And your lifestyle can make a difference. For instance, "just like the skin on our face, our scalp can be prone to oiliness from the foods we eat, such as eating a fatty or sugary diet," says Anabel. Meanwhile, gym-goers will often need to wash their hair more after they sweat. And your styling routine can play into how quickly your hair gets oily, too. “Using heavy styling products can also make your roots greasy, ascan using a dirty hairbrush,” says Anabel who recommends washing your hairbrush every 2-4 weeks.
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Is overwashing a thing? Can you train your hair to last longer between washes?
“It would be quite difficult to over-wash your hair, but you can over-style your hair as a result of frequent washing, causing mechanical damage from heat, brushing and styling,” says Anabel. “When it comes to hair washing, more often than not is always a good principle. I advise most of my clients to shampoo frequently to obtain the best scalp conditions for healthy hair growth. Every day for fine hair, every other day for medium hair and no more than 3 days apart for coarse or coiled hair textures. Using products suitable for your hair’s texture should not have an adverse effect. If they dry your hair out, it is because the product formulation is not giving your hair what it needs, not because you are over-washing your hair. Simply choose products that work for you,” Anabel advises.
The bottom line is: “you cannot ‘strip’ your hair or scalp or natural oils and you can not train your hair to be less greasy by washing it less. Firstly oil is produced on the scalp (not the hair), and once your scalp is cleansed it will simply continue producing oil at the same rate. Your scalp needs to be clean and healthy for optimal hair growth,” says Anabel.
“You take your hair and scalp to the same places you take your face, and it gets just as dirty. Your scalp is also a living tissue; it sweats, produces oils and sheds skin cells. You wouldn’t leave more than 3 days between washing your face, and you likely wouldn’t wear the same outfit more than a few times before washing it – apply the same thinking to your hair and scalp. However, it also depends on what you do to your hair after you wash it. If you have to heat style every time you shampoo, the damage from styling may outweigh the good of cleansing. It’s about finding a balance,” says Anabel.
What are the best shampoos and conditioners for greasy hair?
Of course it's not just about how you're washing your hair, but whether you're using the best products for your hair. Iain Sallis, trichologist and founder of Hairmedic, says it's essential to select your shampoo and conditioner carefully. He advises avoiding any shampoo and conditioner labelled with the words: 'dry', 'damaged', 'smoothing' or 'glossy'.
"They may all just be coating the hair in a fine film, which is good for what it states, but not good if your hair is prone to looking greasy," he explains. "The coating will add to the oil produced and cause the hair to become dull and oily looking." That said, you can apply glossy conditioners tactically to just the ends of your hair if you find they look very parched.
