There are many different causes of oily scalp but the effect is always the same: heavy, greasy, flat strands looking unfresh. If your hair keeps oily despite frequent washes, see what you can do and how to care for it. Getting a product which controls the sebaceous glands and changing a few habits is often a good remedy.
Oily scalp: what is it like?
There are different numbers of sebaceous glands in our body parts. The glands produce oil to protect the skin from dryness and irritations, as well as the bad effect of cold weather, wind, sunlight, etc. Oil also secures against all kinds of injuries (scratching, rubbing). We’ve got a problem when they start to overproduce the oil, working improperly. This often gives us dry ends and oily roots. Unfortunately, problems like thinning may come along as well.
How do you know your hair is oily?
- Hair looks flat, heavy, volume-less
- The hair roots are greasy and unhealthily shiny
- Hair looks like straw
- Hair looks unfresh a few hours from washing
- Hair may be thinning
Causes of oily hair
Why does hair get oily? Both internal (inside the body) and external factors are to be blamed:
- genetic predispositions (common cause)
- hormone imbalance e.g. thyroid disorders
- pregnancy, adolescence, menopause
- unhealthy diet, too many carbohydrates and saturated fats
- deficiency of vitamins, especially A, B2, B6
- strong stress, insomnia
- unsuitable products e.g. clarifying shampoos, heavy products (rich in silicones)
- not washing the hair fully (product buildup)
- not using a scrub (no scalp cleansing)
- overheating, e.g. while blow-drying
- air pollution
How to make hair and scalp less oily?
The first thing to do is change the way of thinking about greasy hair. Give up on all strong shampoos stripping the protective layer. Remember to constantly moisturize the scalp because it’s the key to maintaining the lipid layer in good shape. Why? If you use harsh clarifying products, the scalp gets dry and irritated and produces too much oil trying to protect itself from drying out. It simply fights to get its moisture back. Always choose mild shampoos and wash your hair as often as it needs washing, even if it’s often. Such shampoos should have a conditioning effect apart from cleaning so make sure they are free from harsh detergents which cause damage to the natural hydro-lipid coating. Buy products without harmful heavy silicones and mineral oil to avoid weighing hair down. A good shampoo contains gentle washing substances. A micellar shampoo is a very good idea for healthy hair and scalp.
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