The Issue: You're Using Too Many Oils
With all the styling products out there that are formulated with heavy oils and butters, you may not even realize how much oil you're adding to your scalp. For example, styling butters and creams, thick blowout balms and heavy serums or shine sprays could be contributing to your greasy hair.
"These products can easily over-saturate your hair and scalp," says Jesseca Dupart, a hairstylist with over 10 years of experience in the field. "If you're trying to overcompensate for a dry scalp, the fix is to moisturize instead with a lighter oil, which will help to give you the moisture and balance you may be searching for." Try Kleidoscope's Miracle Drops, $29.95, which lightly hydrates while strengthening weak hair and boosting hair growth.
The Issue: Your Fine Hair Is Feeling Overwhelmed
On a similar note, your hair may feel overwhelmed by even non-heavy products if it's especially fine or thin. Seek out products that are formulated specifically for this hair type, such as John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full Shampoo, $6.99, and Conditioner, $6.99. These products will not only help prevent your scalp and hair from getting oily but will actually give you more volume since hair isn't being weighed down.
The Issue: Excessive Sweating
Whether you hit the gym a lot, live in a hot climate or are simply prone to sweating, this can certainly lead to an oily, itchy scalp.
"Excessive sweating on the scalp mixes with oil, creating a kind of oil slick on the scalp and hair," Fusco says. "Botox injections to selective areas of the scalp may reduce sweating and therefore make hair look less oily."
If you're not digging the Botox idea, a good pro tip is to spray dry shampoo on your hair before working out to help absorb sweat through all those burpees. The same rule applies any time you think you're going to sweat—apply before the sweat-fest. For those with itchy scalps, you can get some extra relief via a leave-in scalp treatment, such as Oribe's Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-On Treatment, $48, or Briogeo's Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment, $32.
