Greasy or Oily Hair

You start every morning with clean, shiny hair. But by bedtime, or even sooner, your hair looks greasy, lame and lank. Oily hair can be a pain and is a common complaint among persons who have acne problems. Excessive sebum not only contributes to the formation of acne but also leaves the hair greasy and unattractive.

What can be done? First, it is important to remember that the hair produces no sebum, says Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos, clinical associate professor of dermatology at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. People who complain of oily hair are actually complaining of an oily scalp. The hair simply wicks the oil away from the scalp.

Straight hair moves the oil quickly away from the scalp while tightly kinked hair moves the sebum very slowly away from the scalp. This explains why Asian persons with very straight hair note their hair is “oily” while African American persons more commonly note their hair is dry.

Treatment for Oily Hair

The key to controlling oily hair is to remove the sebum adequately from the scalp. Many persons mistakenly think that hair shampoo is to wash the hair and not the scalp. Actually, shampoo is designed to clean the scalp and beautify the hair. Thus, the first recommendation is to shampoo the scalp. Women with long hair should apply the shampoo to the scalp without piling the hair on top, and use their fingers to vigorously massage the scalp.

Excessively oily hair may require two applications to the scalp prior to shampooing the hair. One way to tell if the oil has been removed from the scalp is to note the foam produced by the shampoo. If the shampoo is removing large amounts of sebum, it will not foam. One can discontinue shampoo applications when the shampoo freely suds on application to the scalp.

Select a shampoo that states on the label that it is formulated for oily hair or choose one that is extra cleansing or ‘clarifying´. Stay away from moisturizing shampoos as they are designed to leave a certain amount of oil in your hair as a protection against dryness.

It will be necessary to shampoo your hair everyday in order to remove the oil. For more thorough cleansing, leave the shampoo on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Believe it or not, the WAY you shampoo is important! When your hair feels oily or unclean, you may feel the need to scrub. However, vigorous scrubbing and massage will only serve to stimulate the sebaceous glands, causing them to produce more sebum. Instead, be very gentle while you are shampooing. Simply lather and run your finger-tips lightly over your scalp. Then rinse and repeat the process.

Avoid brushing your hair often or vigorously. This will not only stimulate the sebaceous glands but also will carry the oil throughout the hair. If you feel the need for a conditioner, - even oily hair can have dry ends because of chemical processing, sun or wind, - use a light conditioner and apply it only to the dry ends of your hair. Rinse thoroughly.

Aromatherapy Treatments

Natural products for oily hair include the essential oils of Bergamot, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Yarrow.

RECIPE 1: Oily Hair Shampoo
3 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil, 4 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil, 4 drops Cypress Essential Oil, 7 drops Lemon Essential Oil, 2 drops Yarrow Essential Oil. Blend together in 100ml shampoo base.

RECIPE 2: Rinse for Oily Hair
1 cup of water, 2 tsp cider vinegar, 2 drops Lemon Essential Oil, 1 drop Thyme Essential Oil. Blend the ingredients well and add to your final rinse making sure the whole scalp is treated with the rinse.

RECIPE 3: Hair Tonic for Oily Hair
2 cups of boiled water, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon, 2 drops Bergamot Essential Oil, 2 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil, 3 drops Cypress Essential Oil, 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil, 1 drop Thyme Essential Oil. Blend well and rub into the scalp.

RECIPE 4: Deep Oily Hair Conditioner
2 tablespoons Sweet Almond oil Carrier Oil, 2 drops Bergamot Essential Oil, 2 drops Cypress Essential Oil, 2 drops Lemon Essential Oil, 2 drops Yarrow Essential Oil. Blend the ingredients together and thoroughly massage the conditioner into the scalp. Cover your hair with a plastic shower cap or polythene bag. Leave the conditioner on for 15 minutes then shampoo and rinse as normal.

Sage Essential Oil - Salvia Officinalis (10ml)

Sage is considered to be good for respiratory infections and has a very warming effect on the muscles and works well as a massage oil to relieve aching muscles.

£4.00

Sweet Almond Aromatherapy Carrier Oil 50ml

Sweet Almond is one of the most popular and versatile of all the carrier oils

£4.00

Bergamot Essential Oil - Citrus Bergamia (10ml)

Bergamot is a valuable oil for tension and anxiety. It can help with conditions such as cystitis and urethritis as well as being great for skin conditions such as acne.

£6.80

Cedarwood Essential Oil - Juniperus Virginia (10ml)

Cedarwood has a woody scent and is very good in helping with skin conditions such as acne and dandruff. It can help with catarrh and has a tonic effect on the body so try it for stress related conditions.

£5.00

Clary Sage Essential Oil - Salvia Sclarea (10ml)

Clary Sage is wonderful as it blends so well with other oils and has a wide variety of uses. Try it for high blood pressure, aches & pains, skin care, asthma and emotional tension as well as stress related conditions.

£6.00

Cypress Essential Oil - Cupressus Sempervirens (10ml)

Cypress is a great asset for any sort of skin care. It can be used for varicose veins or haemorroids, it is great for sweating and can help with the menstrual cycle.

£5.20

Frankincense 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Boswellia Carteri (10ml)

Offered here as a diluted oil Frankincense is wonderful for mature skin complexions to help with scars, wrinkles and wounds. It can help with coughs and bronchitis and is a generally calming oil for people suffering from stress.

£5.00

Frankincense Pure Essential Oil - Boswellia Carteri (10ml)

This is a non-diluted version of the oil. Frankincense is wonderful for mature skin complexions to help with scars, wrinkles and wounds. It can help with coughs and bronchitis and is a generally calming oil for people suffering from stress.

£9.50

Lavender Essential Oil - Lavandula Abrialis (10ml)

Lavender has been used continuously for thousands of years and its popularity has only ever increased. If you could have no other essential oil in your house, then Lavender would be the prime choice: It has a wide range of uses and is a natural antibiotic, anti-depressant, sedative and de-toxifier.

£3.30

Juniper Essential Oil (10ml)

Juniper has a special affinity with the urino-genital tract and can be used to treat many associated conditions. It is also good for respiratory problems and certain skin conditions.

£5.90

Lemon Essential Oil - Citrus Limon (10ml)

This antiseptic and anti-bacterial oil will perform many tasks especially when blended with other oils, including treating verrucas, insect bites and tension headaches. It has a tonic action on the lymphatic system and a stimulating action on the digestive system. It will aid slimming, help shift cellulite and smooth out those wrinkles

£3.30

Rosemary Essential Oil - Rosemarinus Officinalis (10ml)

Rosemary is believed to have a refreshing, invigorating affect on the skin and can be used for a variety of skin and hair problems. It is good for stiff and overworked muscles, Steam inhalations with Rosemary can be good for catarrh and sinusitus. Rosemary also has a strong connection with the central nervous system and can help with memory and mental clarity.

£3.50

Yarrow 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Achillea Millefolium (10ml)

All stress related conditions can benefit from the use of Yarrow but it is particularly applicable for hypertension and insomnia. Try it for circulation problems and varicose veins. It is also said to promote hair growth and help certain skin conditions.

£4.25