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Is greasy hair making your life difficult? They are likely to happen at any age and due to different factors. But you can do something about it! There are tips to remedy this problem. In this article, first find out why as a woman you have oily hair. Then learn the solutions and tips to remedy this problem of oily hair for a woman.

Why do I have oily hair when I am a woman?

The appearance of oily hair is triggered by the sebum, which is the natural hair oil. Its role is to lubricate them, hydrate them, and protect them from external attacks. It is fundamental in the balance of the scalp.

However, as soon as the sebaceous glands, responsible for its production, are out of order, the sebum is generated in too large a quantity. It can then suffocate the roots and cause that oily and greasy appearance on your hair. The disorder can come from several factors: stress, pollution, shampoos too aggressive or not suitable for us, poor diet, genetic factor ... On average, hair should not be cleaned more than twice a week. If you exceed this limit, you fall into the category of individuals who have a scalp that produces excessive sebum.

We present here, more specifically, the different factors that can make a woman's hair oily.

1 - Heredity can make a woman's hair greasy

Heredity can be one of the parameters that triggers the oily appearance of your hair. If your hair has always been oily, or at least from around the age of 9, when hormones start to change, it is probably due to genetic makeup and therefore of the way héréditaire. To certify this, you will have to make sure if the close members of your family have gone through the same path as you. In another way, ask yourself if your parents have oily hair? If so, it's probably written in your DNA.

However, a multitude of parameters related to our way of life can intensify this trend. We will see that there are tips to avoid this in the second part of our article. .

If your hair has become greasy over time, there is probably no connection with heredity. Note that the hair changes roughly every 7 years. It is therefore normal to have phases of capillary change over time. However, generally the fact that hair greases quickly is related to internal or external factors that disrupt the scalp. Discover the different causes of the appearance of oily hair in women.

2 - Lifestyle can cause the appearance of oily hair in women

Oily hair can appear because of a poor lifestyle. Here are the main factors:

• Poor diet, for example eating foods that are too fatty, too salty or too sweet. Obesity or liver problems can also be the cause.
• Chronic stress or a strong tendency to be anxious.
• A big emotional shock like a death or an accident.
• Taking certain medications
• The environment. The sun, wind, air pollution, chlorine among others are factors that act on your hair. Wearing a hat or cap regularly may also accelerate the appearance of sebum.

3 - Products that do not suit you can lead to the appearance of oily hair in women

Aggressive shampoos or shampoos that do not match your hair can lead to the disruption of the sebaceous glands and consequently to give you oily hair in women. The products which attack the scalp are sulphate, silicone, paraben or quaternary ammonium salts (quats). You may also unknowingly be allergic to certain constituents of your cosmetic products. If your scalp is oily, gives you dandruff and itches and sometimes even hurts, see a doctor or dermatologist for tests. This way you will be sure that it is not from a deeper concern.

4 - A hormonal imbalance can make a woman's hair oily

Hair that greases too quickly often starts to appear around the age of 9 because hormones start to change. Therefore, hormonal problems may lead to the overproduction of sebum. Thus, puberty, pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, menopause are just as many moments in life that disrupt your hormones.

5 - A change in hair routine can lead to oily hair in women

The modification of hair products and therefore of components, can cause the appearance of oily hair in women. For example switching to a natural product (solid shampoo, no poo shampoo etc), however good it is for the hair, can lead to hair disruption in the first place. The time that your hair gets used to the new natural formulation.

How to get rid of oily hair as a woman?

How to avoid having oily hair as a woman? Shiny hair is not inevitable. We will see the methods that exist to prevent this problem.

What are the recommended cosmetics to fight oily hair? 

1 - Which shampoo to use against oily hair for a woman?

To normalize your oily hair, it is important to choose one that is suitable for you and that is not too aggressive.

• Avoid all shampoos that attack your scalp and hair. More exactly all of those which contain sulfate, silicone, quats or paraben. To be able to discover much more about your cosmetic products and their compounds, consult the site or the application Yuka ou INCI Beauty. Two applications for more transparency on your cosmetic products and which tell you whether the ingredients are healthy or not.

• Instead, buy a mild shampoo, for frequent use or a shampoo with a neutral pH to fight against oily hair in women. Indeed, it should be known that the hair and the scalp must have a pH of 4,5 to 5,5. The vast majority of our hypermarket shampoos do not respect this pH. This is more than 60% of liquid shampoos that have a pH greater than 5,5. Therefore, the most recommended is to choose a shampoo with specified "neutral pH" or located between 4 and 7. Special pH strips can be bought in pharmacies if you want to test the pH of your shampoo.

• Only use degreasing shampoos occasionally. Conversely, to what one might believe, the latter are very often heavily dosed with aggressive surfactants. As a result, the natural scalp oil is stripped by these products. . To react to this attack, the sebaceous glands produce more sebum… As a result, the hair grows too quickly again and you get into an endless loop.

• Choose shampoos with natural products that are formulated with mild surfactants that do not attack your hair to avoid having oily hair as a woman. Surfactants are formulated in shampoos to cleanse the hair. They allow you to wash your hair and create the lather of your shampoo. Accordingly, they are therefore essential in its composition.

You can find its surfactants qualified as mild, under these names: Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS), Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI), Decyl Glucoside, Coco Glucoside, Disodium, Sodium Glutamate Lauryl Methyl isethionate or Lauryl Glucoside.

Whatever happens, if you have oily hair as a woman, avoid the following surfactants: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS). They disrupt the scalp by removing excess sebum.

• If you switch to natural products. When you change your hair routine and use a natural shampoo (solid shampoo, low poo, organic etc), the technique of care and washing lavished on your hair will be radically modified. Indeed, since the formulation of natural products is completely different from conventional products, your hair has to get used to these new compounds. This is called the capillary transition period. At first your hair may be greasy, but over time it should get used to.

If you have decided to switch to solid shampoo, and it makes your hair oily, learn in our article on why your solid shampoo makes your hair oily. And in case you want make your own homemade shampoo for oily hair, discover in this article 4 recipes and a complete guide to accompany you. 

2 - What treatment to use against oily hair for a woman?

There are masks and conditioners specially designed for oily hair. They are made so that they don't grease your hair. However, we recommend that you use a mask and pre-shampoo treatment instead. There are supermarkets, pharmacies or organic stores. Natural products are also great for moisturizing, nourishing, purifying and regulating your hair and scalp.

3 - Natural products and treatments that have been proven to fight oily hair in women

To remove the over-dosage of sebum responsible for oily hair for a woman, nothing more effective than the use of 100% natural components. Indeed, the following products have purifying and sebum-regulating active ingredients. Ideal for combating oily hair.

• Special essential oils to fight against an oily scalp. Therefore, if you want a performance shampoo to avoid having oily hair as a woman, certain essential oils are ideal. to normalize sebum. These essential oils are: Lemon, Ylang Ylang, Cypress, Cedar, Basil, Grapefruit, Lemon Litsé, Lavender, Rosemary, Sage, and Bay Saint Thomas. To use them, you can add them to your cosmetic products (shampoo, or care). Small warning: follow the recommended dosages, there is no point in putting too much! You should also be aware that a number of people may be intolerant of it and that it should not be used in pregnant women or children under 12 years old. Before using its oils, it is advisable to seek the advice of your pharmacist.

• Ayurvedic, mineral or vegetable powders. Indeed, to avoid having oily hair as a woman, powders are effective for purifying, washing and sanitizing the scalp. lightly, without damaging it. These powders allow the regulation of the skull naturally. We advise you to make a mask once a week with the following powders: Clay, Neutral Henna, Rhassoul, Shikakaï, Nettle, Nagarmotha or Reetha.

• Oils that hydrate and nourish. Some oils will have functionality to grease your hair, while others will have functionality to control your sebum. The most effective oils for an oily scalp are: Jojoba, Camellia, Macadamia, Coconut, Nigella, and Inca inchi oils. You can use these oils once a week, at least thirty minutes just before your shampoo.

What solutions exist to prevent the hair from re-greasing too quickly?

The right actions to fight against oily hair as a woman

• Gradually reduce your washing frequency. Make sure you do not shampoo more than 2 times a week.
• It is better to avoid rubbing your scalp, calmly and carefully massage the scalp.
• Rinse your hair with lukewarm water in order to cleanse your scalp and in this way to regulate excess sebum. Do not hesitate to insist on rinsing, there should be no leftover shampoo!
• Finish cleaning with a final jet of vinegar water (water mixed with cider vinegar or white vinegar).
• Remember to brush your hair regularly, preferably with a natural brush. And scrub it fluently.

Actions to avoid to prevent hair from greasing too quickly

• Do not touch your hair too often to avoid getting it dirty.
• Don't over-shampoo! As shampoos are inherently aggressive for the scalp, it protects itself by producing sebum. It is then an endless loop.
• When applying your mask or conditioner, be careful not to touch the roots. Only specific products or with a 100% natural formulation (vegetable oils or vegetable powders) can be applied without running the risk of greasing your hair.
• Shampoo only one shampoo, not two or three in a row.
•   The heat stimulates the sebaceous glands and consequently the production of sebum. Therefore, it is best to avoid hot objects / environments such as hair dryers, hair straighteners or the sun for a long time.

Changing certain habits in your lifestyle to fight oily hair

• To get rid of oily hair as a woman, it is better to avoid dishes that are too oily, too sweet and industrial food.
• Eat balanced and it is better to consume fresh foods, fruits and vegetables, fish, and quality meat.
• Eat foods rich in minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, especially vitamins A and B. Zinc, copper, and iron are similarly essential for maintaining healthy hair.
• Know that smoking and beauty of hair do not mix. Try to avoid it as much as possible.