If you’re wondering how to tell if your hair is greasy, you’re in the right place.
The truth is that it is very uncomfortable when our hair feels greasy and flattened. But you’re probably wondering if the greasiness you have is normal, or if you should do something about it.
The most common symptoms to tell if your hair is greasy are: your hair itches after washing, your hair gets greasy the day after washing and your hair feels sticky right after shampooing.
If you have any of these symptoms it is very likely that you suffer from an oily scalp. But don’t worry!
Today there are many solutions that will help you get rid of excess oil so you can enjoy clean and radiant hair.
How to easily tell if your hair is greasy
One of the most annoying scalp conditions is when you suffer from greasy hair.
If you’re reading this, it’s because you’ve probably experienced the horrible feeling of washing your hair one day, only to have it feel oily and flattened the next.
Greasy hair is quite difficult to manage, and needs very specific products in order to get the cleanliness you need.
As a hairdresser specializing in hair conditions, I can assure you that greasy hair can be kept under control! But you can’t cure greasy hair forever, what you can do is control it.
If you are not sure if you can tell if your hair is greasy, don’t worry!
In this article you will learn the 3 key symptoms of an oily scalp so you know you need to treat your greasy problem to get the hair you deserve.
The 3 Main Greasy Hair Symptoms
To tell if your hair is greasier than normal (or what is considered common) the most frequent symptoms are:
- Your scalp is itchy, even right after washing your hair.
- Your hair gets greasy quickly, in some cases even the day after washing it.
- Or your hair feels sticky even after shampooing.
If you have one or more of these symptoms it is very likely that you suffer from oily scalp, and you should start treating it immediately.
The truth is that if you don’t balance the oil, having an oily scalp can give you other hair problems such as dandruff, hair loss or sensitivity.
Let’s look at each of these symptoms in detail so you know how to identify (and fix) them:
Symptom #1: Your scalp is itchy
If you have itchy hair after washing your hair, it is very likely that you suffer from an oily scalp.
The reason why your hair itches is probably because you have a layer of grease or build up residue on your scalp that is not removed when you wash your hair.
Having this layer of residue on your hair causes your scalp not to oxygenate, which weakens your hair follicles and gives you an annoying itchy feeling. That’s why greasy hair can cause greasy scalp.
The scalp can itch even immediately after shampooing, as the hot water softens the greasy layer but as it is not completely removed it hardens again and this causes a lot of itching.
To solve this problem, I recommend that you do a deep scalp exfoliation that will allow you to remove all the oil residues and build up. The best product to do this with is the Kerastase Scrub, as its exfoliating particles will clean even more deeply and will also help prevent the appearance of grease.
READ MORE >> Why does my scalp itch after applying oil?
Symptom #2: Your hair gets greasy after one day
If your hair gets greasy after one day, it is a clear sign that you suffer from an oily scalp.
Every time we wash our hair and remove the surface oil, the sebaceous gland of our scalp starts to generate that lubricating oil that protects our skin.
However, this process usually takes a couple of days, and it is normal that 48 hours after washing you start to feel your scalp greasy.
On the contrary, if the next day after washing your hair is already greasy, it means that the sebaceous gland of your scalp is producing much more oil than normal. This means you have an oily scalp.
To solve this problem the best thing to do is to use an oil regulating shampoo when you wash your hair like Kerastase Divalent shampoo.
This shampoo will help you to completely remove oil residues from your hair, and it will also help you to balance the oil production of the sebaceous gland thanks to the salicydic acid in its formula.
READ MORE >> How to fix oily hair without washing it
Symptom #3: Your hair feels sticky
If your hair feels sticky after washing, it is very likely that you can tell that your hair is oily.
The reason hair can feel sticky after washing is because it still has a layer of residue and oils that you were unable to remove during washing.
This only happens if you have a lot more oil than normal, or if you have not washed your hair for many, many days. Another cause that can cause your hair to feel sticky is if you use a shampoo that is too nutritive and doesn’t clean your hair well and only causes you to accumulate grease when you wash your hair.
To solve the sticky feeling in your hair, I recommend that you put into practice the solutions of the previous points such as using a deep cleansing shampoo, and exfoliating your scalp frequently.
It will also help a lot if you avoid using water that is too hot! Too hot water can make your hair feel even stickier than usual.
READ MORE >> Is greasy hair bad?
Bottom line
I hope this article has been helpful for you to know how to tell if your hair is greasy.
In most cases, oily scalp happens naturally due to genetics. However, throughout my experience as a hairdresser I have found that many clients aggravate the problem of oily scalp due to poor hair care habits.
Therefore, I recommend that you learn how to take care of your hair the right way to prevent excess oil and fix excess oils in your scalp.
See you next time!
