4 Reasons Why Your Hair Might Be Greasy

Greasy hair is never the look anyone would want to go for. There’s the wet hair trend, the liquid hair trend, but never the greasy hair trend. Greasy hair makes you look like you haven’t washed your hair for days. It’s not very stylish nor is it very chic. 

Got greasy hair? Don’t worry. At some point, everyone’s hair gets greasy. If yours always tends to look like that, though, there might be a problem that needs to be addressed. 

First, let’s take a look what causes greasy hair. There are tons of possible reasons why your hair greases up and starts forming those unsightly clumps. Here are the top 5 possible reasons why. 

1. You use too much dry shampoo - look, we get it. Dry shampoo is a definite lifesaver on days when you’re too busy to wash your hair. There’s nothing wrong with using it every now and then, as long as you’re not overdoing it. Using too much dry shampoo leads to product build-up on your hair and scalp which, in return, traps grease and makes your hair look clumpy. 

Solution: wash your hair with normal shampoo on a regular basis. You can also try using a clarifying shampoo to get rid of the build-up from your scalp and hair. Use it only once or twice a month, depending on how heavy you use products like hairspray and dry shampoo on your hair. 

1. Your shower water is too hot - everyone loves a nice, warm shower/bath but some people make the mistake of running their hair under/hot warm water, too. Doing this dries up your skin, including your scalp. This will trigger it to produce more oil to compensate for the dryness, making your scalp (and your hair) greasier.

Solution: Never wash your hair directly in hot water. Lukewarm water at around 100F is best as this is the most ideal temp for getting rid of excess oil from your scalp and making your shampoo work better, but cold water works, too. If you’re showering or bathing with hot water and your hair is likely to get wet, wear a shower cap. 

1. You brush your hair too much - remember how mom/grandma used to say you need to brush your hair a hundred times before bed so it’ll grow longer? Well, as it turns out, that doing so may cause more harm than good. Brushing your hair too much overstimulates oil production and leads to greasy hair. 

Solution: instead of trying to get to 100 strokes before bed, brush your hair before you shower to reduce knots and tangles. Detangle with a wide-toothed comb afterward and then, let your hair be. 

1. Your styling tools are dirty - how often do you clean your styling tools? Your brushes, your combs, and even your hair straightener all accumulate dirt when you use them regularly and with other styling products like hairspray, mousse, gel, and the like. These products leave a greasy film on the surface which can transfer to your hair if you use them without cleaning them first. Aside from making your hair greasy, these can also lead to dandruff and other scalp issues. 

Solution: Clean your hair styling tools often. Wipe them down before and after every use. Santize them and/or do a deep clean at least twice every month and don’t forget to replace things like hairbrushes and combs after six months to a year. 

There are many more possible reasons why your hair always ends up being greasy after a day or two of washing. Using a strong, drying shampoo, for example, is another one. If this is the case for you, switching to a mild shampoo should do the trick. 

In most cases, when your hair is greasy, then it’s very likely that your scalp is having issues that make it greasy. Try to put a little more effort into caring for your scalp and non-greasy, healthy hair should follow.