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Does your hair get greasy if you wash it more often?
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A greasy looking head of hair is something that most stubbornly want to avoid. Rather have the shampoo bottle touched again than an unhygienic look. But doesn’t your hair just get greasy if you wash it often? And how often did you wash it best?
Why greasy hair?
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- Underlying health problems, such as seborrhea (excessive sebum secretion) or a hormonal imbalance.
- Your hair type: straight or fine hair tends to look greasy faster than thick or curly hair.
- Using hair products makes your hair greasy faster due to the buildup of oil in the hair.
- By using a dirty pillowcase or towel that you don’t wash in between, the dirt will end up in your hair, making it oily.
- The heat from a hair straightener or hair dryer will dry out your hair at the bottom, but it will make it greasy faster at the top.
Read also: What is the best way to wash your hair?
How often should you wash your hair?
When it comes to hair washing, there is no one-size-fits-all advice. Much depends on your hair type, the use of styling products and your personal preference. Shampoo removes the hair’s natural grease, namely sebum and oils. But sebum is necessary, among other things, to protect your skin and keep it supple. People who naturally have less sebum should wash their hair less often. The same applies to those who have dry or curly hair.
Daily washing is recommended for some people, although that is a small minority. These are people with very fine hair or people who exercise and sweat very often. Even if you live in a very humid place, or if you have a very oily scalp, daily washing is not a bad idea.
Read also: Tips for a skin-friendly shower or bath
What to do?
- Shampoo keeps your hair clean and less greasy. But if you use too much shampoo, your hair will just get greasy. If your hair looks especially greasy after washing, it probably means you’re overdosing on shampoo. Always use as little shampoo as possible, just enough to keep your hair clean. Usually that is no more than a fingertip.
- You can possibly use a dry shampoo to get a fresher feeling. Or just rinse your hair with water.
- Feel free to change shampoo. In certain circumstances your hair has different needs, for example under the influence of hormones, and it can look drier or greasy.
- Touch your hair as little as possible. The dirt on your hands will make your hair greasy faster. In addition, the fat from your scalp will spread through your hair.
- Do not use too much hair products, such as oils and serums. If you can’t do without it, limit yourself to a little product in the hair ends.
- Use green tea products. Green tea is said to reduce the amount of oil on the scalp.
- Regularly clean your hairbrushes, pillowcases and towels.
- You can try to reduce your sebum production with lifestyle changes, such as a diet that keeps your blood sugar stable.
Read also: Hair loss in women: what are the reasons and what to do about it?
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