Treating Greasy Hair & How Often To Wash Hair – Glamour

Two very common “hair” questions are how often one should wash their hair, as well as how to treat and prevent greasy hair buildup. In “How Often Should You Wash Your Hair? Experts Set the Record Straight” answers vary but Dr. Green notes that “the truth is there is no one answer to how often you should wash your hair,” all experts agree though that “Over-washing your hair can strip the hair follicles of their natural oils and signal to the body to produce more oil on the scalp, but under-washing your hair can lead to a buildup of grease, sweat, and product on your strands. Finding the balance between the two is crucial to having healthy hair follicles and strands.”

So how often? It ranges from several times a week down to waiting to the simple old fashioned rule of just when it gets dirty. However, there is a right way to do it. “When shampooing, you should focus on massaging the scalp to prevent product buildup, excess oil, and dirt from clogging hair follicles,” says Dr. Green to Glamour.com.

She is also featured in “10 Ways to Treat and Prevent Greasy Hair, According to Experts” where she talks about the most common cause of greasy hair – an overproduction of sebum and oil. “Greasy hair is caused by overactivity from the sebaceous glands on the scalp,” Michele Green, MD, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, tells Glamour. “Typically the oil, or sebum, from these glands moisturizes your hair follicles and protects them from infection, but an excessive production of oil on the scalp can weigh hair down and lead to the appearance of greasy hair.”