Use dry shampoo: Dry shampoo is an excellent way to absorb excess oil and give your hair a freshly washed look. It extends the time between washes without stressing the scalp. Apply it directly to the greasy areas at the roots and comb it out well.
Touch hair less: Frequent touching or combing distributes the natural oils from the scalp to the lengths faster, which makes the hair look greasy. Make sure you touch your hair less often and avoid combing it unnecessarily.
Switch to mild shampoos: When washing your hair, use mild, sulphate-free shampoos that are gentle on the scalp and don’t cleanse too aggressively. This means the scalp is less dried out and produces oil less quickly.
Put your hair up more often: If your hair looks greasy on the second or third day, it can help to put it up in a loose bun or ponytail. This makes oily hair less noticeable and still looks well-groomed.
Gradually extend the washing routine: Start by gradually delaying hair washes. If you used to wash every day, try washing only every other day at first. After a few weeks, you can try extending the interval to three days. Your scalp will slowly get used to the new rhythm and produce less sebum. Try it out!
Cold rinse after shampooing: Don’t wash your hair with water that is too hot as this stimulates sebum production. A final rinse with cold water helps to close the pores and reduce sebum production.
Adjust your diet and care products: A healthy diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals also promotes a healthy scalp. You can also use natural bristle brushes to evenly distribute the natural oils in your hair and nourish the ends.
Wait — can the temperature of the water impact hair?
In short, yes. The most important thing to keep an eye on when you’re washing your hair (after the shampoo you’re using, of course) is water temperature. While sulphates can strip your hair and scalp of its natural, moisturising oils, having the heat cranked up on your shower can do the same. The cooler the temperature of the water you rinse with, the better shape your hair will be in afterwards.
Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and SheaMoisture ambassador said: “The temperature of your water is actually a really important element when it comes to your hair care routine. I always recommend washing your hair with room temperature water. If your shower is too hot, the water removes all of the naturally-produced oils that strengthen your hair. A cold rinse at the end can actually maximise shine.”
Can you wash your hair without shampoo?
Another tactic? Washing your hair without shampoo altogether. The no-poo discussion is popping up more and more frequently on social media. Users are testing whether their hair changes for the better when they use only water.
If no shampoo doesn’t work for you, try using very little shampoo and only massaging it into the scalp and hair at the roots. This removes most of the oil, and the lengths still don’t get too dry.
Hair washing tips and no-gos for every hair type
Apply shampoo, rinse and done? If you want your hair to be not only clean but also well-groomed, there are a few more things to consider when shampooing. You should avoid these mistakes.
Mistake no. 1: forgetting to brush your hair before washing it
Do you jump straight into the shower in the morning without detangling your hair beforehand? Not good. Long hair in particular should be brushed before shampooing. This helps to remove residue from various styling products and also to prevent hair breakage. Wet hair is particularly sensitive and breaks off quickly. Taming the hair before washing it prevents it from becoming too tangled in the shower and having to be detangled.
Mistake no. 2: washing too hot
The higher the temperature, the more thoroughly the hair is washed? Not at all! Water that is too hot dries out the hair and makes it look brittle after washing. It’s therefore better to use lukewarm water and rinse out the conditioner with cold water for an extra dose of shine.
Mistake no. 3: using too much shampoo for hair care
The more, the better? No. A hazelnut-sized amount is all you need to massage the shampoo into the scalp and roots. Finally, a conditioner is used in the second step to care for the lengths. This not only saves time because less shampoo is rinsed out of the hair faster, but also money!
Mistake no. 4: using “any” product or washing hair with soap instead of shampoo
The bottle is pretty and the scent is delicious? These are definitely the wrong criteria when choosing a shampoo. Soap has no place on the head either, it is too drying.
Mistake no. 5: irritating the scalp
Have you heard somewhere that scalp massages stimulate blood circulation and therefore hair growth? That’s absolutely true. However, it is wrong to scrub your scalp like crazy and apply too much pressure. This is especially true for those with naturally oily hair. After all, a massage also stimulates the sebaceous glands, which, when overproduced, cause the dreaded greasy helmet.