Why Does My Hair Get Greasy Overnight? (And How to Stop It)

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A complete guide to managing oily hair while you snooze
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You go to bed with hair looking like you just starred in a shampoo commercial. But when you wake up, your locks are greasy and limp. It’s frustrating when your hair gets oily overnight—washing your hair a second time probably isn’t how you want to spend your morning. While the amount of oil you produce is impacted by your genetics, you can use the right products and techniques to cut down on grease in no time (even if your scalp is a little oilier than some people’s). To wake up with amazing looking hair every morning, read on!

Things You Should Know

  • Choose a shampoo that’s specifically formulated for your hair type. If you use a lot of hair products, use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
  • Apply dry shampoo on your roots before bedtime, and wash your pillowcases weekly to get rid of oil and grease.
  • Use oil-free hair products to avoid weighing your hair down, and brush your hair once a day to move oil from your scalp down to your ends.
Section 1 of 3:

Hair Care Practices

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  1. People with oily hair may need to wash more often. While you may have heard that washing less will decrease oil production, that’s actually not true—you can’t really “train” your scalp to produce less oil. Instead, experts recommend washing every other day or every day to remove grease and oil from your hair. [1]
    • Everyone’s body is different: some people need to wash as little as once a week, while other people have to wash every day. Do what’s best for your hair and your routine.
  2. Shampoo for oily hair cleanses your scalp to get rid of grease. Some shampoos are hydrating and moisturizing, which is great for dry hair, but not so good for oily hair. Pick out a shampoo that’s formulated for your hair type for best results. [2]
    • If you tend to use a lot of hair products, try using a clarifying shampoo as often as once a week. This will help remove buildup from your hair so it doesn’t look weighed down or greasy.
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  3. Product buildup could be making your hair greasy. If you have oily or fine hair, adding too many products (like gel, hairspray, texture spray, and more) might be adding extra grease to your scalp. Try to cut down on the products in your routine as much as you can. [3]
    • For instance, if you use a gel and a curl cream, see how your hair does with just a gel.
    • If you use hairspray and a texturizing spray, try to pick one instead of using both.
  4. Apply non-greasy products to your hair to avoid weighing it down. If you use any kind of styling products, look for ones that say “greaseless” or “oil-free” on the packaging. That way, you’ll avoid adding more oil to your hair, which will keep your hair looking clean for much longer. [4]
    • If you use hair oils , stick to using them on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. That way, they won’t make your roots greasier.
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Section 2 of 3:

Sleeping Habits

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  1. Sleeping with your hair up prevents grease from getting onto your ends. Looking for an overnight hairstyle to prevent greasy hair? A high bun (also called a pineapple) is a great choice. Flip your head over and pull your hair to the front of your scalp. Then, wrap a scrunchie around your hair one time, twist it over itself, and pull your hair through the scrunchie again, but only halfway. This will create a messy bun on top of your head to keep your locks contained while you sleep. [5]
    • Use a scrunchie, not a hair tie, to pineapple your hair. Scrunchies are delicate, and they won’t cause friction or breakage.
    • If you have curly hair, cover your hair in a silk scarf or bonnet to make your curls last until the next morning.
  2. A dirty pillowcase might add oil to your hair overnight. Try to remember when the last time you washed your pillowcase was. If you’re having trouble, your hair might be getting greasy because of your pillowcase. Make it a habit to throw your pillowcase into the wash at least once a week. [6]
    • If you have curly or wavy hair, consider switching over to a silk pillowcase . These pillowcases create less frizz overnight, because the material won’t catch on your hair and pull it while you sleep.
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Section 3 of 3:

Hair Maintenance

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  1. Dry shampoo soaks up grease and oil overnight. If you’re heading to bed and you notice that your roots are looking a little oily, grab a can of dry shampoo and use dry shampoo on your roots. Instead of massaging the product into your hair like you normally would, just head to bed so the dry shampoo will soak up oil overnight. [7]
  2. Brushing your hair moves oil from your scalp down to your ends. While brushing your hair won’t necessarily make your scalp produce more oil, it can affect how oily your hair looks. [9] Try to only brush your hair once a day so the natural oils stay at your roots instead of weighing down the rest of your hair.
    • Don’t forget to clean your hair brush often! If your hair brush is full of old hair and grease, it could be making your hair look oily.
    • Try to limit how often you touch your hair, too. Our fingers deposit oil and grime, which can contribute to the greasy, weighed-down look.
  3. Using conditioner on your roots makes your hair greasy. Conditioner is great for hydrating your hair and tamping down frizz. After you wash your hair, apply conditioner to just the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Then, rinse it out completely to avoid weighing down your locks. [10]
    • A great trick for applying conditioner is to grab your hair like you’re putting it in a ponytail. Any hair that would be in the ponytail gets conditioned, and any hair that’s not in the ponytail does not.
    • If your hair is naturally oily, try using a detangling spray out of the shower instead of conditioner in the shower.
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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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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you keep your hair from getting greasy when you're sleeping?
    April Ferri
    Professional Hair Stylist
    April Ferri is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Co-Owner of Widows Peak Salon, a hair salon based in Los Angeles, California. With over ten years of experience, April specializes in hair coloring and enhancing and transforming natural tones into vibrant shades for beautiful and low maintenance hair. Her work has been featured in Voyage LA Magazine, and she has worked as a stylist for LA Fashion Week.
    April Ferri
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Apply dry shampoo at night and brush it through. It will absorb the oil as you're sleeping, so when you wake up in the morning your hair won't be greasy, but you also avoid that chalky, powdery look.
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  • Question
    Can you sleep with a pony tail?
    Gabi
    Community Answer
    A high ponytail is not suggested as it can harm your hair growth but in a low ponytail or bun is perfectly fine!
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      Tips

      • While you may have heard that washing less prevents oily hair, that’s actually not the case—how often you wash your hair does not affect how oily it is. [11]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips
      2. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZu6TehW6gU&t=345s
      4. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/hygiene-basics.html
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqcE5JU-7s&t=9s
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxUPVKJdXA&t=131s
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxUPVKJdXA&t=150s
      8. ↑ April Ferri. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 8 December 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/oily-hair
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWXudCNddH0&t=125s
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-dirty-truth-about-washing-your-hair/

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