Everyone has a different hair type, and all hair types come with their own obstacles. Dealing with dry hair, oily hair or frizzy hair can be difficult, but what if you have a combination hair type? If you have an oily scalp and dry ends, you most certainly aren’t the only one — and there are plenty of others dealing with the reverse. After all, having a dry scalp is no walk in the park either.
Fortunately, there are many tips, tricks, and products that can help you deal with the twofold issue of cleansing your oily scalp and adding some moisture to your dry ends.
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Do you have an oily scalp and dry ends?
How do you know if you have an oily scalp and dry ends? It's likely you have this combination hair type if you are experiencing dry, brittle, or split ends, and your scalp feels oily and gets greasy at the roots within 1 to 2 days of washing, you likely have this combination hair type.
People who colour or bleach their hair tend to develop an oily scalp and dry ends since colour treatments like bleach are known to strip your locks of the natural oils that keep them soft and nourished.
An oily scalp tends to be itchy and can cause your hair to appear dull, lifeless, slick, and stringy. Dry ends, on the other hand, appear frizzy and damaged. An oily scalp and dry ends are definitely easy to spot, and the sooner you can identify the problem, the easier it will be to restore your locks to looking and feeling their best.
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What causes oily roots and dry ends?
Oily roots, for one, are caused by the sebaceous glands in your scalp. These glands produce excess sebum which is then carried down your hair shaft. It can cause your hair to appear greasy and oily around the scalp.
According to The Kit, oily skin can be genetic or caused by certain hair products. The reality is that many products, especially organic products containing essential oils, can contribute to excess oil at your roots.
When left untreated, an oily scalp can lead to dandruff, fungus, or even seborrheic dermatitis. The latter refers to the common scalp condition that often appears as scaly patches on your scalp and contribute to hair loss.
Dry ends, on the other hand, can be caused by a variety of genetics, environmental factors, as well as hair practices including:
- Overwashing
- Sun exposure
- Hair type
- Weather
- Drying products
Tips for treating an oily scalp with dry ends
Don’t let oily hair roots and dry ends get the best of you. Turning to resources like hair professionals, specially designed products, and hacks from the internet’s DIY-savvy users have make it easy to find the right tips and tricks to salvage your locks.
The following tips for treating an oily scalp with dry ends will make your hair routine a breeze, and your locks much healthier. Your scalp and your hair will thank you:
1. Make sure you are using the right hairbrush
A common misconception is that brushing oily hair just makes strands oiler, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Brushing your hair helps redistribute natural oils from the root of your hair throughout your locks and to any dry ends. Armed with the right hairbrush, you can better redistribute the natural oils in your hair to combat an oily scalp and dry ends.
The wrong hairbrush can make it harder to detangle your hair and adequately distribute the natural oils in your locks. For example, boar bristle brushes are known for evenly distributing the natural oils from your scalp throughout your locks. To find the right brush for your locks, it’s also important to identify the right length of bristles. For example, if you have thicker oily hair, it will be harder to penetrate to your scalp with shorter brushes. We recommend our Detangling Wet Hairbrush for best brushing results. The flexible bristles are gentle on hair and scalp without pulling or breaking hair.
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2. Brush Your Hair in Continuous Strokes
You may not even realize that the way you’ve been brushing your hair has negatively impacted your locks.
When you brush your hair in continuous strokes from root to tip, you evenly redistribute the oils throughout your locks instead of keeping them at the root of your scalp while simultaneously leaving your ends dry. Continuous brushing from top to bottom will also help stimulate blood flow, remove any buildup of products like shampoo and gel, and generally help your hair look healthier due to the more even distribution of natural oils. Still, be sure to avoid over brushing as this can stimulate oil production.
3. Reconsider Your Shampoo & Conditioner Routine
If you shampoo your entire head of hair when washing your locks, consider switching up your routine. Instead of shampooing all of your hair, it’s better to just focus on roots where it's needed most.
Shampooing the roots will help you to get rid of any buildup of dirt or product around your scalp without removing the natural oils that keep your hair nourished. When you use a conditioner, however, consider applying the product only to the bottom ends of your hair. It’s also a good idea to let your conditioner sit while you shave or finish up your shower to give it a bit more time to really nourish your locks.
When it comes to combination hair, it's important to develop a strategic shampoo and conditioner routine that combines different strategies to ensure both ends of your hair are getting treated separately.
We recommend using a cleansing formula like our Charcoal Detox Shampoo since it is designed to remove oil and product buildup from hair without drying out locks and stripping away natural oils. After shampooing, lock in healthy moisture with the Luxy High-Gloss Smoothing Conditioner. This product has amazing hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and grape seed oil that will work like a charm on dry ends. Apply throughout the entire length of hair, focusing on the ends and avoiding scalp. Let it soak into hair for about three to five minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Following this shampoo and conditioner routine will encourage healthier locks, especially for combination hair types.
4. Pick the Right Products
The thing is, there are a lot of questionable ingredients found in common hair products. When you are shopping for hair products, opt for products that don’t contain:
- Sulfates
- Mineral Oil
- Parabens
- Denatured Alcohols
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Formaldehyde
- Coal Tar
- Silicones
- Phthalates
- Para-Phenylenediamine
Our Wetline Haircare Collection is not only free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, but has also been certified vegan by the Vegan Organization. Plus, it’s safe for both your own and favorite set of hair extensions.
5. Consider Washing Your Hair Less Often
When you have greasy or oily hair, it’s common to feel the need to wash your hair more often to combat the grease. The reality, however, is that washing your hair too much can have the exact opposite effect. Make sure to identify how often you need to wash your hair based on your hair type.
When you wash your hair, you strip your hair of its natural oils. Your body responds to this by overproducing sebum to replace the lost oil. It’s a vicious cycle that you can’t win until you put your locks back into balance by washing your hair less frequently.
6. Make the Most of Dry Shampoo
We’ve already established that over washing your hair and applying too much shampoo can have less than desirable results for your oily scalp. That said, no one wants to have dirty hair. This is where dry shampoo comes in.
Dry shampoos makes it quick and easy to absorb your root’s excess oils without having to actually wash your hair. These products also help to add volume to your hair and will provide time for the natural oils in your hair to redistribute themselves.
You can even easily make your own DIY dry shampoo if you want to save money and get creative with a more natural option. Ingredients like baking soda, arrowroot, and clay are all capable of absorbing excess oil in hair and can be used in your homemade dry shampoo.
Overall, dry shampoo allows you to take longer breaks between washing, which will help your hair to regain some balance.
7. Hydrate Your Hair with Hair Oil
We know how this sounds — more oil for oily hair? Hear us out. Applying a hair oil to the ends or even mid-lengths of your hair can help restore some moisture to your dryer ends without adding more grease to your roots or oily scalp. All you need is to apply a few drops to the ends to moisturize and reduce the appearance of dry ends.
A great product to add to your hair routine for healthy shine is our Luminous Shine Hair Oil. While this lightweight oil won’t weigh down your hair or make it greasy, it will certainly reduce frizziness, split ends, and prevent moisture loss due to powerful ingredients like avocado oil and kukui nut oil. Simply apply one or two drops to wet or dry hair before or after styling.
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8. Get a Hair Cut
Chopping your hair is a great way to deal fight oily scalp and dry ends. That said, if heading to a hair salon isn't feasible you can always consider giving yourself an at-home hair cut.
9. Stop Touching Your Hair
We’ll say it louder for the people in the back: STOP. TOUCHING. YOUR. HAIR. It can be incredibly tempting to run your fingers through your hair, twirl your locks, etc., but handling your hair with your fingertips that also produce oils can actually make your hair even more oily. Avoid touching your hair and adding more oils from your face and fingers.
10. Invest In a Scalp Scrub
A good scalp scrub can act as an exfoliant and effectively get rid of dead skin, dirt, and any other buildup from your scalp. The best part? You can also make DIY hair scrubs using ingredients that you probably already have at home.
11. Apply Less Heat to Your Hair
If you are dealing with an oily scalp and dry ends, it may be time to lay off the blow-drying or flat ironing. Applying heat to your hair tends to make your hair even more oily as your hair’s natural oils can travel down your locks that much easier when they are straight. Straight locks also sit closer to the scalp, which makes it easier for the oils from your scalp to transfer to your hair.
On the flip side, styling your hair with waves or curls will not only make your locks more voluminous, but will also slow down the transfer of your hair’s natural oils. Try using a heatless tool like velcro hair rollers instead! If you absolutely can’t live without heat styling, be sure to prep your locks with a good heat protectant before reaching for that blow dryer or straightener. Just like sunscreen for the hair, heat protectants protect hair from burning, dryness, and dullness. Using a product like our Heat Protectant Primer will protect from thermal damage, provide superior conditioning, and help hair look and feel its best.
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Product recommendations for oily roots & dry ends
Best shampoo for oily scalp and dry ends:
Thanks to its detoxifying powers, charcoal shampoo will benefit any head of hair that needs a good cleanse. Using the Charcoal Detox Shampoo means saying good-bye to grease, oil, and any other impurities that might be weighing your hair down.
The activated charcoal ingredient attracts impurities from deep within the pores and absorbs them without removing healthy oils from hair. Meanwhile, the organic apple cider vinegar whisks away buildup and restores hair to a healthy pH level helping treat dandruff and any other scalp issues. Aloe vera, organic baobab oil, and vitamin B-5 ensure that strands don’t become dry.
Using vegan hair products like this shampoo will give your hair the cleaning it deserves without making strands feel like straw.
Best conditioner for oily scalp and dry ends
High Gloss Smoothing Conditioner
It’s always a good idea to follow your wash with a conditioner, specifically one that moisturizes, soothes split ends, and tames frizz. The High-Gloss Smoothing Conditioner does all this and more, working to cleanse, condition, smooth, and add healthy shine to locks.
The amazing moisturizing abilities of this product can be attributed to the organic shea butter, grape seed oil, and vitamin B-5, all of which will soothe dry ends. The ingredient list also features linseed oil, which is meant to encourage strong and shiny hair growth. And since this environmentally-friendly conditioner is certified vegan and cruelty-free, you can use it with good conscience.
Best hair mask for oily scalp and dry ends
If your ends are feeling dryer than a desert, a hair mask might be the perfect solution for restoring instant moisture, softness, and shine. The Length Repairing Hair Mask will visibly transform dry and dull hair into soft, silky strands after just one use.
The moisturizing formula deeply conditions and revitalizes hair with ingredients like organic baobab oil, caryocar brasiliense fruit oil, and vitamin B-5. There’s also organic jojoba oil and coconut oil, which help promote healthier, stronger hair. The vegan formula is fairly lightweight so it will not weigh hair down or make it oily, plus it’s safe for use in both natural hair and hair extensions.
Written by: Brittany Rodrigues
