Self-test
Is this type yours?
- ◎A day after washing your hair, sometimes even the same evening, your roots look greasy and shiny.
- ◎Your hair sticks to your head and styling gets harder.
- ◎Sticky, yellowish, oily dandruff flakes form on your scalp.
- ◎By the end of the day you notice a faint odor from your scalp.
- ◎You also get oiliness and light flaking on your forehead, the sides of your nose or your eyebrows.
- ◎When you take off a helmet, beanie or cap, your scalp feels coated in sweat and oil.
In depth
What happens at the root?
The scalp is one of the areas of the body richest in oil glands. The oil glands attached to each hair follicle produce sebum; this oil protects the scalp and the strand. The activity of the oil glands is largely controlled by androgen hormones. That's why in men, especially after puberty, the scalp is generally oilier than in women. Genetics, hot and humid weather, sweating, stress and lack of sleep are other factors that increase oiliness. Helmets, beanies and caps strengthen this effect by raising the temperature and humidity of the scalp.
The real importance of an oily scalp lies in its relationship with the microorganisms that live there. A type of yeast naturally found on the scalp uses the fats in sebum as food and breaks them down; some of the substances released in the process can irritate the scalp in sensitive people and lead to flaking and itching. Research shows that on a dandruff-prone scalp the ratio between bacterial and yeast communities is disrupted, and that dandruff arises together with sebum, moisture and the person's own scalp characteristics. When there is noticeable redness and sticky flaking, the condition is called seborrheic dermatitis; besides the scalp, it can also appear on the eyebrows, the sides of the nose and the beard area. You can't permanently change oil production with shampoo, but regular, proper cleansing helps keep the scalp in balance.
Priorities
What does it need?
01
Regular cleansing
Not washing an oily scalp doesn't reduce oil, it just lets it build up. Research shows that washing more often can improve scalp comfort on an oily scalp.
02
A balanced, not harsh, shampoo
Harsh shampoos that try to strip away all the oil can irritate the scalp. A shampoo that cleans gently but effectively and is suitable for frequent use gives better results.
03
Act fast after sweating
After workouts, wearing a helmet and hot weather, sweat and oil combine. Washing the same day helps keep the scalp in balance.
04
Think about dandruff too
Dandruff and itching are common on an oily scalp. If you have dandruff, you may need to add a dandruff shampoo for the scalp to your routine.
05
Lifestyle
Sleep habits, stress management and a balanced diet aren't a solution for oiliness on their own, but they can help reduce the factors that increase it.
Oily scalp
Regular cleansing
Step by step
Your care routine
4 steps
- 01
Every day or every other day
If your scalp gets greasy within a day, washing every day is fine. On days you work out, wear a helmet or sweat a lot, don't put off washing until the next day.
- 02
Double shampoo
On very oily days, shampoo twice: the first wash removes oil and product, the second cleans the scalp.
- 03
Lukewarm water
Very hot water stimulates the scalp and can intensify the dryness-oiliness cycle. Wash with lukewarm water.
- 04
Use dandruff shampoo the right way
If you have dandruff, apply the dandruff shampoo to your scalp, leave it on for the time stated on the label, then rinse. You can use it two or three times a week and use a gentle shampoo on the other days.
What you can add to your routine
Excess oil shifts the balance
Scalp yeast feeds on sebum. As oil increases, it becomes easier for this yeast to multiply and the bacteria-yeast balance can shift. Research has shown that this balance is disrupted on a dandruff-prone scalp.
Sweat, heat and covered conditions
The heat and humidity that rise under a helmet or beanie can quickly change the balance of the scalp microbiome. Washing the same day and keeping your headwear clean is the simplest way to maintain balance.
Reading labels
Ingredient guide
✓What helps
- Gentle but effective surfactants: suitable for frequent use and remove oil without irritating the scalp.
- Salicylic acid: can help loosen oil and flake buildup on the scalp.
- Anti-dandruff ingredients such as zinc pyrithione, piroctone olamine and selenium sulfide: can help support scalp balance when you're prone to dandruff.
- Niacinamide and zinc compounds: can help balance an oily look.
- Shampoos and styling products with clay: absorb surface oil and give a more matte look.
- Shampoos with prebiotics: can help support microbiome balance by nourishing the beneficial microorganisms on the scalp.
!Be careful with
- Daily use of very harsh sulfate shampoos: can irritate the scalp and increase itching.
- Heavy oils and creams applied to the scalp: can make oiliness and the growth of scalp yeast easier.
- Shiny wax and oil-based pomades: make hair look greasier and can build up on the scalp.
- Dry shampoo every day: can cause buildup and itching on the scalp.
- Frequent use of heavily alcohol-based tonics: give a short-lived fresh feeling but can dry out and irritate the scalp.
Caution
Common mistakes
- ✕Going days without washing so your hair gets less oily.
- ✕Using the harshest shampoo every day to strip away all the oil.
- ✕Applying dandruff shampoo and rinsing it off right away.
- ✕Leaving sweaty hair after a workout until the next day.
- ✕Applying oil or heavy cream to your scalp.
- ✕Not seeing a dermatologist even though redness and heavy flaking have lasted for months.
Popular searches
Most asked about Oily scalp
Your questions
Frequently asked questions
01Can oily hair be washed every day?+
Yes. As long as you use a gentle shampoo, washing an oily scalp every day isn't harmful. Research shows that washing more often can improve scalp comfort on an oily scalp.
02If I wash less often, will my scalp produce less oil?+
No. Oil production is largely determined by hormones and genetics; washing less doesn't train your oil glands. Oil and dirt just build up for longer, which can increase the risk of dandruff and itching.
03Can you get dandruff with oily hair?+
Yes, and it's actually more common on an oily scalp. Because scalp yeast feeds on sebum, sticky, yellowish, oily dandruff can appear on an oily scalp. Using dandruff shampoos and leaving them on the scalp for a few minutes helps.
04Do helmets or beanies make your hair greasy?+
They don't directly increase oil production, but heat, sweat and moisture build up under headwear and your hair looks greasy faster. Putting headwear on with dry hair, washing the liner regularly and washing your hair the same day help.
05Can an oily scalp cause hair loss?+
An oily scalp alone doesn't cause inherited hair loss. However, greasy hair looks thinner, and an inflamed, itchy scalp hurts the way your hair looks. If you notice thinning, it's a good idea to see a dermatologist.
06When should I see a dermatologist?+
You should see a dermatologist if redness, heavy and sticky flaking or severe itching lasts for months, or if you have similar flaking on your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and your beard. These signs may point to seborrheic dermatitis, and a suitable approach is determined through a physician's evaluation.
Scientific basis
Sources
- 01Oily skin: a review of treatment options
Endly DC, Miller RA · Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology 10(8):49-55 · 2017
Evaluates topical, systemic and procedure-based options that affect sebum production in oily skin, along with their mechanisms, level of evidence and possible side effects.
- 02The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions
Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, et al. · Skin Appendage Disorders 7(3):183-193 · 2021 · doi:10.1159/000512786
Questioned the belief that frequent washing damages hair and reported that increasing wash frequency according to scalp condition can improve scalp comfort and appearance.
- 03Dandruff is associated with disequilibrium in the proportion of the major bacterial and fungal populations colonizing the scalp
Clavaud C, Jourdain R, Bar-Hen A, et al. · PLoS ONE 8(3):e58203 · 2013 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058203
Showed that on a dandruff-prone scalp the ratio between bacterial and yeast communities is disrupted compared with a healthy scalp, meaning dandruff is linked to a loss of balance.
- 04Dandruff is associated with the conjoined interactions between host and microorganisms
Xu Z, Wang Z, Yuan C, et al. · Scientific Reports 6:24877 · 2016 · doi:10.1038/srep24877
Showed that dandruff arises not from microorganisms alone but together with sebum, moisture and the scalp's own characteristics.
- 05A new postulate on two stages of dandruff: a clinical perspective
Manuel F, Ranganathan S · International Journal of Trichology 3(1):3-6 · 2011 · doi:10.4103/0974-7753.82117
Argues that dandruff can be viewed as seborrheic dermatitis limited to the scalp and should be managed with an ongoing approach rather than a one-time fix.
- 06Seborrhoeic dermatitis
DermNet · DermNet NZ · 2023
Explains that seborrheic dermatitis shows up as flaking and redness on the scalp, face and beard area, is common in adult men and tends to flare periodically.
- 07Scalp microbiome and sebum composition in Japanese male individuals with and without androgenetic alopecia
Suzuki K, Inoue M, Cho O, Mizutani R, et al. · Microorganisms 9(10):2132 · 2021 · doi:10.3390/microorganisms9102132
Showed that men with male pattern hair loss have a different sebum composition and a disrupted bacteria-yeast balance on the scalp, suggesting that sebum and the microbiome may play a role in this process.
- 08Dandruff
NHS · NHS Health A to Z · 2024
States that dandruff is not contagious, can usually be kept under control with regular washing and dandruff shampoos, and that you should see a doctor if it does not go away.
