How to Keep Bangs from Getting Oily

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Bangs are super cute, but they tend to get greasy fast since they rest against your forehead all day. If you want to keep your bangs looking great, we can help you out! We've put together a list of helpful tips that prevent oil buildup on your skin and bangs. Give these ideas a try to keep your bangs looking awesome all day long!

Section 1 of 2:

Hair Care Methods

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  1. It gets your bangs clean without weighing them down. Shampoos made for “normal” or “dry” hair contain hydrating ingredients that leave a film on your bangs and make them get greasy a lot faster. Check the label and make sure the shampoo you’re using is made for oily/fine hair. [1]
    • Avoid shampoo formulas with labels like “dry,” “damaged,” "smoothing," or “glossy” since those tend to have a lot of moisturizing ingredients. [2]
    • Consider using a clarifying or purifying shampoo once a week to deep clean your hair and bangs.
  2. Try washing your bangs every morning when you’re cleansing your face. Shampooing all of your hair every day isn’t usually recommended since that can dry it out. Your bangs rest against your forehead, though, so they’re exposed to a lot more oil throughout the day. To prevent them from getting greasy, shampoo your bangs once a day, especially if you have oily skin. [3]
    • Since you’re already washing your face in the morning, go ahead and wash your bangs in the sink while you’re at it! [4]
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  3. Hydrating ingredients in conditioner weigh down your bangs. Bangs generally don’t need to be conditioned at all, especially if you have oily hair. When you’re conditioning your hair, just avoid applying it on your bangs. [5]
    • Always apply conditioner from mid-shaft to the ends of your hair so you aren't getting it on your roots or scalp.
  4. Apply dry shampoo at your roots and comb your bangs to distribute it. Dry shampoo is a must-have if your bangs tend to get greasy! Carry a little bottle of it with you when you leave the house and give your bangs a quick spritz whenever they start looking oily. [6]
    • The dry shampoo absorbs the oil and gives bangs a little volume so they aren’t laying flat against your forehead.
    • Baby powder works in a pinch if you don’t have dry shampoo! Just sprinkle the baby powder on your bangs and comb through them to absorb the oil. [7]
  5. Check for labels like “oil-free” and “greaseless.” Many gels, mousses, and serums can add extra oil to your hair as you style it. To keep your bangs in check, remember to check the labels on your styling products before applying them. [8]
  6. This is often overlooked when it comes to preventing oily bangs. It’s normal for dirt, styling products, and oil to build up on hair brushes and styling tools like flat irons. If you don’t clean your tools regularly, that buildup gets transferred right back onto your bangs. [9] To clean your styling tools:
    • Pull out the hair in your brushes once a week.
    • Run a damp cloth over flat irons and other styling tools weekly. [10]
    • Wash the bristles of hair brushes with baby shampoo once a month. [11]
  7. Your hands and fingertips produce natural oils that bangs soak up. It’s hard to keep your hands off your bangs sometimes, especially if you need to rearrange them during the day! Try to avoid touching them as much as possible, though, so your bangs don't get greasy. [12]
    • Carry a comb or pick with you and use that if you need to restyle your bangs during the day.
    • Touching your forehead can make your skin oily, as well. Then, your bangs soak that oil right up! Try to avoid touching your face as much as you can. [13]
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Section 2 of 2:

Skincare Methods

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  1. Natural oils on your face can quickly get all over your bangs. To prevent greasy bangs, be sure to wash your face with a mild cleanser twice a day (morning and night). It also helps to exfoliate your forehead and hairline a few times a week to prevent dead skin cells and sebum from building up there. [14]
    • Massage your skin gently as you’re washing it. Being too rough can irritate your skin and make pores produce extra oil.
    • Avoid cleansers with alcohol listed in the ingredients, too. Alcohol is a harsh ingredient that causes skin irritation; irritation triggers more oil production. [15]
  2. Look for products that are labeled “oil-free” and “noncomedogenic.” Moisturizers, cleansers, and cosmetics often contain ingredients that clog pores and cause oily skin. Then, your bangs absorb that extra oil and end up looking greasy. Be sure to check the labels on all of your products to make sure they’re oil-free. [16]
  3. Your bangs will absorb any excess moisturizer on your skin. Pin your bangs back before you moisturize your face and let your skin absorb the product completely before unpinning them. You only need a dab of moisturizer on your forehead; your bangs will soak up whatever your forehead doesn't absorb. [17]
  4. A quick dusting of loose powder gets rid of shine and absorbs oil. Carry your favorite face powder with you to work or school and check on your forehead a few times a day. Dust a little powder on your skin any time your forehead starts looking shiny to get rid of the oil before your bangs soak it up. [18]
  5. Blot your forehead a few times a day, as needed, to control oil. If you notice your forehead looking a bit shiny during the day, gently press a blotting paper against the skin and leave it for a few seconds to absorb the oil. Don’t rub the paper against your skin since this can transfer oil to other areas of your face. [19]
    • You can buy oil-blotting papers in the skin care department of any drug store or grocery store.
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Join the Discussion...

I need help with my greasy hair.
Toad_with_a_tophat
Toad_with_a_tophat
My hair has been greasy for a long time. I don't want to shower everyday, and It seems like my hair gets greasy after the first day. I've even double washed it, and it still didn't work for me. I seriously need help with this.
Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author
There are two reasons people have greasy hair. The first reason could be an overactive sebaceous gland that lives below the scalp. It excretes FIBA, which is a natural lubricant that moisturizes the hair, but sometimes people can produce more than average and they'll have a greasy scalp. So shampooing your hair is what remedies that.

I don't recommend that people shampoo every day because that's really drying. So to help with that, use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo soaks up that excess oil and it makes the hair feel like it's freshly shampooed. Once you use dry shampoo, you don't want to use it again until you use a wet shampoo because buildup can form in your hair.

The second way that people have greasy, or oily, hair is using too much product. They could have lots of serums or creams that build up and weigh the hair down. Cleansing is what's going to help rectify it. You could potentially just rinse your hair, but if it's a heavy product, then use a wet shampoo to remedy that product buildup.
Jasmin Todd
Master Hair Stylist
Using a gentle clarifying shampoo once a week is a great first step, as it helps remove excess oils, product residue, and impurities without stripping your hair of its natural moisture. You could also consider a charcoal detox for your scalp.

For stubborn oil wax from product buildup, I recommend applying an oil (like coconut or olive oil) to help break it down before washing it out.
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  • Question
    My bangs get oily quicker than the rest of my hair. Why does this keep happening and how do I prevent it?
    Community Answer
    This happens because of the oil produced from your forehead. To prevent this, try using oil blotting sheets. They are about $3 at HEB. This can also be prevented if you stop touching or running your fingers through them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 30
  • Question
    Because I have had a middle part quite a lot, when I got my block bangs, they split in the middle. How do I combine them and get rid of the gap to make them look perfect?
    Community Answer
    Try some hairspray. If you don't want to do that, try taking a shower, then holding your bangs to your forehead and letting them dry in that position. Or put a hairband around your wet bangs and let them dry like that.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I keep the top of my hair from becoming oily?
    Community Answer
    Avoid brushing your hair too much or using shampoo too often. These will dry out your hair and cause excessive oil to be produced on your scalp.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458934/
      2. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/hair-and-scalp-hygiene.html
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387693/
      4. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-dirty-truth-about-washing-your-hair
      5. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips
      6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-dry-shampoo-actually-keep-your-hair-clean
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD9U7KkSMKI&t=18s
      8. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/hygiene-basics.html
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMHyQ20bdiI
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMHyQ20bdiI
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if3us6e__Lc
      3. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/skin-tips.html
      4. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/oily-skin
      5. ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/march/the-magic-behind-face-masks
      6. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/face-washing-101
      7. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/face/prevent-face-mask-skin-problems
      8. ↑ https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/do-you-really-need-a-skin-care-routine
      9. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/skin-tips.html
      10. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/oily-skin

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        Apr 12, 2023

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