How to Treat Oily Hair and Scalp
Battling an oily scalp and hair can feel like a never-ending cycle, so we've put together our expert treatment tips and hair products for oily hair. Read now.
Oily Scalp Causes
It’s a common misconception that oily scalps are only the result of genetics or long waits between washes. While both factors can definitely contribute to oiliness, your lifestyle, environment, and hair care habits can all affect your scalp’s natural oils, too. Your scalp, like the rest of the skin on your body, produces a natural oil called sebum. Sebum plays an important role in keeping your scalp and hair moisturised. But when you produce an excess amount, it can lead to an oily scalp and greasy hair.
Some common oily scalp causes include:
- Genetics – you may have more sebaceous glands (which secrete sebum) on your scalp
- Over-washing or under-washing your hair
- Changes in hormones, stress levels or medication
- Hair styling routines that contribute to heat damage
- Using hair care products that aren’t suitable for oily scalps
- Environmental changes – dry climates can trigger the scalp to overproduce sebum when it is dehydrated
5 oily hair treatment tips
We know that managing an oily scalp can feel like an uphill battle. And, while you can’t reduce the number of sebaceous glands on your scalp, you can regulate your sebum levels by integrating targeted hair products for oily hair and updating your hair care practices.
If you feel defeated by onsets of oiliness, we have you covered. Read on for our easy-to-follow oily hair and scalp treatment tips.
1. Adjust your washing schedule
In Malaysia’s hot and humid climate, it’s tempting to wash your hair daily – especially when dealing with oily roots. However, overwashing can actually backfire by stripping your scalp of its natural oils. This causes your scalp to compensate by producing even more oil, leaving hair feeling greasy sooner than expected.
On the other hand, not washing enough isn't the solution either. A common myth is that you can "train" your scalp to produce less oil by extending the time between washes. Unfortunately, this often leads to a buildup of sweat, styling products, and environmental pollutants – all of which can clog the scalp and worsen oiliness.
To strike the right balance, use a gentle shampoo and rinse thoroughly to prevent product buildup. On less active days, you can skip a wash and refresh with Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo – just avoid using it more than two days in a row to keep your scalp healthy.
2. Use hair products for oily hair
When you are experiencing oily hair and an oily scalp, you can help regulate oil production by using specially formulated hair products for oily hair. We recommend the Spécifique collection, which is tailored to the unique concerns of oily hair and scalps. These products are designed to gently cleanse away excess oil without dehydrating strands, to create a healthy, balanced scalp environment.
If you’re trying to find out how to treat oily hair and scalp, you can start with this complementary shampoo and conditioner:
• Spécifique Balancing Shampoo for Oily Scalp, Dry Ends – as our targeted shampoo for oily hair, this formula works to rebalance the scalp and control excess oils. This shampoo purifies while leaving the hair soft and shiny.
• Densifique Bodifying Conditioner – oily roots and dry ends often go hand in hand because some cleansing ingredients can have a drying effect, but this lightweight conditioner deeply nourishes your ends without weighing them down.
3. Focus on your scalp when washing
How you wash your hair is just important as the products you use. It’s important to focus your washing efforts on your oily scalp – the root cause of your excess sebum. You can follow these fool-proof washing tips:
• Make sure your hair is completely saturated with water – this will help emulsify your shampoo once you apply it to your oily scalp.
• While washing, massage your scalp firmly but gently to encourage dead skin cell exfoliation and promote healthy blood circulation.
• After a couple of minutes of washing, rinse all of your product out so that there is no residue left behind.
• Wash your hair twice: the first wash removes surface buildup; the second wash deeply cleanses the scalp.
4. Clean your hair styling tools and avoid touching your hair
You can support your oily hair treatments by minimising contact with external oil from your hands and hair styling tools.
Oil and hair products can build up on straighteners, curling irons, brushes and rollers. You should remove the hair from your brushes and combs once a week and soak them in a gentle cleanser to rid them of oil. To clean your heated tools, wipe them down regularly with alcohol rubs.
We know that playing with your hair is a subconscious habit that’s hard to break – but keeping your hands off your hair is one of the best things you can do for your oily scalp to prevent oil transfer.
5. Reduce scalp buildup
Since your scalp is the source of your excess oil, it’s important to reduce scalp buildup. Oil, bacteria and pollutants brought in from outside build up on your pillowcase. Make sure to wash or change your pillowcase once a week to avoid introducing unwanted oil.
One of the most effective oily scalp treatments you can implement is a purifying scalp cleanser. Our Spécifique Argile Équilibrante Hair Cleanser Clay Shampoo for Oily Hair is formulated with amino acid and kaolin clay to remove scalp impurities, excess oil and product buildup – without dehydrating your strands. Use it once per week in place of your normal shampoo.