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Greasy or Oily HairYou start every morning with clean, shiny hair. But by bedtime — or even sooner — your hair looks greasy, lame and lank. What Causes Oily Hair? 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. 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
 (shampoo base not included)RECIPE 2: Rinse for Oily Hair
(cider vinegar not included)RECIPE 3: Hair Tonic for Oily Hair
(Lemon Juice not included)RECIPE 4: Deep Oily Hair Conditioner
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