Understanding the Condition
Greasy hair is basically caused by large amounts of oil that accumulate on your hair and scalp. When your hair is too greasy, it tends to feel limp, lifeless and sticky.
Besides that, the excess oils also prevent you from styling your hair properly. The grease also clumps your hair together and can portray a less than tidy image for you as well. Although washing can remove the oil build ups from your hair and scalp, many people notice the greasiness returning very shortly after washing and that is the main problem for most people.
Despite the issues, greasy hair is a relatively mild problem to begin with but if you leave it unattended over a period of time, it might lead to other scalp issues like Seborrheic Dermatitis, scalp acne and other scalp conditions.
What Causes It?
There are many reasons why your hair and scalp can get greasy but on of the main triggers lie within your hair follicles. 
In each hair follicle there are concentrations of grape looking organ known as sebaceous glands that produce sebum or oil. The oils exit through the hair shaft towards the scalp's surface and then spread to the hair. Producing a balanced amount of oil is important to help lubricate the scalp, maintain the hair's elasticity and prevent it from dryness.
For a good number of people, these glands can easily be influenced by a many internal and external factors that cause it to produce more sebum than usual. When that happens, you are likely to end up with greasy hair and scalp.
Some of the most common contributing factors lie with
- Puberty
This is when the time your hormones are most active as you move into adulthood. As your body changes, your body receives an influx of hormones known as androgens. These hormones are crucial for your physical development but it can also enlarge your sebaceous glands and provoke more oils production. That is why it's common for teenagers to have oily skin and hair. - Diet
What you eat can definitely affect your hair's oiliness as well. Foods that are high in fat, sugar, preservatives and addictives can be a major cause of greasy hair as they can increase the oil levels in your body. If your diet regularly consists of red meat and lack of vegetables, it may cause a deficiency that leads to more oil production. - Poor Hair Care
Lack of shampooing and poor hair care is also a primary reason for your hair's greasiness. Besides your body own oils, dirt, bacteria and environmental pollutants can build up on your hair over time. Perspiration and sweating can also make your hair looks dirty and greasy. - Too Much Washing
Carrying it too far by washing your hair too frequently might not be a good idea too. Most people with greasy hair tend to wash their hair in short intervals to remove the oil buildup. Sometimes they overdo it by using too much shampoo or just by washing too often. Too much washing can strip away most of the hair oils and your sebaceous glands will react by producing MORE SEBUM to compensate. Vigorous scrubbing and friction with your hair and scalp can also stimulate your oil glands. - Hair Products
Certain hair styling products like gels and creams can contain synthetic oils that provide the hold and help you style your hair. If you do not remove them products regularly, these oils can stay within your hair and scalp and increase the rate of greasiness. Some hair products like conditioner and shampoos can also trigger your glands to produce more oils than normal and that can also indicate that you are not suitable for it.
How greasy your scalp and hair can get is also directly linked to how fine your hair is. People of certain races and cultures tend to have finer hair and more hair follicles than others. Since there are more hair follicles, it also means there are more sebaceous glands to produce more oils than some people. That is why some people tend to have oiler hair and that is why bald people whose hair follicles are already dead don't suffer from scalp oiliness so often.
There are a lot more reasons like environmental factors, weather and such that can cause greasy hair. In today's hectic and stressful scene that we live in, ending up with greasy hair is a very normal routine most people face.
If you have longer hair, the greasiness is more controllable since there is more space for the oil to spread. People with short hair have a much smaller area for the grease to spread and can that be a more difficult issue for them.
Controlling Greasy Hair
You can't totally stop greasy hair so it's all about control and prevention. To keep clear from getting your hair oily, proper hair care and preventative measures are important.
Before we go any further, let's start with a list of things that you should do when it comes to tackling greasy hair.
- Shampoo your hair daily
The most effective treatment for greasy hair is to wash daily. Choose a good oil control or clarifying shampoo that can reduce oil concentrations and remove debris. Make sure the shampoo is also mild enough for daily use. I would recommend getting an organic shampoo for oily scalp and hair. - Wash it right
When shampooing, leave the shampoo in for 5 minutes for it to interact with the oils. Applying the shampoo directly on the scalp can help clear the oil there too. Avoid vigorous scrubbing as it may remove too much oil that your scalp and hair needs. Shampoo with cool or lukewarm water also helps reduce oil production. - Less fat and sugar helps
Cut down on those chips, meat and soft drinks that you enjoy and opt for more vegetables, fruits and fish diet. Steer away from deep fried foods and stuff that is laden with oil. - Avoid brushing too often
If you brush your hair a few times a day, it will stimulate your oil glands to produce more oils. Too much brushing will also assist the transfer of oils from your scalp to your hair as well. If you want to style your hair, a wide tooth comb is much more suitable for oily hair. - Easy on the creams, sprays and gels
Plenty of hair styling products are oil and dirt magnet thanks to their ability stick hair together. If you hair is already oily, using less styling products can help reduce oil and dirt buildups. If you really must, a water based formula might be another less damaging alternative. Still using less is advised. - Keep your hair away from your scalp
So how are you going to do that? Well not exactly removing your hairs from your scalp but avoid as much hair contact with your scalp as possible. Some hair styles like braids, bangs or knots can clump your hair and scalp closely. These hairstyles tend to allow the oils from to spread to your hair easily. Keeping your hair loose and ample room for air flow will prevent greasiness. - Don't use a hair conditioner
Conditioners are mainly used to provide moisture and softness to the hair. One way of doing so is to provide the hair with lubrication and oil and that is one thing you don't need when you have greasy hair. Cut down the usage of your conditioner until the managed to control your hair's greasiness. If you must, only apply it to the middle and end part of your hair and avoid the roots and scalp altogether. - Use cool air
Hair dryers can help dry your hair fast and remove oil build ups but hot air can also open up the oil glands and stimulate more oils. If must, use cold air instead or a table fan. Also, try not to scrub your hair while blow drying to prevent more oil stimulation.
The steps above are more than adequate for controlling greasy hair. If you do it right, you should see the greasiness wearing off just after a few days or a week. Keep in mind that greasy hair can return anytime so it's necessary to maintain your hair properly.
Baby Powder - A Quick Alternative You Can Use
Talcum or baby powder is a great oil absorbent that you can use for removing extra grease from your hair. If you need to get rid of grease quick and have no time for a hair wash, sprinkle a modest amount of baby powder into your hair and leave it for 5 minutes and then comb and pat it out.
If you have really dark hair, there are speciality shops that carry colored talcum powder too.
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