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How to treat an oily scalp

how to get rid of an oily scalp

Causes of an oily scalp and hair

An oily scalp is the result of overactive sebaceous glands. Your scalp contains tiny pores beneath which lies the sebaceous glands. They produce a natural oil called sebum.

Sebum is vital to maintain a healthy scalp and hair. But sometimes, certain factors may contribute to an overproduction of sebum in your skin/scalp, making your hair greasy.

Let’s take a look at what can possibly contribute to an oily scalp:

1. Overwashing

One somewhat unexpected cause of oily hair is overwashing. It`s possible to wash your hair too often. Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, it sends the scalp the signal to produce more sebum. If you’re washing your hair too often, your scalp gets the message that it needs to be producing oil.

2. Hormonal Fluctuations

Pregnancy, irregular periods, menopause, and puberty all cause shifts in hormones, which can have a knock-on effect on the oiliness of your scalp.

3. Lack of personal hygiene

If you avoid washing your hair for long periods, sleep on dirty bed sheets for pillow covers, use unwashed hair tools, you might experience oily scalp.

4. Hair care products

Using harsh hair care products may damage your scalp’s protective barrier. This may result in the loss of essential oils, causing your sebaceous glands to overproduce sebum.

5. Oily Skin
People with oily skin are usually the ones who have oily hair as well as the scalp is the same skin type as the face. Typically, those who have oily skin are prone to have oily hair as well.

How to get rid of an oily scalp

If you don’t wash/clean your scalp regularly

Keeping your scalp clean and removing excess oil is important to get rid of that grease. Shampooing your hair helps remove excess oil and debris. It keeps your scalp clean and promotes healthy hair. Controlling your scalp and hair regularly to check if you need to wash your hair. Start with 2 times a week, when you need additional wash day, wash it again.

If you wash your hair too often

If you’re somebody who washes your hair daily, there is a possibility that over-washing is causing your scalp to feel oily. Shampooing your hair too often can strip away essential oils and moisture from your scalp. This may cause your sebaceous glands to overproduce oil to makeup for a dehydrated scalp.

Shampoo properly

  • Take a small amount of shampoo and massage it into your scalp.
  • Avoid scrubbing with your nails. It can eradicate your skin barrier, causing a loss of oils and moisture.
  • Stick to applying your shampoo to your scalp only. The ends of your hair will receive it while you rinse it off.

3.Rinse thoroughly

You don’t want any product build-up to take place. Not washing your hair thoroughly after you shampoo or condition it can cause your hair to feel extra heavy. Spend an extra minute to ensure that you thoroughly rinse everything out of your hair.

Condition your hair wisely

Use as much conditioner as recommended on the product bottle. Avoid adding the conditioner on your scalp. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.

Our suggestions of shampoo for an oily scalp

(3) CHF14.90 | 236ml
(1) CHF16.90 | 200ml

How to get rid of an oily scalp

The grease and dirt that gets onto your brush, rollers, combs, when you use it on your hair, has to be cleaned. Your brush may also carry product residue on it. When you use the same brush on your hair, you’re just adding excess grease and dirt to your scalp. Our detangle brushes are very easy to clean.

Home remedies to Manage an oily scalp

1. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a great at-home remedy to get control of the concerns of an excessively oily scalp. It has antibacterial properties that can help you maintain a healthy scalp by preventing fungal and bacterial growth. It also reduces dandruff and greasiness.

To use tea tree oil, add a few drops of it to your shampoo. Massage into your hair and rinse off thoroughly. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops of it with any carrier oil and massage it all over your scalp for about 5-7 minutes.

2. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can prove to be useful in reducing product build-up.

When properly diluted, an apple cider vinegar rinse can help balance your pH, reduce oil production, and limit flare-ups of skin conditions. However, apple cider vinegar may further irritate the skin, if you have eczema.

If you want to try it, apply a few drops of apple cider vinegar to your scalp and leave it for a few minutes before rinsing.

3. Baking soda

Baking soda works great in removing dirt and grime from the scalp and has mild exfoliating properties too. This helps it to control oil secretion and in the process enhance hair growth.

You can simply make a paste by mixing baking soda with water and apply it to your hair and scalp. Later wash it off after 20 minutes.

When To See Your Doctor?

If you have tried these remedies and did not notice any major improvement, talk to your dermatologist about it. He may recommend a medicated shampoo, specifically meant to regulate the production of sebum on your scalp. In the case of chronic conditions, you may require other medications.

We hope that this information was helpful and that you will improve your curly hair routine.