If you suffer from very oily hair, you know how nerve-wracking it can be. You've just washed your hair and it feels greasy again, becomes stringy and even looks unkempt. We would like to introduce you to a few causes, tips and recipes for oily hair to help you fight against oily hair.
There are various causes
Oily hair occurs due to sebum that is produced in the sebaceous glands and secreted regularly. Basically, this process is normal and even useful because it is intended to prevent the scalp from drying out and thus prevent it from drying outdry hairpreserve. In this way the cells become more durable. Furthermore, sebum also has a protective function. The film that is created during secretion makes it more difficult for pathogens and parasites to penetrate the skin or scalp hair. It is even recommended to leave the sebum layer on your head for a longer period of time from time to time, i.e. to stop washing your hair for a certain period of time. You can do this if you are at home for a few days or if you are sick. The natural fats from the sebaceous glands have a positive effect on both the scalp and the hair.
natural recipes to help
But some people suffer from an overproduction of sebum. To be more precise, the hair becomes greasy more quickly than normal. The causes for this can vary. These can be hormonal fluctuations, such as those that occur during puberty or menopause, but also due to stressful situations. And of course nutrition also plays an important role. If you eat a lot of fatty food, it also affects your hair. A healthy change in diet can often help counteract greasy hair.
Other possible onesCauses, or what you should avoid, you can now find out:
avoid through healthy eating
- It may be that your sebaceous glands have become accustomed to the washing cycle and have formed a balance between producing and washing out the sebum film. For example, if you usually wash your hair every day and then suddenly skip a day, overproduction occurs.
You can now either go back to washing your hair every day or get your sebaceous glands used to it. Simply skip a day between washing cycles and your sebaceous glands will quickly get used to it and greasy hair will appear less often. You can also extend this period and, for example, take a break of two or three days before washing your hair again. Please note, however, that this tip against oily hair will only help if the cause is not hormone-related.
Use a comb instead of a brush
– Make sure that the hair is always exposed to the air and avoid wearing caps and hats, as well as strict braids.
– Wash your hair with lukewarm water, not hot, as this stimulates sebum production.
– Use a mild shampoo that does not contain silicones. Ideally it should contain herbs such as chamomile, lavender, coltsfoot or rosemary.
– Avoid blow-drying your hair, rather let it air dry or use cold air when blow-drying and work your way from the ends of the hair towards the roots.
– Use a comb instead of a brush, as this distributes the sebum in the hair and makes the hair appear greasy more quickly.
– Reduce the use of hairdressing products such as mousse or hair gel and avoid frequent coloring and toning of hair.
– Regularly massage the scalp in circular movements to regulate the sebaceous glands. You may have greasy hair shortly afterwards as the sebum in the gland is expressed. Massage once or twice a day initially and do not wash it off immediately afterwards.
Head massage to regulate the sebaceous glands
– If the scalp is too dry and is the reason for the overproduction of sebum, it is recommended to use moisturizing lotions or oils and shampoos. For the latter, however, you should definitely choose mild versions (e.g. baby shampoos), as most shampoos are aggressive and can dry out the skin, which leads to overproduction. Powders with a moisturizing effect are also available.
– In addition to the mild shampoo, massage almond, jojoba or coconut oil into oily hair and leave it to work overnight. The next morning, wash your hair again with the mild shampoo.
Almond, jojoba or coconut oil
Hair treatments and conditioners
You also have the optionnatural meansto try out that you can make at home. Various herbs are used to create hair treatments and hair conditioners that are intended to soothe the scalp and regulate sebum production. You should use them at least once a week. If you wish, you can also combine the care with the conditioners. These are applied after washing. Some of them stay in the hair while others are washed out.
You need two teaspoons of honey. This should be liquid. Mix it with two tablespoons of natural yogurt. Massage the resulting hair treatment into your washed hair, then rinse it out with lukewarm water after 10 minutes. Natural yogurt is a very popular and proven remedy.
Mix two egg yolks with a little brandy. This treatment sounds a bit strange, but it is very effective. Leave the hair treatment to work for 20 minutes after applying it to washed hair and rinse it out. Finally, you should use the rinse with apple cider vinegar and water.
Mix 10 tablespoons of healing clay with 200 milliliters of water. If you want and can tolerate essential oils, you can also add two to three drops of rosemary oil to this treatment. Apply this paste to your scalp immediately after washing your hair and leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes. Then rinse your hair well with lukewarm water. The healing clay binds toxins and promotes elimination, while the rosemary balances sebum production.
This hair treatment is quick and easy. You need an egg yolk, which you mix with a teaspoon of walnut oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Wash your hair as usual and apply the finished treatment. Leave it on for half an hour and then rinse it out with plenty of water.
For this hair conditioner you only need these two ingredients. Mix half a liter of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Apply after washing your hair without rinsing.
Make a strong chamomile tea. To do this, pour four tea bags with one liter of hot water. Remove the tea bags after 15 minutes and allow the tea to cool thoroughly before massaging this hair conditioner for oily hair into the scalp after washing your hair. Chamomile calms the sebaceous glands.
You need half a liter of water, which you mix with five tablespoons of healing clay. Like all other conditioners, it is applied after washing the hair, but washed out after a few minutes of exposure. This conditioner can be used every day.
Pour half a liter of boiling water onto a handful of sage leaves. After 15 minutes, remove the leaves and add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
The hair conditioner can stay in the hair. Prepare half a liter of lukewarm water. Add two drops of sage and two drops of mint essential oil. Mix everything well and then add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Make a tea with 30 grams of lavender and two liters of water. Once cooled and after a rest period of four hours, the conditioner is massaged into washed hair and does not need to be rinsed out afterwards.
This rinse is simply prepared like the tea itself. After massaging it into the scalp, you don't need to rinse it out. Don't forget to let the tea cool down well beforehand!
You can also prepare tea here. To do this, use 0.75 liters of water and 70 grams of dried rosemary. The rosemary is removed at the end, but only when the tea has cooled. It is best to use a sieve. Massage the conditioner into your scalp without rinsing afterwards.
Bring half a liter of water to the boil and add a handful of coltsfoot flowers. The tea becomes dark in color, which also means you can remove the flowers. After application, this hair conditioner stays in the hair.
This recipe may seem a bit strange at first, but it has a great effect on oily hair. All you need is regular beer, which you massage into your washed hair at room temperature. The beer rinse has to be washed out afterwards.
You can add various natural products from the above recipes to your shampoo to combat oily hair. But use a mild shampoo. Essential oils from rosemary and lavender, but also bergamot and lemon balm, are suitable for this. Regarding quantity, you should note that for every 2 tablespoons of shampoo add a drop of each oil. And natural yogurt is also a great additive that you can mix into the shampoo.
If these tips don't help, you should consult a dermatologist. They can identify the exact cause and, if necessary, prescribe a medicated shampoo.