Struggling with a tough-to-manage oily scalp type? Oily scalps experience an overproduction of sebum (aka, oil), which in turn makes your hair look and feel greasy and flat just a day after washing (not exactly a recipe for a good hair day). 

The good news is, knowing your scalp type and getting to the root of the issue will help you properly care for and remedy your oily scalp while encouraging long-term scalp (and hair!) health.

We tapped into the expert knowledge of two hairstylists, Jacelyn Bautista and Devon Gonzales, to explain everything you need to know about what causes an oily scalp, plus share their best tips, tricks, and product suggestions for keeping your scalp healthy and your hair looking its best.

Q: Are certain hair types more susceptible to having an oily scalp?

A: The finer or less dense your hair is, the more an oily scalp will have a pronounced effect.  

Q: How often should you wash your hair?

A: Your lifestyle and where you’re at in your personal hair journey is a major factor when considering how often you should lather up.

If you're someone who works out everyday, washing your hair daily is ideal to prevent the sweat and excess oil from your scalp from weighing down your hair.

First, shampoo and condition everyday. For second-day hair, thoroughly rinse your hair without shampoo and opt for a gentle co-wash, following up with a conditioner only. 

Bonus: Apply a dry shampoo that won’t dry out your hair after your workout for a quick post-workout pick me up for your strands.

SHOP CHARCOAL + BIOTIN DRY SHAMPOO

When it comes to an oily scalp, the more you wash your hair, the faster your scalp produces oil to replace the oil you’ve stripped away. Your body wants to naturally produce oil, so over-cleansing your hair will prompt your body to produce more. If your hair is: 

Medium density and not super fine hair: Washing your hair every three days is optimal. Depending on your hair health you can even push that up to a week.

Processed and chemically treated hair: Experts suggest washing your hair only once a week.

Q: What causes an oily scalp?

A: Oily scalps can be caused by a number of reasons, including: 

Seborrheic dermatitis

Eczema and psoriasis

Lifestyle, products used at home and thoroughly washing products out of your hair

Genetics and diet

When it comes to managing an oily scalp and keeping your hair looking fresh, arm yourself with the ultimate holy grail essential: a naturally powered dry shampoo! From refreshing your blowout to reviving your post-workout strands, dry shampoo is an expert-approved go-to product to curb oil production and to keep your hair looking (and feeling) its best.

Q: What are the benefits of dry shampoo?

A: Our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo is a scalp-friendly formulation for many reasons:

Detoxifying: It blends the power of Binchotan charcoal and natural starches to draw out impurities and absorb excess oil at your roots. 

Normalizes oil production: A nutrient-rich infusion of witch hazel, biotin and bamboo help balance oil production, giving your hair volume and a refreshed, clean feeling. 

To use:

Shake well and untwist the cap to reveal the spray dispenser.

Part hair and squeeze the bottle to dispense evenly five inches away from hair, focusing mainly on your roots.

Allow dry shampoo to sit for two minutes, then brush or finger-comb through the hair thoroughly until the powder is blended completely.

Incorporate into your full Briogeo Scalp Revival™ routine for a clean, healthy scalp.

Like with all dry shampoos, use up to 2 times per week, max.

 Aerosol-free: Aerosols aren’t just harsh on the environment, they’re also drying and irritating for our scalps. We’ve omitted this common ingredient in most dry shampoos for a healthier, scalp-friendly formulation.

TSA-approved: Toss your dry shampoo in your carry-on and head to your favorite destination without ever worrying about TSA restrictions.

Q: What are the best ways to extend a blowout and prevent oily hair?

A: Extend your blowout by applying dry shampoo at least 3-4 inches away from your scalp and avoid spraying it directly onto your roots. Dry shampoo needs time to travel into the scalp for even distribution, so give it room to evenly disperse and soak up excess oil.

Pro tips: Hands off your blowout. As tempting as it might be to toss and touch your fresh style, experts suggest touching your hair a little less than usual. We transfer much more oil from our fingers to our hair than we think.

Make sure that your hair and scalp products are correctly placed and the right amount is being used for your hair type. 

Conditioning products should always be kept away from your scalp and volumizing products should be placed at the root.

Q: What hairstyles and cuts do you recommend for people with an oily scalp? 

A: If you’re struggling with a day three oily scalp and you’re not sure what to do with your hair, try out these hairstyles, haircuts, and blow out tips:

Textured beachy waves

Step 1: Section your hair into two braids before bedtime. 

Step 2: Undo the braids in the morning and go over your hair with a flat iron on a low heat setting. 

Step 3: Shake your hair out and apply dry shampoo at the roots. 

Bonus: If you have a little extra time in the morning, section out a horseshoe around the top of your head and tease the sections around the head for a little extra lift. Dry shampoo or volumizing powders like our Blossom & Bloom™ Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Root Powder will supply staying power to hold the volume.

Best haircuts for oily hair

Our experts recommend cutting above the shoulder or a cut that hits mid-length at the collar bone for your oily scalp.

Longer hair tends to accentuate the oiliness and look more weighed down, while a shorter cut maintains a more voluminous look.

Q: What products should you stay away from if you have an oily scalp?

A: Minimize the use of products that contain sulfates and silicones: 

Sulfate strips and dries your hair and scalp. Many shampoos rely on sulfates to cleanse and create a sudsy lather, however for fragile hair types, this may be too damaging and may cause frizz. Opt for a sulfate-free shampoo that performs double-duty for your scalp and strands. 

Silicones are a popular ingredient [link back to updated blog post] in hair care products because it effectively boosts shine, but it also coats the hair shaft and prevents nutrient absorption. Look for silicone-free shampoos, conditioners, scalp and hair masks that support your healthy scalp and hair goals.

Scalp getting oily too quickly? It may be due to the amount of product you’re using and where it’s being placed. Your root area contains natural oils from your scalp which requires less conditioning than other parts of your hair. Experts recommend applying your conditioners and leave-in conditioners to your mid-lengths to avoid congesting your scalp.

Q: What kind of products do you recommend for daily use on an oily scalp? 

A: Choose products that are formulated with naturally-derived, plant-based ingredients. Plant and vegetable powered products are superstars when it comes to penetrating the cuticle of the hair—just like our skin and nails—to enhance long-term hair health.  

Q: How much shampoo and conditioner should you use?

A: It’s important to choose the right amount of shampoo and conditioner based on the density of your hair because the levels of oil on your scalp is often directly related to the amount of product you use: 

Fine or thin hair:  Use a quarter-size dollop of shampoo.

Thick or coarse hair: Add a little more to your strands. 

Quality matters when it comes to how much conditioner your strands will need. We’ve formulated all of our high-performing conditioners with 6-Free™ ingredients that harness the power of naturally-derived ingredients to support healthy results for all hair types and textures.  

Consulting with top experts who know how to care for your specific scalp concerns is just the beginning of feeling empowered when it comes to achieving your healthy hair and scalp goals. No matter where you are in your healthy hair journey, an oily scalp shouldn’t hold you back from feeling and looking your best. With the right products and know-how you’ll be ready to take on your oily scalp head first!