Oily scalp: how to get fresh roots again
Washed in the morning, limp by evening? Here's how to bring an oily scalp into balance, with the right shampoo and little everyday tricks.
An oily scalp happens when your sebaceous glands produce more oil than your skin and hair need. After just one day, your roots look stringy and flat. That's not a care mistake, it's usually down to your genes. With the right routine, your scalp can still feel fresh again.
Why does my scalp get greasy so fast?
Scalp oil, also called sebum, is actually a good thing: it protects your skin and hair. When there's too much of it, these triggers are often behind it:
- Genes: some people simply have more active sebaceous glands.
- Hormones: during puberty, through your cycle or under stress, oil production can go up.
- Heat: sport, hats, hot water and a hot hairdryer.
- Care that's too rich: conditioner, oil or a hair mask right at the roots.
- Little habits: constantly running your hands through your hair and a brush that hasn't been cleaned in ages.
Oily scalp with dandruff
An oily scalp and dandruff often come together. The flakes are then more yellowish and slightly sticky, not white and falling like with a dry scalp. How to tell the two types apart is covered in Dandruff: causes and care.
The best tips for an oily scalp
- Wash when you need to: even daily is okay, as long as the shampoo is mild. Exactly how often is covered in How often should you wash your hair?
- Rinse lukewarm: hot water feels good, but it revs your scalp up.
- Care for your lengths only: conditioner and oil from ear level down, never on the roots.
- Hairdryer on medium: keep a little distance and don't aim it straight at your scalp.
- Keep your brush and pillow fresh: clean your brush once a week and change your pillowcase regularly.
- Hands out of your hair: sounds obvious, but it makes a difference.
The right shampoo for an oily scalp
Our Seboderm Cleaner Shampoo is a cleansing shampoo made for exactly this kind of scalp. It thoroughly frees your scalp and hair from excess oil and dandruff. Climbazole, a classic anti-dandruff ingredient, takes care of the cleansing, while an olive oil base keeps it gentle. On top of that come nettle and arnica extracts. You can use it daily or every other day.
For the days in between, or if your scalp only gets slightly greasy, our Every Day Shampoo with pH 5.5 is the mild alternative. And in between, a spray of Organic Aloe Vera Spray gives a cool, fresh feeling without making things greasy. You'll find all our shampoos and care products in our Hair care category.
When to see a doctor
If your scalp is red, very itchy or forms stubborn, yellowish flakes that stick, have a dermatologist take a look.
Frequently asked questions
What helps quickly with an oily scalp?
Wash with a mild cleansing shampoo and rinse lukewarm. On the go, dry shampoo at the roots helps.
Can I wash my hair every day if I have an oily scalp?
Yes. What matters is a mild shampoo, then washing daily is no problem.
Why is my hair greasy at the roots and dry at the ends?
Scalp oil mainly spreads at the roots, and your ends get little of it. So: shampoo on your scalp, care like argan oil on your ends only.
Which shampoo is good for an oily scalp?
A cleansing shampoo like Seboderm Cleaner that thoroughly removes excess oil. For every day, a mild shampoo with pH 5.5 is a good fit.