When you look for hair care tips online, a lot of it seems to be about dry hair. And, don’t get us wrong, dry, flaky hair sucks, but what about greasy hair? For many women with fine hair or straight hair, the struggle isn’t dryness, it’s oiliness. 

No one wants to look like a middle schooler after gym class. Oily hair can make you feel uncomfortable, insecure, and just not attractive. We want those silky locks, but we do NOT want to look like a grease ball either. 

So, how can we get rid of the oil without causing dryness and damage? There’s a way! We don’t want to go from one extreme to the other. So, here’s how to fix greasy hair without striping your scalp of its natural oil. Let’s get the shine without the grime:

How To Make Your Hair Not Greasy . . . And Also Not Too Dry

All hair types can experience greasy hair, but you’re most likely to experience excess oil if you have straight, fine hair. However, the texture of your hair isn’t to blame, there are a lot of causes of greasy hair that should be addressed before you come up with a hair care plan to fix it! 

What Causes Greasy Hair?

Basically, your hair gets greasy when the sebaceous glands on your scalp overproduce oil. This natural oil is meant to coat our hair follicles and keep our hair shining, healthy, and absolutely radiant But too much of it makes our hair look greasy, unkempt, and even unhygienic sometimes. 

Your oil glands could be overproducing because of:

Over washing

Over brushing

Incorrect hair care products 

Touching your hair 

Humidity

Genetics

Hormonal Imbalances 

How To Deal With Greasy Hair Without Making Your Hair Too Dry

Wash your hair every 2-3 days with a shampoo brush. 

First of all, you don’t want to wash your hair too much or too little. You’ve got to find the right balance for YOU. Your oily scalp may demand you wash more often. However, washing too much could dry your hair out. 

A good place to start is washing every 2-3 days. When you do, make sure to use a shampoo brush to work it all the way into your scalp, and use a shampoo that’s not too heavy or moisture-focused, but instead will address the issue of excess oil production. Here are some top picks:

+ AG Care Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo

+ Nécessaire The Shampoo

+ Kérastase Bain Divalent Balancing Shampoo (We love this natural haircare line)

Try clarifying shampoo 1-2 a month on the greasy parts.

Overtime, your scalp will experience oil and product buildup that no amount of washing seems to fix. This is why it’s a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo to strip your hair 1 or 2 times a month (with cold water, too). 

However, if you only experience excess oil on the top of your head, but have dry or normal ends, only use the clarifying shampoo on the problem areas. No need to make combination hair dryness worse. . 

Only use conditioner where needed. 

Whatever conditioner you use should be lightweight, but even if it’s not super heavy, it simply doesn’t need to be used on the greasy parts of your hair. Those areas are COVERED when it comes to moisture, so apply conditioner to just the areas that need a hydration boost. For most that means only conditioning the ends of the hair that are naturally more dry. 

Not sure what conditioner to use? Here are some of the best lightweight ones out there that’ll help balance out the oil production.

+ Kérastase Repairing Conditioner

+ OUAI Fine Hair Conditioner 

+AVEDA by Aveda Weightless Conditioner 

Try an apple cider vinegar solution.

Apple cider vinegar is a great hack for greasy hair. It’s acidic, so it helps balance the pH level of your scalp, which can help your body produce just the right amount of natural oil for perfectly healthy hair. Just follow Lauryn’s AMAZING apple cider hair rinse recipe or grab this dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse.

Use dry shampoo between washes. 

Dry shampoo is a LIFESAVER for women with greasy hair. It allows you to target the areas that are greasy without drying out your ends or overdoing it with washing. We recommend Kérastase Dry Shampoo Spray, Davines Invisible Dry Shampoo, or Crown Affair Refillable Dry Shampoo Powder. 

Try a silk pillowcase. 

You thought a silk pillowcase was for dry hair, right? Well, it’s for both. A silk pillowcase in general can keep your hair healthy by absorbing less of your hair’s natural oil. This is important because if our pillowcase sucks up all of our oil, it’ll actually trigger our body to produce MORE oil. (The same thing happens with acne.) This is why proper hydration is essential.

Go heatless and use light products when styling. 

Heat prompts our scalp to produce more oil. It’s best to go with heatless styling options and to try hairstyles that keep your hair off your face. (You don’t want your hair absorbing oil from your face.) Try out these heatless curlers and maybe rock a slicked back ponytail.

The heat isn’t the only reason for excess oil when styling. Heavy products focused on adding moisture like hair oil, leave-in conditioners, styling creams, and styling gels are a no-go for greasy hair. Instead, go with products formulated to be lightweight like mousse, foam, and spray. Here are some products to try instead of your heavy haircare items:

+ Kérastase Volumizing and Bodifying Hair Mousse

+ Kérastase Texturizing Spray

+ OUAI Air Dry Foam for Frizz

Use a boar bristle brush. 

Boar bristle brushes are magical. They have the ability to capture your scalp’s excess oil and distribute it across all your locks. This moisturizes the parts of your hair that look a little dull, and balances out the parts of your hair weighed down by grease for one even, shiny look. Definitely make the switch on this one.

Avoid touching your hair as much as possible. 

Our hands are oily. Constantly touching our hair will transfer that oil and make it greasier, especially if you have bangs or shorter hair. If you have a habit of touching or playing with your hair, try to find something else to occupy your hands. 

Eat well and stay hydrated. 

The first step to healthy hair (and healthy skin) is a healthy you. Drink plenty of water, and eat foods that are high in vitamins and minerals that’ll promote light and radiant hair. The best choices are protein-rich foods, fatty fish, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and eggs.

For perfect hair that’s not too dry and not too oily, try these tips.

Our hair is so important to our femininity and self-confidence. However, the hair on our head is as diverse as every other part of our bodies. A one-size fits all approach isn’t going to cut it. Get to know your greasy locks and make a plan to reach all your hair goals.

Beyond the basics, there are several advanced techniques and product hacks that can significantly help you manage an oily scalp while keeping your ends hydrated and healthy. Remember, consistency and understanding your scalp’s unique needs are the keys to long-term success.

The Power of Scalp Care: Treat the Source, Not the Symptom

Deepen Your Clean with Clay Masks: While clarifying shampoos are great for occasional use, consider incorporating a clay-based scalp mask once every two weeks. Clays like kaolin or bentonite have incredible absorbent properties and can draw out excess sebum, dirt, and deep-seated impurities from the pores on your scalp. This provides a powerful detox without the harsh drying effects of some stronger clarifying agents. Look for masks with ingredients like charcoal or salicylic acid to help gently exfoliate and control oil production. Applying this mask directly to your damp roots, massaging it in, and letting it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing can dramatically reset your scalp’s oil levels.

Master the Double Cleanse: If you have a lot of product build-up, especially from using dry shampoo, one wash may not be enough to truly clean your scalp. Adopt the “double cleanse” method: First, use a small amount of your chosen shampoo to break up the oil and initial grime, focusing solely on the scalp. Don’t expect much lather. Rinse. Second, apply another small amount of shampoo. This time, with the oil barrier removed, you’ll get a rich lather that allows the active ingredients in the shampoo to thoroughly cleanse the hair follicle. This technique ensures your scalp is completely clean without requiring daily washing.

Strategic Root-Targeted Products: Skip the Oil and Conditioners

Introduce Balancing Serums: After washing your hair, while the scalp is still slightly damp, try a specialized lightweight scalp serum. Many advanced hair care lines offer serums formulated with ingredients like niacinamide or zinc PCA. These ingredients are well-known in skincare for their ability to regulate sebum production over time, meaning they work to re-educate your oil glands rather than just removing the oil. They are much lighter than a hair oil and won’t weigh down your fine hair. A tiny amount massaged into the part line and crown can make a huge difference in how quickly your hair gets greasy.

Use Lightweight Scalp Scrubs: Physical exfoliation can be immensely helpful for oily, product-laden scalps. Look for a sea salt or sugar-based scalp scrub to use once a month. The act of scrubbing helps loosen dead skin cells, oil plugs, and product residue that contribute to that heavy, greasy feeling. The key is to use a gentle touch and ensure all the granules are thoroughly rinsed out—this is another time when the shampoo brush comes in handy! Exfoliation helps clear the path for healthier, less congested hair growth.

Styling Smarter, Not Harder

The Dry Shampoo Technique: Don’t wait until your hair is already greasy to apply dry shampoo. For maximum effectiveness and to prevent that gunky, heavy feeling, apply dry shampoo to your clean roots on Day 1 or Day 2 before the oil starts to show. This allows the powder to absorb the oil as it is secreted, keeping your hair looking fresh longer. Lift your sections and spray/puff it directly onto the scalp area, not just the surface. Allow it to sit for a minute before rubbing it in—this resting time allows the starches to fully activate.

Embrace Hair Accessories and Updos: On those days when your hair is starting to feel slick, use strategic hairstyles to hide the grease. Headbands, silky scarves tied around a ponytail, or trendy claw clips can conceal oily roots while still looking chic. High ponytails, slicked-back buns, or even braids work well because they embrace the sleekness of the oil, giving your hair an intentional, polished look instead of an accidental, greasy one. This allows you to stretch your washes an extra day or two without compromising your look.

The Importance of Tool Cleanliness

Wash Your Brushes Weekly: Your hairbrush, especially the magical boar bristle one, absorbs a significant amount of oil, product residue, and dead skin every time you use it. If you don’t clean it, you’re just reapplying old gunk to your freshly washed hair. Make it a habit to clean all your hair tools (brushes, combs, heatless curlers) at least once a week using a gentle shampoo and warm water. Pay special attention to the base of the brush head.

Invest in Microfiber Towels: Unlike rough cotton towels, microfiber towels reduce friction, which is important for preventing hair damage and frizz. More importantly, they are highly absorbent and can help wick away excess moisture and residual oil from your hair after a wash more effectively than standard towels. Gently blotting the roots after showering can help remove surface moisture and prevent oil migration down the hair shaft.

By integrating these targeted scalp treatments, product swaps, and mindful maintenance habits, you can create a hair care regimen that specifically addresses oil overproduction while ensuring your beautiful ends remain perfectly hydrated and undamaged. It’s about striking that perfect equilibrium where your hair is clean, voluminous, and luminous—not greasy, and certainly not dry.

For more on how Lauryn cracked the code to major hair growth, check out this post. It’s full of all her hacks that have helped her get rid of extensions and grow long, strong hair.

x, The Skinny Confidential team

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