The day has finally come: you’re in the middle of the busiest week and have noticed that your hair is looking a tad bit greasy. Just one night away from wash day, you don’t want to overload your hair with products, and decide that you just need to wait it out. But can you really train your hair to need less shampoo over time? And how can we style our greasy hair?
“With the fast pace of modern life, maintaining longevity between hair washes is a luxury,” says Jake Unger, stylist at Larry King Marylebone. “The scalp needs natural oils to keep it moisturised and protected, so if you constantly strip those away, it will go into overdrive and overproduce oil – therefore making your hair look greasy. So if it is used to having these taken away each day, the scalp will go into overdrive and over produce oil, therefore making your hair look greasy.” Elliot Bute, stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, agrees, adding: “It’s normal for hair to look greasy sometimes, plus factors like hair type, washing frequency, and lifestyle can affect how oily your hair appears. Finding a balance in your hair care routine can help manage greasiness.”
The idea of “training your hair” to be less prone to grease and oil has become a popular internet obsession. It involves leaving your hair unwashed for a few extra days in the hope that your scalp just adapts to it. The pros aren’t convinced that this is the way forward. “As with anything, it is all about moderation,” shares Unger. “Going too long between shampoos will clog the follicles and lead to unhealthy hair growth – I would suggest shampooing twice a week as a good frequency to maintaining healthy hair.”
Bute agrees, warning that “over-washing can disrupt the balance of natural bacteria and fungi on your scalp, potentially leading to irritation or dandruff”, while “washing a moderate amount can reduce the need for heat styling, helping prevent breakage and split ends.”
If you need to go out and your hair is looking greasy, the best thing to do is throw it into a hairstyle that conceals the extra oil and still looks chic. “Wet-look hair is certainly still in fashion – think Julia Fox at this year’s Grammy awards with her little bob and splintered fringe,” says Unger.
Bute also recommends up-dos such as messy buns that can give you a casual and undone look, as well as a sleek top knot to keep the hair out of your face and hide your oily roots. “Braids and slicked-up ponytails can be another great option, as well as beachy waves – use a bit of dry shampoo and texture spray to refresh your look and hide oiliness,” he adds. “Avoid heavy products when styling greasy hair and stay away from thicker oils, serums, or creamy styling products that can make your hair look even greasier – instead, opt for lightweight sprays or a great dry shampoo and avoid frequently touching your hair.”
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