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If you feel like your hair gets greasy faster than normal, you’re not alone—many people deal with oily or greasy hair throughout the day. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can change your washing and styling techniques to keep your hair from getting greasy. Try out some (or all!) of these tips to keep your luscious locks shiny and clean for days to come.

1

Cut down on how often you wash your hair.

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2

Try a shampoo for oily hair.

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  1. Look for products that say “for oily hair” “clarifying shampoo” or “less buildup” to find the one that’s right for you. Oily hair shampoos work to gently strip away dirt and grime without irritating your scalp. [2]
    • Look for a shampoo with zinc sulfate in it to help cleanse your scalp and control greasy buildup. [3]
    • When you wash your hair, try not to scrub your scalp too hard. It won’t make your hair any less greasy, and you could tangle up your luscious locks.
    • You don’t need to use a ton of shampoo—a quarter-sized amount is perfect for cleansing your scalp, even if you have super long hair.
4

Put conditioner on your ends, not your scalp.

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  1. If you already deal with greasy hair, don’t add more to it by putting conditioner on your roots. When you use conditioner after shampooing, apply it starting halfway down your hair and go all the way to your ends. [5]
    • Be sure to always rinse conditioner thoroughly from your hair before getting out of the shower.
    • If you have curly or wavy hair, use a leave-in conditioner to hydrate your curls without weighing them down throughout the day. Focus the conditioner on your ends to avoid adding extra grease to your scalp area.
5

Use a dry shampoo in between regular shampoos.

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6

Brush your hair once a day.

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  1. Instead, stick to brushing your hair once before you shower, then using a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair when it’s wet. Make sure the brush touches your scalp to remove dead skin and make your hair feel clean. [7]
    • Be super careful when you comb your hair while it’s damp or wet. Start from the ends and slowly work your way upward to avoid ripping or tearing your hair.
    • If you’ve already brushed your hair that day but it gets super messy, don’t worry about giving it a quick brush. Focus on the ends of your hair to smooth them down and make your hair look perfect again.
7

Look for “greaseless” or “oil-free” styling products.

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  1. If you use any sort of styling product, make sure you’re not picking the wrong ones. Try to find products that are meant for oily hair to keep them from building up. [8]
    • Vegetable glycerin, aloe leaf, and citric acid are common ingredients in oil-free products. [9]
    • Heavy styling products can also weigh your hair down and make it look greasier, especially if you have fine or thin hair.
    • If you feel like you have a buildup of products in your hair, use a clarifying shampoo to cleanse your scalp.
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9

Let your hair air-dry instead of blow drying it.

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  1. This can cause it to overcompensate, leading to an even greasier scalp. In general, try to let your hair air dry to keep it healthy and grease-free. [11]
    • Letting your hair air dry will also keep your hair healthier and reduce your split ends.
    • If you do want to heat-dry your hair on occasion, make sure to use a heat protectant spray to avoid potential damage. [12]
    • Straightening your hair can also lead to greasy buildup, since it makes your hair lie closer to your scalp. [13] Try to limit your use of heat styling tools to keep your hair and scalp healthy.
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  • Question
    How do you properly use dry shampoo?
    Patrick Evan
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Patrick Evan is the Owner of Patrick Evan Salon, a hair salon in San Francisco, California. He has been a hairstylist for over 25 years and is a Thermal Reconditioning Specialist, dedicated to transforming difficult curls and waves into sleek, straight hair. Patrick Evan Salon was rated the Best Hair Salon in San Francisco by Allure magazine, and Patrick's work has been featured in Woman’s Day, The Examiner, and 7x7.
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Dry shampoos are a must for the days you are not washing your hair, as they refresh your hair and absorb any excess oils. You just spray them into dry hair, work the product through with your fingers, and then brush it out.
  • Question
    How long should I go without washing my hair if it gets oily after 1 day without washing it?
    Ashley Adams
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Consider shampooing your hair every other day, and then aim to shampoo it only 2-3 times a week. If needed, you can use dry shampoo in between your regular washes to keep your hair less oily. You could even consider wetting your hair and massaging your scalp as if you were going to shampoo it, minus the use of shampoo.
  • Question
    What shampoo should I use for oily hair?
    Ashley Adams
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Consider using a clarifying or purifying shampoo. It will strip your hair of any grease and oil that it may have. This only needs to be done once a week, and your ends should be conditioned afterwards.
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      Tips

      • Use accessories or an updo to hide grease. Try clips to twist pieces of hair away from your face, or do your hair in a ponytail or messy bun after adding some dry shampoo.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To keep your hair from getting greasy, limit how often you wash it to 2-3 times a week since overwashing your hair can cause it to produce more grease. When you do wash your hair, only condition the ends so you're not making the roots of your hair greasy. Also, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo once a week, which will make your scalp less oily. You can also prevent grease by brushing your hair less frequently since brushing causes the oils on your scalp to spread to the rest of your hair. To learn how to prevent greasy hair by changing your diet, scroll down!

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