Wondering how to get rid of greasy hair fast? Well, one way to solve this annoying problem is to regularly cleanse your hair using the right hair products. If that doesn’t work, try the following home remedies for greasy hair that are outlined in this article.
How To Get Rid Of Greasy Hair
Deal with stress properly
Fact: You can’t avoid stress but you can manage it.
As you may know, stress is often linked to greasy hair. Experts believe that an increase in stress hormones (cortisol) causes excessive production of sebum, which sits in the hair making it oily and sticky.
Ways to Relieve Stress
- Get your 7 to 9 hours sleep. If you have sleeping difficulties, set up a fixed time for sleeping and waking up. Use your bedroom for sleeping only. Enter your bedroom only when you’re really tired. Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic, and sugary drinks 4 hours before your bedtime.
- Minimize or avoid hanging out with toxic people. Instead, spend more time with your loved ones and optimistic people.
- Exercise daily to increase your endorphins, a.k.a. your “happy” hormones.
- De-stress by performing relaxation techniques, like yoga, meditation, or by doing your favorite activities.
- Repeat to self: I can’t control other things or people, but I can control my reactions.
Use plants and herbs with astringent properties
In cosmetics, astringents are used to shrink pores, tone the skin, and remove dirt and excess oil. Now, I wouldn’t recommend that you use commercial astringents to get rid of greasy hair because they can be too harsh and drying. Use plants and herbs with natural astringent properties, like the following:
- Aloe vera – Combine 3 ounces of aloe vera gel, 3 ounces of water, and 3 drops of diluted bergamot oil (which is great for greasy hair). Pour the mixture in a dark spray bottle. Shake well before use.
- Tea – Depending on your hair length, steep two bags of green tea—of course, you can choose other varieties—for 2 minutes. You can either mix the infusion with your shampoo or use it to rinse your hair after.
- Witch hazel extract – The easiest way to use this is to purchase an organic shampoo containing 100% witch hazel extract.
- Lemon or lime juice – Squeeze out the juice of one whole lemon. Dip your hairbrush into the mixture, and then apply evenly on your hair.
- Rosewater – Like witch hazel, it’s easier to just buy this online or at Vitamin Shoppe or your local pharmacies. The great thing about rosewater are it promotes blood circulation, fights germs, and moisturizes the scalp and hair.
Clean your hair and scalp using a low pH shampoo
Fact: The pH of a shampoo affects your hair health.
Alkaline shampoos, such as baby shampoos (pH 7.0), open up your hair cuticle, which makes your strands susceptible to damage. [1]
Hair has a pH range of 4.0 to 5.0, which is acidic. Unfortunately, excessive shampooing could disturb the normal pH levels of your hair by making it more alkaline. Experts believe this could lead to greasy hair. So, obviously, you have to restore its natural acidic state to solve the problem.
For one, you can do acid hair rinses. You can mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for every 1 glass of water. Let it sit for 30 minutes, or until your hair completely dries off.
Second, you have to use shampoos and conditioners that are slightly acidic. Once your hair is back to its healthy state, use a pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner.
Unfortunately, many companies don’t clearly indicate the pH level of their products. That’s why you should do your research beforehand. You could also use basic pH test strips to know for sure. They’re not going to give you the exact figures, but they’re accurate enough for this purpose. Or, you could just contact the manufacturer online or through their toll free number.
Essential oils can help oily hair sufferers
I know it sounds ridiculous using oils for greasy hair but there are a number of essential oils that have a cleansing and balancing effect on sebum production. Examples are lavender, patchouli, rosemary, thyme, geranium, lemon, clary sage, palmarosa, and bergamot (use with caution because it could cause sun sensitivity).
Dilution Tips
- As a general rule, combine 3 to 5 drops of essential oil (or oils) with 2 teaspoons of base oil. If you have a sensitive skin, you may dilute the essential oil further to prevent negative reactions.
- Pour your carrier oil first before adding your essential oil one drop at a time.
- Never use the same essential oil for 7 to 14 consecutive days.
- Store the mixture in a dark-tinted bottle (preferably made of glass) in order to prevent compromising its potency.
Before you use any essential oil, consult your doctor first, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from any medical condition. Perform a skin patch test one hour before using to rule out possible allergic reactions.
Make a hair mask using egg whites
Well, there aren’t exactly medical clinical trials to back up this claim, but many swear by the effectiveness of egg whites in removing the oiliness from the skin and hair.
Hair Mask Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites (beaten)
- 4 ounces of lemon juice
Steps
- Combine all the ingredients together. Whisk well.
- Apply evenly to your hair, and then let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Other Home Remedies for Greasy Hair
Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural astringent that helps to get rid of oily hair. Mix vinegar and water with equal amounts and apply it onto your hair. Wait for 15 minutes before rinsing it off thoroughly.
Baking soda
Mix a spoonful of baking soda in the water and rinse your hair with it. Baking soda will leave your hair clean looking and soft.
Avoid touching and brushing your hair excessively
Too much brushing and combing your hair will spread the greasiness to the other parts of the hair. Style your hair couple times a day only.
Conclusion
There’s no “one size fits all” solution for greasy hair. I highly recommend you play around with the ingredients, measurements, and combinations to see what works best for your unique problem. Don’t overdo things, though. A hair that’s completely devoid of natural oil (sebum) is dull, coarse, and tough to manage.
I hope this helps. If you have other effective home remedies for greasy hair, please feel free to share them.
References:
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158629/
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