How To Get Rid of Oily Hair: Practical Guide For Men

Oily hair is natural and happens to all of us, but that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. To keep your hair from getting greasy, you need to find a routine that strikes the right balance between regular washing and letting your scalp do its thing.

In this article, you’ll learn about the root cause of oily hair, brush up on what it means for your hair health, and comb through a few tips on how to manage it.

What causes oily hair

The greasy buildup matting your mane actually comes from your scalp rather than the hair itself. Almost every follicle across your body has a gland dedicated to releasing natural oil (called sebum) to coat its strand of hair. In the right amounts, this oil hydrates and lubricates, but it can accumulate over time, leading to oily hair. Since your scalp has so many follicles all in one place, your head hair can be a hotbed of oily activity. 

Here are a few more common factors that can cause oily hair in men.

Hair type and texture

The type of hair you have will reflect how it sits on your head. Men with straight hair tend to notice it gets greasy faster because it sits closer to the skin, where it can pick up more oil. Curly hair fluffs out away from the skin, keeping it cleaner for longer.

Overwashing your hair

Washing your hair removes the buildup of oil, but doing this too often can cause your glands to overproduce to compensate. You don’t need to wash your hair every day . Tone it down to a couple of times a week if you don’t want to look like you went swimming in an oil slick.

Underwashing and product buildup

On the flip side, if you don’t wash your hair enough, the oil in your hair will build up, leaving you with a greasy look. If you use any gels or hairsprays, that stuff will build up on your scalp, too, potentially leaving you with clogged pores. Wash regularly to clear it away.

Stress level

When you’re under lots of stress, your body produces a hormone called cortisol. As part of the fight-or-flight response, cortisol tells your hair follicles to produce more sebum, causing noticeably oilier hair. 

Diet 

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can throw your body out of whack. For example, zinc helps regulate the amount of oil your hair follicles produce. Similarly, vitamin B6 regulates your hormones, and a deficiency can mean your scalp doesn’t know how much oil it should make.

Is greasy hair bad or healthy?

The oil that causes greasy hair is perfectly natural, but that doesn’t mean you should let it build up. It can be uncomfortable, and when you have too much oil in your hair, you’ll feel weighed down and grimy.

The longer you continue bad hair care habits, the worse the greasiness problem will be. When your scalp’s natural oil production gets out of balance, it can be tough to get it back on track. The only way to do that is to stick to a consistent routine. If that doesn’t work, try speaking to a dermatologist.

How to make hair less greasy

Now that you know why grease build-up happens, let’s discuss how to get rid of oily hair. Remember, these are consistent, subtle lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes.

Adjust your wash schedule

As a general rule of thumb, you should wash your hair once every two to three days. If you’re especially active and build up a sweat during the day, you might need to increase that a bit.

Shampoo the right way

Focus on your scalp when you’re shampooing . Really get in there, scrubbing in circles with the pads of your fingers to break up all the built-up oils and products beneath your hair. Don’t neglect the rinse, either — you need to clear all that shampoo off to give your scalp a clean slate.

Find the right shampoo for an oily scalp

Try different shampoos to find the one that gives you the best grease-busting outcome. Full & Thick shampoos give your hair volume that’ll keep it feeling cleaner for longer.

Condition only the ends

A mistake lots of men make is rubbing conditioner into their scalp, where it can get trapped and build up. Your roots don’t actually need much conditioning since they’re healthy, new hair growth. Instead, just condition the ends of your hair. As a bonus, this will prevent damage like split ends.

Rinse with cooler water

After shampooing thoroughly, bring the water temperature down for a nice, cool rinse. This will lock in all the moisture you just provided and close up your pores.

Keep your hands off your mane

Running your hands through your hair all the time might make you feel fabulous, but you’re really just smearing your hair oils around. Style your hair and let it do its thing until you wash it again. Otherwise, you’ll probably find yourself needing to wash it more often to clean up all the product you’ve pushed into your scalp.

Clean your brush and styling tools

Oil from your hair can build up on your brushes and styling tools, too. Regularly clean everything you use to brush or style your hair so you don’t reintroduce oils into your hair. Soaking a plastic brush or comb for 10 minutes in warm water and shampoo is usually all you need. For wooden tools, try to only soak the bristles in the water, not the handle, as moisture can make wood crack.

Plan washes around sweat sessions

Plan your showers around when you sweat the most. If you sweat a lot, still shower, but consider only washing your hair every other time . When you’re consistent, your scalp will follow your lead.

Level up your hair routine with Dr. Squatch

Getting rid of oily hair is all about balancing your washing routine with your scalp’s natural oil production. Combine consistency and smart hygiene habits with the right products for your hair type and texture.

Dr. Squatch’s natural shampoos cleanse your hair and scalp without stripping them of the stuff that keeps your mane looking great. Instead, they use Mother Nature’s finest ingredients, like oat protein and shea butter, leaving your hair feeling clean and full.

FAQ

Does wearing a hat or helmet make hair greasier?

Sure does. Headwear presses your hair into your scalp, where it collects all the natural oils your glands produce. Hats and helmets also trap in heat, leading to sweat that mixes with oils, meaning even dirtier hair. If you don’t wash your hat often enough, it’ll also build up oil and bacteria and reapply them to your scalp every time you wear it.

Can the ingredients in your shampoo make hair oilier?

Shampoos with sulfates can strip natural oils from your scalp, causing your glands to overproduce to compensate. Keep doing this, and you’ll find yourself in a vicious cycle. To break free, use natural shampoos that clear away excess oil without completely stripping your hair of the good stuff.