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Oily hair. Yep, the struggle is all too real. One day you wash it, and by noon it clings to your head like an Instagram filter gone wrong. If you’re tired of skipping photos, hats, and “just one more day” dry shampoo fixes, you’re in the right place.
Taming oily hair isn’t about working harder, it’s about working smarter. Forget hearsay hacks or kitchen experiments. It’s time for expert-approved moves you’d catch behind-the-chair in a salon—yes, with both drugstore and luxury product picks! Let’s stop the slide and keep your hair living its best, bounciest life.
Optimizing Your Wash Routine
A solid wash routine is like the foundation of your haircare house. Crack this code and you’re halfway home.
How Often Should You Wash?
Over-washing can push oil production into overdrive. However, you want to keep your hair clean, so we’re looking to strike a balance here. If your hair is greasy on the second day – then you might be one of those people who need to wash it daily. However, if it’s still reasonably fresh looking, then go for every other day (and use dry shampoo in between washes).
Temperature Matters
Rocking scalding hot showers? Not doing you any favors. Hot water strips your scalp, triggering a panic response—hello, more oil! Shower with cool to lukewarm water instead. This seems like a small thing, but it really can be a gamechanger, so try washing with lukewarm water from now on.
Shampoo Picks: Drugstore to Salon Favorites
Pick shampoos with words like “purifying” or “balancing.” You may also want to invest in a clarifying shampoo to be used once a week (at least biweekly).
- Drugstore Faves:
- Garnier Fructis Pure Clean shampoo is light, fresh, and doesn’t leave buildup.
- L’Oreal Hyaluron + Pure 72H Purifying Shampoo fights grease without zapping your ends.
- Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Clarifying Shampoo gets oil under control while calming the scalp for all-day comfortable roots.
- Salon Picks:
- Paul Mitchell Shampoo One gently cleanses and balances moisture.
- Living Proof Full Shampoo gives that clean-root feeling with a volume boost.
- OUAI Detox Clarifying Shampoo melts scalp gunk but leaves hair squeaky clean and airy.
- Olaplex No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo gets deep without being harsh, so you can say bye to heavy roots.
Conditioning and Scalp Treatments
Conditioner can feel like adding grease to your hair, but trust me, you need it. Skipping it will backfire. Think more about how you use it.
Conditioners That Do the Job
Apply your conditioner starting from mid-shaft, and try not to touch the roots. Comb it through with your fingers. Rinse really well—like, “sing two choruses of your favorite song” well.
- Conditioners we like:
- L’Oreal Rebalancing Conditioner is feather-light for those easily weighed-down locks.
- Pureology Hydrate Conditioner detangles and leaves nothing behind but bounce.
- Paul Mitchell The Conditioner is loved by stylists for keeping roots clean and ends silky.
Scalp Care Is a Must
If oil is crashing your party up top, it’s time for scalp care. Treat your scalp to a scrub or clarifying treatment once a week—think of it as spring cleaning for your roots. Taking care of your scalp controls oil, beats buildup, and keeps your hair looking clean longer.
- OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub: Whisks away flakes, product gunk, and leftover grease so your scalp can finally breathe.
- Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil: Great for once-a-week use, this lightweight oil melts away buildup and balances scalp oils. It works before shampoo—massage in, rinse out, then follow with your regular wash.
- Kérastase Specifique Potentialiste Serum: This daily scalp serum helps regulate oil production and soothes sensitive scalps, all while keeping roots looking and feeling clean longer.
These picks target oily scalp directly, play well with sensitive skin, and won’t weigh down fine or thin hair. Massage these products gently with your fingertips—never your nails. Red, irritated scalps only encourage more oil.
Post-Wash Routine Tips
You’ve nailed the wash game. Now keep your scalp chill between showers.
Blow-Drying: Friend or Foe?
Air-drying is cool, but if your hair goes limp (or stringy) by noon, a quick blow-dry works wonders. Hold your dryer at arm’s length and angle it from roots to ends for lift and movement. Use the “cool” setting at the end—it seals cuticles, so hair won’t scream for more oil.
Styling Serums and Leave-In Sprays for Oily Hair
Choose products that give light nourishment, tame frizz, and add shine without weighing your hair down or speeding up oiliness. This typically means lightweight serums and sprays, rather than heavy creams and oils. Here are top picks:
Lightweight Hair Serums
- Wella Professionals Oil Reflections: This serum is specially formulated for fine to normal hair and oily-prone types. It gives shine and softness without heaviness or grease, and absorbs quickly and makes your hair super glossy.
- Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum: Speeds up drying time and fights frizz with a weightless feel. Use only a drop or two, focusing on mid-lengths and ends.
- Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum: Ultra-lightweight; smooths, protects, and adds subtle shine without weighing hair down or making it greasy.
Oily Hair-Friendly Leave-In Sprays
- Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray: Lightweight, multi-tasking spray that conditions, protects, and improves manageability—perfect for oily or fine hair types.
- PRAVANA Intense Therapy Leave-In Conditioner Spray: Hydrates, detangles, and protects without weighing down hair or making it greasy.
- OUAI Leave In Conditioner: A fine-hair-friendly mist that smooths and detangles while leaving hair bouncy, not flat or heavy.
Always focus serums and sprays from mid-shaft to ends. Keep spritzes light at the root to avoid any oily look or feel.
In-Between Washes
Keeping oily hair fresh between washes doesn’t have to be a daily battle. With the right tricks and simple tools, you can keep your roots clean, bouncy, and photo-ready all week long.
The Dry Shampoo Technique
Don’t just spray and dash. Flip your hair, spritz at the roots from six inches away, and massage it in like you mean it.
Hit it with a blow dryer for a few seconds to finish—it “melts” the powder in, so you’re left with volume, not residue. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is a our favorite for daily refresh.
Brush Up On Your Tools
The tools you use to style and detangle your hair can make a big difference in how oily your hair looks and feels. Pick brushes and combs that keep oil in check.
- Use natural bristle brushes sparingly—these brushes are great for distributing natural oils, but if your roots get oily fast, use them only on your lengths and ends, not at the scalp.
- Wide-tooth combs or vented brushes are best for detangling and adding lift without flattening your hair or spreading oil to the roots.
- Skip metal combs, since they can overstimulate your scalp and trigger extra oil production.
Mastering oily hair is all about a smart routine and the right care. With these tips, you’ll spend less time fighting grease and more time loving your hair, every single day.
