Your hair is oily. So what do you do?

<< ROTF!! Only one of the funniest movies ever made! It’s a #ComingToAmerica scene, for you young fellas out there.

But seriously, I always tend to receive a lot more emails regarding oily hair during the warmer months. So below is a list of solutions, and the reason oily hair happens in the first place. Because honestly, what good is a solution without first understanding the reason behind it, right?

The Reason:

The oil found in your hair is called sebum, and it is produced by the sebaceous glands in your scalp for the sole purpose of moisturizing your scalp.  Hair that becomes too oily is the result of the overactivity of the sebaceous glands, which can be caused by stress, a hormonal change (common in teenagers), and a diet that consists of oily foods.  Here are a few things you can try to help reduce the production of sebum within more normal levels:

• Wash your hair less: Shampoos are designed to strip the oils from your hair and scalp. Shampooing too often makes your scalp dry, forcing your scalp to work overtime to replace the oils lost.
• Be gentle: Vigorous brushing and scrubbing while shampooing also stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oils.
•  Switch shampoos: There is nothing wrong with Head and Shoulders, but in your case, you suffer from oily hair, not dandruff. Use a clarifying shampoo that has a mild pH instead.
• Find a balance: It is recommended to shampoo two to three times a week. Start by shampooing your hair once a day, and adjust from there.
• A little baby powder: Baby powder is made to absorb moisture. So if your hair feels a bit greasy and you don’t have time for a shower, give it a try! (Just keep in mind that the darker the hair color the more noticeable…)
• The beer wash: That ‘s right! Beer gets the scalp squeaky clean, and leaves your hair shiny and oil free. (Read more here!)

* Be sure to condition your hair once a week, and if you are blow-drying your hair, limit the length of time the heat is   on your scalp. Long exposure to heat on the scalp also stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce oil.