You wash your hair in the morning and style it to perfection, all ready to look good through the day. But a quick glance in the mirror after a few hours reveals a different story. Your hair seems to have become oily and greasy look you never even washed it in the first place!
This means you have oily hair. Hair shafts are protected from breakage, and your scalp stays in good condition due to oil glands. These glands might secrete too much oil due to a variety of reasons such as hormonal fluctuations, hereditary conditions or the natural texture of your hair. Not to worry we have a few remedies for oily hair at home.
Oil secretion is good for the hair as it maintains the roots well but nothing in excess is ever good, and the proof of it lies in the oily hair type. Moreover, realizing how much this bothers the women of today, all the multinational companies rushed to produce many products dedicated to fighting off the excess oil. How many of them work nobody can tell.
What if we promised you a few tips that will definitely result in less oil and more bounce? Along with the added advantage of being pocket-friendly? Here are a few remedies for oily hair at home!
1. Get A Shampoo For Oily Hair
If you have oily hair, it is best to shampoo regularly to keep your hair clean and grease free.
Ideally, choose a shampoo meant for oily hair. If your hair is dry, use a nourishing conditioner only on the hair shafts to keep them moisturized and soft. If you have oily hair along with an oily scalp, the shampoo for oily hair is going to take care of both your scalp and tresses at the same time. Use a pH balanced shampoo which is mild and specially formulated for oily hair.
Massage your scalp thoroughly while shampooing. It is mandatory that you keep your scalp squeaky clean by removing the oil and dirt that tend to stick to your scalp. Always invest in a mild shampoo that is suitable for regular usage.
2. Rinse Thoroughly
When shampooing, ensure that you rinse your hair thoroughly. Any residue will only attract more oil and dirt. Never leave any soap or shampoo residue on hair. It’s very important to wash off every bit of soap lather remaining on your hair to get squeaky-clean hair. The residue will not only make your hair oily and greasy, but harm it too.
3. Shampoo Every Alternate Day
Since sebum, dirt and impurities tend to build up on your scalp, make sure that you shampoo your hair every alternate day. You have to be careful that the shampoo isn’t very harsh. Otherwise, it will strip away the natural oils which is definitely not good. Regular shampooing will help to keep your scalp fresh and clean. Rub your scalp gently with your fingers while applying the shampoo so that no scope is left behind for scalp build ups.
4. Use Specially Designed Shampoos
Use shampoos specially designed for oily hair. Normal hair requires shampoos with a pH between 4.5 and 6.7, but oily hair needs one which goes beyond that.
5. Go For Oil Treatments Once A Week
Oil plays an important role in the hair care treatment. Mix coconut oil with almond oil. Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil. Use this mixture to massage your scalp and hair. Leave it on for one hour. Wash off with a good quality shampoo, and make sure that you wash your hair thoroughly. No trace of oil should be left behind. This will help to nourish your scalp and hair. At the same time, it will not affect your hair negatively since you won’t keep it on for more than an hour. Never go for overnight oil treatments since they can be detrimental to your hair health.
Hot oil treatment directly on the scalp works wonders for treating oily and greasy hair. I am sure you are wondering how? Here is a simple technique.
- Gently massage the oil into the scalp.
- Rinse the oily hair thoroughly afterwards.
Rinsing of oily hair can be done with 2-3 tsp of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar into one mug of water.
This conditions your hair well by hydrating your roots. And by washing away your hair immediately afterwards, you wash off excess hair oil while retaining the necessary amount.
6. Aloe Vera Remedy
One of the best natural remedies for greasy hair is to use Aloe Vera gel. For this, take a cup of mild shampoo and add a tablespoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of fresh Aloe Vera gel. Mix this and store it in a bottle in the fridge. This amount lasts for about a week. The hair should be shampooed every day with this mixture to get rid of greasiness.
You can also make a conditioner using fresh aloe vera gel ( or any good brand packaged form) and mix with it 1tbsp of apple cider vinegar or 2 tbsp of lemon juice or both one one tbsp each. This is really good for all hair types. The result is heavily conditioned hair that isn’t oily at all!
7. Use Conditioners Carefully
Use conditioners only to the ends of your hair, in case they have dried out. They are not recommended for oily hair as they coat the hair. They provide moisture. This moisture only adds to oiliness and greasiness.
8. Avoid Serums And Glossy Gels
Oily hair has a natural shine. Avoid using shining serums and glossy gels on hair. These are simply not required. They only add to your hassles.
9. Avoid Over Brushing Hair
Avoid brushing your hair too much. The oils from your scalp get distributed throughout your hair every time you run a brush.
10. Do Not Rub /Scratch The Scalp
Never rub a towel or scratch your scalp vigorously. This may lead to abrasions, oily dandruff or may excite the oil glands to generate more oil secretion.
11. Baby Powder To Remove Excess Oils
If you are in a hurry with no time to wash your hair, sprinkle some baby powder, let it rest for five minutes and comb well. The powder should soak up the excess oils and make your hair smell good.
12. Diluted Vinegar And Lemon Juice Rinse
Another method to reduce the greasiness is to rinse the hair after shampooing with diluted vinegar or lemon juice. For this, two tablespoons of white vinegar or the juice of one lemon should be mixed with one cup of water. After shampooing, the hair should be rinsed with this mixture and then finally rinsed with tepid water. Both lemon juice and vinegar help in controlling shampoo build-up.
13. Beer Rinse
Any kind of alcohol or beer gives a drying effect to the hair, reducing the greasiness. The higher the content of alcohol, the better it is. For this, half a cup of alcohol or beer should be mixed with a couple of cups of water. The hair should be finally rinsed with this mixture, which will reduce the greasiness as well as make the hair shine.
14. Tea Rinse
After shampooing, the hair can also be rinsed with a diluted tea mixture. Tea contains tannic acid which acts as an astringent, reducing oiliness. For this, boil tea leaves in a glass of water. When it becomes lukewarm, apply the tea water on the scalp and hair, and leave for some time. Rinse with water and shampoo.
15. Mint Rinse
Mint leaf is also a product used for removing greasiness of the hair. Boil a handful of mint leaves in two glasses of water for fifteen to twenty minutes. Add this mixture to the shampoo and apply on your hair. Mint has astringent properties which when applied on the hair removes excess oils.
16. Egg Yolk And Lemon Juice Remedy
Another remedy to remove excess greasiness is to use an egg yolk. It not only removes oiliness but also lends a shine to the hair. For this, take two egg yolks; add a few drops of lemon juice and beat this well. Then apply the mixture on wet hair and leave it for five to seven minutes. After that, rinse thoroughly. To get rid of the greasiness, one must use this mixture at least two or three times a week.
Also, check out this video on how egg yolk helps for oily greasy hair:-
17. Oatmeal Remedy
Oatmeal is another great greasy hair home remedies. Since it is thick in consistency, it soaks up the oil from the scalp and also soothes itchiness. For this, prepare oatmeal and when it cools down, apply a generous amount of it on the scalp and leave for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse and shampoo as usual.
18. Baking Soda
Another method to remove greasiness is with the help of baking soda. But it should be used in a diluted form. Baking soda curbs the greasiness in the hair. Mix two to three tablespoons of baking soda in a liter of water. Apply this on the hair and leave for twenty minutes. Then shampoo the hair as usual. This treatment for oily hair can be done thrice every week.
19. Tea And Rosemary Rinse
A rinse of tea and rosemary also helps in reducing the greasiness of the hair. In a bowl, take two tablespoons of dried rosemary and pour one cup of boiling water over it. Cover and steep it for 20 minutes, strain and cool it. Pour this mixture into a plastic bottle and after each shampoo, splash the hair with this rosemary decoction.
20. Use Henna Treatment
Use henna for conditioning your hair. Henna has a drying effect, which is suitable for an oily scalp. Mix yogurt in your henna pack. Use henna once in two weeks.
21. Eat The Right Kind Of Food
Stay away from oily and processed foods as much as possible. Remember, whatever you eat has a manifestation on your appearance and your body. Eating food items which are deep fried or the ones available in the fast food kiosks will only make your scalp condition worse. Instead of French fries, chips, and burgers, start munching on fresh fruits and vegetables. Include almonds, dates, raisins and berries in your regular diet. Drink fresh fruit juices instead of canned and processed ones or aerated drinks.
22. Drink Lots Of Water
Water is helpful in flushing out toxins from your body. Drink plenty of water to obtain a healthy scalp and hair.
23. Lemon
Lemon comes as a life savior for people with oily hair. To use it as a remedy, mix the juice of two lemons with two cups of distilled water and store it. After every wash, pat your hair dry and massage your hair and scalp using this solution. Keep it on for five minutes and rinse thoroughly.
24. Shampoo After Sweating
If you work out, then do not let the sweat stand on your hair. Shampoo later without fail!
25. Let It Loose
Some people have the habit of tying their hair in a ponytail all the time. The more stress you give to roots of hair, the more oily your hair will be since it stimulates the glands at the roots. Keep your hair loose sometimes to avoid this.
26. Witch Hazel
You can grab a bottle of witch hazel oil, then mix four drops of it to about two tbsp of plain water. Dab it on a cotton ball and apply on scalp. This helps to control oiliness of hair.
This is a medicated product. If you have a sensitive scalp, make sure to check with a specialist before you try it.
Home Remedies For Oily Hair With Dandruff
Here are some more homemade recipes to get rid of dandruff and itchy scalp due to oily hair:
27. Lemon
Lemon, once again, is a tried and tested method for treating dandruff and dirty scalp.
To use:
- Rub half a lemon on your scalp before shower.
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
- Wash your hair off normally with shampoo.
- Try this treatment only occasionally.
28. Tea Leaves And Lemon Juice
Tea leaves with lemon juice is another good way of treating dandruff. It is also good for a shining hair.
To use:
- Boil dry tea leaves in water.
- Strain and then let the water cool completely.
- Add the juice of half a lemon.
- Apply this on the scalp and hair and leave for an hour.
- Wash your hair normally.
29. Snake Gourd Juice
Snake gourd juice is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of dandruff naturally.
To use:
- The juice should be rubbed over the scalp.
- You can also mix it with fresh beet juice to increase its effectiveness.
[ Read: Best Hair Serums For Oily Hair ]
30. Table Salt
Ordinary table salt scrubs off dandruff and dry, flaky scalp skin.
To use:
- Massage salt on your dry scalp right before your shower.
- Then wash off your hair properly.
31. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one ingredient in our kitchen, which is useful for almost everything. It is really effective in removing dandruff too.
To use:
- Make a solution with 1/4th cup of regular apple cider vinegar and a cup of water.
- Massage your scalp with this solution.
- Leave it on your hair while you take your shower.
- Rinsing it out right before you’re ready to get out of the shower.
- Repeat this treatment daily for a week to eliminate dandruff completely.
Pick the ones that suit you the best and forget about oily hair problems!
