You wash your hair and revel in its softness and texture. But a few hours to a day, your hair appears greasy, and when you run your fingers through your hair, sure enough, you can feel the oil sticking to your fingertips. That means you have oily hair. This oil that your scalp produces is to keep your hair healthy by protecting the roots and preventing breakage. But problems start when this oil production goes out of control.
Oily hair tends to appear dull and lifeless, and oily skin coupled with oily hair tends to exacerbate the situation. An oily scalp attracts dirt, dust, and grime. These impurities tend to clog the hair follicles, leading to hair fall. Oily hair needs to be cleansed very often, but using the harsh chemical-filled shampoos and conditioners available in the market may result in stripping your scalp of the natural oils altogether, further aggravating the problem.
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Causes for oily hair
But what causes oily hair in the first place? Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes:
- Genetics: You can’t really do anything about this one
- Hormonal changes: Pre-, post-menopausal changes, pregnancy, etc.,
- Stress: This one can aggravate any problem, if not dealt with accordingly
- Oily foods: Including too oily/junk food in your diet
- Poor hair care: Not washing your hair frequently, not following a set routine, leaving your hair at the mercy of the elements – all these can exacerbate the problem.
Home remedies for oily hair
Oily hair is much more prone to dandruff and related itchiness, than other types of hair. Not only does this look dirty and unkempt, it appears lifeless, dull, and unwashed, even if you’ve washed it just that morning. Shampooing daily would help, but the chemicals are no help at all. So the next best option is to go for natural home remedies for oily hair, that help keep the grease in check, while also making your hair look fresh for days.
Let’s take a look at some of the most effective home remedies:
1. Aloe vera
Image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
Aloe vera is rich in vital minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that help get rid of excess oil in hair. It also helps detoxify the scalp of impurities and control oil secretion. The nourishment that aloe vera provides your hair will help keep your hair healthy.
Remedies
- Take 1 cup of any mild shampoo and add 1 teaspoon of fresh aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix well and wash your hair with this shampoo, allowing it to remain in your hair for a few minutes before washing it off.
- Slice open an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the gel into a clean bowl. Apply this gel into your hair and scalp and let it dry for 15-20 minutes, before shampooing your hair with a mild shampoo.
2. Apple cider vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar is one of the best home remedies for oily hair because the acetic acid present in it helps balance the pH level of your scalp. This in turn helps control the excess oil and reduces the oil buildup on your hair too.
Remedy
- Stir in 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup of water. Wash your hair as you usually do. In the end though, use this solution as a rinse, making sure that it is spread evenly throughout your hair and scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes, before washing it off with cool water. Do this 2-3 times a week.
3. Baking soda
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which is an alkali. It helps absorb the excess oil in your hair, while also help maintaining the pH level of the scalp.
Remedies
- To 1 part baking soda, add 3 parts water to make a paste. Apply this paste on your damp hair, and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Now wash your hair with lukewarm water. Do this once or twice in a week.
- Baking soda can act as a powerful dry shampoo because of its oil-absorbing qualities. If you don’t have time for a proper hair wash, use this method. Put some baking soda on your hands and gently rub it all over your hair and scalp. Brush your hair really well to see that all the oil has been absorbed by the soda.
4. Black tea
Tannic acid, an astringent present in black tea, helps prevent oil buildup in the scalp by tightening the pores.
Remedy
- To 1 cup of water, add 1-2 tablespoons of black tea leaves and boil it for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid into a clean container, allowing it to cool down to room temperature. Pour this lukewarm solution on your scalp and hair, letting it sit for 5 minutes. Then rinse it off and wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use this remedy 2-3 times a week to help with the oily hair.
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5. Eggs
Image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
Eggs are rich in proteins, which help condition and strengthen your hair, while also helping control the excess oil production.
Remedies
- Whisk enough egg whites to make it half a cupful. Apply this to your damp hair and let it stay for 15-20 minutes, before rinsing it off with a mild shampoo in cool water. Repeat once every fortnight.
- Separate two eggs. Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the 2 egg yolks and mix well. Apply this on your damp hair and let it stay for 5 minutes, before washing it off with a mild shampoo in cool water. Do this twice or thrice a week for best results.
6. Fuller’s Earth
Fuller’s Earth is full of beneficial mineral properties that help in treating oily hair. It absorbs the excess oil, leaving your hair silky and soft.
Remedy
- To 3 tablespoons of Fuller’s Earth, add a little water and mix it into a paste. Apply this paste all over your hair and scalp. Let it stay for 15 minutes before covering it up with a shower cap. Leave the mask on for 30-40 minutes before rinsing it off with cool water. Remember to massage your scalp while washing your hair. Not only will this help stimulate the hair follicles, it will also help open them up.
7. Henna
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Henna has a drying effect on your hair, which is perfect for controlling excess oil production in your scalp and hair.
Remedy
- Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to 4 tablespoons of henna powder and 3 tablespoons of yogurt. Mix well and apply this paste to your scalp and hair. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with a mild shampoo with cool water. Use this henna remedy once every fortnight.
8. Honey
Honey is an excellent home remedy for oily hair, and it can work wonders because of its anti-microbial, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties.
Remedy
- Make a paste using 1 ripe banana in a blender. Take 4 tablespoons of this paste and add 1 tablespoon of raw honey and mix well. Apply this paste on your hair from roots to tips. Let it stay for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy at least twice a week.
9. Lemon juice
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Lemon juice works wonders on an oily scalp because of the vitamins and minerals present in it. The citric acid present in lemon helps balance the pH level of the scalp, thereby controlling the oil secretion.
Remedy
- Squeeze 2 lemons into 2 cups of distilled water. Add 3 teaspoons of honey to this and mix well. Apply this to your scalp and hair, massaging it gently for a few minutes. Use circular motions with your fingertips for this massage. Let it stay for 5 minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy thrice a week for positive results.
10. Tomato
Image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
Tomatoes are acidic in nature, and thus help balance the pH level of your scalp. When the pH is maintained, it helps control excess oil secretion, while also helping remove foul odors too.
Remedy
- Extract the juice from one ripe tomato and add 1 teaspoon of Fuller’s Earth. Mix well and apply this paste on your hair and scalp. Cover your hair with a shower cap so that there are no drips. Leave it on for half an hour, before rinsing it off with cool water. Use this remedy at least once or twice in a week.
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11. Vodka
Vodka is pure alcohol and water, and serves as an ideal hair tonic. It also helps maintain the pH level of the scalp, while also closing the pores that secrete oil.
Remedy
- Take 1 cup of vodka and mix it with 2 cups of water. Shampoo your hair as usual, and then use this vodka solution to rinse your hair. Leave it be for 5-10 minutes before washing it off with cool water. Use this remedy at least once a week.
These are all the amazing natural home remedies for oily hair, that work wonders, leaving your hair soft, smooth, and silky, and more importantly, oil and grease-free!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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