If you are wondering: “why Olaplex makes my hair greasy?” you are in the right place. When we need to repair our hair, the last thing we want to feel is a sticky sensation on the scalp.
When it comes to hair repair, Olaplex is one of my favorite products. The product line has come a long way, and it already has its own maintenance shampoo and conditioner. But these products are not for everyone, and sometimes they will make your hair greasy.
The main reason Olaplex makes your hair greasy is because they are highly noushirising products that contain ingredients that can be greasy and heavy for some hair types. In addition, the shampoos are free of sulfates, which provide a very gentle cleaning for our scalp which means that they will not thoroughly cleanse the grease from your hair.
Therefore, in this article I will teach you how to solve when olaplex makes your hair greasy. I will also teach you how to use the products correctly so that you avoid leaving your scalp very oily.
Olaplex makes my hair greasy, why?
Olaplex products are designed to repair and nourish your hair. Therefore, in their formula they have nutrients with a fairly high molecular weight.
These products work in a very effective way, buy its formula contains silicones which can cause build up on your scalp if you use too much, and this will make your hair feel greasier.
The Olaplex product line is divided into two types of products
- Those for use in the salon that are mixed with color (step 1 and 2).
- Home care and maintenance (all other steps).
The truth is that steps 1 and 2 (for salon use) will rarely make your hair greasy since step 1 is mixed with the dye and step 2 is applied before you wash your hair. In addition, these products are more concentrated in repairing the hair with proteins (which are not greasy), and less cosmetic nutrients that tend to be more oily.
On the other hand, Olaplex home maintenance products are the ones that can make your hair oily because of their nourishing ingredients. Now I will show you the most common cases where you can oil your hair too much.
3 Most common causes when olaplex makes your hair greasy
Olaplex is one of my all-time favorite product lines. As a professional hairdresser, I’ve tried many products in my clients, and the truth is that these products make your hair feel much softer, brighter and stronger.
But precisely Olaplex high nutrient content is what can cause your scalp to become oily if you don’t use it correctly. As I mentioned in the previous point, the Olaplex treatment in the salon will rarely cause you a problem with oily roots since the liquid is mixed with color and the post-treatment always goes before the shampoo.
But with the homecare line it is the one that you have to be more careful, because if your hair has a greasy tendency you can make it worse especially if you do not wash your hair properly. It’s worth to mention that the product that normally makes your hair greasy the most is the Olaplex bonding shampoo No. 4.
However, there are 3 causes that are by far the most common for which your hair becomes greasy with Olaplex. I will explain each of them as well as their solution so that you don’t have greasiness problems ever again:
Cause #1: Using the Olaplex products too close to your scalp
The most common cause of oily hair from Olaplex products is using them too close to the scalp. These treatments are filled with nutrients, which means they have oils and other heavy elements.
If you use any of the Olaplex home care treatments near your scalp you will only saturate it with this excess nutrition and make your roots feel extremely oily. This will produce a layer of build-up in your scalp that not only will make your hair feel more greasy, but also could lead to other hair problems such as hair-loss or dandruff.
Also, hot water multiplies the effect as it stimulates the production of oils from the sebaceous glands of the scalp.
Solution:
When you go to use any of the Olaplex home care products (except the shampoo), make sure to only apply them from mid-lengths to ends and well away from the scalp.
Ideally you should apply it from the first 6 inches of hair growth, that is, from the ears down. The more towards the ends you apply it, the better.
If you have an oily scalp from using Olaplex products too close to the root, it is highly recommended that you do a deep exfoliation to remove all residue. The best exfoliant I’ve tried is the Kerastase scrub, since in addition to cleaning it has salicylic acid to regulate the production of oil from the scalp.
Also, if you still feel the roots of your hair greasy, I recommend that after applying the treatments, you give yourself a wash with shampoo. This way you will maintain the beneficial effects of Olaplex, but you will have cleaner hair.
READ MORE >> How does Olaplex treatment work?
Cause #2: Using the Olaplex shampoo too often
Another of the most common reasons why Olaplex makes your hair greasy is because you use their bond maintenance shampoo (step 4) frequently. This shampoo has a lot of nutrition and does not have many cleaning agents, which is why it tends to grease the hair.
I have seen in many of my salon clients that the roots become extremely oily after a couple of weeks of use. And in some cases they start to have dandruff problems (due to scalp buildup).
I really like the nourishing and smoothing effect that this shampoo provides on the hair. However, it is not the best option if your scalp is usually oily or your hair is fine.
SOLUTION:
To solve this problem, I recommend that you stop using Olaplex shampoo every time you wash your hair. Don’t use it anymore as your daily shampoo.
Instead, switch to another type of professional shampoo that is less heavy and gives you a deeper cleanse in your scalp to avoid excess oils. My professional suggestion that I have seen work very well is the Kerastase Genesis Hydra Fortifiant Shampoo. It’s much lighter than the Olaplex shampoo, and provides a good anti-breakage strength to your hair.
Use Olaplex shampoo only once every fortnite as an occasional treatment to maintain its effect on your hair. Do not use it more than twice a month.
READ MORE >> How to make your hair less greasy
Cause #3: overnourish your hair more than you need
The last most common reason why Olaplex is making your hair greasy is because you don’t really need it. Olaplex products are designed to treat hair chemically damaged by dyes or bleaching.
Therefore, if your hair is natural or does not have many problems with dryness, you may be over-nourishing your hair. And this will make your hair and scalp generate more oils than normal.
If your hair is very dry and has a brittle cuticle it has chemically damaged. That’s why Olaplex products have loads of nutritious ingredients to balance it out. If your hair doesn’t need much nutrition, you will only oversaturate it with things you don’t need.
SOLUTION:
The best thing you can do in this case is to analyze if you really have chemical or mechanical damage in your hair to know if you really need it.
By chemical damage I mean dye, highlights, or any other color product that can damage your cuticle. Sometimes it can happen that if you have dyes in your hair but Olaplex is still very heavy. In this case, reduce the frequency of use to once every fortnight.
By mechanical damage I mean using heat tools quite often that makes your hair structure weaker, and therefore using Olaplex would be quite convenient.
In case you do not have chemicals in your hair, I recommend that you do not use it. Although they are wonderful products, if your hair does not need it, it is better that you focus on using specific products for your need.
READ MORE >> Olaplex made my hair fall out
Bottom Line
I hope this article has been helpful to you in knowing why Olaplex makes your hair greasy, as well as the best solutions to get it back to normal.
A trick that can also help you is to exfoliate your scalp once a month to remove all excess fat and buildup. In this way you will help your hair always feel clean and fresh even if you use high-nutrition products. As clean as you can maintain your scalp, the better!
Until next time!
