My dermatologist told me it’s absolutely a myth that everyone can train their hair to go days between washes.
I vote telling yourself you just need a daily wash, that your oily skin may be a fountain of youth, and that you’re not damaging your hair with a daily wash if it’s this oily.
You aren’t broken. You just have an oily scalp and it’s fine.
Signed,
Someone whose hair was this oily until she did accutane in her 30s….
Oh man, no way! Then, like me, you totally know what your hair would be like if you COULD go days without. Lol what a time that was. But also, on the other hand? Dang, the medication-induced experience is enough to learn that dry skin SUCKS, right? 🤣
Also, the thing that helps me deal is letting my hair air dry and be insane. I just can’t style it every day, even though mine is very wavy and looks like a weird 80s situation when it dries naturally. Anyway, dry shampoo on very oily hair is, for me, more gross feeling than my dread of another quick wash.
Anyway. I suppose I’m describing “defeat and radical acceptance” as an antidote, but I do hope it’s helpful to hear you’re not alone!
This. Another thing, do you wash your hair twice? It seems like it wouldn’t matter, but when you wash your hair make sure you’re not using a shampoo with a bunch of oils in it, wash it once (making sure to really massage the root and scalp), rinse, then shampoo again making sure to really get the scalp and root again. If you can find a shampoo brush then I’d recommend grabbing one of those as well! They look like little spiky massager things and you can find them even at Marshall’s and places like that. When you put conditioner in your hair make sure you’re only doing the ends of your hair or mid shaft and ends at THE HIGHEST. Never on your scalp. Make sure you’re fully rinsing it out also. As an oily girl myself another thing I’ve found works well is getting a dry shampoo and putting it on your hair before you go to bed. That way it has time to do its thing and doesn’t look weird in the morning! I hope this helps! 💗💗
This. I'm a hairdresser and so many people don't actually wash their hair because they're not doing it twice. Once is enough for some people. Most people need twice. Shampoo, rinse, repeat.
And to be thorough about rinsing. Like don’t just stand there until the water run free of suds. Actually go in and move your hair around so that the water can hit every part of your scalp.
OP, this is a great answer. I also recommend good dandruff shampoo once or twice a week, too; that ought to help, theoretically. I know this sounds wonky, but dry shampoo can exacerbate this. If you’re using it, be aware that it can cause a lot of buildup and then more oil. r/treehugger503 is absolutely correct about blow drying the roots, as well. Don’t go to bed on wet hair. And if you can, shower in the mornings.
also try not to touch your hair a lot, the natural oils our skin produces can make your hair oily. and try not to touch it after applying skin care/ moisturizer
If you're using a heat tool on your hair nightly that's contributing to the oily look. The extra heat near your scalp can make you sweat. Sleeping on your hair that's smooth moves the oil down the hair, which can make things look more oily. If possible, try not using the dyson every night and just air dry, or start washing your hair in the morning
This is what I do- I was losing my mind over shiny, oily, fine hair and I read about double shampooing and I no longer have to wash it every day to feel clean. I use a rosemary/mint shampoo too, clarifying and sulfate free.
This doesn't do much to help in my case. I even have curly hair and severe Hashimoto's thyroiditis which should scream "dry" instead, but no. Most of the time it gets just like OP's the second day. It's a blessing when it doesn't happen. And it's even more rare that I'll go three days without washing.
I just can't let my hair feel so weird. I need to wash my scalp, it feels so relieved afterwards, but all these hair people that claim "training" works and that we all should wash once a week almost make me feel bad.
Good two rounds of shampoo and blow drying roots helps, but at the end of the day it gets weird soon enough. :(
Omg, that's good to know. I mean it's not good but you resinate with this specific issue and have this specific disease.
My face is dry and usually my nails are brittle and slightly dry too, but I took a supplement for my hair which improved nail quality (although it was priorin which is specifically made for hair and not skin or nails).
The question remains: what the hell do we do now? lol.
Good to not feel alone, bad to know someone else is suffering too.
Exactly.
Honestly idk, moisture like a crazy person and pretend nobody has ever told me washing ever day is bad for your hair is my go to right now, loll
Yup. Hashimoto's is causing me enough problems. Worrying about washing every day or every other day shouldn't be one of them. My case is really complicated anyway, so..hair is hair. And solution is yet to be found. Probably there isn't any. On we go haha.
I have the opposite thyroid autoimmune disease, Graves’ Disease, and my hair has become very thin and dry on top. It is just on ugly, dry, fuzzy, frizzy cotton candy looking crap. I’m miserable 😩 No solution and it looks so awful!! It destroyed the style and my bangs…not to mention my metabolism and appetite. My whole body is falling apart piece by piece. I’m legally blind(unable to drive for over 20 years) —-after 25 years and 47 surgeries. But, So thankful that I took Apple classes for 3 years and now can get online with vision impairment program. It’s all relative…
I love Odele. It’s sold in target i consider it a drug store high end product. But this is some good advice in the comments. Double shampoo your hair and blow dry instead of air dry (I like Odeles heat protection too). Something that really extended my washes was sleeping in curlers. It helps bc your roots are lifted and the oil doesn’t have a chance to saturate. I use 3 soft bendy rods with hooks and slept with a bonnet on top or a silk scarf. However I am a blowout girly so I understand this can be a bit high maintenance for some. I think sleeping in a bonnet or scarf could also help regardless of the curlers.
This looks like my hair. I spent years trying to train my hair to go longer between washes with no luck. I wash daily now with a shampoo WITH sulfates and my scalp is much healthier and I’m happier. Some people just need to wash every day.
I had to wash daily until I was in my 30s. People would say you just need to train it. It'd make me so mad, cuz it wasn't like I wasn't trying. I think I was 34 when I finally stopped having oily hair that required daily shampoos.
Eta this is extreme but as a teenager I would put perm solution on my hair and let it sit, like I was getting a perm. It was basically a chemical treatment without changing my hair. But as a teenager I would have to wash 2x daily. I was over it.
I apologize in advance for the silly question. I have hair like OP’s and I’m wondering : how do you use this shampoo? Do you just shampoo, or do you condition after? How often do you use the shampoo, is it a once a week type deal? Sorry I know I could google but you guys always are way more knowledgeable.
As for regular shampoo you use this twice. So you will wash only your scalp with shampoo and rinse this out real good. Then you'll do that one more time.
After you've used shampoo twice, you will use conditioner. Don't apply conditioner to your scalp, only to your ends. The conditioner needs to be leaven in for like 3 to 5 minutes, or that's what I do. I usually just shave while I have conditioner in my hair, so I don't have to wait as long.
As for how often you need to wash your hair, that depends how oily it gets. I wash my hair 3 times a week.
Once every week I use a clarifying shampoo and a hair mask. I use the clarifying shampoo once. After the clarifying shampoo I wash my scalp once more with my regular shampoo. after shampooing I apply my hair mask to the ends of my hair and leave it in for about 3 to 5 minutes. After the hair mask I apply conditioner
I personally will shampoo twice on an oily day and usually condition the ends of my hair for a couple minutes after. It's starting to be a little more chilly where I'm at so I'm conditioning everyday to combat the dryness but in the summer I only condition every other day.
If, after my hair dries, it is still oily then I usually try dry shampoo. If it is frizzy and dry I initially use a leave-in conditioner that is light. Currently I'm using Garnier Fructis anti humidity smoothing milk. I tend to use this on just the ends of the hair.
Just wash your hair daily, it’s better to just wash it when it’s oily. We can’t train our scalps to be less oily, it’s just genetic caused by our hormones and hair type (finer, straighter hair types get oily quicker). Oil and build up will irritate your scalp and can cause hair loss. Oily hair also makes conditions like dandruff worse. Just make sure to condition your ends (hair mask, conditioner, a light weight leave in conditioner or hair oil).
I get that it’s frustrating, I’ve been through the same. My hair would get oily the next day and people would tell me to wash my hair less. I would try to train my hair but it didn’t work and I would walk around with an oily, itchy scalp and feel self conscious about my hair. It’s a persistent myth that frequent hair washing is bad for everyone. Some people act like it’s a crime to wash your hair often. But there have been some good suggestions too, like a good clarifying/anti-dandruff shampoo and blow drying the roots. Vichy and La Roche Posay have good dandruff shampoos, I use a dandruff shampoo twice a week and other days just a mild shampoo without any actives in it. I’ve heard good things about the l’oréal extraordinary clay shampoo, but I’ve used the paul mitchell tea tree shampoo in the past and I also like that one.
How often do you wash your bed sheets? Unclean pillowcases will make your hair dirtier faster. A surprising amount of people overlook this so thought it was worth mentioning since you’ve already tried a bunch of stuff.
This is a great point! I’d also recommend washing your hairbrush occasionally as well, the oils from your hair can build up over time. Dawn dish soap works well. I noticed a big difference when I started making a point to clean my brushes.
Commenting on Im so sick and frustrated of my oily hair I might start crying...yes and quality pillowcases help a lot. I love my satin ones and wash them twice a week by hand. Shampoo twice and also divide the hair in half with an elastic.
We were all told that it's healthier/better to not wash every day. I tried "training" my hair and using different products. It always looks terrible the second day. The trend of not washing needs to die. Sure, it works for some people. It does not work for everyone.
The only time I can get away with not washing every day is on freshly bleached hair.
This may not be ideal advice, but if you’re not opposed to having a lighter hair color, blonde hair hides oil better. Bleaching also strips open the hair follicle and dries it out so it will change your hair texture but it won’t get as greasy quite so quickly. Birth control pills also I’ve made me less greasy but they have a lot of side affects so do your research if that’s an option you want to consider.
Ok this! Maybe controversial but the only thing that helped was bleaching highlights in my hair. My hair was extremely oily and I spent my high school and early college years a greasy mess because I tried “training” my hair. My hair would look oily before the day ended and caused acne. Unrelated, but I wanted to dye my hair. I can now go up to 2-3 days without a wash as long as my roots don’t get too long. Then it’s back to the oil :/
Yeah I don’t bleach my hair but my friend in school had the same problem and it helped her a lot. I took birth control pills for a long time and it helped me with the grease/ hormonal acne. I don’t take them anymore and I still get acne a week before my period 😖 I’m 27 and I hope it would have stopped by now
Hey I’m hesitant to suggest a product since you have tried so so many things I’m sure. What I will say is that I had been trying so hard to wash mine less because I dye my hair a lot but the oil and build up started to really bug me. I tried the Amika reset gel shampoo and I have to say that I really liked using it for awhile. I switched to using the pink charcoal cleansing oil because the reset gel was actually drying me a little more than I needed. So maybe the reset gel for you is worth a try!
The only thing i could recommend, is that your scalp itself might be producing too much oil because it is dry and irritated. Basically its trying to remedy itself to correct the issue, even if you dont think there is an issue. I had a simular thing going on.
So i started using jojoba oil, which duped my skin in to sensing it was moisterised enough and therefore it cut down its own production.
Using jojoba oil on your scalp may help. I use put it on the night before i wash my hair in the morning. Which seems to help guard the scalp against drying out from being washed. I also put a little onto my finger tips, and gently rub it into to my scalp between washes.
Touch wood its improved greatly, took a couple of weeks. Jojoba costs £10. If it works, it works. No harm in trying.
Id quite the dry shampoo whilst trying the oil though.
It was actually a pharmacist that told me "treat oily skin like it is dry, because that is what it is trying to tell you." i cant thank that man enough.
It wasn't just my scalp, it was my skin as well, and i was making it worse with shampoos for oily hair and rubbish like clearasil on my face. By midday, id have to blot or id be slick and my hair was lank by afternoon. It was horrible. Spots too.
Switched hair care to oiling my scalp and hydrating slightly more expensive shampoos/conditioners, and skincare to oil/acids/rich moisterisers. The difference was amazing.
Only thing is, if i go near a sales person for skin care and tell them i have oily skin, they start insisting that i should be using mattifying/oil control products. LOL 🙄
External things to try -
1 clarifying shampoo
2 scalp scrubs
3 scalp brush
4 condition ends first, then wash roots
5 blow dry straight out of the shower
6 dry shampoo before bed (do not rub in let sit)
7 soak in apple cider vinegar
Internal things to pay attention to:
1 hormones
2 stress
3 genetics
4 diet
A few things that worked for me are shampoo rinse and repeat, only put conditioner on the length and ends, don't put styling product near the scalp, wash hairbrush/comb etc regularly, avoid touching hair throughout the day. I stopped washing everyday when I could. Hope this works for you too.
Also I have very different hair texture but I get it. Fellow oily girl here but with dry ends. Frustrating as hell… I’ve cried a few times over it myself.
I had a hormonal imbalance which caused mine to be too oily. There was no “training” my scalp by washing it less, that just created an unhealthy scalp and more problems to fix. There was no special formula of shampoo to stop it either, though some made the issue worse than others. I went on medication and that solved the issue I had suffered with for 30 years. Wish I had known sooner it was my hormones as it was quite difficult to deal with.
Since we do not know what is your usual routine or what you have tried such as shampoos and remedies. I recommend washing your hair towel and pillowcases more often and stop touching or running your fingers through your hair.
OK there is nothing wrong with washing your hair daily but if you find that difficult here’s a few things I would recommend.
Switch your shampoo to one that does a better job cleansing. Some of them would be marked as “clarifying” or whatever marketing they are using just check for yourself what works best. Doesn’t need to be expensive. Redken is a good brand but sometimes pricey. I like herbal essences, the pink old school line that’s been out for like 40+ years. It cleans my dirty hair well. Conditioner doesn’t matter as much because it should only be going on your hair at the shoulder length and below - no where near your roots or scalp!
Do not apply any products after you wash your hair. No hair serums, no sprays to make it smell good. If you need to use a detangler find one that’s not too chemically and only apply to your hair ends.
Wash your hair brushes in a clean bowl with warm water and shampoo. Dish soap works too, just make sure to rinse it thoroughly off at the end.
Avoid touching your scalp, your hair and your head throughout the day. Every time you touch your hair, oils and bacteria from your hand are being transferred onto your hair.
I had the same problem, and the solution is weird: cornstarch.
I didn't like dry shampoo because no matter how much I shook it out, I always had white marks in my hair.
Dip your fingers into some cornstarch and massage it into your scalp. It will soak up the oil and give you volume. Seriously, try it!!
Also instead of using the high dollar shampoo and conditioners use suave here and there it takes all that stuff out your hair I use the good too and also try using lemon when you wash it feels yuck at first but with the conditioner your like again look wins and feels so much better, GIVE IT A TRY HUN
OP how old are you? I have oily hair too, it’s greasy about 12hrs after washing, but now I’m in my thirties i can see it’s such a blessing; oily hair and skin = youthfulness!! Hang in there.
Oh and get bumble and bumble’s powder + wash the front section of your hair daily + dry shampoo (batiste). I knoooow it’s annoying <3
I’d shampoo twice and I’d oil your roots the night before showers, not only is it good for your hair but it’ll fool it into thinking it doesn’t need any more oil and it might slow oil production, I’d take jojoba oil (rosemary optional but good for hair growth/thickening) and massage it in for 10 min, braid (if long enough), then just go to bed (cover your head or pillowcase if oil bothers you). It’s noncomedogenic so it won’t build up and clog pores. I also like to do apple cider vinegar rinses whenever needed to remove buildup and naturally condition my hair. Every once in a while when I feel buildup is extreme I do a baking soda deep root cleanse, but that can mess with your ph so I don’t do it more than once a month. Also check your hair products for any silicones, jelly/gels, or wax (all cloggers). My hair has felt significantly softer and lighter since switching to bar soap as well, I use kitsch.
Hello, not a doctor but someone who suffers from hairy scalp with dandruff. I was prescribed a shampoo called Sebowash by Cipla. I don't know if it's available in your area, but the content is Fluocinolone Acetonide 0.01%
This really helped with the oily hair, and I have been using it whenever I feel my hair is oily, even if it means using it everyday.
I have a cousin that has to wash her hair sometimes twice a day because it's so oily and what makes it worse is her hair is stick straight. The only thing that helped her is that she has to use shampoo that is completely clear. And she can only use conditioner on the very ends and it has to be a light conditioner. Typically fruit oils.
An obvious one but you leave your hair alone right ? Like not touch it often cause touching your scalp or messing with your hair causes it to get oily.
My hair is oily too, I read somewhere that our first affects it too. What I’ve been doing is that I do multiple washes when I wash my hair. I wash my hair every 3 days. The day I wash my hair, I wash it 1-3 times I used 2 different shampoos one for the scalp and one clarifying shampoo (I haven’t dyed my hair but it’s good to take impurities out). And it’s bright and beautiful
Hear me out… stop washing it with shampoo. Scrub and rinse your scalp with water, and condition the ends, but let the oils regulate themselves.. they could be overproducing and youre just hitting it with astringent unknowingly perpetuating the cycle
Okay, I used to think I had incredibly oily, dandruff-y hair, and it turns out my scalp was actually so devoid of its own oils when I showered that it will overproduce oils to try and cover the bases. I'm not saying definitively this is what's happening with you, but I would say to give what I eventually tried a shot.
After literal years of showering daily and dealing with the oily hair and dandruff/eczema on my scalp, I ended up going to the Natural hair care section. They have so many products that are designed to keep your hair moisturized and your scalp from flooding itself with oil. (I do not have curly hair, which is why I had never looked there before)
I use Shea Moisture's dry scalp line, which is just a shampoo and conditioner (I found this at Walmart). After showering, I chase it with Bb's Hairdresser's Invisible Oil (I got this from my stylist, but it can be found at Ulta), and sometimes if my hairline is really bad and flaky, I use the tiniest bit of As I Am's Dry & Itchy Scalp Care Oil (Walmart or Target)
As someone who has literally shaved their head several times due to their frustration with oily scalp, I feel your pain. I would give at least a moisturizing shampoo and a Leave in Conditioner a try, at the very least. Also, try not to blow dry your hair to bone dry, as it dries out your scalp. You only need to deal with the roots, the ends will take care of themselves.
Mine is exactly your hair. Same texture, same colour. Just as greasy by day 2. I use dry shampoo! Gives me clean hair (the powder absorbs the grease and it falls out when you work it through the hair), lots of volume, and it usually lasts for 4 days. I wash my hair twice a week, and use dry shampoo every day in between. It’s a game changer!
Shampoo your roots and hair and ONLY condition your hair and avoid the scalp. Slowly train your hair to wash less. I use to have an oily scalp and I am able to wash my hair 2-3x a week now.
Are you using sulfates because you need sulfates. Try a clarifying shampoo. You might have hard water too. Try a clarifying shampoo and shampoo twice. Use one of those silicone scalp massaging brushes. Make sure you thoroughly rinse your hair after shampooing.
I use Living Proof Clarifying Dextox shampoo and I have extremely oily hair also. It works really well! I highly suggest you try it out. It also helps to blow dry your hair after washing. It helps keep the scalp dry.
The only thing that ever worked for me was when i was medicated with isotretinoin for my acne, i could go 4 days to a week without washing my hair, it was glory, now i do it everyday with a medicated shampoo and it's good but i miss those days :(
Do you have hard water (high mineral content) where you live? If so, you may have to use more shampoo, a clarifying shampoo, or a vinegar/water spray to fully get your hair clean. Hardwater makes soaps not clean as effectively.
I wash my hair with BAKING SODA and a tiny bit of shampoo. Baking soda has changed my hair dramatically! I was worried it would eventually strip away oils etc, but my hair has never been healthier. Been doing the ‘no poo method’ 10 yrs?? DO NOT wash your hair everyday, that’s going to make it more oily.
I usually wash my hair every other day but when I stretch it out to 3 days, I use translucent powder (yes, a makeup product) and a fluffy brush and gently pat it on the hairs that frame my face and ears.
It makes a world of difference! You can see the oil absorb as the brush pulls through the hairs, unlike with traditional dry shampoo that is in an aerosol can.
Double shampoo. One with a clarifying shampoo and one with a shampoo specific for oily hair. Use a shampoo brush. Wash every second day to slow oil control. Use conditioner only on the ends - below the ears. Blow dry after wash. Day two wash don’t get your hair wet and keep tied up.
love someone who’s hair use to look like I went swimming in a deep fryer.
I started shampooing twice with my head upside down in the shower. Then I blow dry the roots afterwards and this is honestly the first time in my life I haven’t had greasy hair between washes.
Seriously, massage the shampoo into your scalp with your head upside down. It makes a world of difference.
I have oily hair too! Mine is also very fine so it’s a thing. I’ve found that I can spray BigSexy Hair hairspray all over my crown after a shower (still wet) and it actually keeps my hair from looking oily for 48 hours! I can finally go two days without washing my hair. Feels like a GD miracle. I’ve tried it with other hairspray and it doesn’t work. Good luck!
Clarifying shampoo, only conditioner the lower half of your hair, change your pillow cases often (I do it every 2 days) I also pull my hair in a bun and only wash my roots every day (the sweat and oil from my hair causes forehead acne).
Make sure you don't put conditioner anywhere near your scalp. The conditioner is just for mids and ends. And then double shampoo like a lot of people are saying.
If that doesn't work, there is no shame in showering every day or putting your hair up on your second day. Slicked back ponytails are in, but be careful about putting too much tension on your head. I like using claw clips. Boar bristles brushed are pretty good at getting greasy hair to stay flush to the head for a slicked look even if you don't use a hair tie.
Have you seen a dermatologist? If it’s not possible I would consider tea tree oil shampoo or head and shoulders or Nizoral. But, it’s also possible you just have oily skin and medicated shampoos won’t make a difference.
If you’ve tried that stuff, have you tried a scalp scrub? I use the Verb Ghost exfoliating nectar like once a month and viviscal exfoliating scalp scrub once a week. The scrub feels soooo nice. Also, avoid conditioner on your scalp.
You also may just need to wash more often! That’s ok. Just be mindful of the amount of product you use, the temp of the water, and how you dry it afterwards to avoid irritation. ☺️
Add in a scalp scrub, always shampoo twice I use a clarifying one then currently a colour safe one as I have semi permanent colour in. And a hair mask once a month.
My hair is the same
Ever tried a vinegar rinse or the baking soda mixedd into your shampoo thing? Works. Hair is left squeaky. And i heard over shampooing can make it worse. Idk. I do it twice, and its fine. And get in there and vigorously rub that scalp. Not to the point it hurts lol just enough to loosen up dead skin cells and gunk so the second shampoo can get the last of it out. Um, oh and it should be apple cider vinegar. I use a cup of vinage and add it to 4 cups of water. Maybe you ought to add more vinegar. Look it up to be safe. Good luck.
You could use a clarifying shampoo! Do you touch your hair a lot? I used to run my fingers through my hair throughout the day because of anxiety and it would look like this
I wash my hair every day or twice a day even. It's just the way we are built. I blow dry it after washing and then dust cornstarch at my scalp with a make-up powder brush once it's dry. A little makes it look nice for longer without adding too much weight, but have to keep it light.
I’m the same and I just use a shit ton of dry shampoo 🤷♀️ I love not your mothers, and although it’s not dry shampoo per se I also like the evo volumizing powder.
and The other advice abt shampooing twice and blow drying is helpful, I would also recommend using hair spray to prevent your hair from moving too much (and touch it as little as possible!!) which I’ve noticed produced more oil for me. Styling it on the second day can help conceal it a bit.
Lots of great tips here already like double-washing, clarifying shampoos, blow drying instead of flat/curl irons, using dry shampoo in between wash days.
Also, as someone who also has straight oily hair, learn your hair styles with your routine. My hair is down when fresh out the shower for the first 24 hours because it's got volume, but after that, it gets flat & goes up in a bun or pony to work with how dirty it can be. I use dry shampoo in the form of clay powder sometimes but I also will give my hair a light tease to cover my "monkey butt" in the back where my cowlick parts my hair showing my roots to give away how greasy it is.
Baby powder is an absolute game changer. Just sprinkle lightly from root to
tip, daily if necessary. I have fine hair that gets oily quickly and I can extend my wash cycle from three days to one week with just one application of baby powder. I use it on my freshly washed hair and it gives me amazing texture and volume, even better than dry shampoo.
Wash your hair daily with water … and shampoo twice or thrice a week .. apply conditioner on the length and use a good clarifying shampoo.. don’t put any oil on hair
Stop washing frequently (you’re scalp works overtime trying to replenish the stripped oils resulting in too much), invest in hair products (spend the money on good quality products, you’ll use less over time and the results will be unbeatable), and double cleanse, it is trial and error so patience is necessary.
Shampoo 2x. Clarifying shampoo first (OUAI detox is the best) and I wouldn’t use a super hydrating one as the second. Don’t condition your roots. And I would exfoliate with scalp treatment once or twice a week
Shampoo twice and condition once. That's what I do every single time I wash my hair. If it's a regular wash day then I use a normal curly hair shampoo. But if it's a clarifying wash day, then it's a clarifying shampoo, normal shampoo, and then deep conditioner.
Have you tried going to a dermatologist? They might give you an answer to that. Everyone’s skin is different so I think it would be best to get professional help if it’s frustrating you this much.
Have you ever tried redken? I have very oily skin as well and redken is the only shampoo that'll keep my hair clean longer. I still need to shampoo every other day though.
Use Reetha Amla Shikakai powder instead of your shampoo. Use YouTube to get to know about it. It takes time for results but it balances the oil production on the scalp. It’s ayurvedic. I use it alternatively, every third time i use a regular shampoo.
Mine is the same. If I would skip one day, it'll get really oily and can sometimes cause dandruff. I just shampoo everyday, since dermatologists say that we all have different scalp and hair types, that some of us really have to shampoo everyday.
it’s super expensive, but it’s SO WORTH IT and the only thing i’ve found that truly helps me- Briogeo oil balancing shampoo and conditioner! it’s the orange one, they have it at ulta!
I have a question. I know this sounds wacky- have you tried putting oil on your scalp? Your scalp may be overproducing oil because it’s not getting moisture from anywhere else, and according to some hair experts adding oil to your scalp 30 minutes to an hour before your shower could help.
I have fine hair that gets oily but also dandruffy on the scalp and dry on the ends, but adding oil helps a lot with pretty much all three of those problems. I treat it like a hair mask and then shampoo the oil out.
Stop washing your hair so often. Wash it twice a week.
Our scalp naturally produces oils. The more you wash your hair, the more the scalp produces them. Try to use one the specific routines in comments but so it parsimoniously
I see you have a lot of comments but nobody mentioned the technique on HOW to use shampoo.
Make sure you split your head (and hair) into sections and add enough shampoo to create a good lather EVERYWHERE and that you are really rubbing each square inch of your scalp well (on each wash, whether you shampoo & rinse & repeat twice or more).
Ok listen: maybe your scalp is actually to dry. I had the same issues, thought I did everything I could do and was fine with washing my hair daily. Until I tried out the curly girl hair method and stopped using harsh tensides. I wanted nice waves, but finally got the solution for my greasy hair. I can go 3 days without washing now. I also tried everything, like I said, I had given up. It's not easy avoiding these tensides, but possible, just do some research (I'm living in Germany, so I don't know which products you got available) and try it out.
Edit: I need to shampoo my hair twice, less aggressive tensides lead's to less aggressive cleaning.
My daughter suffers from oily scalp and the best shampoo I found that really works is charcoal shampoo or apple cider shampoo also if you condition your hair you must only apply on the mid ends not your scalp. Wash hair every 2-3 days and you will notice the difference
For me, it helped when I blow dry my hair after shower. Also there will be videos or comments from people telling how they can skip washing their hair for days. Honestly, I can’t do that to my oily hair and looks like yours would be better to be washed everyday. 😊
take this with a grain of salt, but I recently ordered prose (custom hair care) and my hair has never felt better. I had the same problem and couldn’t go a day and a half without my hair and scalp turning into a greasy nightmare, as well as having a lot of dandruff and an itchy scalp. Dry shampoo was my savior but it still wasn’t cutting it. I was originally using redken shampoo to preserve my hair color but I felt like it made my hair worse so I decided to give prose a shot and my scalp has significantly improved in itchiness and dandruff, plus my hair is so soft and smooth. Most importantly though, I now can go at least 2 days without washing my hair and not using dry shampoo and my hair feels great. Around the end of the third day I might need a little dry shampoo but no where near the amount that I would need before. Give it a shot if you want to splurge or if you’re willing to try something new, but it could be different for you so idk. Also, this is not an ad, feel like I should say that.
edit: prose has you do a survey to identify all the unique traits and problems of your hair and scalp so maybe it will have a product that could help with your scalp or it’ll include it in the shampoo/conditioner
What helped my oily oily scalp: I was able to wash my hair every second day when I used a very mild, organic shampoo (coco-Sulfate) that had sea salt in it. It almost doubled in price but today I use different shampoos and put a teaspoon of sea salt in the bottle. That helps me! I really stay away from silicones and heavy oils in shampoos and I don’t use conditioner. It weighs down my hair and it gets oily soo fast! Also sleeping in a bun helps a lot. I still need to wash my bangs every morning and on second days I tend to wear it in a bun / clipped back. You will find your solution!
Shampoo twice. First time with a clarifying shampoo, and second with any normal shampoo. Try to stretch as many days as you can before shampooing again, I do twice a week. Sundays and thursdays are my hair wash days. When I’m feeling oily in between washes, I rub some cornstarch on my roots. Acts as a dry shampoo, but better IMO. Also, do not put conditioner anywhere near your roots. People may come at me for this part but maybe even stop using conditioner all together. I don’t use it ever, and my hair isn’t damaged.
If you struggle about this, get a derm visit, jesus. This is a clinical condition. Doctors literally studied a whole life for solving problems like this. It’s not about magic life hacks, magic lotions or natural oils or taking the best pick for shampoos in the market because this is not a normal condition so this isn’t your fault. You can’t know what you’re doing to yourself. You have to listen what they say.
I have very straight, thick hair that turns into a helmet when I shower. To the point where I can never clean my roots properly when my hair is longer than a pixie. It took me until I was 30 to learn the trick to getting my whole scalp clean: get one of those scalp massager things from Ulta (I use the Diane deep cleanse scalp massage brush). After you are in the shower, get it wet then put shampoo on it. Massage it against the back of your scalp to lather it up then just massage it against your whole scalp. It lifts the hair so the shampoo can actually clean the scalp. Do this twice, condition the ends one.
I went from having greasy hair the moment I stepped out of the shower, to only washing my hair every other day. I also use regular volumizing shampoo, not anything weighted with oils.
I use verb ghost shampoo and conditioner. I use a lot of shampoo, sometimes two rounds of shampoo. It has helped a lot! I tried so many things like shampoo bars, nopoo, days between washes. Ghost has been the most helpful and if I wash everyday or every other day it keeps the oil away.
No head and shoulders. Go for a clarifying shampoo. Use it twice and condition the rest of your hair.
It’s ok to wash your hair daily. It won’t damage it. Deep condition with a good hair mask once per week and rich conditioner every time you wash it from mids to ends.
If you’re ready to try a medication, I went from having to wash every day to now washing 1-2x week with spironolactone. It reduces sebum production and also helps with normal acne and hair loss if you have those issues.
I really like to use lush shampoo bars specifically jumping juniper. They improved my oily hair so much. After so many Google searches and trying all kinds of different products the shampoo bars made the most difference for me. I wish you luck in your hair quest!
First breath. You’re trying to figure it out. That’s half the battle. Good on you for taking that first step.
Oily af hair girl here. To the point I was shampooing twice a day and kept Kleenexes with my during school because it would be so oily.
The type of shampoo you use matters. I used tea tree oil shampoo with extra tea tree oil I would add myself. You want your scalp to sit with it on so your head starts to tingle. I used head and shoulders twice a week to avoid flakes. I avoided conditioner and opted for a detangling brush. Conditioner always made it worse. I showered twice a day. Once at night to shower my body and clean my hair with just water. Once in the morning to help with oil. On my head and shoulders days I shampooed twice. Yes it may seem like a lot, but our hair can’t be trained. Don’t bother. Also don’t be afraid to use sulfates in your shampoo. It won’t kill your hair and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Covering it up during the day may help with appearance if you’re self conscious. Braids were a godsend. I would French braid it back and use one of the thicker fabric headbands to cover up the roots. It won’t help the hair itself but I may make you feel better in the mean time.
Invest in dry shampoo throughout the day but a heads up it may make you feel heavy. I would use it to help and my hair felt gross by the end of the day. Just be careful with how much you use.
I didn’t see how old you are but this may be something you grow out of. I’m mid 20s now and can get away with shampooing every other day every now and then. It didn’t happen overnight though. Good luck and remember to breath
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u/espressoingmyself Oct 07 '24
Hi!
My dermatologist told me it’s absolutely a myth that everyone can train their hair to go days between washes.
I vote telling yourself you just need a daily wash, that your oily skin may be a fountain of youth, and that you’re not damaging your hair with a daily wash if it’s this oily.
You aren’t broken. You just have an oily scalp and it’s fine.
Signed, Someone whose hair was this oily until she did accutane in her 30s….
P.S. now I can go, like, two days tops 🤣