Those with fine or thin hair, however, may find their hair looks greasy after just one day. It's all to do with the amount of oil your scalp produces, as well as how well your hair can carry that oil.
However, some people produce more sebum than others, which is why some people's hair gets greasier much faster than others. That's why you may find your hair getting greasy after 1 day or even just a few hours. Factors like ethnicity, hormones, and genetics can all affect how much sebum your body produces.
If people are using oily or waxy hair products or not cleansing their hair thoroughly, it can cause a buildup of oil, skin cells, and sweat in the hair. This may make it still appear greasy after washing. Oil may also come from items a person uses on their hair frequently, such as: hair towels.
Sebum provides necessary hydration to both your scalp and your hair itself. The amount of oil excreted by the scalp runs the gamut depending on the person, which explains why some of us have greasy-looking hair less than 24 hours after a shampoo and others can easily go a week without washing their hair.
Lifestyle and diet changes to fix oily hair
Your diet should consist of foods rich in vitamin B, especially B2 and B6. It is believed that these components in your diet can help keep your sebum production in control. So, consider adding foods like leafy vegetables, pulses, and seaweed.
Oil can build up to a visible level in less than a 24-hour time span. Sometimes intense exercise, overuse of hair products, or even going outside in excessive humidity or heat can trigger an oily hair day.
Overwashing Your Hair
It's not your imagination—the more you wash your hair, the quicker it may seem to need another wash. If you rinse your hair of its natural oils too frequently, it could be trying to overcompensate. Your scalp could be amping up oil production, which means greasier strands in record time.
Don't be surprised if you notice that your second day hair looks and feels better than right after washing it. On the second day, your hair has had time to fully dry, your hair's natural oils have returned, and your hair's natural shape is restored.
The hot water strips moisture from the scalp, the scalp then goes into overdrive to replace the lost oils,” says Jonathan Elkhouri, master stylist and owner of Salon Khouri. And, yes, the hair holds the style better when it is not freshly washed.
“Our hair gets greasy when there is a build up of a natural oil on the scalp called sebum,” Kate shares. “Sebum is produced by our sebaceous glands and functions to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair, which is essential for maintaining a healthy hair and scalp.
How Much Should You Wash? For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine. “There is no blanket recommendation. If hair is visibly oily, scalp is itching, or there's flaking due to dirt,” those are signs it's time to shampoo, Goh says.
"You can train your scalp to be less greasy in the course of three to four days, however, it will take some time for your body to fully adjust," Potempa says. "Take some time to do research about the type of hair you have and establish a new routine that gives your body enough time to adjust to the change."
Arrowroot Powder: This powder can absorb oil and grease pretty quickly. Just massage a bit of arrowroot powder on scalp and hair and brush away the excess. People with darker hair can mix equal quantity of cocoa powder and apply on the scalp.
If you wash your hair too often, you can trigger an overproduction of those natural oils, creating excess sebum production, and bang—you've got greasy hair the next day, or even just hours after rinsing.
Oily hair isn't healthy or unhealthy by default. People with an oily scalp can have healthy hair or dry, brittle hair. Your hair needs oil to be healthy, but too much oil can lead to buildup on the hair and scalp. Oily skin may also contribute to a condition called seborrheic dermatitis.
Not Getting Enough B Vitamins
"A sufficient intake of the B vitamins, particularly of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), can help combat greasy hair by regulating sebum production," the site explained.
Modern lifestyles have led to an increase in anxiety and stress levels, making them one of the most common causes of oily hair. “Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol stresses out the oil glands to produce more sebum, naturally leading to oily hair,” explains Sethi.
If you normally wash everyday, it'll take time to get used to washing it less. So start by going an extra day or two in between your normal washes. Rinse your hair with water in between shampoos and try to build up to once a week. When your hair adjusts you'll notice a dramatic difference.