Why Your Hair Gets Greasy and What to Do About It

There’s no way around it: Having greasy hair is downright embarrassing. No matter what you do, sometimes it feels like there's just no avoiding it. Unfortunately, it's also all too common. And chances are, you've probably asked yourself, "Why do I get greasy hair?" Here's your answer.

Anything from an unhealthy diets to high stress to your genetics or how often you shampoo can play a role here. Your hair type matters, too. Thick hair, for example, has more sebaceous glands and produces more oil, whereas fine hair can look greasier than thick hair (even with the same rate of sebum production) because there’s less hair for the oil to cover.

Related: Best shampoo for oily hair men

Anything from an unhealthy diets to high stress to your genetics or how often you shampoo can play a role here. Your hair type matters, too. Thick hair, for example, has more sebaceous glands and produces more oil, whereas fine hair can look greasier than thick hair (even with the same rate of sebum production) because there’s less hair for the oil to cover.

You could reach for a hat, sure, but that’s not exactly a long-term solution. Instead, when looking at how to combat greasy hair, try tackling it head-on. Adding exercises into your routine and upping your veggie intake, for example, can help slash sebum-inducing stress and slow down the production of oil.

Related: Benefits of using good shampoo for oily hairs men

And though it's not an ideal situation, when it comes to the best hairstyle to hide greasy hair, it's still important to think about which products you're using. “A slicked down hairstyle with a gel can mask an oily scalp by giving hair a shine from root to end,” says Thom Priano, celebrity men’s stylist and co-founder of R+Co.

Switching shampoos can help cut down on grease, but figuring out how often you should be washing your hair can be tricky. “Although those with an oily scalp need to wash more frequently, it doesn’t necessarily need to be every day,” Adams says. “In fact, over-stripped hair stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, and the vicious cycle continues. Try choosing clear, lathering shampoos without harsh sulfates and focus on cleansing the scalp, rather than the hair.”

How often you should shampoo differs from person to person, so you might have a few weeks of trial and error. But if greasy hair is an ongoing issue for you, the experts agree it’s worth experimenting with your products and lifestyle to tackle the issue. “The worst thing you can do," Priano says, "is to pretend it's not oily."