Oily Hair

Oily Hair

If you've noticed that your hair is oily and you're wondering how it got that way, there are between 90,000 and 140,000 good reasons. That's how many strands of hair are on a reasonably well-covered head, according to Philip Kingsley, a New York City and London hair care specialist. And each strand has its very own oil gland. Strenuous exercise only increases oil production, as do heat and humidity. Plus there's pollution. And hormones. And sweat. And residue from all those hair products you may have used to control the oiliness.

It goes for anyone: If you've got a full head of hair and live a relatively active life, then some extra oil is almost inevitable. But hair color does make some kind of difference, adds Kingsley. Redheads with thick, coarse hair, for example, rarely have problems with oily hair, while blondes with silky, baby-fine hair have the worst problem. (So much for having more fun!)

But whatever your hair color or the problems with your hair, here's how to ease the oiliness.

Choose the right shampoo. The obvious answer to oily hair is to shampoo often--daily is recommended by most of our experts. But if you're using the wrong shampoo, you could be disappointed with the results. "Look for a shampoo that's designated as 'deep cleaning' and for other descriptions on the packaging that indicate the shampoo cleanses well," suggests John Corbett, Ph.D., vice president of technology for Clairol, based in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Clear, see-through shampoos tend to have less goo in them," adds Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis. "They clean away oil more effectively and don't leave a residue."

And use it the right way. Most often recommended is a double shampoo, leaving the suds on your head for at least five minutes each time, says Lowell Goldsmith, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York. (If your head isn't especially oily, a single shampoo is enough, as long as you leave the shampoo on for the full five minutes.)

Rinse your hair with vinegar. One teaspoon of apple cider kitchen vinegar added to a pint of water makes an excellent finishing rinse that adds shine and luster to your hair while removing soap residue that can weigh down oily hair. A thorough rinsing with plain water will remove the smell.

Or freshen it with lemon. Squeezing the juice of two lemons into a pint of distilled water makes another excellent rinse that helps cut oiliness, adds David Daines, owner of David Daines Salon in New York City.

Take a powder "If your hair is oily after a difficult, tense day, I suggest you do a temporary 'dry' shampoo by sprinkling a tiny amount of talcum powder (I recommend Zeasorb-AF) onto your hair one section at a time. Rub the powder first onto the scalp, then through the hair with your fingers," says, Karen E. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in New York City. "The powder very effectively absorbs some of the oil." But,be careful not to use too much powder or your hair will took white and dull, and you may even have difficulty with static electricity, making your hair difficult to style.