When it comes to hair, we all wish we had those soft, shiny and vibrant locks, however for some of us it can be much more challenging to get our hair to cooperate. It’s no secret that hair can get greasy and unmanageable. But there are ways to treat greasy hair naturally! Greasy hair can make you feel self-conscious and can even lead to social anxiety and avoiding social situations – which is unhealthy. But greasy hair doesn’t have to be a social death sentence.
What Causes Greasy Hair?
Grease occurs due to sebum production in the top layers of the skin. Sebum is an oil produced by the sebaceous glands in your scalp. These glands release excess sebum onto your scalp and into the hair follicles, causing an oily coating of the hair strands, resulting in greasy-looking hair. Everybody will experience some level of greasiness at some point. For example, going for days without washing your hair can cause sebum to build-up on the hair strand, leading to greasy hair. However, some people experience greasy hair more severely than others.
Greasy hair may also be genetic. Some people naturally have more or less oil production in their scalp than others, affecting how greasy their hair looks.
unsplash.com
The problem is, if you use a shampoo that strips away all the natural oils in your hair, you’re going to end up with dehydrated and dry hair, unbalanced scalp and oily strands still covered in grease! That’s why I recommend using products with gentle cleansing ingredients instead of harsh detergents.
What are the Different Types of Grease on Hair?
Hair grease is a type of sebum, the oil produced by glands in your skin. Your hair acquires grease when it comes into contact with this oil, which can happen in two different ways:
First, any time you touch your hair, you leave behind some of the natural oils from your skin. This isn’t usually noticeable—it just makes it easier to tame frizzy hair and gives your locks a nice shine.
Second, when dealing with oily hair (which doesn’t necessarily mean “dirty” hair), it becomes greasier more quickly and easily. The amount of grease on your hair depends on the health and cleanliness of your scalp. For example, if you’re prone to getting dandruff and other scalp issues, your scalp produces more oil than normal.
When there’s too much grease on your hair, it can weigh down the strands, making them look dull and lifeless and causing breakage. But if the level of grease is ideal for your scalp, then the oil nourishes and strengthens those same strands.
How to Eliminate Oil on Your Head Using The Right Ingredients?
Let’s take a look at some natural ingredients that are ideal for cleansing your scalp and hair, and maintaining healthy oil levels.
Aloe Vera – Using aloe vera gel on your hair and scalp can help to control sebum production and prevent hair from becoming greasy. Rubbing aloe vera gel into your scalp will help clear up dandruff and other scalp conditions while leaving behind a pleasant smell.
Aloe vera is great for hair. Not only is it an excellent conditioner, but it can also be used as a deep treatment to cure dry skin and excessively oily hair. It adds more volume to your hair and prevents split ends. It even helps you get rid of dandruff when combined with other ingredients and applied to the scalp.
Tea Tree Oil – A greasy scalp is a common problem for many people, and tea tree oil is often used as an ingredient in products that treat the issue. I vouch for this remedy since I found that tea tree oil does help to reduce sebum, or oily secretions, from the scalp. The properties of tea tree oil also work to heal damaged hair follicles and prevent further breakage.
If you have curly or thick hair, you can use tea tree oil to remove excess moisture and create definition in your hairstyle. It also helps treat dandruff and other scalp issues and does an amazing job of conditioning and nourishing the hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar helps eliminate sebum from a greasy scalp, remove toxins from the body, and helps balance pH levels. Apple cider vinegar is also great for hair because it helps to remove buildup from styling products and leaves your strands shinier.
The best part about ACV is that it can be used in place of store-bought shampoos and conditioners, making it an inexpensive addition to any beauty routine. Apart from cleansing your scalp, I have found that it also helps in promoting hair growth, and that’s not just for my head but my beard too. (This is a great way for guys to reduce sebum and promote healthy and luscious beard growth).
unsplash.com
Natural Remedies for Treating Greasy Hair
Dealing with greasy hair can be annoying, but there are natural remedies you can try!
Lemon (or lime) juice: Squeeze some fresh citrus into your hand and rub it gently on your scalp. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off with cold water.
Sugar: Rubbing your hair with sugar will exfoliate the scalp and make your hair shinier. It also helps make your hair less greasy by removing some oil.
Coconut oil: Massage coconut oil into your scalp and leave it overnight. Shampoo out in the morning!
Conclusion
Many factors can cause greasy hair, but it is especially common when people’s scalps get the most exposure to harsh elements in the winter months. Greasy hair can also be quite embarrassing, as it makes it difficult to wear certain hairstyles and is generally unattractive as it looks dirty (even if it isn’t). An untreated greasy scalp can cause dandruff and an unpleasant odor.
Natural ingredients seem to be the best answer for getting rid of a greasy scalp, as they tend not to dry out the hair and scalp as much as more chemical-based products do, which can make matters worse by stripping away the natural oils meant to protect the skin and hair from drying out in the first place. Using a product with natural ingredients that helps thicken and strengthen your hair will also help it grow faster without damaging it or making it fall out prematurely due to breakage.
