Oily hair is an issue for many people, and there are several different causes.
Excessive scalp buildup is the root of the problem, and it can be prevented by choosing the right oily hair shampoo. When your hair has started to feel heavy and oily, there are some early signs to look out for.
Sometimes your scalp is over-enriched with oils. Over time, this can lead to oiled skin as well as scalp congestion. With several warnings out there about hollowness, it’s important to take time to investigate what’s going on with your hair. If you think your hair is falling out, there are certain symptoms to look out for. Your scalp may be feeling heavy, frizzy, or tingling.
Highlighted are signs of excess sebum, which is striping the top layer of the skin, causing it to look dull. Additionally, you’ll notice dryness around the hairline. Eyes may also be affected, though this is caused by lack of sleep. People who have trouble falling asleep (me included) will often experience eye dryness after trying out certain beauty products. Sebum, a substance made up of amino acids and other components, is the key to the problem. Sebum is a natural moisturizer. It protects the skin by maintaining a barrier to prevent dryness, which can lead to infection.

More serious signs to look out for are signs of dullness, flaking, or redness around the hairline. The scalp is prone to flaking if you’re not taking care of it. You may notice flakes when you shower or if you touch your scalp without a moisturizer on. Other signs are excess dead skin cells and red patches that may not be visible on the scalp, letting you know there is an issue. The skin’s primary job is to protect the scalp and maintain a healthy environment in which hair can grow.
If we touch our skin frequently and don’t wash our hands properly, the skin can become irritated, bringing about pimples. The signs to look out for are increased sensitivity to touch, flaking, or peeling. It’s possible you have eczema of the scalp, an inflammation of the scalp characterized by dryness, scaly patches, redness, and even burning. By now, you’ve undoubtedly noticed dry skin around the mouth. This is a sign of mouthpiece or Wilson’s disease, a genetic condition that affects the function of the gums. People with Wilsons disease will fall asleep during conversations, or they may have difficulty chewing food. Drying out the mouth can lead to dry mouth syndrome, a vomiting disorder often associated with swallowing their saliva.
If your hands and feet turn into cords in the winter, this is a sure sign that you’re dehydrated. Signs of heat exhaustion can include increased sweating and redness around the knees, elbows, and armpits. Another sign to look out for are bloating. If you’re someone who watches their diet, it’s a warning sign of not moving your body enough.
There’s also the issue of excessive sebum — the oil produced by your sebaceous glands. These glands produce highly-molecular liquids that act as a barrier against external contamination. Because sebum is so thick, it’s particularly relevant to oily scalp-zone.
Sebum has a wide range of functions, protecting the skin from environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke and preventing friction burns while showering.
Unfortunately, too much sebum can make it difficult for your hair follicles to produce enough oil — something that’s especially noticeable when your scalp is drier and grows more oil than usual. Over time, this can lead to thinning or loss of hair.
Once your scalp is feeling primed for a gentle cleanse, try rinsing your hair with cold water first and then with a mild cleanser. This will help loosen excess sebum so that your scalp can produce its normal amount of oil. Whenever you notice it muddier and more oily than usual, this is a good sign to look out for.
If you’re still noticing oil build-up, here are a few cleansers you can try:
Many people who suffer from breakouts tend to use harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or clove oil. While these ingredients do have their benefits, they can also dry your hair out, resulting in it being frizzy or itchy.
Another factor to take into consideration is the type of oil you’re using — because small amounts of natural oils penetrate deeply into your hair, they can be gentler on your hair than synthetics.
There are a few different types of oils you can use in your hair salve, with aloe being the common denominator for getting your scalp humming-clean:
Let’s remember that we have a hair thinning cycle in order to avoid further damage in the first place. With that in mind, learn to recognize the different signs of a healthy scalp. When it comes to getting your hair fixed, warmth, rainbows and vitamins C and E can all help.
Curls usually signal this and your body’s own oil production is starting to ramp up. This isn’t just because it is humid outside, and your body is responding by sweating. Your scalp is self-cleaning, and is producing oil to make itself shiny.
It strips away dead skin cells, leaving your scalp shiny. In the pages of a cosmetics container, this is referred to as ‘moisturizing or humectant system’, and it’s solely responsible for driving that oily build-up. Moisturizing ingredients penetrate the pores of your skin, bringing water to your hair follicles so it can be re-hydrated. When your hair gets greasy, it can also make it harder for your body to sweat. If your body is constantly sweating, it becomes harder and harder for you to cool down.
If your hair starts covering your face (either because you’ve been wearing it in public or because you’re showering with it), this makes it even harder for your body to sweat. This dries out your skin and weakens the barrier, meaning you get drier. Eventually, you may develop chafing.
When your hair dries out or interferes with your body’s sweat system, it triggers a response in your body. It may cause you to overheat.
You may notice your hair feels prickly, irritated or smothered. You may also feel itchy or you think your scalp is itchy, despite not actually feeling itchy.
These sensations are common signs of dryness. The closer they are to the start of acne, the worse the problem gets. You may also experience dehydrated hair and scalp, which leads to ‘acne personified’, or trichotillomania, a series of skin tics caused by itchiness, burning, and pins and needles.
All of this buildup can set the stage for a dry, dull scalp as your body seeks out coverings to reduce the amount of oil being shed. Excessive sebum (the film that forms around your hair follicles) will also cause friction and a feeling of ‘roughness’ around your scalp. This keen sensation begs your brain to keep grooming and applying wax, and has been linked to dry skin as well.
There are several things you can do to prevent dryness. These include:
Only a thinning barrier can help slow down this sebum production, and if your sebum is clogging up your pores, they may clog even faster.
Moisturizing is crucial if you want to prevent rashes/ bruises, and it does an impressive job of ensuring your skin stays hydrated, meaning your energy levels are up and your skin looks brighter.