John Myers
Anyone who is annoyed by greasy hair can have their hair greasy. Basically, this means that you simply don’t wash your hair for several days. Supposedly, this procedure is supposed to make the sebaceous glands in the scalp less greasy and thus prevent the hair from becoming stringy
What does “let your hair be greased” mean and what happens with it?
It sounds logical: Anyone who washes their hair every day dries out their scalp and stimulates their sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, i.e. fat, to compensate. The result: greasy hair. If you do not wash your hair for at least four days, the sebaceous glands no longer “have to” release as much fat and reduce production. At least that’s the theory behind the “greasing hair” method.
How often and how long can I have my hair greased?
Greasing hair – nothing easier than that. All you have to do is not wash your hair for at least four days. However, you can also go without washing your hair for up to two weeks. Prolonged wash breaks are not recommended as not cleaning dirt for more than two weeks can be harmful to the scalp. You can decide how often you want to carry out the procedure – depending on how comfortable you are.
How can I style my hair while degreasing?
Ideally, you should let your hair be greasy on vacation or over a long weekend. But if you’re socializing and don’t want to attract attention with greasy, stringy hair, a few hairstyle tips will help:
- Braided hairstyles: Braid your hair into one large braid or several small braids and secure them with a hair tie. If you like, you can twist the braids into a snail and pin them with hairpins.
- Messy Bun: Tousle your hair neatly overhead, then gather and twist into a bun. Secure it with a large hair tie and pull back a few strands if necessary.
- Men’s Bun: Men can also have their hair greased. If you have longer hair, a man’s bun or man bun is ideal.
- Out-of-bed look: If you have short hair, you can neither braid it nor style it a bun. But on the other hand, the fat acts like natural hair wax on short hair – ideal conditions for a cool, casual out-of-bed look. How it works? Simply tousle your hair after getting up and, if necessary, pluck individual strands into shape with a little water.
- Cap on: If you have to be quick, you can simply put on a cap or hat or tie a bandana around your head.
Does degreasing do anything at all?
There is no scientifically based knowledge as to whether greasing the hair really has the desired effect. Greasy hair is not the result of washing your hair too often. Some people are simply predisposed to increased sebum production on the scalp. Hormonal fluctuations – for example during puberty, periods or pregnancy – can also cause hair to become greasy more quickly. An unbalanced diet or stress are other reasons for greasy hair.
Is it healthy to let your hair get greasy?
So there’s probably no point in getting your hair greasy – but if it’s neither useful nor healthy, is it harmful? It all depends on how long you don’t wash your hair. As already mentioned, greasing should not take longer than two weeks. If you have a sensitive scalp or are prone to dandruff and then feel severe itching, you should stop the oiling treatment sooner. If the hair is not washed for too long, this can lead to eczema and damage to the scalp.
Can I wash my hair without shampoo if it is greasy?
A moderate variant of greasing is washing your hair without shampoo – also called “NoPoo”. You can simply rinse your hair with water or add some apple cider vinegar to the water for shine. Rye flour can also help against greasy hair – it absorbs excess fat and is pleasant for the scalp thanks to its slightly acidic pH value of 5.5. Soapnuts or the shells of horse chestnuts contain saponins, i.e. soapy substances – these are wonderful for removing dirt from the hair without shampoo.
What else can I do about greasy hair?
There’s nothing wrong with simply washing your hair as often as you like. As a result, the sebaceous glands no longer produce fat. However, make sure that you use a shampoo that is suitable for oily hair. There are also products for oily scalps and dry ends – if your hair is prone to split ends.
In general, a shampoo without silicone is recommended for greasy hair, which does not “over-nourish” the hair. You should also stay away from products that contain oils. These are intended for dry hair and dry scalp. On the other hand, a deep-cleansing shampoo that also removes styling residue from the hair is a real blessing when there is increased sebum production.
Also, try to brush your hair as little as possible. Because this distributes the fat from the scalp to your hair and it looks stringy faster.
If these tips don’t help you get greasy hair under control, it’s best to talk to your GP about it. Your hormones or poor diet may be to blame.
