5 Things You Need To Avoid If You Don’t Want Greasy Locks

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Things in life we try to avoid: pimples, ex-boyfriends, eating an entire chocolate bar in one go, and greasy hair. The good news is, greasy hair, unlike the others, is something we can control SO easily. While there are definitely people who are more prone to oily hair than others, that doesn’t mean you can’t help to extend your fresh wash for as long as possible, and we’re not just talking about putting our fav dry shampoos to good use. There are actually so many things you’re probably doing without even realizing that are making your hair go greasy much more quickly. Here’re five things you need to avoid to keep your hair from getting oily before it should:

1. Stop touching your hair

We know, it’s tough! Especially if it’s a nervous habit or you just can’t decide which way you want to wear your hair. The thing is, every time you play with your hair, you transfer oils from your fingertips to your hair, which considering most of us touch our hair at least 20 times a day, is quite a lot. To make not touching your hair easier, wearing your hair up in braids or ponytails means you’re much less likely to. Check out our fav way to wear our hair up for summer here.

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2. Don’t brush your hair too much

We know it can be super satisfying to brush your hair, and typically you would think this could only be a good thing for your hair, but actually, it stimulates oil production. If you brush too much, it also distributes the oil at your scalp through the rest of your hair. We recommend brushing in the morning before going out, before any heat styling, and finally, detangling before bed to reduce breakage while you sleep.

3. Stop washing your hair every day

Washing your hair too often can encourage your scalp to produce extra oil to compensate; however, not washing it enough can be bad for hair growth. Creator of Ouai Hair supplements, Dr. Lamees Hamdan, told us that “if you’re not getting rid of the oils and accumulations on your scalp, it can lead to an unhealthy scalp condition, which can result in unhealthy hair growth.” Dr. Lamees says you know your hair better than anyone, but every third day or at the most, every other day, should be enough. If you’re working out and your head is sweating, you should also wash your hair the same day, as all that sweat only means more oil and congested hair follicles.

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4. Choose the right shampoo and conditioner – and use it the right way!

If you’re washing your hair the same way they do in most hair adverts, then you’re probably doing it wrong! Shampoo should be concentrated only on your scalp, and when you rinse it out, this will flush out any dirt at the ends of your hair. If you have an oily scalp and dry ends, you don’t need a moisturizing shampoo or something to add shine; instead, you need something that says ‘balancing,’ ‘volumizing,’ ‘detoxing’ or specifically states it’s for greasy hair. Fixing your dry ends is a task that should be left to your conditioner, which should only be applied to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair.

If you have an oily scalp, try the L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing shampoo, $5, which is formulated for oily scalps and dry ends.

5. Make cleaning your hairbrush a regular thang

Washing your hair brush regularly is SO important; just think of all the product, grease, and dirt that builds up on your brush. Then there are all the greasy hairs that get stuck in your brush and then transfer more grease (just like your hands do) back onto your mane. We try to wash ours at least once a month – just clean out the hairs and let it soak in warm soapy water for 30 minutes, then wash it thoroughly with warm water.

Tip: Do a Monthly Detox

If you’re prone to an oily scalp, doing a monthly or bi-monthly detox can do wonders for your scalp: The amount we rely on dry shampoo means a monthly detox is more than necessary! We love to use IGK’s Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub, $36, weekly, which contains apple cider vinegar to clarify the scalp, walnut oil to nourish, and peppermint oil and silica to rebalance the scalp’s pH and help nutrient absorption. Our other latest obsession is a revitalizing hair & scalp clay mask by the award-winning hairdresser Maria Dowling, which cleanses with clay, lemongrass, and peppermint essential oil and simultaneously hydrates and nourishes with jojoba oil, bergamot, and argan oil. Not only does it leave hair incredibly soft and shiny, but it completely detoxes your scalp too.

You can also try adding a drop of tea tree oil to your shampoo when you wash your hair – tea tree has healing properties for your scalp while also helping with over-productive sebaceous glands.

If your hair needs rescuing from more than just an oily scalp, check out these three super easy DIY hair rescue masks.