Why Does My Hair Get Greasy So Fast? Plus How to Fix It

Is greasy hair weighing you down? When your scalp is oily, it can be hard to know what to do. Should you wash it more? Wash it less? Switch up your shampoo? The questions are seemingly endless. That’s why we’ve created this guide to rebalancing your scalp, no matter the cause of greasy roots. Follow these tips to keep your hair feeling fresh, ultra-clean and manageable, whether it’s oily yet dry, or fine and craving a volume boost…

WHAT CAUSES GREASY HAIR?

There are many reasons your hair can get greasy fast, from – quite simply – your genetics, to the types of products you use, to an irregular hair washing schedule. You might even find your scalp feels oily quicker when it’s hot outside or when you’ve been working out; this is because sweat messes up your style and can leave the roots greasy. Putting conditioning products too close to your roots can also make your hair feel greasy rather than clean, or it might just be that your scalp needs a harder-working shampoo. Whatever the cause, the tips below will help you rebalance your hair, so locks keep that fresh feeling for longer.

1. USE A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO FOR A DEEPER CLEANSE

First up, reassess your shampoo. Are you using a heavy formula? Then it might be time to add in a weekly clarifying wash to deeply cleanse the roots. A Purifying Shampoo is the perfect pick to purify your scalp and remove product build-up; ideal if you tend to use waxes, gels, lotions or oils to style your hair. And if that build-up is really stubborn (because sometimes that extra wax is just needed!), try massaging the shampoo into the roots of dry hair first, before rinsing out thoroughly. We recommend you alternate this hard-working shampoo with a formula tailored to your hair type, like INVIGO Volume Boost Bodifying Shampoo to amplify volume, or NutriCurls Micellar Shampoo to care for curls and waves.

2. APPLY A LIGHT CONDITIONER TO MID-LENGTHS AND ENDS

Keep conditioner away from the root area and apply it to the mid-lengths and ends only. This way, you’ll avoid adding too much moisture to an already-oily scalp. Choose something light, such as Elements Renewing Conditioner, which hydrates without weighing locks down. Then, on days when locks need an extra boost of moisture, treat the ends to Elements Renewing Mask. Dealing with combination hair (an oily scalp but dry ends)? You can also use a more intensive conditioner, such as INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Conditioner, ensuring you still avoid the root area. Apply to damp, towel-dried hair (never wet) so it can be absorbed deeper.

3. ADJUST YOUR HAIR WASHING SCHEDULE

If you wash your hair every. single. day, you may have accidentally ‘trained’ your scalp to be oily. Every time we wash our hair, we potentially stimulate the sebaceous glands which produce oil to protect the scalp. More washing equals more stimulation, so too much washing can actually make hair greasier – not cleaner. These sebaceous glands are also stimulated by extremes of temperatures, so very hot or very cold. With this in mind, aim to switch up your schedule by washing your hair every other day, or less if possible, using warm (not hot) water and gentle circular motions to massage shampoo in.

4. REFRESH THE ROOTS WITH A DRY SHAMPOO

If you’re a long-time oily scalp sufferer, you’ve no doubt heard of dry shampoo. It’s a must for refreshing roots in between washes, while giving hair instant lift in the process. Our pick is EIMI Dry Me, which creates a manageable matte texture instantly, whether you’re spraying it right into the roots or misting through the lengths to give hair more guts. Start with just a little at the beginning, blending with fingertips as you go, then gradually build it up. This stops you using too much and wasting it.

Bonus tip: If you apply dry shampoo to your hair when it’s clean, it will gradually soak up the oil, making it more effective than if you spray it when hair is dirty and expect it to clean it. Think of it as more of a preventative measure for greasy hair than a cure.

5. WORK WITH LIGHT YET EFFECTIVE STYLING PRODUCTS

Swap styling creams and oils for lighter products that still do the same job. Think liquid mists, lotions and mousses that offer non-sticky hold from root to tip. Some of our favourites EIMI Ocean Spritz for sea-breezy texture, and EIMI Perfect Me lotion to tame and smooth. Layer with EIMI Thermal Image if you’re styling with heat to safeguards locks from temperatures up to 220 degrees.

6. CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES AND HAIR REGULARLY

Your hair brushes, straighteners and curling iron could be making your hair look oilier, as these tools pick up and transfer product build-up (and other grime) whenever you style. For this reason, it’s important to clean them every two to three weeks. This doesn’t have to take long; in fact, quick, gentle washing will be better for your tools than a more intensive cleanse. For brushes, simply run them under the tap (if they’re wooden) or place them in a sink full of water (if they’re plastic), and use a drop of shampoo to delicately wash the bristles. Rinse thoroughly. For straighteners and curling irons, make sure they’re unplugged and cool before using a damp cloth to give the plates a wipe down. Allow them to dry before using them again.

Add these tips to your hair care routine and say goodbye to greasy hair – once and for all.