Healthy Tips Blog

Greasy hair never seems to stay fresh and clean, and can look heavy and flat. Within a few hours of shampooing it refuses to stay full and light and it takes on a stringy appearance. Along with looking oily, greasy hair can appear lifeless, lank and dull. Does this sound familiar to you? Do you ask yourself “why is my hair greasy?” Even if they wash it everyday, others can judge that the sufferer does not wash their hair frequently and doesn’t have good hygiene. This can cause much social embarrassment.

The grease in hair grease is oil and is called Sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands which lie immediately under the skin in you scalp and each hair has a sebaceous gland. Greasy hair is in fact healthy hair, and the oil protects each hair strand from dryness and split ends. Sebum lubricates hair skin and provides a protective barrier to prevent drying. This oil is your own built-in moisturizer.

Greasy hair is excess of sebum in the hair and comes as a result of an over production of sebum (oil) from over active sebaceous glands, stimulated by hormones called androgens. Androgens are male hormones that are present in both men and women, but are higher in men. Androgens do two things: First, they enlarge the sebaceous glands in the skin. Second, they cause these glands to increase oil production.

Because hormones play a role in the production of sebum, one of the causes of greasy hair is fluctuating hormone levels. Greasy hair is most commonly found in teenagers going through puberty, in women because of their monthly cycle or pregnancy, and older women going through the menopause. Stress is also known to affect hormone levels and can therefore be a contributory factor towards greasy hair. People with fine hair often find that they suffer from excessive greasiness, as they have more hair and follicles meaning there are more glands on the scalp, each producing sebum.

There are several external causes of greasy hair. Washing your hair too frequently can cause more sebum to be produced as frequent washing can strip the hair of oils, to combat this sebaceous glands excrete sebum. Sebaceous glands can be stimulated through vigorous scrubbing of the hair and scalp while washing. Touching your hair can also stimulate sebaceous glands, along with vigorous hair brushing which carries oil throughout the hair. The over-use of styling products can cause hair to look greasy as the products can build-up at the roots. Everyday environmental pollutants can also cause hair to look greasy.

There can also be a number of internal causes of greasy hair. I have already mentioned fluctuating hormone levels; however one of the leading causes when it comes to causes of greasy hair is your diet. Diets in the Western world are typically much greasier, higher in fat and sugar, processed and contain additives, the high fat content increasing levels of oil in the skin, potentially causing greasy hair. A diet that is low in vitamin B can also be a cause of greasy hair, along with the hormones often found in the meat of Western diets which can add to unbalanced hormones.

The secret of how to treat, cure, prevent and avoid greasy hair is to treat it from both the outside, and the inside. For the outside: avoid brushing your hair too frequently, and when you brush avoid brushing your hair vigorously. When you wash your hair, the best shampoo for greasy hair is a mild-ph extra cleansing/clarifying shampoo that is formulated for greasy hair. Avoid moisturizing shampoos as they can leave some oil in your hair to protect against dryness. When washing your hair, avoid scrubbing your hair and scalp vigorously, lightly massage your hair and scalp instead.

For the best results, the longer you leave the shampoo in, the better. If necessary, rinse your hair and shampoo again. The question of how often to wash your hair is as unique as the individual. The ideal frequency is 1-2 times per week, but to find your own balance start with washing everyday then reduce that to find a good balance of washing and oil production. If you use a hairdryer when styling your hair don’t let it get too hot as heat will stimulate more oil production. When it comes to conditioning your hair, again use a conditioner designed for greasy hair. Apply conditioner to the mid and ends of your hair, but not the roots.

On the inside: with your diet, Reduce the number of foods you eat that contain white flour such as pasta, pastries and bread. Increase the amount of green and leafy vegetables in your diet, along with seeds, nuts, whole grains, salads, fresh fish and vegetables. Avoid sugar and foods containing sugar e.g. soft drinks, biscuits and cakes. Reduce the amount of fat in your diet, avoiding fried, greasy and fatty foods. Consider supplementing vitamin B in your diet. Reduce and eliminate as much stress as you can from your day to day life.