# Oily Hair - Help! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747 "2003-06-14T04:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/1 "2003-06-14T04:21:25Z")
I have oily hair. I always have. Even in elementary school I HAD to wash my hair every day. As I’ve gotten older, it’s gotten worse. I used to be able to shower at night and my hair would look okay for work the next day. Now (at 41) I have to shower in the mornings, and even with that I think my hair looks oily by the end of the day. I’ve tried changing my shampoos. I’ve used various clarifying shampoos, shampoos for oily hair, etc. I don’t use conditioner. I rinse my hair well. Does anybody have any tips or shampoo suggestions? StG ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/2 "2003-06-14T04:36:45Z")
Do you have an Ulta2 retail store near you? If not, visit their website (probably [ulta2.com](http://ulta2.com)). There’s a ton of excellent shampoos and conditioners on the market that will solve your problem – and if they don’t, you may want to consider talking to a dermatologist. And, hey, I can’t imagine washing my hair any other time than the morning! ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/3 "2003-06-14T04:44:14Z")
This may be a little more extreme than you want, but try putting in a body perm. It doesn’t actaully curl the hair, it just drys it a little, and adds body to it, and most oily haired-folks need that. I do that, and I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/4 "2003-06-14T07:11:07Z")
I don’t know what color your hair is, **StGermain,** or whether or not you’re a girl or a guy…but if you have lighter colored hair, baby powder is a quick, easy way to solve a case of the “greasies.” Just sprinkle some on the roots of your hair, shake your hair out, and brush. It absorbs the excess oil and gets rid of that flat, dark, greasy look. If you have darker hair, they make colored hair powders, too, that are basically tinted talcum powder, for the same purpose…I’ve seen them in magazines…but I’m not sure where you get them b/c I’ve got light hair so I just do the ol’ baby powder trick. Either way, it’s a quick fix if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to shampoo, or if your hair’s getting a bit greasy/flat towards the end of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Deej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@Deej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deej)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/5 "2003-06-14T14:13:34Z")
When I was younger and had oily hair, my stylist told me to concentrate on the scalp just as much, if not more, than the hair itself while shampooing. Scrub your scalp good, with the pads of your fingers, and make sure you rinse very well. Shampoo residues can cause greasy looking hair, too. It didn’t solve the problem entirely, but there was definitely a difference in how long it took for my hair to look oily. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/6 "2003-06-14T14:59:13Z")
I’d recommend using a “stripping” type of shampoo used by commercial hairdressers. Look for a beautician’s supply shop in your area or ask a professional. You may wish to try fairly hot water when washing your hair so as to better cut the oils. Shampooing twice after a good rinse should help as well. A very light conditioner (or none at all) might reduce any added oils. Shy of a perm (which really damages your hair), you might want to check into a “balsam” type shampoo to add some body. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/7 "2003-06-14T16:24:31Z")
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I already lather-rinse-repeat. I shower very hot and I do rinse well. I’ve had perms in the past, but mostly curly. I didn’t like the way my hair felt after - sort of crunchy. I have very fine brown short hair (Probably no more than 2" at it’s longest point). I’ll go to Sally Beauty Supply to see about the stripping shampoo. StG ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/8 "2003-06-14T16:51:28Z")
Sometimes you can defeat yourself by using shampoos that are too strong, I found out. It seems that in my experience, it causes my hair to get oilier, faster. I am currently using a shampoo by a brand called DHC ([www.dhccare.com](http://www.dhccare.com)) that works well for me. In general, I find that salon brands do a much better job on oily hair than shampoos you get at the store. ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/9 "2003-06-14T17:13:12Z")
I also have oily hair and am 41 so you have my sympathy. I find that only using conditioner on the very ends of my hair helps, as does finishing with an ice cold water rinse. Using products (mousse, hairspray, etc) keeps my hands out of my hair, which also cuts down on the oily look. ---
**Author:** ![\_ceQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b9bd4f/32.png) [@\_ceQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_ceQueen)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/10 "2003-06-14T17:44:47Z")
StGermain, It might be your water, too. I have the same problem, I have to wash hair in the morning (and it’s longish, so it doesn’t dry fast!) For me, Head and Shoulders made my hair dryest. > [@](#): > > I shower very hot That’s actually a bad idea, the colder the water for the hair – the better. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/11 "2003-06-14T23:12:08Z")
StGermain, you might want to start washing your hair in lukewarm water. I think the hot water is drying your scalp and in return, your scalp over produces oil. You might want to wash your hair in the morning and 3 mornings a week, rinse your hair with a cider vinegar rinse. This rinses out shampoo and oil residue and makes your hair feel soft. Instead of a perm, maybe you could try coloring your hair to see if you like the results. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/12 "2003-06-15T17:28:14Z")
Okay, I’ve tried washing my hair in cooler water, and rinsing it vinegar ( I only had white vinegar - is that okay?) then lukewarm water. We’ll see how that works. I have intermittantly coloured my head a sort of auburn. Things like hair colour and perms have to be repeated often because my hair is so short - it means repeating the chemical process often because you see roots so much more quickly. StG ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/13 "2003-06-15T18:19:51Z")
**StGermain** - I know this is going to sound weird, but if nothing else works… When you have a few hours to spare, mix up two eggs, some natural yoghurt and some chick-pea flour (ordinary flour will work if you can’t get the chick-pea stuff). Mix it all up until it’s still a bit runny but doesn’t drip off your fingers, and then apply it to your hair and scalp, and then leave it until it dries (half an hour or so). Then wash it off as thoroughly as possible. It dries your hair out completely, takes away all the oil/grease, and in my experience, lasts at least three or four days before you have to wash your hair again. I know, I know, it sounds completely bizarre. I thought so to, but didn’t dare disobey my grandmother when she suggested it, and it made a world of difference. My hair is actually loose over my shoulders as I write this, which I never dared do before. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/14 "2003-06-16T03:04:34Z")
**Loneraven** - Thanks for the tip. I can’t guarantee I’ll use it - it sounds gross. Does it feel icky? StG ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/15 "2003-06-16T05:28:14Z")
Egg always dried my hair out. Just break yourself a couple, beat 'em and pour it on. ---
**Author:** ![Loneraven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c0e974/32.png) [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oily-hair-help/181747/16 "2003-06-16T21:26:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by StGermain \* > \*\ ***Loneraven** - Thanks for the tip. I can’t guarantee I’ll use it - it sounds gross. Does it feel icky? > > StG \*\* Not really. Just remember to scrub your nails afterwards!