Why is my hair all of a sudden greasy? (2023)

Why is my hair getting greasy so quickly all of a sudden?

Sebum production is controlled by our hormones, so a sudden surge in scalp oil production could be down to hormonal changes. If you've recently gone through a major life event that's known to have an impact on your hormone levels, this may be having a knock-on effect on the amount of sebum your scalp is producing.

Greasy hair may be a symptom of an underlying scalp condition that causes excessive sebum secretion. This often leads to itching, redness, and seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff). However, people with any skin type can produce too much oil if they do not take proper care of their scalp and hair.

Modern lifestyles have led to an increase in anxiety and stress levels, making them one of the most common causes of oily hair. “Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol stresses out the oil glands to produce more sebum, naturally leading to oily hair,” explains Sethi.

While an oily scalp is not a direct cause of hair loss, it can lead to clogged hair follicles and sebum buildup which can increase the chances of hair fall.

Everyone's scalp can get a little oily sometimes. But a little oil is OK! Oil (sebum) helps protect and support healthy hair. But an abnormally oily scalp can feel like a problem if it makes your hair feel greasy or dirty all the time.

"A sufficient intake of the B vitamins, particularly of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), can help combat greasy hair by regulating sebum production," the site explained. The good thing is, B6 is found in a lot of foods including beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits and vegetables.

It's possible that your personal hygiene habits are to blame. Shampooing too little or even too often can contribute to greasy hair. Typically, if you have greasy hair, you should shampoo daily. Washing more than once a day can cause your glands to overreact and produce more oil to make up for the extra shampooing.

Hair growth flourishes from a clean, healthy scalp. The bottom line is that dirty hair doesn't grow any faster than clean hair, so you may as well have a clean scalp and fresh tresses. Your strands will look better, feel better, and be healthier, too.

People with oily hair or who use hair care products daily should consider washing their hair once every 1–2 days. People with dry hair can wash their hair less frequently. Those with textured or coily hair should only wash it once every 1–2 weeks.

What deficiency causes oily scalp?

Lack of vitamin B

If you have a vitamin deficiency, your skin and scalp can take a toll. In particular, the intake of B vitamins is directly linked with your level of sebum production.

How Much Should You Wash? For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine. “There is no blanket recommendation. If hair is visibly oily, scalp is itching, or there's flaking due to dirt,” those are signs it's time to shampoo, Goh says.

If you're wondering the difference between a greasy scalp and an oily scalp, rest assured there isn't one — both are a function of too much oil being produced on the scalp or too little oil being eliminated, explains Dr. Garshick.

Incorrect product choices for hair type and texture such as but not limited to shampoos and conditioners with lots of fillers and waxes create buildup and result in a greasy scalp. Using high-quality hair products that are not made for your hair type and texture can also contribute to greasy hair.

It is primarily caused by build-up of the natural secretion from the sebaceous glands in the scalp and is characterised by the continuous development of natural grease on the scalp. A chronic condition of greasy hair may often accompany chronic greasy skin conditions on the face and body and oily skin and acne.