I have a 12 year old daughter with long hair that is greasy the next day after she washes it. We have tried stopping all conditioners and even washing her hair with Head and Shoulders. So far that has dried her hair and made it frizzy.
I'm looking for a good product either natural or store bought to help her with this greasy hair problem. It would make my teen happy if you have got a good idea. Please send it on we would appreciate any help.
By ScrpBkBon from Cincinnati, OH
It sounds like she just needs to wash it every day. If it is really, really long, she could just wash the hair against her head, (and not wet the pony tail). This is what a friend of mine used to do. Also, if she uses conditioner, she can only condition from the pony tail down. (02/18/2010)
By Jill
I totally disagree with Jilson (about washing her hair everyday, I think her idea about not washing the ponytail is good). Your daughter needs to do the opposite (wash her hair less often!) because the more you wash your hair (or your face) the more your body rebels and makes even more oils. Ask any doctor! This is the first mistake people with acne or oily hair make, they wash their face or hair too often which makes their body make even more oils!
By Cyinda
As someone who's had oily hair since the age of 11, the answer is simple: Wash it every day. People shower every day, so why not wash your hair while you're in the shower, right? :-)
At your daughter's age, it's especially important to include daily hair washing as part of her routine, because the oil from hair can get onto the face, creating problems or potential problems with acne.
Please don't use harsh shampoos like Head and Shoulders however, that's for dandruff, not oily hair. A nice, mild shampoo is sufficient.
And while you don't want her loading up on conditioner, it's important to use a conditioner especially made for oily hair. Even oily hair can be damaged by lack of conditioning, especially if your daughter blow-dries her hair.
Shampooing every day will not damage hair. What will damage it is trying to find something that will keep her hair clean and non-oily for days. Because a product like that would be way too harsh, anyway.
Cyinda's advice, while well-intentioned, could do a lot of damage. Listerine is way too astringent for use in hair. Combing conditioner through it will only add to the oiliness. Powder and/or dry shampoos are a disaster for oily hair, as I found out the hard way when I was 11. There's a reason people wash their hair every day; it's good hygiene, and it works. :-) (02/19/2010)
I came across a new movement to "not" shampoo hair and use a baking soda rinse, followed by a rinse of plain water, and I like it. My hair is a little oily, but if you brush long hair every day, it distributes oil along shaft from scalp area so that moderates oil.
The soda rinse is made by 2-3 tablespoons in glass of warm water, make sure glass is actually plastic for safety, rub into scalp and massage through hair just as if it were shampoo, then rinse. Hair feels clean, has shine, and looks good. Once in a while use a plain shampoo, like Suave which has been watered down, like 1 tablespoon in glass of warm water. I shampoo about every 4th time. Sometimes just rinsing hair with warm water helps, because what you are rinsing out is the sweat of the day, dust, etc. (02/19/2010)
By PENNY K
We use vinegar as a rinse. Works well, and any type of vinegar will work. It is the perfect ph, so won't dry out your hair. It is also a natural antibody fighter, so will also work against any blackheads and such. (02/21/2010)
I'm 36 weeks pregnant, because of my pregnancy I have had extremely oily hair. I would wash it one day and the next it would be oily again. I did some research on the problem and found that many people recommend using tea tree Oil in their shampoo. I tried it, and sure enough it worked. My hair was silky, shiny, soft, and definitely not oily. You can find tea tree oil at pretty much any store. I myself went to Walgreen's and got a small bottle of it for nine dollars. I also bought a little re-usable lotion/shampoo bottle which I put a mixture of shampoo and tea tree oil. When you do mix the oil and shampoo, you only need a tiny amount of the tea tree oil for it to work. I hope this works for you. (02/22/2010)
By Aliesha
I have very oily hair as well. I wash it most days.
But, when I need to go a day without washing, I use a little baby powder. I have dark hair so I have to be careful not to use too much. If you use a little around the roots as soon as you get your hair dry and then the next day use a little more, it works quite well. Just use a little, comb it in, then use a little more. It helps absorb some of the oil. Has really saved me on camping trips! (02/22/2010)
By cdoss
She should be washing her hair every day because of oils caused by puberty which can also affect her facial skin as previously mentioned (this can happen at menopause, too), but the trick for the scalp to not overly produce oils is using a mild shampoo and "do not scrub". Scrubbing actually stimulates the scalp oil glands!
Simply apply the shampoo to the entire scalp and gently wash the scalp with fingertips and then work the lather through the rest of the hair. A vinegar rinse is a good idea too and she should indeed use conditioner because her hair is long, and especially if she blows it dry, but just don't apply the conditioner to the scalp.
Baby powder, talcum power, or baking soda gently brushed through the scalp area will help to keep the oiliness from being noticeable on days there simply isn't time for a shampoo.
This advice is from a former pubescent and thereafter over thirty years as a hairstylist as were my parents before me ;-) (02/22/2010)
By Deeli
As a person who has had extremely oily hair her entire life, I too disagree with Cyinda. Have her wash her hair every day. I've found that switching shampoos every two weeks makes a difference for me. And yes, some shampoos cut the oil better than others. Also, tell her to never wash or rinse her hair in hot water; the cooler she can stand it, the better for oily hair. Hot water opens the oil ducts; cool water closes them.
I do not use a blow dryer either; the heat from it stimulates the oil glands. Ditto for hot rollers, curling irons, etc. I allow my hair to air dry. Between shampoos, I brush cornstarch through my hair. I've found that it absorbs oil better than other powders. I also used to rinse my hair with lemon juice. It may be drying to some, but my oily hair could handle it. (02/23/2010)
By susan
Tell her to try Aussie's Cleanse and Mend Shampoo, it is formulated to dry out greasy roots while maintaining moisturized ends. Another tip is that when you do condition your hair, only apply conditioner to the hair that falls below your ear lobes, our scalps make more than enough oils to keep our roots moisturized.
Another thing would be to stay away from shampoos with sodium laureth sulfate, which is the ingredient in shampoo/face washes that strips dirt and grim from the hair/skin. This often makes our scalp over produce oils in order to compensate for the stripped moisture. (02/26/2010)
Thanks to everyone who had suggestions for my daughter. So far this week she has has had her hair cut to a more manageable length and she has been using a clarifying shampoo and a good conditioner only for the ends of her hair. Last week she tried Suave for a double shampoo and a cool water and white vinegar rinse. She has also changed her habits of needlessly scrubbing her scalp. She even stopped blow drying and has gone to a wide toothed comb. I appreciate all your kind advice and thanks again :)
Bonnie (02/26/2010)
By ScrpBkBon
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