Body + Mind is reader-supported. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through some of the links on our site.
Oily hair can make you miserable. You swear you just shampooed, but the top of your head makes you want to get out the Dawn dish soap as if you were a baby duck. Fortunately, you don’t have to scour the internet searching for answers. While some remedies don’t work for everyone, a 10-point list of solutions for oily curly hair will help you tame those greasy locks.
Experts recommend washing your hair every two to three days, but that general rule doesn’t apply to every head. If you have visible oil, dandruff flakes or both, it’s fine to lather your locks.
However, the type of shampoo you choose matters. Select those free of sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient that causes a rich lather but can strip your hair of vital oils.
“Wait,” you might be thinking, “wouldn’t removing oils from my hair be a good thing if I tend to get greasy?” Not necessarily. When you strip away too much of your body’s natural stuff, it signals a shortage. As a result, your sebaceous glands ramp up production, making your hair greasier than it was originally.
The same rule applies to over-shampooing your hair. While you shouldn’t hesitate if you have a slick growing, please don’t rush to the shower at the first sign of limp locks. Doing so can likewise strip excess oils and promote greater production.
Rubbing conditioner into your scalp is a no-no when you have oily hair. The one exception? Repairing it from over-stripping. In such cases, a water-based leave-in may be your best bet for keeping your skin and follicles moist without making the problem worse.
Water-based leave-in conditioners are also glorious options if you have shorter hair. It can be tricky to keep a creamy shower version away from your scalp if you only have 1-inch ringlets adorning your head.
Why should you avoid heat styling if you have oily, curly hair? After all, isn’t an iron the perfect way to bump up your lackluster tresses?
Unless your hair is long and you concentrate the heat on the ends, your device could melt the semi-firm oils on your scalp. The result? You look like you took a shower in petroleum jelly.
If you must enhance your curls, use heat-free methods. You can twist wet hair around flexible rods, even slices of empty paper towel roll, securing them with pins or scraps of cloth.
Apple cider vinegar can help if your oily curly hair tends to get dandruff flakes, making it look even worse. Why? This beverage contains “mother,” made from healthy probiotic bacteria.
Some people believe apple cider vinegar works by balancing your hair’s natural pH balance. Others claim it’s the probiotics that do the trick — but who cares if it works, right?
Aloe is the ideal conditioner for oily curly hair. It won’t weigh down your locks, making them look dull. It will, however, nourish your scalp, keeping your skin soft and discouraging excess sebum production.
Egg yolks contain high sulfur content. This mineral is an important component of hair and it can nourish your scalp and restore its natural balance.
Try the following mask:
Argan oil won’t weigh down your hair, but it will help your scalp stop excess sebum production. Apply this mask once a week or more often if your schedule allows.
Lemon juice is naturally astringent, meaning it dries up oil. You can use lemon juice as an alternative to conditioner. It contains the antioxidants vitamin A and C to help protect your scalp and tresses from damaging free radicals.
Here’s another home remedy that does double-duty if you have dandruff. Rosemary has natural antifungal properties. Dandruff stems from a fungus, but it’s met its match in this plant.
Apply it to your scalp by adding a few drops to a carrier oil, like argan. Stay away from heavier ones like coconut oil that can weigh down your locks.
Eucalyptus oil has similar properties to rosemary. It also has antimicrobial properties that make it effective against dandruff, too. You can apply it the same way as rosemary by adding a few drops to a carrier base.
Finally, you might feel tempted to run your fingers through your tresses to sense how greasy they think. Please resist this urge. Your hands also contain natural oils that transfer to your hair, making it look oilier than it did. Your best bet is to avoid touching your hair as much as possible.
If you have oily curly hair, you need solutions that don’t cost a ton of money. Going to a salon can break the bank — and the grease may return.
Instead, try one of the above solutions for oily curly hair. Once you find the perfect natural cure, you’ll enjoy styling your luscious locks.
