Our hair should be shiny and well-groomed in order to correspond to the perfect ideal of beauty. For this reason and to protect our hair, glands in the scalp produce sebum, which gives hair its natural shine. Unfortunately, nothing in life is perfect, which is why many people are plagued by greasy hair. Nowadays, this is considered unkempt and occurs when the sebaceous glands are too kind to our hair.
There are many reasons why the glands overproduce. In addition to hormonal changes, stress, poor nutrition and genetic factors, improper hair care can also lead to increased sebum production. Heat stimulates the production of the glands, which is why washing your hair with water that is too hot is not recommended, nor is drying it with a hairdryer that works at maximum heat. And diseases such as skin fungus on the scalp can also increase sebum production. It’s not a shampoo that helps here, it’s a dermatologist.
And last but not least, men in particular like to smear oil into their hair to style it. This is usually a classic pomade that has gained popularity in recent years. It is usually based on mineral oils, which require a special shampoo to wash out. You also need special shampoos to get rid of naturally greasy hair.
First of all, the good news: If you have oily hair, there’s no need to be ashamed because it’s actually an indicator of healthy hair. The sebum is used to care for the hair and surrounds it with a protective film. Too much of the oil is also not healthy because it can cause dandruff. What few people know is that there are two types of dandruff: dry and oily. Dry dandruff is caused by a dry scalp and is usually white skin particles.
Oily scales, on the other hand, are yellowish because they are deposits of skin fat. Many people make the mistake of mistaking the greasy dandruff for dry ones and as a result wash their hair less or with the wrong shampoo, such as a baby or sensitive shampoo, in order to supposedly protect the scalp. However, these shampoos can make the problem worse as they usually do not offer the cleaning power of a shampoo for oily hair. This is mainly due to the ingredients in shampoos for oily hair. They are often based on vegetable oils.
This is due to one simple fact: oil dissolves fat. Sounds absurd, but it is true. Olive oil, for example, is a so-called lipophilic – i.e. fat-attracting – substance whose molecules interact with the fat molecules on the head and hair and mix with them. Incidentally, olive oil is also an all-purpose weapon against the pomade used by men. Theoretically, you could massage the olive oil into your hairline, leave it on for about ten minutes and then wash it out thoroughly several times with some regular shampoo. The olive oil also provides the skin with moisture and can thus regulate sebum production.
However, the home-made shampoo is cumbersome, not comfortable and runs the risk of using the olive oil to grease your hair in places where you don’t want it. Another ingredient in shampoos for oily hair is the lipoamino acid capryloyl glycine. It helps mix water and oil, removing excess sebum. However, you should avoid substances that stimulate the scalp. The increased blood circulation stimulates sebum production. Accordingly, head massages and constant brushing are also taboo. You comb oily hair better.
Rene Furterer’s Curbicia is a shampoo based on essential oils for oily hair. According to the manufacturer, the core ingredient is Curbicia extract. This is a substance obtained from pumpkin seeds and combined with clay and essential oils.
According to the manufacturer, the oils used come from cloves, thyme, rosemary and orange. That’s a good thing, because stimulating oils such as mint oil would stimulate blood circulation in the scalp and thus promote sebum production. According to the manufacturer, the shampoo is used to reduce sebum and regulate sebum production.
This means that the hair then has to be washed less often. The manufacturer recommends using the shampoo once or twice a week with an exposure time of two to five minutes when used twice.
The Bain Divalent Shampoo from Kerastase is also suitable for greasy roots. It contains the ingredient capryloyl glycine, which binds water with oil and thus frees the scalp of excess sebum. The manufacturer recommends using the shampoo twice per rinse because the second use creates a richer foam that is better for cleaning the ends of the hair.
If you are looking for a shampoo to remove the classic pomade from your hair, the Vegetable Oil Shampoo from Dax is suitable. Most pomade users will be familiar with Dax because the manufacturer offers many different pomades and conditioners. Unfortunately, the products are somewhat difficult to obtain in Germany.
The Vegetable Oil Shampoo from Dax is no exception. Important: It is not suitable for treating scalps that get greasy quickly, because pomades contain fat as well as other ingredients that give the hair support. To do this, it is better to use a designated shampoo that tries to regulate the scalp’s sebum production.
The myth that frequent hair washing stimulates sebum production persists. And there is something to it because massaging the scalp promotes blood circulation. Of course, hot showers and blow-drying your hair are just as bad. Therefore, if you only want to wet wash your hair two to three times a week, dry shampoo or baby powder will help remove the greasy roots.
The powder in the dry shampoo absorbs the fat and ensures a well-groomed appearance. The same applies of course to the baby powder. However, it is more difficult to distribute in the hair. When using powder, there is a risk that small clumps of powder will form in the hair. In addition, some manufacturers add a scent to the baby powder that not everyone finds pleasant.
Sources: hautarztpraxis-kronberg.de, wolfs-apotheke.de,
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