What is oily hair and how to care for it

Just as each skin type requires specific care, the same applies to different hair types. To have healthy-looking hair, it's important not only to treat potential conditions and improve growth from the root, but also to properly care for the surface. For this, we must know our hair type and adapt our care routines accordingly. Hair length and texture, whether curly or straight, also influence the cosmetic care needed.

Let's start at the beginning... What does having oily hair really mean?

There is no exact definition of what this means. Hair is considered oily if it gets greasy easily and therefore requires frequent washing, but you can imagine how subjective this is. In people with very oily hair, itching is more common, as excess oil "feeds" the scalp microbiota, which grows, causing conditions such as dermatitis or scalp rosacea.

And why can so much oil appear on the scalp?

Oil is generated by the body itself through the sebaceous glands in the scalp skin and the hair follicles themselves (the hair root also has an oil gland). There are different situations that stimulate oil formation, such as genetics, and hormonal and dietary changes.

Does the presence of oil cause more hair loss?

Not at all! Excess oil does not cause alopecia or damage hair to the point of making it fall out. However, alopecia and oil often appear together. This is because the same hormonal changes that cause hair loss also signal the generation of more oil. Therefore, sometimes when we treat alopecia, we can also improve oil production.

And now that you know about oily hair, let's talk about its care....

How to care for oily hair?

Hair is oily at the root, which is where the oil is generated. If you have very short hair, you can consider all your hair as oily. However, if you have medium-length or long hair, everything that is not the root is not oily hair; it will be normal or dry depending on how you've treated it. For example, bleaching, dyeing, and straightening can make those mid-lengths to ends drier than normal.

The frequency of washing oily hair depends on how quickly it gets dirty. You may need to wash it daily or space it out more. It's important that if you wash it daily, you use a shampoo for frequent use that may contain astringent active ingredients (which reduce oil secretion - such as tioxolone, clay extracts, and many others). Using an aggressive anti-oil or anti-dandruff shampoo daily can damage the hair cuticle and make it look dry and dull.

With short hair, you should choose a specific shampoo but with moisturizing components. If you have long hair, you should always use moisturizing softeners/conditioners to protect the hair that is not at the root. Proper hydration of this part of the hair will prevent it from drying out with washing.

The use of exfoliants for oily hair is very effective to ensure that all deposits are removed from the scalp. If you have a sensitive scalp, do it every 15 days, but if your scalp is strong and very oily, you can do it up to twice a week. Choose specific exfoliants for oily hair as they achieve a greater astringent effect to control oil.

In cases of oily but long hair where daily washing is not appealing due to the effort involved in styling, using dry shampoo is a good option. If you want to know more about its usefulness, don't miss my post on types of shampoo.

Therefore, having oily hair means that your hair gets dirty easily due to greater than normal oil secretion from the hair and scalp. You shouldn't worry, as this will not cause alopecia, but if in addition to oil you notice poorer hair quality, I always recommend seeking consultation, as oil and alopecia can be caused by the same alteration. Wash your hair as often as needed, but always remember to combine it with good hydration and, if you wash very often, do not choose an excessively aggressive shampoo.