I would love to find any way to escape from washing my hair once a week, but, it looks like I will have to put that dream on hold indefinitely. Even with my fine hair during the summer, they gets greasy after one day. As somebody with an oily scalp that also gets more overzealous due to heat, plus, thanks to my routine sunscreen applications, my bangs are coming into contact with all the wrong things on a daily basis and look stringy by day two or day three from my washing schedule. I always have a travel-sized dry shampoo waiting in my handbag, but a hairdresser recently offered some haircare tips that has permanently changed my hair routine. Since following his tips, my hair has been lasting longer than it ever has before without needing a wash.
- “Use a deep-cleansing shampoo,” says Pascal Schymick, the founder of About Hair in Düsseldorf. Instead of a regular shampoo, Schymick suggests a clay-based formula. “I recommend the product from Kérastase,” says the hairdresser. “The Balancing Shampoo is designed for deep cleansing and is hereby typically only recommended once a week.” If, however, your hair gets greasy quickly, you can use it more often,” he says. I have been using it every other wash, and I have noticed a huge improvement. My hair is less greasy; I can wash it every third day, and it has more volume.
- “I always avoided such products even though my scalp is greasy because my porous ends are dry and heavily damaged. The hair expert offers a solution. “Use two nested products,” says Schymick.
“Long hair, especially if it’s been lightened, has different needs at the scalp compared to the ends. You should treat them separately and choose products accordingly.” After shampooing, I’ve been using the Blond Absolu range from Kérastase, including their hair mask, hair conditioner, and leave-in treatment.
Additional Expert Tips for Fighting Greasy Hair
- Lower Your Shower Temperature.
“Hot water stimulates sebum production,” explains Schymick, who advises washing your hair with lukewarm water instead.
- Rinse Thoroughly.
It’s crucial to completely rinse out any products applied in the shower. While most people know that leftover product can make hair look greasy and separated, Schymick notes that “product residue can also irritate the scalp and stimulate sebum production.” His rule of thumb is to rinse for at least twice as long as it takes to apply the product.
- Limit Dry Shampoo Use.
Although dry shampoo can absorb excess oil, “using it too often can stress the scalp,” warns Schymick.
- Don’t Air-Dry Your Hair.
While older hair dryers could dry out and damage hair, modern dryers are much gentler. Schymick advises against air-drying and even recommends avoiding going to bed with wet hair.
- Don’t Be Afraid of Hair Oil—Even with Fine Hair.
“When used correctly, a quality hair oil is extremely lightweight and won’t weigh your hair down,” says Schymick. “Elixir Ûltime from Kérastase is particularly light but still offers intensive care. You only need a drop or two—rub it between your hands like a hand cream, and then run it through the tips and lengths of your hair.”
