How Much Hair Grease Is Normal?

If you have greasy hair, find out how much grease is normal and how you can treat it effectively.

How much grease is too much?

When it comes to greasy hair, the main component is balance.

Everyone’s hair is different, which means the amount of grease is linked to the amount of oil they produce.

Sebum is a natural oil, produced by your skin’s sebaceous glands. These glands are present on nearly all parts of your body, except forthe palms of your hands and soles of your feet.

They are most concentrated on the face, scalp and upper torso.

Many scientists believe sebum is beneficial for skin and hair, keeping it protected and moisturized.

However, excess sebum build-up can cause problems, like:

acne
dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis
oily, greasy skin and hair appearance
scalp odor

People with “oily” skin types may produce 5 times more oil each day than a typical adult. Oily scalps may make as much as 1 gram of sebum each day!

Common causes of greasy hair:

genetics
a change in hormones
not washing hair often enough (at least every 2 days)
stress

There are several factors that may affect you if you already have greasy hair. These include:

styling products – these can trap dirt and oil in your hair, and if they’re not washed out properly, they could break down into potentially irritating substances

the weather – warmer temperatures and humid climates can make greasy hair appear worse, as sweat and melting sebum cause oil totravel down the length of your hair

the texture of your hair – grease and oil can travel down straight, thin hair more easily than curly, thicker hair

Treating greasy hair

If you are concerned that you have overly greasy hair, you may need to do the following:

wash your hair once a day – especially if you live in a warm or humid climate

use styling products sparingly

use a deep cleaning shampoo to get rid of as much oil and grease as you can

We recommend using our Citrus Fresh Shampoo, which is suited for all types of greasy hair and are effective at keeping your hair flake free¹ while also removing product build-up.