DOES GREASY HAIR LOOK THINNER

Some hair textures are thinner than others, but even thick hair can look thinner under certain conditions. Such conditions include wet hair and greasy hair. If you have ever paid attention to those people that seem to smear oil on their hair, their strands appear thinner when oily than they do when normal.

Yes, greasy hair does look thinner because greasy hair has less volume and texture, is flatter, clumps together, lacks shine, and allows for more scalp visibility.

What Does Greasy Hair Look Like?

Greasy hair will appear to lie flat on your scalp, and the strands will appear matted up or clumped together. It will also look slick and shiny but not in an attractive way. Greasy hair will also leave your scalp visible as the strands clump together, leaving huge spaces in between.

What Causes Greasy Hair

Greasy hair can occur naturally or from the actions you perform on your hair. Greasy hair can occur naturally because our scalp produces natural oils meant to moisturize and rubricate our hair. Just like the skin on your face, the skin on your scalp can also produce excess oil, giving your oily hair.

When the oils produced by the scalp get out of control, you can end up with excessive grease on your hair. Your genetic makeup and hormones will influence how oily your scalp gets.

The second reason why your hair becomes greasy has to do with how often you wash it, how you style it, and the kind of products you use. The most prevalent response to the query “Why does my hair get greasy so fast” is because you are not washing it often enough.

Do Specific Hair Types Get Greasier than Others

Oil distribution may be influenced by hair type. For instance, people with straight hair may sense greasiness more noticeably since the oil can more easily flow down the hair shaft.

Less greasiness may be the result of curly or coiled hair’s difficulty in transferring sebum from the scalp to the hair ends. People with curly hair will notice that their hair gets less greasy. However, greasy may accumulate around the roots and the scalp while the hair shafts and ends remain dry.

Why Does Greasy Hair Look Thinner

Flatness: When your hair strands are coated with oil and grease, they become heavy. When these strands are weighed down, they tend to lie flat against the scalp. When hair lacks volume and lift, it tends to appear thinner than usual.

Clumping: When your hair is weighed down by too much grease or oil, multiple strands can clump or stick together. When this happens, individual strands are less distinct, which creates the illusion of less hair overall.

Decreased Texture: When your strands are too oily, they lose their natural texture. Texture tends to create the illusion of thick hair. So, when it is lost because of greasiness, the hair can appear thinner. So greasy hair will end up looking dull, flat, stringy, and clumpy.

Lack of Shine: You may be under the assumption that the more oil you put on your hair, the shinier it will appear. Unfortunately, this is not the case since greasy hair accumulates excess oil and sebum on the scalp and hair strands. When this happens, several factors come into play to reduce the shine of your hair.

Some of these factors include light absorption and dust and dirt attraction. The refractive index of grease and oil is not the same as that of hair. Grease-covered hair can absorb and scatter light rather than reflect it. The surface of the hair seems less shiny and smooth as a result.

Dust and dirt attraction come into play because grease-covered hair tends to attract more dust and dirt from the environment compared to normal hair. When the hair strands are covered with dirt, they lose their lustre appearance. The build-up of particles on the hair can make it look dull and dirty.

Scalp Visibility: Excessive grease on the scalp can make it more visible through the hair, giving the impression of sparse or thin hair. Also, since the hair strands are clumped together and lay flat on the scalp, they can create the same illusion.

How to Deal with Greasy Hair

To rectify the problem of greasy hair; there are several options you can take to correct the issue.

Wash Your Hair Regularly

For some of us, our hair can look thinner when unwashed. The first step should be to make sure that you wash your hair regularly. If you find that your hair tends to have a lot of grease build, then you can adjust how often you wash it. If you take too long between your wash days, this could be the reason why your hair has too much grease. Make sure to wash it as often as needed.

However, you should also avoid washing your hair too frequently. If you wash your hair too often, you strip it of its natural oils. When this happens, your hair will produce more oil to compensate.

So how often should you wash your hair? Try to wash your hair every other day or every two days to allow your scalp to balance its oil production. Also, make sure to rinse out the shampoo accordingly.

Use the Correct Shampoo

Once you are sure that you wash your hair regularly and still you have the problem of grease build-up, it is time to make other considerations.

Select a shampoo that is clarifying or oil-balancing that is made for greasy hair. Avoid shampoos with strong hydrating components because they can make the oiliness worse.

In between washes, use dry shampoo to freshen up your hair and absorb extra oil. It may facilitate a longer interval between washings.

Be careful to properly rinse your hair to get rid of any shampoo or conditioner residues that can cause greasiness.

Be Careful with the Conditioner

If your hair tends to be too oily, be careful with how you apply the conditioner. If you apply conditioner to your scalp, you are likely to make the condition much worse. Instead, focus on the hair strands and the split ends.

While considering the conditioner, it is also best that you consider the hair products that you use. Make sure to avoid heavy hair products. Some hair products, such as pomades and heavy styling gels, can make your hair appear greasier. Choose lighter and water-based products when possible.

Style Appropriately

The first obvious piece of advice here is to limit how often you style your hair with heat. You will notice that excessive heat styling tends to make all hair conditions worse. So if you have greasy hair, avoid excess heat.

In our situation, excessive heating stimulate oil production. As such, it is advisable to minimize the use of blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners.

Pay Attention to Your Brushing and How Often You Touch Your Hair

Make sure to brush your hair regularly since this can help to distribute the natural oils from your scalp to the lengths of your hair. However, be careful not to overbrush your hair since this will also stimulate oil production.

Reduce how often you touch your hair. The more often you touch your hair with your hands, the more likely you are to transfer oil and dirt to your strands; this can make your hair greasier than it really is.

Diet and Lifestyle

Your diet and lifestyle choices can affect your scalp health and the overall appearance of your hair. For instance, your scalp and hair health can be improved by eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated.

Also, your blood flow can be stimulated, and your oil production may be balanced by gently massaging your scalp. Avoid certain hairstyles. For instance, tight hairstyles can collect perspiration and oil on your scalp, making it feel greasier. Tight hairstyles tend to pull hair at the roots, creating a greasy spot on the scalp.

Takeaway

If you struggle with greasy hair, try adjusting your hair care regimen. Controlling grease can be accomplished by washing hair more regularly, using a shampoo designed for oily hair, and staying away from heavy hair products close to the scalp. Striking a balance is crucial because overwashing can cause scalp problems and dryness. Consider seeking personalized counsel from a dermatologist or trichologist if you have issues with your hair or scalp.