May 11, 2009

Greasy Hair Remedies

Posted in Category : Beauty

Greasy hair is caused when the sebaceous glands that are close to hair follicles on your scalp excrete excess levels of sebum, an greasy liquid, and this leads to your hair becoming greasy or greasy. This hair problem is usually there only for a short period of time before sebum levels return to normal in a few months.

Causes of Greasy Hair

  • Bulking up: If you are trying to build body mass and are using androgenic hormones to do so, one of the side effects associated with it is excessive oil secretion.
  • Disease: There are certain diseases that augment the sebum production on the scalp, which, in turn, could lead to oilier hair. Generally, people suffering from diseases that affect the adrenal or pituitary gland, ovaries or testicles and Parkinson’s disease could face the problem of greasy hair.
  • Genetics: If your father or mother has greasy hair, you will tend to have it as well, as it is genetic.
  • Hair Texture: The finer your hair, the easier it is for it to get greasy. Since there are two to three oil glands connected to each hair follicle, fine hair tends to get greasy because there are fewer strands for the oil to coat.
  • Hormones: Hormones are also partly responsible for greasy hair, especially in women and teenagers. Women who are on their menstrual cycle or on birth control pills tend to have greasy hair; pregnancy and puberty are times when your hormones are all over the place and can lead to your body producing excess sebum.
  • Kind of Hair: Greasy hair could depend on the kind of hair that you have: straight or curly. Straight hair tends to get greasier as it is easier for the oil to travel down straight hair in comparison to curly hair.

Treatment for Greasy Hair

The main treatment for greasy hair is to try and dry it out, thereby getting rid of the grease. Here are a few simple steps to follow:

  • Shampoo your hair every day with a mild shampoo that is specifically for greasy hair. Avoid using detergent shampoos.
  • Reduce the usage of conditioner on your hair, and focus on applying it to the tips of your hair rather than your scalp.
  • Cut down on styling products that you use.
  • Drink plenty of water; six to eight glasses a day.
  • Massage your scalp as it helps with circulation and gets rid of some of the excess oil on your scalp.
  • Wash your hair thoroughly after shampooing as shampoo residue attracts oil and dirt.

Remedies for Greasy Hair

Here are a few simple home remedies that you can try to treat greasy hair.

  1. Alcohol: Alcohol is a good home remedy for greasy hair as it tends to dry your hair. The higher the concentration of alcohol, the better it works on your hair. Fill a shot glass with an alcohol of your choice and mix it with a couple of glasses of water. Use this solution to rinse your hair. Beer works as a very good conditioner and cleans your hair all the way through to your scalp giving your hair a nice sheen.
  2. Cider Vinegar: Cider vinegar helps to make your hair soft and control shampoo buildup on your hair. Just add ¼ cup of the liquid to a basin with warm water and soak your hair in the mixture. If you find this too tedious, you can put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray your hair with it. Once you are done, rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.
  3. Lemon Juice: Use one cup of lemon with a cup of water to rinse your greasy hair; wash your hair thoroughly with warm water afterwards. The acidity present in the lemon gets rid of the oil in your hair while also helping regulate buildup of shampoo. You could also add a spoon of lemon juice and a little aloe vera gel to the shampoo you use to get rid of extra grease and get smooth hair.
  4. Tea: Dilute tea in a glass of water and use the liquid to wash your hair. Tannin acid that is present in tea helps you minimize the oil on your hair.
  5. Vinegar Rinse: Once you have finished shampooing your hair, add two tablespoons of white vinegar to a cup of water and massage your hair with this. The acidic content in vinegar helps get rid of oil. Vinegar does tend to have a bad odor, but it fades away quickly once you rinse your hair.
  6. Watercress: Mix a handful of watercress in a cup of water, and put it to boil till it turns into a thick, bright green liquid. Boil for 10 minutes, strain it, put the liquid in a bottle and get rid of the watercress. Once it has cooled, rub some of the mixture onto your hair while it is damp, wash after 20 minutes. The iron and phosphorous content in watercress helps in keeping oil away from your hair.

References:

  1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002042.htm
  2. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/the-healthy-woman/skin_hair.pdf