentle exfoliation of the scalp, clay absorbs excess sebum. So, treat your scalp to extra care with these ingredients at least once a week.

We’ve had great results with clay hair masks for oily hair, pre-shampoo treatments with salicylic acid and hair exfoliators by Kérastase, Natura Siberica and L’Oréal Professionnel. No matter how strange this may sound, both exfoliators and clay masks work miracles on oily hair. They unclog the sebaceous glands, allowing the scalp to breathe again.

6. Oily hair: fast help

Sooner or later, the day comes when we wonder how to hide our oily hair. And in the end, we always reach for dry shampoo. The best ones contain rice or corn starch, which effectively absorb oil without drying out the scalp. Light, powdery textures work best. Try dry shampoos by our brand Notino as well as those by Oribe, Olaplex and Moroccanoil. They don't weigh hair down, and will add volume.

Tip! For dark hair, it’s best to use a dry shampoo with colour pigments. It doesn’t leave white streaks in your hair, so it looks completely natural. And you don’t have to worry about any faux pas.

How To Make Your Hair Routine Even Better

Have you tried just about everything, but nothing seems to work? Maybe it's time to give your scalp a workout. It takes a little patience, but the results are worth it.

Gradually extend the time between washing your hair—start by washing it every other day, then every three days. Think you just can’t do it? With dry shampoo, you’ll manage. Your scalp will gradually learn to produce less oil, and your oily hair problem may disappear completely.

Keep Hair Hygiene in Mind

Just as you learned to wash your hands before eating when you were a child, learn the basics of hair hygiene:

• Clean and wash hairbrushes and combs ideally once a week –remove any hair that has been caught in them and wash them in warm water with a little mild shampoo or baking soda to dissolve any sebum and styling product residue,
• don't keep touching your hair throughout the day – this unnecessarily irritates your hair fibres and scalp, and oil can be transferred from your hands,
• avoid unneeded combing – comb your hair only when it's really necessary.

If you start getting oily dandruff in your hair, you should consult a dermatologist. It may be a yeast infection – seborrhea. However, with the right products and professional advice you'll beat it.

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