While the majority of us have probably experienced greasy hair at some point in our lives, those with especially fine, straight hair often have to deal with it from 5 pm onwards every day! Yep, just like the 5 o’clock shadow, the 5 o’clock oil slick is a very real phenomenon.
Luckily, there are plenty of tips & tricks you can put into practice to get your sebaceous glands to chill out.
1. Be cautious with conditioner
Although conditioner can make our locks feel like the luscious mane of a baby unicorn, using too much can have the opposite effect & leave you with a whole lot of excess grease.
You only really need to apply conditioner to your ends, because this is the section which tends to dry out the most, so on application, always start at the bottom.
If you’re especially prone to oily-hair, you can even try cutting back on your conditioner use to 1-2 times per week. While this can be daunting if you tend to get a lot of tangles, just make sure to brush daily to get rid of any stubborn knots & help spread those natural oils through the scalp.
Over brushing can actually increase oil production, so finding a good, healthy balance is vital.
2. Dry shampoo & powder
Dry Shampoo – that one product that’s there for us in sickness & in health, in good times & bad.
It can be helpful for loads of different hair types, but for those with particularly oily hair, it’s a downright miracle worker. Not only can it help your hair look clean & feel fresh, it will also act as a sponge, soaking up & absorbing all that heavy, unwanted excess oil.
If you don’t want to pay the big bucks for branded dry shampoos, you can always substitute with something as simple as baby powder. Sprinkling a little on your scalp & massaging it into your roots before styling is a great way to soak up excess oil & if done right, won’t leave any white colour or residue behind.
No matter which method you prefer, keeping a travel-sized bottle in your bag makes for a great quick-fix when you’re on the go.
3. Hands-off
Have you ever heard that touching your face can cause excessive oiliness in your skin?
The same applies to your hair. Your fingers are full of natural oils which are easily transferable to your freshly-washed locks, so if you’re in the habit of constantly playing with your locks, this could be one of the reasons your hair is so oily in the first place!
It might also be helpful to stay away from hairstyles which cause strands to be touching/sticking to your face all day.
Not only can the oils from your face transfer to your roots, the existing oil in your hair can do the same to your skin & potentially cause breakouts.
This is particularly important for those with bangs – try clipping them back if your hair is feeling extra oily to spare your forehead the trauma. (Or click HERE for some tips on how you can grow them out & be free of your fringe FOREVER).
At the end of the day, the natural oils (AKA sebum) found in your hair are there to prevent strands from breaking & keep your hair healthy, shiny & smooth, so don’t worry, your glands are just trying to do their job!
If you’re really struggling & feel like your oily hair is affecting your confidence, drop in & have a chat with one of our experts so we can help you fall in love with your hair again.
It could be as simple as finding some killer styles which mask the greasiness, or coming across the perfect product for your hair type which solves all your problems, either way a solution is just around the corner!