Dry shampoos, headwear, strategic hairstyles, and more can hide signs of oily hair in a pinch. But if you want to avoid these hassles in the first place, optimizing the way you wash your hair is key.
If your goal is to fight overproduction of sebum, the internet is full of conflicting information about what type of shampoo to use and how often. Here, certified trichologist Taylor Rose jumps right into how to choose the best shampoo for oily hair and how to incorporate this product into your daily hair care routine.
A: To prevent excess sebum production, it’s best to use a light shampoo and a clarifying shampoo that you don’t use as often, says Rose. Just as important as choosing the right shampoo is determining how often you wash your hair based on the needs of your scalp.
You’ll know your hair is greasy if it starts getting greasy within a few hours of taking a shower, says Ross. “Straight hair definitely looks fatter than curly hair,” she says. “This is because with straight hair, the oils on the scalp move faster and more easily along the hair shaft. So it makes [the hair] greasy.”
If you have an oily scalp, oil along with dirt and product residue can lead to buildup, so using a clarifying shampoo once a week can be helpful, says Ross. Clarifying shampoos are essentially more powerful versions of regular shampoos due to ingredients like vinegar or exfoliants, but as Shape previously reported, it’s best not to use them regularly because they can dry out your hair.
Ross says that every time you wash your hair over the next week, you should use a less intense formula. “I generally recommend mild daily shampoos for oily hair because they are lightweight, don’t irritate the scalp, and are suitable for everyday use,” she says.
To choose the best shampoo for oily hair, look for words like “mild,” “mild,” or “daily” on the bottle, says Ross. Ideally, you’ll find a formula free of silicones, which weigh down your hair, or sulfates, which are cleansing ingredients that can be too drying when used with clarifying shampoos, she says.
If you have not decided how often you need to wash your hair, even the best shampoo for oily hair will not solve all your problems. “[When managing oil production], the shampoo you use is absolutely important, but I would argue that the frequency of washing will become even more important,” Ross said.
Ross points out that overwashing your hair can actually cause your scalp to produce more sebum, which can make it difficult to figure out how often to wash your hair. If you have oily hair and currently wash your hair daily, consider trying it once every three days for a few weeks. If it takes longer for your hair to become greasy, you may be washing your hair too much and should be washing it every three days, says Ross. But if your hair continues to be oily shortly after showering, your genes may be to blame, not over-shampooing, which means you should go back to shampooing every day or try every other day, she says.
Ross says that in addition to using the best shampoo for oily hair, it’s a good idea to use a monthly scalp scrub or add a scalp massager to your routine to boost protection against excess buildup.
Finally, don’t ignore how you sleep with your hair down. “If you can, tie your hair up at night with a barrette or scarf so it doesn’t get in your face,” says Ross. “People with oily scalps often also have an oily face, which makes your hair look quicker and greasy.”
In summary, alternating clarifying shampoos with light, mild shampoos can reduce excess sebum production. It can also be helpful to figure out how often you should wash your hair, take extra steps to exfoliate, and brush your hair before bed.
Post time: Oct-04-2022