5 natural remedies for greasy hair
Whether you’ve just endured a sweaty home workout session or quarantine is making you forget your wash days, greasy hair can strike at anything time. While there’s nothing wrong or dangerous about a bit of excess oil on your scalp, it doesn’t look too appealing. And for some reason, despite the fact that most of us haven’t bothered with makeup in at least a month, having greasy hair is still a big no-no.
Luckily, there are a few simple natural remedies to try out for greasy hair if you don’t, for some reason, have access to a shower and a bottle of shampoo. The best bit is, you probably already have most of these ingredients sitting in your kitchen cupboards, so you won’t need to make a non-essential trip outside to pick them up.
Let’s get started!
1. Apple cider vinegar
When diluted with water, an apple cider vinegar hair rinse can work to balance the pH of the scalp, as well as prevent build-up of hair product, and maintain a healthy oil balance. Just combine 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with roughly 1 cup of warm water, then wet your hair before applying the solution to your scalp. Let it sit for up to 10 minutes before washing off with cold water. You can repeat this up to 4 times a week for the best results.
2. Aloe vera and lemon juice
Aloe vera and lemon juice combined act as an astringent, which controls oil production and makes your hair softer, according to experts on the internet. To make the formula yourself, you just need to mix a couple of teaspoons of aloe vera gel with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Add the ingredients to a cup of water and stir to combine. Shampoo your hair, then rinse with the aloe lemon juice concoction. Leave it for up to 5 minutes, then wash off with cold water. Repeat once a week.
3. Baking soda
If you’re a fan of home cleaning hacks, you’ll know that baking soda can be used for far more than as an ingredient in cakes. It’s also great for absorbing odours and drying out stains – and many people use it for health purposes. If you don’t have any dry shampoo to hand, try baking soda instead. It can help remove oil and product build-up in exactly the same way. Just sprinkle about half a teaspoon onto your scalp, then brush your hair as normal to spread it out.
4. Epsom salts
If you have a 1-kilogram bag of Epsom salts lying around from last Christmas, you can finally put it to good use in your hair. Epsom salts can reduce inflammation and prevent product build-up. You just need to mix a tablespoon of the salts with your shampoo and use up to 3 times a week for the best results. Just make sure to not go too overboard, as Epsom salts can be too drying if you use them in excess.
5. Black tea
Black tea contains an astringent called tannic acid, which helps tightens the pores on the scalp and prevent a build-up of excess oil. Just add half a cup of water to a pan on the stove, then add two tablespoons of black tea leaves and wait for it to boil. Strain the tea leaves out of the water, but make sure to catch the water in a bowl – and use that water on your hair. Rub it in and let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash it off with lukewarm water.
6. Egg
Yes, people really do use egg shampoo on their hair, and there is actual scientific evidence to suggest it works. Egg yolk contains something called lecithin, which is an emulsifier. When you rub egg yolk into your hair, it works to emulsify the excess oil on your scalp with water, which is then rinsed out when you wash. Egg is one of the best natural ingredients for cutting through the grease and dirt, giving your hair a much cleaner appearance for longer – it just depends whether you fancy spreading actual egg yolk across your hair an leaving it in for 10 minutes once a week.