If you’re dealing with oily hair, you might feel as if you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of washing and re-washing. Oily hair tends to become greasy within a day of washing, so don’t panic if this is currently happening to you.
In this article, our Beauty Pro experts have gathered their top tips for treating and managing oily hair, with advice on washing your hair and some expert-recommended product suggestions.
What Causes Oily Hair?
Oily hair is typically caused when your body overproduces sebum (aka oil). This overproduction of oil can create shiny, oily skin and, by extension, can give you an oily scalp. Having an oily scalp can often lead to frequently greasy hair, even recently after washing.
The best way to fix oily hair is by choosing products designed to bring moisture balance to the scalp and roots, treating the problem at its source.
How To Fix Oily Hair: 6 Beauty Pro Tips for Oily Hair
Luckily, there are a number of steps you can take to help manage oily hair and cut the time between washes:
1. Don’t wash your hair every day, use a dry shampoo in between washes
While you may be tempted to wash your hair every day, this can actually be counterproductive if you have oily skin and hair. When you wash your hair every day, you’re stripping the hair of its natural oils and triggering your body to produce even more to compensate.
Instead of washing your hair every day, use a high-quality dry shampoo in between washes. Kerastase’s Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo is great for tackling oily roots and giving your hair a freshly-washed appearance. Lightweight, this dry shampoo won’t cause any scalp build-up and will keep your hair feeling fresh for up to 24 hours.
2. Condition only the tips of your hair
Another great way to manage greasy hair is to condition only the tips of your hair. The purpose of conditioning your hair is to provide moisture, but too much conditioner at your roots (especially oily roots) can exacerbate greasiness.
Stick to conditioning the tips of your hair (or mid-length to the tips if you have thicker hair).
A great conditioner for those with oily hair is Kevin Murphy’s Angel Rinse. Formulated for finer hair, Angel Rinse will help you to maintain shine, smoothness and moisture without weighing your hair down.
3. Use an exfoliating hair or scalp scrub
Using a scalp scrub is a great way to rid your scalp of any product build-up, excess sebum and dirt in your hair. When you have oily hair, your body is overproducing sebum which can then gather on your scalp, even after washing. This build-up can weigh the hair down, often giving it a “limp” appearance.
Use a scalp scrub to help lift any dead skin, bacteria, excess sebum and oil and restore volume to your hair. For a balancing scrub, use Kerastase’s Scrub Energisant, designed specifically for those with oily scalps and oily hair. This scrub will soothe the scalp, remove any build-up while using Vitamin B6 and Salicylic acid to help create balance.
4. Use a scalp serum
Using a scalp serum is a great way to try to get hair oiliness under control. A scalp serum can balance the scalp’s moisture, while also nourishing the hair at the root and contributing to your overall hair health.
Kerastase’s SpecifiquePotentialiste Hair & Scalp Serum is a great hair serum suitable for all hair types, including oily hair. This serum absorbs fast, so your hair won’t feel weighed down by the product. Enriched with antioxidant properties, this serum will help bring balance to an oily scalp while locking in moisture and soothing any existing irritation.
5. Pick the right shampoo
It’s absolutely vital to pick a shampoo designed to treat oily hair. Picking the wrong shampoo can exacerbate existing problems and throw off your scalp’s balance even further.
A highly recommended shampoo for oily hair would be Kerastase’s Specifique Bain Divalent. Designed for oily hair, this shampoo treats the hair at the roots by helping to balance oil production at the scalp.
Deeply purifying with added softness, shine and gentle cleansing, this shampoo is a must for treating oily hair at the root – literally!
6. Use a hair mask once a week
To give oily hair the best chance at achieving balance and nourishment, treat your hair to a deep treatment mask once a week. Kerastase’s Specifique Masque Rehydratant Hair Mask is ideal for regulating excess oil at the root of the hair, offering deep hydration but leaving your hair feeling lightweight and smooth.
While you might be hesitant about applying thick products to oily hair, this mask is designed to help balance moisture in those with oily and dry hair.
