Asking whether you suffer from oily hair or an oily scalp is mind-boggling. Yes, as your hair might feel greasy or sticky, it might fall in front of your face. Or when you put your hand through the strands, it feels greasy even after you wash it.
Yes, everyone, including you, has to deal with it at some point. It doesn’t mean your scalp or hair is dirty, but it may feel that way. Still, you want to treat it as soon as possible, but where do you start, and which one do you treat?
Oily Hair or Oily Scalp: What’s The Difference?
When our clients visit us at our hair wellness spa, they often ask, ‘Do I have oily hair or an oily scalp? Well, everyone suffers from both at times, and it is normal.
Still, greasy hair can occur more quickly in some people than in others. When you have regular professional scalp treatments, you have a healthy scalp, and excess sebum (oil) is less of a concern.
It’s natural and necessary to keep your scalp moisturized and your hair, while also balancing your scalp’s pH level to protect and support it.
But things start to go wrong when your scalp produces excessive sebum, leaving your hair feeling greasy. Still, without the correct treatment, your hair follicles get clogged.
As sebum accumulates, it can lead to hair loss. Overproduction of natural oils can result in oily hair and an oily scalp. To improve hair health, you first need to start treating your scalp.
What is The Cause of Oily Hair and Scalp?
When excessive sebum production occurs on the scalp, the scalp and hair become oily. This can happen for various reasons, and knowing how it occurred helps you treat the problem.
- A change in your hormones, like puberty, menstruation, menopause, or pregnancy, can cause both these conditions.
- Following an unhealthy diet with too much saturated fat and sugar.
- Feeling stressed can result in an oily scalp due to excessive production of testosterone and cortisol.
- Using harsh or incorrect products, showering too hot, heat styling, and exposure to hot weather.
- It can be hereditary, resulting from your genes.
Treatment For Oily Scalp and Hair
Whether you have oily hair or an oily scalp, feeling the need to wash your hair more is not the solution. So what should you do?
Use The Right Products

The key to managing oily hair and an oily scalp is to use the right hair care products. This will prevent your situation from escalating further.
Also, don’t drop more than a coin’s worth of shampoo in your hand when washing your hair. Use a good cleansing shampoo that soothes the scalp without stripping it of essential fatty acids. Then, follow your shampoo with a great conditioner.
Still, if you find your hair and scalp are very greasy, we recommend visiting us for treatment for an oily scalp.
Avoid Too Hot Water
Whether you shower or wash your hair with water, we recommend avoiding too hot water, as it stimulates sebum production. That is why your hair feels greasy faster during the summer than in the winter. However, the same applies when taking a hot shower in winter.
Avoid Touching Your Hair

Another factor that can increase sebum production is running your hands through your hair or brushing too much. Your hands are greasy and can lead to oily hair.
Avoid Massaging The Scalp
If you have a dry scalp, we offer a luxurious scalp massage during your visit for the best scalp health treatment. However, we recommend avoiding massaging your scalp too often, as it can stimulate sebum production and increase blood circulation.
Do Not Style Your Hair With Heat

When you style your hair with a blow dryer or hair straightener, the bottom of your hair will dry out, while the top will become oily. The heat stimulates sebum production, worsening the problem. It’s best to avoid it until you can resolve the issue.
Follow a Healthy Diet
Eat healthy foods and drink lots of water for a healthy body, scalp, and mind. Avoiding fatty foods will not make your scalp oilier. Enjoy the healthy, unsaturated fats found in vegetables and fish. Drinking a lot of water keeps your body and scalp hydrated.
Wrap-Up: No More Oily Hair or Scalp
The two are closely related to determining whether you have oily hair or an oily scalp. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your scalp and hair don’t feel dirty or sticky, which can lead to unpleasant scalp conditions.
You can treat both conditions by using the correct hair care products, avoiding excessive hot water, and following a healthy diet if you’re uncertain where to start and still need advice, visit our hair and scalp spa for the best scalp treatments in Boston.
FAQ
What shampoo must I use if I have an oily scalp?
We recommend purifying shampoo, such as tea tree oil, to eliminate grime, excess oil, and dirt.
If I have oily hair, how often should I wash it?
We recommend not washing your hair more than three times a week, as overwashing can make the scalp oilier.
Can an oily scalp cause hair loss?
Yes, an oily scalp can cause hair loss if not treated. Excess sebum blocks the hair follicles, leading to stunted growth.