3 Ways to Fight (and Hide!) Oily Hair

Whether your hair is coarse or fine, curly or straight, when dealing with oil, it's easy to get frustrated and feel helpless. We've gathered a few of our best solutions to fight it, keep it under control, and when worst comes to worst, just plain hide it!

Problem: Your hairline and bangs are oily at the end of every day.
Solution: If you have bangs, chances are you touch your hair a lot throughout the day, exciting oil glands. First, cut back on the mane handling. Next, follow this step-by-step degreasing process to regulate oil buildup.

  1. Wash every day for a week with a shampoo formulated for oily hair. Try Pantene Pro-V Clarifying Purity Shampoo, $3.99.

  2. After the seven-day strand-stripping cycle, avoid cleaning your hair for two days so as not to overactivate oil glands.

  3. Start washing again with a gentle, frequent-use formula. We like Paul Mitchell Shampoo One Gentle Cleansing, $6.49. Try to suds up only every other day. If your bangs get nasty again, repeat the weeklong degreasing process.


Problem: You're not sure what's causing your hair to be oily so you don't know how to fight it.
What You Need to Know:
According to James Corbett of the James Corbett Studio in NYC, oily hair is caused by sebum production in the scalp. Sebaceous glands found under the surface of the skin produce sebum, a natural oil that keeps skin and hair smooth, supple, and shiny. It is our body's natural hair conditioner which gives it elasticity and makes it stronger and shiner. Unfortunately, our scalp produces too much. Sebum comes to the surface of the skin through tiny holes called pores, which are also where individual hairs grow. There can be a number of reasons for this: diet, hormones, stress, wrong choice of hair-care products, etc.
Solution: Corbett reminds us that even though hair comes from the scalp, excess oil is many times an internal problem that we can try to manage externally and internally. Check out these great oil-controlling products and try these tips:

  • Dietary Supplements: Taking a supplement with saw palmetto extract has been shown to balance sebum production. Herbs like rosemary, eucalyptus, and sage act to reduce sebum buildup and promote more body. This helps since volume counteracts oily hair's tendency to stick to the scalp and look even more greasy than it might actually be.

  • Hair Lush: "Beer can be excellent for the hair," Corbett says. According to him, using beer to wash hair was very popular some time ago. Widely used back in the '50s and '60s, beer lost some of its popularity with the advancement of beauty products. It works as a deep cleaner for the hair and helps to give it body. After shampooing, put it in the hair and let it sit for five minutes, then rinse. "Lemon juice can also work, but I prefer beer," Corbett admits.

  • Sulfates: Do or Don't?: "Sulfates are this season's trendy leave-out ingredient in foods and beauty products, but if you need more cleansing, it is better to have them," advises Corbett. Shampoos like Neutrogena Clean Shampoo still contain sulfates and will wash away dirt without removing vital moisture.

  • Open Your Fridge: Adding Arm & Hammer baking soda with your daily shampoo once every two to four weeks works to cleanse extra oil. "What causes some people to produce more sebum than others is not always known," says Corbett. He notes that even problems which seem the same may have different causes. "Trial and error and finding what works for you" is the best bet. And if all else fails, it might be best to consult a doctor or dermatologist.


Problem: Your hair looks oily but there's no time to wash it.

Solution: Dry shampoo is a great option for absorbing excess oil. Learn how to use it here. Also, opt for these quick cover-ups:

  • Got Bangs
    Having bangs can cause hair to be oilier, since the hair resting on your face soaks up oil from your forehead. But if you do opt for fringe, it's essential to know how to hide end-of-the-day slump. The bang pouf is a simple yet stylish way to hide your hair issues.
    What to do:
    Pull bangs away from the face and tease upward. Twist once, lowering on top of your head, and push forward into a pouf. Secure with bobby pins.

  • Join the "Band"
    Plaid, sequined, feathered, velvet, metallic, or with a bow: You name the style and there's probably a headband to match it. This cute accessory is especially handy on your hair-washing off-days.
    What to do: Pull your hair back gently with the hairband to about two to three inches from your hairline. Just be sure to add some hairspray to your 'do. The alcohol in the spray will soak up some of the oil so hair doesn't appear shiny.

  • Pile It Up

  • "Updos hide the oily look best," says Corbett. He adds, "Most updo styles actually work better on dirty or oily hair. Other than absorbing oil with powder, working with more wavy, curly styles is ideal for masking unwashed hair."
    What to do: If you're lucky enough have a medium hair type, experiment away. But if your hair is more on the straight or fine side, Corbett advises using a no-clip barrel iron to create waves. Normal curling irons also work. Just wrap hair around the barrel without clipping it in for more natural waves.

Related: 10 Common Hair Myths Exposed

Do you have issue for oily hair? Which solutions work for you?

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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.