The environment and weather can affect how quickly your hair gets greasy. “Many people find their hair is greasier in the warmer months,” says Dominic Roach, Creative Director of Colour at Butchers Salon. “Higher temperatures often mean you sweat more, which mixes with the sebum on the scalp spreading more greasiness.”
You’re up against extra humidity, too. “With increased humidity, there is more moisture in the air and therefore more moisture in your hair,” he adds.
Even our summer accessories can exacerbate the problem. “Sunglasses pushed back onto the top of the head help transfer oil and grease. So do sun accessories like hats, which make the roots flatter and greasier,” says Dominic.
5. Diet plays a part, too
“Just like the skin on your face, your scalp can be prone to oiliness from the foods we eat, such as eating a fatty or sugary diet,” says Anabel.
Gym-goers will need to wash their hair more after a sweaty workout while your styling routine can play into how quickly your hair gets oily, too. “Using heavy styling products can also make your roots greasy, as can using a dirty hairbrush,” says Anabel who recommends washing your hairbrush every 2-4 weeks.
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Can you train your hair to last longer between washes?
“It’s a myth that you can train your hair to produce less oil with less washes, as so many factors contribute to oil production,” Helen explains.
If you’re experiencing oily roots and hair, make sure to wash your hair daily, or every other day to ensure you are cleansing the scalp of excess oil and buildup, she recommends.
“It would be quite difficult to over-wash your hair,” adds Anabel. “’More often than not’ is always a good principle to obtain the best scalp conditions for healthy hair growth.” This she, says, translates into every day for fine hair, every other day for medium hair and no more than three days apart for coarse or coiled hair textures.
“You take your hair and scalp to the same places you take your face, and it gets just as dirty,” she explains. “Your scalp is also a living tissue; it sweats, produces oils and sheds skin cells. You wouldn’t leave more than three days between washing your face, and you likely wouldn’t wear the same outfit more than a few times before washing it – apply the same thinking to your hair and scalp.”
Anabel also points out that you can’t “train your hair to be less greasy by washing it less. Oil is produced on the scalp (not the hair), and once your scalp is cleansed it will simply continue producing oil at the same rate.”
What are the best shampoos and conditioners for greasy hair?
Of course it’s not just about how you’re washing your hair, but whether you’re using the best products for your hair.
Iain Sallis, trichologist and founder of Hairmedic, says it’s essential to select your shampoo and conditioner carefully. He advises avoiding any shampoo and conditioner labelled with the words: ‘dry’, ‘damaged’, ‘smoothing’ or ‘glossy’.