Why Is My Hair So Oily—5 Causes, Remedies, Quick Fixes & More

Does your hair fall flat at the roots? Do you wake up with slick-feeling strands? Are constantly reaching for your shampoo (or dry shampoo) to save the day? Sounds like you have oily hair—but I'm sure you already knew that.

As with your skin, there are several factors that contribute to increased oil production on the scalp. Ultimately, too, there's a good chance it's a combination of the below factors that are triggering your oil abundance.

Being overzealous with your wash strips the scalp and tricks it into thinking it's dry. This, in turn, spurs the sebaceous glands into overdrive, which then makes your hair produce more oil faster. As you may guess, the vicious cycle continues from there.  

And over-washing can come in two forms: First, you're washing too frequently and, second, with a shampoo that's too harsh. 

Washing too frequently often is the result of the aforementioned oily roots—but it can also be because you work out every day, live in a warm environment where you sweat more, or just personal preference. If you need more insight into how much you should be shampooing, take a look at our full guide to washing your hair.

Using a too-harsh shampoo usually comes down to the fact that you are using sulfates. Sulfates are potent surfactants that provide that sensorially appealing lather and squeaky clean feeling—but make no mistake about it: There's a good chance they are throwing off the natural balance of your scalp and potentially your scalp's microbiome.

So I know I just said you should stop overwashing your hair, but you shouldn’t skip it entirely. Just like face wash is the basis of a solid skin care routine, cleaning your scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. 

Product buildup can do a number on your hair.

"When you have product, dirt, and oil building up around your follicle opening—which is where your hair grows out of—buildup around that starts to slowly suffocate your hair root, and it causes inflammation," trained trichologist and hairstylist Shab Reslan once told us about the condition.

As for triggering more oil, it does so in several ways.

First, the products themselves could be silicone- or oil-based, which would naturally cause the hair and scalp to look more oily. This is especially true if you apply too much or you layer these products without adequately removing the prior day's.

These products—especially if they are silicone-based—can also create a hard-to-remove coating around the strand. 

The way we feel internally affects our skin in a myriad of ways. And stress is one of the biggest triggers of skin concerns: It can cause breakouts, flare-ups, dullness, and signs of premature aging. Guess what? It can also cause an oily scalp. Yes, you read that right.

Hormone imbalances can lead to increased sebum production, research shows. In fact, sebum production is controlled by hormones1, including testosterone, other androgens, progesterone, cortisol, and growth factors.  

A poor diet can trigger excess sebum. While more research is needed to be done to be better understand how food affects the hair and scalp, we know there are several foods that can increase oil on the skin. 

Hair types play a big role in this discussion, as some are far more prone to oil than others.

Most notably? Straight or loose waves.

Yes, just like your face, your scalp can simply produce more oil than the average person. This can come down to genetics, as some people are just more prone to sebum production.

First things first is you'll want to get yourself out of the over-washing cycle. It sounds counterproductive, yes, but if you go back to our causes of oily scalp—you know that over-washing is a large contributing factor. So often you'll hear people discuss how they're "retraining their scalp" or "balancing their hair," and usually this is what they're doing.

See, when you let your scalp live with its natural oils for a while, it will stop signaling to your pores that they need to put in extra work. Sure, this may make for an awkward and greasy transitory phase, but most experts agree this takes about a month, according to anecdotal evidence. 

So, how often should you wash, you ask? Well, if you're a daily washer, try tapering off to every other day to start. Once your hair grows accustom to that, you can try washing it every third day.

But ultimately it will take some work on your part. So the most important thing is to be diligent about checking in on your scalp.

"Literally go in there, part your hair at various points throughout your head, and look at your scalp: Is it red? Are there flakes? Do you see oily buildup? Make this a habit," says Reslan. "The bottom line is you just have to pay attention to it. People don't do this enough." 

Silk sleep accessories like pillowcases, head wraps, and scarves are practically magic. A dramatic statement, but for those who know—you know.

"Sleep with a silk pillowcase, headscarf, or cap, which allows hair to slide as you toss and turn. Silk prevents friction (which leads to hair pulling, tugging, stretching, breaking, and tangling), and these smooth fabrics help retain the hair's natural oils," says hairstylist Miko Branch, co-founder of hair care brand Miss Jessie's Original.

So, yes, silk's most famous benefits usually have to do with frizz and styling, but the last part of Branch's sage advice is key: These help your hair retain natural oils. More porous materials, like cotton, absorb oil from your face and hair as you sleep. Not only is this less hygienic, but it means you wake up with drier hair!

Of course, there are plenty of natural ingredients that have been known to help oily hair and scalps.

Witch hazel is oh-so-popular for those who are acne- and oil-prone. (It's a very popular DIY toner, in fact!) And for the hair and scalp, it does wonders, too.

Salicylic acid is a skin care favorite ingredient that's made its way to haircare, too.

"Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that helps remove excess oil and dead cells from the surface of the skin," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. "It is a great ingredient to use if you suffer from an oily scalp or dandruff. Salicylic acid helps dissolve connections holding dead cells to the surface of the skin. In this way, it can help improve scalp flaking. However, avoid salicylic acid if you have a dry or sensitive scalp. In these cases, it may cause more irritation than good."

Aloe vera can help hydrate, soothe, and balance the scalp. Another bonus, if your oily scalp comes with dandruff, it helps there, too.

In one study, participants who applied aloe vera onto the scalp saw a significant reduction in symptoms5, namely scaling and itching.

If you have oily hair, you'll want to think about a complete routine, the components of which are complementary to one another: Start with your shampoo, and work your way to styling products.

Oily scalp and hair can be annoying in the moment, but they're usually signs that you need to take a step back and look at your hair care and styling routine as a whole.

You'll want to start by managing the oil with the right wash schedule, styling products, and natural ingredients. Give it some time, but we're sure you'll be able to get those roots in check.