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Tired of having oily hair? They can appear at any age and as a result of different factors. But this is not inevitable ! There are tips to overcome this problem. So, what to do when you have oily teenage hair? In this article, find out first why you have oily hair as a teenager. In a second step we will see the solutions and tips to remedy this problem of oily hair in teens.

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

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

However, when the sebaceous glands, responsible for its manufacture, are out of order, the sebum is generated in too large a quantity. It will then suffocate the roots and cause this viscous and oily appearance on your hair. The disorder can come from several parameters: stress, pollution, shampoos too aggressive or not adapted to us, bad hygiene, genetic factor… Normally, 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 skull that produces superabundant sebum.

We will now find out more precisely, the different factors that can play a role in the appearance of oily hair as a teenager:

1 - The genetic makeup can cause oily hair in a teenager.

Heredity can be one of the parameters that causes your hair to appear oily. If your hair has always been oily, or at least from around the age of 9, when hormones start to change, it is most likely due to genetic makeup and as a consequence of the way héréditaire. To certify this, you will have to see if the people close to your genealogy have gone through the same path as you. In another way, do your parents or grandparents have oily hair? If the answer is yes, it's probably written in your DNA.

However, a multitude of factors related to our lifestyle can accelerate this trend. We will see that there are tips to avoid this in the second part of our article. But first, learn about all the internal and external factors that can increase the formation of oily hair.

2 - Unsuitable products can be responsible for oily hair in adolescence 

Shampoo that is aggressive or does not match your hair can lead to disruption of the sebaceous glands and as a result give you oily hair as a teenager. The products you should ban are sulphate, silicone, paraben or quaternary ammonium salts (quats). Also watch out for allergies that may appear without you noticing. If your skull is oily, gives you dandruff and itches you and at times even makes you suffer, seek a doctor or a dermatologist for analyzes. This way you will be sure that it is not coming from a deeper concern.

3 - Lifestyle can cause oily hair in adolescents

A poor lifestyle can cause oily hair in a teenager. Here are the main factors:

• Poor diet, for example eating foods that are too fatty, too salty or too sweet. Obesity or liver problems may also be responsible.
• Recurring stress or a strong tendency to be anxious.
• A big emotional shock such as a death or an accident.
• Taking certain medications
• The environment, for example, the sun, the wind, air pollution, chlorine etc. are factors that have a negative impact on the sebum in your scalp. Wearing an object covering your hair such as a cap or beanie regularly can also speed up the onset of sebum.

4 - Oily hair in a teenager can come from a hormonal problem.

When hormones change, around the age of 9, this is often when fatty roots appear. It is then that each change or hormonal imbalance (puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, thyroid imbalance, etc.) will be likely to lead to the appearance of too rapid oily hair. 

5 - A change in hair routine can lead to oily hair in a young person.

The modification of products for the hair and - therefore of the ingredients which are in contact with our scalp -, can cause the appearance of oily hair in a teenager. For example the switch to natural (solid shampoo, no poo shampoo etc), however good it is for the hair, can lead to hair disruption at first and therefore to the formation of oily hair. This is while your hair gets used to the new natural formulation.

How to get rid of oily hair in teenagers?

How to get rid of oily hair as a teenager? Shiny hair is not inevitable. We will see the methods that exist to prevent this problem.

What cosmetic products to use against oily hair for a teenager?

1 - Which shampoo to use against oily hair in adolescence?

To regulate your oily hair, it is important to select a shampoo that suits you and that does not attack your hair. For that : 

• Preferably choose a mild shampoo, for frequent use or a shampoo with a neutral pH to combat oily hair as a teenager. 

Some other tips for choosing your mild shampoo: 

• Use degreasing shampoos only occasionally. Conversely to what one can believe, they are generally overdosed in aggressive surfactants. They strip the sebum from the scalp. To react to this aggression, the sebaceous glands produce even more sebum… As a result, the hair greases too quickly and you enter a vicious circle.

• Be careful when choosing a shampoo, be careful not to take one with ingredients that are harmful to your hair. More precisely all those based on sulfate, silicone, quaternary ammonium salts or paraben. If you want to know more about your cosmetic products and their components, consult the website or the application Yuka ou INCIbeauty. Two applications for more transparency on your cosmetic products and which tell you whether the ingredients are healthy or not.

• Prefer the choice of shampoo with natural products that contain mild surfactants that do not attack your scalp to avoid having oily hair as a teenager. Surfactants are used in shampoos to cleanse the hair. As a result, they are then essential in its composition, however there are more or less soft ones:

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 Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Laurosuccinyl or Methyl isethionate.

In any case, if you have oily hair and are a teenager, avoid the following surfactants: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS). These are surfactants which strip the scalp and sebum and contribute to the disorder of the scalp.

2 - What treatment to adopt against oily hair in a young person?

To fight against hair that greases too quickly, conditioners and masks have been put on the market. They are made in such a way that they do not grease your hair. Having said that, we recommend the use of a purifying mask and / or pre-shampoo treatment. You can find it in supermarkets, pharmacies or organic stores. 

3 - Natural products and treatments that have proven their worth against oily hair in adolescents

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

• Vegetable oils that hydrate and nourish your hair. Some oils are used to grease your hair, while others are used to normalize your sebum. The most effective oils for oily hair are: Jojoba, Camellia, Macadamia, Coconut, Nigella, and Inca inchi oils. You can apply these oils on a weekly basis, at least XNUMX minutes just before your shampoo.

• Ayurvedic, mineral or vegetable powders. Indeed, to fight against oily hair in adolescence, powders are effective in purifying, washing and sanitizing the scalp in a gentle way, without attacking it. These powders allow the regulation of the skull naturally. You can make a weekly mask with the following powders: Clay, Neutral Henna, Rhassoul, Shikakaï, Nettle, Nagarmotha or Reetha.

• Special essential oils for oily hair. Therefore, if you want a shampoo that is really effective in preventing greasy hair in a teenager, a number of essential oils are ideal for normalizing 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). A little warning about essential oils: follow the recommended dosages, there is no point in putting too much! You should also know that a number of people are likely to be intolerant of it and that it should not be used in pregnant women or children under 12 years old. It is best to ask your pharmacist for advice.

Tips to prevent hair from re-greasing too quickly

The right things to do to avoid greasy hair as a teenager

• Gradually decrease your washing frequencies. The ideal is to carry out 2 washes per week, not more.
• It is better to avoid rubbing your scalp, massaging the scalp quietly and gently.
• Rinse your hair with lukewarm water to purify your scalp and thus control excess sebum. Do not hesitate to insist on the rinsing phase, you should not have any leftover shampoo!
• Finish cleaning with a final jet of water mixed with white vinegar or cider.
• Brush your hair with a natural or boar bristle brush. And wash it often.

What not to do to avoid greasy hair

• Do not touch your hair too often to avoid getting it dirty.
• Be careful not to over-shampoo! Shampoos being particularly harmful for the scalp, it defends 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 Ayurvedic powders) can be applied without taking the risk of greasing your hair.
• Perform only one wash, not two successive ones.
• 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 prolonged sunshine.

Change Some Habits In Your Lifestyle To Fight Oily Hair

• To get rid of oily hair as a teenager, avoid foods that are too fatty, too sweet, and industrial diets.
• Eat balanced and it is better to consume fresh foods, fruits and vegetables, fish, and quality meat.
• Eat foods rich in trace elements, minerals, and vitamins, especially vitamins A and B. Zinc, copper and iron are also essential for maintaining healthy hair.
• Know that smoking and beauty of hair do not mix. Try to turn away from it as soon as possible.

* Shampoo ingredients: Aqua, Coco glucoside, Lauryl glucoside, Sodium coco-sulfate, Sapindus mukurossi fruit extract, Glycerin, Citric acid, Glyceryl oleate, Hydrolyzed rice protein, Maris sal, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate

**Mask ingredients: Aqua, Kaolin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Lactic Acid, Citrus Medica Limonum Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Linalool, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Hydrolyzed Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Arginine, Oryza Sativa Protein, Phllactic Acid, Ci75810-Sativa Extractry (Chlorophy) Complex , Sodium Benzoate, Gluconolactone, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hydroxide, Calcium Gluconate