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So what exactly causes all that oil? "The reason hair gets oily is because sebaceous glands in your scalp produce excess sebum, which travels down the hair shaft," says celebrity hairstylist and hair thinning expert Angelo David Pisacreta of the Angelo David Salon in New York City. Causes of excess sebum (the natural oil produced by your scalp) can include genes, hormonal imbalances, humidity, your diet, or something as specific as a disease called seborrheic dermatitis, which also causes scaly patches and will need to be managed with the help of your dermatologist. (And keep in mind that you may also need to visit your derm if the problem persists after you've tried at-home solutions.)
To treat oiliness at home, Pisacreta suggests shampooing less. That may sound counterintuitive, but it works. That's because shampoo strips your hair of oil, and the more you use it, the more sebum your scalp produces in response.
Although it may be tough at first to break the daily habit, Pisacreta recommends washing every other day. "Washing every day can irritate your scalp, dehydrate your hair and fade your color," he says.
[post_ads]That being said, when you first skip shampoos, your hair will look greasy for those initial few washes as it adapts to producing less oil. Your not-so-secret weapon until your scalp adjusts: dry shampoo. If dry shampoo hasn't worked for you in the past, you're probably not using it correctly, says Pisacreta. The best way to do it is by first brushing your hair, then shaking the can of dry shampoo and misting it just on the roots, keeping the bottle a few inches away from your scalp. Then distribute the product evenly by brushing out your hair again, says Pisacreta. If you skip brushing post-spritz, the product can clog pores and result in overproduction of sebum.
For days your oily scalp needs more help, Pisacreta recommends two simple styles—a messy ponytail or flirty curls.
To make the ponytail, mist Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Two Day Extender & Oil Absorbing Dry Shampoo ($10, redken.com) onto your scalp evenly, says Pisacreta. Next, use your fingertips to brush your hair back and create natural texture, securing the ponytail with a hair tie.
Curls work by making greasy hair look less flat. "When your hair gets greasy, it tends to get flatter,” says Pisacreta. So to fluff it up, section off your hair, and wrap sections around a curling iron to create loose curls. Brush out with your fingertips, and finish with texturizing or sea salt spray.
