10 Best Home Remedies for Oily Hair

Your hair gets oily because of your sebaceous glands. These glands, located near the hair follicles in your scalp, excrete an oily liquid called sebum. When the correct amount of sebum clings to your hair, it gives it moisture and shine, but when your sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, the result can be lank, oily hair. Usually, oily hair is a short-term problem and your sebum production returns to normal levels within a few months. In the meantime, you can treat oily hair with a few simple home remedies.

Causes and Symptoms of Oily Hair

Apart from dry scalp, the production of oil on the scalp can also be accelerated due to intense heat and humidity. Besides, stress and hormonal changes also tend to cause this problem because of the production of a male hormone called Androgen. This hormone activates the sebaceous glands, thereby producing more sebum.

Pregnancy, consumption of certain medicines (like birth control pills), hereditary factors, hair texture and other such factors can also give rise to this problem. Severe deficiency of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) can also lead to oily skin and hair as one of the symptoms of the condition.

Scrubbing and brushing the hair too frequently or too vigorously can stimulate the scalp to produce more oil and carry sebum from the scalp down the hair shaft. The condition of Oily Hair is characterized by the presence of an oily sheen on hair within a few hours of washing. Oily Hair appear unattractive, greasy and dirty. The buildup of dirt and oil may also give rise to itchiness.

Oily Hair Care Tips:

  • Mix two tablespoons of white vinegar with water. Apply the mixture on your scalp. Massage with your fingers, for about two minutes. Leave the mixture on your head, for about half an hour and then rinse your hair with water.
  • Essential oils can help a great deal in reducing the production of oil in your hair. Combine 8 drops of rose geranium essential oil with the same quantity of lemongrass essential oil. Pour the mixture into an 8-ounce bottle of your regular shampoo.
  • You can personalize your regular shampoo and make it more suitable for your oily hair. For the purpose, mix ½ teaspoon of aloe vera gel and one tablespoon of lemon juice with 4 tablespoons of the shampoo. Blend the ingredients well. Wash your hair with the shampoo.
  • Diet plays an important role in the secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands. Therefore, try to reduce the quantity of oil in your food. It is better to avoid deep-fried food. Replace the fried and fatty food with fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Baby powder is one of the effective home remedies for oily hair. Sprinkle a little amount baby powder into your tresses. Leave it for about five minutes and then comb your hair with a comb. The baby powder will absorb oil from your hair, making it less greasy.
  • Dilute 100 ml of alcohol in two cups of water. Rinse your hair with the solution. This will remove the excess build up of oil in your hair.
  • Mix 3 tablespoons of vinegar with two teaspoons of lemon juice and one cup of warm water. Massage the mixture in your scalp. Leave it for half an hour and then rinse your hair with water.
  • Regular shampooing is good for your oily hair, but you should not overdo it. This is because the body tends to produce more oil, when the hair is less greasy, after shampooing.
  • Brew tea leaves in a cup of water. Add the juice of half a lemon to the tea. After cooling the decoction, apply it on your hair. Leave it for about 20 minutes and then wash your hair thoroughly with water.
  • Conditioner is not required for oily hair, because the product tends to make the hair greasy. However, if you still want to use a conditioner, make sure that you apply it only to the ends of your tresses, rather than the roots.