Top 15 Natural Home Remedies for Oily Hair and Scalp

This content has been Medically reviewed by Dr. Surya Kedara, MBBS – General Physician

Having smooth, silky and lustrous tresses is perhaps the dream of each and every woman. Most of us experience this wonderful feeling for at least two days after shampooing. Sadly our hair goes back to its same old limp, lifeless and dull state pretty soon after that, and we reach out for our shampoos and conditioners again in order to revive its glaze. Excessive oiliness of hair is the most frequent hair problem faced by both men and women. It is caused by overproduction of natural oils by the scalp that often leads to itchiness, dandruff, rashes and other hair problems.

5 Common Causes of Oily Hair

The root cause of oily hair is sebum that is produced by the sebaceous glands present abundantly on our scalp and face. Sebum is made up of fat and dead cells and its sole purpose it to maintain the moisture balance of skin and hair so that it is not dehydrated or infected by bacteria. But, overproduction of sebum can give a dull, dirty and lifeless appearance to hair and lead to other problems like dandruff, rashes and pimples.

Hormonal Imbalance:

The amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands depends on an individual’s hormones and hormonal imbalance can increase the level of oil secretion in the scalp. This is the reason that there are more breakouts of pimples, acne and dandruff during adolescence, because different types of hormones are at play during this age. Hormonal changes during menstruation or pregnancy also increases sebum secretion and oiliness of hair.

Stress:

The harmful effects of stress on health need no new emphasis but stress in any form- emotional, psychological or physical can boost the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Stress increases the secretion of certain adrenal hormones that directly affect the sebaceous glands located in skin and scalp. This leads to increased oiliness of both skin and scalp.

Diseases:

Certain diseases or health conditions, especially related to the pituitary, adrenal gland and ovaries can increase sebum secretion thus increasing the oiliness of skin and scalp. Medicines and steroids can also boost sebum secretion.

Food Habits:

Unhealthy eating habits and excessive dependence on processed and junk foods can increase oiliness of skin and hair. Have a healthy and well-balanced diet with lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains so that your body is supplied with all the important vitamins, minerals and nutrients for its proper functioning.

Overuse of Hair Products:

Excessive use of hair products like conditioners and hair masks and styling products like hair mousse, pomade, gels, hair sprays and failing to wash them off thoroughly often leads to increased oiliness, irritation and itchiness of scalp. Therefore, try to decrease the use of these artificial products loaded with chemicals as much as possible.

15 Best Natural Home Remedies for Reducing Oiliness of Scalp:

The best way to treat skin and hair problems is through home remedies using all-natural ingredients that are actually effective and have no side effects.

Lemon Juice:

Lemon juice is perhaps the most effective home remedy for reducing oiliness of hair and it also works in fighting dandruff and itchiness of scalp. The acidic nature of the juice helps in removing excessive oiliness from hair and makes it smooth and silky.

Take one big sized lemon and squeeze out the entire juice in a glass bowl and mix it with a glass of water. Shampoo your hair with a mild shampoo and rinse your clean wet hair with the lemon water at the end of the wash and dry it with a towel. Lemon juice can also be applied directly on scalp and hair. Keep it for an hour and wash off with a mild shampoo. Repeat this every time you shampoo your hair.

Henna:

Henna is one of the best natural products to provide deep conditioning to hair without the harmful effects of chemicals. It is an age old hair nourishment product that increases the softness and luster of the strands and adds volume and bounce to limp hair.

Brew some tea liqueur and let it cool completely, make a paste of henna powder with this tea liqueur and let it stay overnight, apply this pack to hair the following morning, cover your hair with a shower cap and let it stay for 2-3 hours, rinse thoroughly and wash hair with a mild shampoo. Henna pack can be used twice a month.

Baking Soda:

The beauty benefits of this common kitchen ingredient are innumerable and Baking soda works wonders when it comes to reducing the oiliness of scalp and hair. It also helps in removing sun tan and improving skin tone. Baking soda can be used in a number of ways for reducing oiliness of scalp.

Baking soda itself works as an amazing natural shampoo. Mix 2 table spoon of baking soda with water and turn into a thick paste; massage it in your scalp and hair, let it stay for 20 minutes and wash off with water. You can apply shampoo if you want. Baking soda can also be mixed with your regular shampoo for cleaning hair. Just mix a spoonful of baking soda with a dollop of shampoo and wash your hair with it.

Beer:

Almost all alcoholic beverages have great drying effect and help in reducing oiliness of hair. Being prepared form hops, malt and yeast, it has several nourishing nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are great for hair. Beer can be used directly as a rinse post shampooing or mixed with hair masks.

Open the beer and keep it for 30 minutes. Shampoo your hair and wash your wet hair with beer, massage your scalp for 5 minutes and wash away the beer with running water. You can also prepare a beer mask by mixing 1 egg yolk into 100ml of beer, massage the mixture on scalp and hair, wear a shower cap and let it stay on the hair for 30 minutes, wash off with a mild shampoo.

Aloe Vera Gel:

Aloe Vera is an ancient beauty ingredient that is used in various beauty products for treating rashes, skin irritations, pimples and acne. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory quality that helps in reducing itchiness of scalp, dandruff and provides deep conditioning to hair by reducing excessive oil from scalp and hair strands. It promotes hair growth and luster and improves the pH balance of scalp.

Aloe gel can be applied directly on scalp and hair or mixed with shampoo. Collect the aloe gel for the leaves using a knife and blend it well, strain the gel in a container and massage it on washed hair and scalp. Let it stay for 1 hour and wash off with a mild shampoo. Another way to use aloe vera is to mix a table spoon each of aloe vera gel and lemon juice to a cup of your shampoo and wash your hair with it, store the rest of the shampoo in a container and it can be used up to a week.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

The benefits of apple cider vinegar for improving skin tone and lightening sun tan is well known but it also helps in improving the texture and quality of hair, by removing chemical residue and closing the open cuticles so that it appears smooth, lustrous and healthy. It reduces oiliness from hair and scalp and makes it soft and silky.

Mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water and rinse scalp and hair thoroughly with it post shampooing. Let it stay for 10 minutes and wash off with water. Repeat this 3-4 times a week for best results.

Egg White Pack:

Eggs not only help in improving health from within, being rich in proteins and fat it helps in nourishing and conditioning hair and improving the elasticity of skin by reducing wrinkles and making it more youthful and supple. Eggs are a rich source of vitamin B12, biotin and calcium- nutrients essential for healthy hair. Egg whites contain special enzymes that destroy bacteria and reduce oiliness of scalp and hair.

Separate two egg whites from the yolk and keep it in a bowl, apply the egg whites on damp hair and scalp, massage thoroughly for 5 minutes, wear a hair mask and let it stay for 30 minutes, wash off with a mild shampoo. Follow it up with a lemon rinse.

Soap Nut (Reetha):

Reetha or soap nut is a natural cleaning agent that has been used for ages to clean hair even before shampoo was discovered. It is an excellent natural shampoo that cleans dirt and oil from hair thoroughly and gives is a glossy appearance and adds volume. It also helps in conditioning the hair so that there is minimum tangling and breakage.

Boil a cup of water, add 5-8 soap nuts to it; cover and store overnight. Wet hair, use the soap nut water to create a lather, soak the soap nuts in a different cup filled with water (don’t throw them away) work you fingers to massage the scalp and the hair, repeat it twice, the foam will start appearing during the second wash, use the water in the second cup if you need more of the natural shampoo, let the foam stay on the hair for 5 minutes and wash off with water.

Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti):

Fuller’s earth or multani mitti is an extremely popular natural beauty product that has been used for ages for treating pimples, acne, excessive oiliness of skin and improving skin tone. It helps in cleansing skin and scalp, removing impurities, treating itchiness and irritation and reducing dandruff. It also helps in strengthening hair roots and smoothing hair follicles to reduce breakage and split ends.

 

Soak Multani mitti in water for 1 hour and make it into a thick paste, add 2 tablespoon or reetha (soap nut) powder to it, mix well and apply on scalp and hair, Let the mask dry off completely and wash off with water. This process should be repeated 1-2 times a week for best results.

Green Tea:

Green tea is a power house of anti-oxidants that not only helps in reducing inflammation and the damaging effects of free radicals, it also helps in treating psoriasis, skin infections and pimples. The anti-oxidants in green tea helps in fighting dandruff, rashes and scalp irritation while the tannins in green tea work as powerful astringents to reduce the oiliness of scalp and hair.

Brew a Powerful liqueur with green tea, strain the liquid and let it cool completely. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and rinse it with green tea. Towel dry; don’t wash away the tea from the hair.

Corn flour:

This common kitchen ingredient works as a wonderful natural absorbent that soaks up excess oil and grease from the scalp to make hair smooth and shiny. Being a rich source of fatty acids and vitamin E, it helps in nourishing hair from the root and reduces hair fall and breakage.

Sprinkle corn flour on dry hair and scalp generously, massage for 5 minutes and let it stay for 30 minutes. Comb excess powder and wash hair with a mild shampoo. Repeat it twice a week for best results.

Mint Wash:

Mint or peppermint is an amazing herb loaded with antioxidants and anti-bacterial properties that makes it a perfect natural remedy for fighting pimples and acne. The astringent property of mint helps in removing excess sebum and oil from skin, scalp and hair. It functions as an effective conditioner that provides a natural shine to hair and makes it frizz-free and manageable.

Take 1/2 liter of water in a pan and add a handful of fresh mint leaves to it, boil for 20 minutes and let the mixture cool. Strain and store the water in a container. Rinse your hair and scalp with this water after shampooing, leave it in your hair.

Orange Peel:

Orange peel is a rich source of calcium, vitamin C and anti-oxidants that has effective benefits for skin and hair. It helps in removing greasiness from hair and scalp and gives it a smooth and shining appearance. Orange peel also acts as an amazing skin exfoliator and natural bleach that helps in removing suntan naturally.

Grind a few orange peels with 2 tsp of honey and apply on scalp and hair; let it stay for 20 to 30 minutes and wash off with a mild shampoo. You can also use orange peel powder made by grinding dry orange peels.

Tea Tree Oil:

Tea tree oil is a potent natural remedy for treating hair problems. The anti-fungal and antiseptic property of the oil helps in fighting bacteria and fungus and treating problems of dandruff, scalp irritation, itching and rash. It removes excess oil, sebum and dirt that blocks the hair follicles and adds a healthy shine to hair.

Take a few drops of tea tree oil on your palm and massage your scalp and hair with the oil for 5 to 8 minutes and wash off with a mild, herbal shampoo. You can also wash your hair with a shampoo containing tea tree oil as an active ingredient.

Banana:

Bananas are a loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have amazing benefits for skin and hair. It acts as a deep nourishing conditioner and rejuvenates dull and oily hair. It reduces excessive oil and sebum from scalp and hair. It supplied nourishment to the hair follicles and keeps them hydrated and healthy.

Mash a ripe banana and add 1 tsp of honey to it, mix well and apply on scalp and hair evenly from root to tip, let it stay for 20 minutes and wash off with a mild shampoo.

Try out these nourishing hair packs, masks and rinses using natural ingredients and say goodbye to dull, limp and oily hair and don’t forget to share your healthy hair tips with us.

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