Oily Scalp But Dry Hair? Here's the Right Shampoo to Use

Day 1: shampoo, blow dry, soft, bouncy, salon fresh.

Day 2: your roots are oiled up, but your ends are not! Dry, frizzy, in their own way.

Sound familiar? Congratulations, your scalp and hair are basically roommates that never talk. So one is throwing an oil party into the roots. The other is trapped in a desert, where there's no water. And you're in the middle, wondering why every shampoo you buy makes your scalp greasier, or your ends feel like straw.

Oh, but that's not the case: This is not "bad hair". You have two separate issues to solve: one is on the same head and most shampoos are only designed to solve one. Let's fix that.

Wait, How Can My Scalp Be Oily AND My Hair Be Dry?

Imagine your scalp is like a factory and your hair is like a delivery truck with a broken route.

Your scalp contains oil glands (sebaceous glands) that always make sebum, which is supposed to travel down each hair to keep it moisturized. But when these glands start to produce more than they should (because of genetics, hormones, stress, even over washing) your root gets slicked quickly.

However, this oil does not always travel the full length of the hair  particularly if you have coloured, heat-styled, curly or simply long hair. So, the roots will be saturated with oil, and the ends will be dry, both literally and figuratively.

It's not a contradiction. It's simply bad delivery logistics. .

What's Actually Causing This (Besides Genetics)

A few usual suspects tend to show up together:

• Washing too often strips your ends of moisture, which makes your scalp panic and produce even more oil to "protect" itself

• Hot showers feel amazing but basically tell your oil glands to work overtime

• Heat styling tools  straighteners, curlers, blow dryers  fry the moisture out of your strands while doing nothing to your scalp

• Heavy conditioners applied too close to the roots add extra grease you didn't need

• Sulfate-loaded shampoos rip moisture from your hair length but don't necessarily balance the oil at your roots

• Stress and hormones  yes, even your hair has bad days because your body is having one
  

None of this means your hair is broken. It just means it needs a shampoo that can multitask  like an assistant who handles two very different clients at once.

So What Should an Oily Scalp Shampoo Actually Do?

A shampoo designed to treat oily scalp and dry hair should be somewhat of a diplomat so as to calm down the scalp without attacking the ends. Here's your checklist:

Look for:

• Soaps and cleansers that are gentle and sulphate free, which do not damage hair by rubbing it off.

• Ingredients that have oil-regulating properties, such as the tea tree oil, niacinamide, salicylic acid or clay, are used at the scalp level

• Lightweight fillers such as aloe vera, glycerin and panthenol for the strands

• A pH level that is close to the natural pH of your scalp (approximately 4.5 – 5.5)

• Avoid:

• Thick silicones (these are on fatty roots and make all the worse)

• High amounts of alcohol in a recipe around the scalp.

• Anywhere close to the roots, rich buttery conditioners are applied.

A good shampoo should make your hair feel clean, but never greasy or squeaky, and your ends should feel soft when you rinse them off, not stripped. 

How to Actually Use It (This Part Matters More Than You Think)

Even with the most suitable shampoo, you might get it wrong if you use it in the same way you would a regular shampoo. Try this instead:

Make sure the shampoo is applied solely to the scalp. Treat yourself to the mini spa day by working it into your hair.

• While cleaning, let suds do the work on the lengths; ends are really too much to clean.

• Use conditioner for mid length and tip only. Don't promise your scalp?

• Use lukewarm water, not hot water as this can harm your oil glands.

• Limit washing to 2-3 times per week, rather than every day.

• Apply an end mask once a week and don't apply it to the scalp at all. 

A Simple Weekly Rhythm to Follow

It's less about scrubbing harder and more about treating your scalp and hair like two separate appointments on the same calendar.

Gentle brush hair: This is helpful to distribute natural oil from the scalp to dry hair ends (no matter what conditioner you use, it's free)

• Avoid touching your hair, oils from your fingers rub off quickly

• Change your pillowcase more frequently than necessary

• Every couple of weeks shampoo with a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup.

• Use serum only at the ends, not close to the roots; and

The Bottom Line

Dry hair is not a rare occurrence on a scalp that is oily, it is one of the most prevalent (and misunderstood) hair combinations available. But your roots and your ends have different needs, and when your shampoo (and your routine) acknowledges that, the "greasy but somehow also dry" rut begins to be broken.

Leave it to sit for 3-4 weeks. Your scalp will relax, your ends will soften up, and your hair may feel like it's on the same team for the first time in a long time!

We have a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that are the questions everyone asks.

Is it possible to use one shampoo for oily scalp and dry hair or do I need separate ones? 

Either one type is good or one that is made especially for this type. The key is in the application  scalp, not body.

So how many times a week should I wash my hair?

 Most people find that 2-3 times per week is the optimal amount. Daily washings only exacerbate the issues, rather than resolving them.

Is it okay to put conditioner on my scalp if it's oily? 

Not really. Don't let it get too long and end. They will only make your scalp even oilier.

Will an oil control shampoo dry out my end?

 Unless it's a dry-end, harsh, scaly oily shampoo. A double-action cream should do both hydrating and controlling of the roots.

Are there natural products that can help such as tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar?

 They can do this in small, diluted doses. Just try a patch test first not all natural is kind to all. 

When will the change be noticeable?

 Typically takes 3-4 weeks to get used to it before your scalp begins to feel more at ease and your ends noticeably softer.

Does food play any part in this? 

More than people think. Too much oily or processed food can overestimate the amount of oil in your scalp, and dry, lack of healthy fat in your diet can dry out your ends. Balance is a solution for both sides of the problem (literally)