Your body produces sebum, an oily substance, to help lubricate hair and skin. When the body produces too much of this substance at the base of the hair follicles, the result is oily hair. Frequent shampooing with shampoos that contain astringent, or drying, ingredients, can help reduce the oiliness in your hair, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Tea Tree Oil
The Australian Melaluca trees produces a fragrant oil known as tea tree oil. Shampoos containing 5 percent or more tea tree oil may reduce oil in your hair. MayoClinic.com notes that such shampoos are effective at treating dandruff, and that there may be a link between dandruff and oily hair, in that people with oily hair tend to get dandruff more often.
Herbs
Some herbs such as lavender, lemon balm and sage have astringent qualities and can help oil hair. Kathi Keville and Mindy Green, authors of "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art," suggest steeping these herbs in water to form a tea. Combine this tea with liquid castille soap for a natural shampoo for oily hair.
Baking Soda and Flour
In her book "Return to Beauty: Old World Recipes for Great Radiant Skin," author Narine Nikogosian recommends a shampoo made of 1 egg white, 1 tsp. baking soda and 2 tsp. flour. Massage through the hair and rinse. Flour absorbs oil, baking soda cleans dirt and the egg white adds protein and helps hold the ingredients together.
References
- "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art"; Kathi Keville and Mindy Green; 2008
- "Return to Beauty: Old World Recipes for Great Radiant Skin"; Narine Nikogosian; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Oily Hair.
- MayoClinic.com: Dandruff
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