Is My Hair Greasy After I Wash It? Common Causes & Fixes

Your hair is freshly washed and dried, yet it already looks greasy. Ugh. Why is my hair greasy after I wash it? Good question.

It’s possible you simply forgot to shampoo (it happens to the best of us on occasion), but more likely, there’s something else going on.

Here, we’ll talk about the common causes of a greasy scalp and hair after washing, plus solutions and prevention tips.

What’s causing greasy hair after washing? It could be:

• Seborrheic dermatitis

• Hormonal fluctuations

• Product buildup

• Contact with everyday items

• Diet and lifestyle factors

• Your hair type

• The shampoo or conditioner formula you’re using

• A result of overwashing

Read on for more insight into these potential causes.

1. Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis (also called seborrhea) is a scalp condition that causes red, flaky, or itchy patches. It also makes sebaceous glands produce too much oil.

When the scalp produces excess sebum (the oily, waxy substance that protects skin) and oil, it can make hair look greasy, regardless of how often you wash it.

2. Hormonal Fluctuations

Teenagers are prone to acne and greasy hair partly because their hormones are haywire — but hormonal imbalances or fluctuations can happen at any age.

For instance, high testosterone levels in men can increase the activity of sebaceous glands, resulting in more sebum and oil production.

In women, shifts in progesterone and estrogen levels can also cause more oil production, leading to acne or a greasy scalp.

3. Product Buildup

If you regularly use styling products like dry shampoo, hair oil, pomade, mousse, or gel as part of your hair care routine, you may have product buildup that’s causing your hair to look greasy after washing.

Hair products made with butters, waxes, heavier oils, or silicone can all leave behind a residue and cause buildup that can be hard to remove with a basic shampoo (we’ll cover how to remove buildup in a bit).

4. Contact With Everyday Items

It could be that after you finish washing, your hair comes into contact with an everyday item that’s making it look greasy. Things like dirty hats, brushes, combs with residual pomade in the teeth, scarves, or towels can transfer oil back onto your hair.

5. Diet and Lifestyle Factors

There’s some evidence that a diet high in sugar and dairy could potentially make sebaceous glands go into overdrive. 

Living in a place with poor air quality or washing your hair with hard water (which has more minerals in it than soft water) can also contribute to greasiness. Living in a hot, humid climate or exercising regularly can cause sweating, leading to an oily scalp or sticky hair.

6. Your Hair Type

People with fine or thin hair tend to have more hair follicles on their heads, which can make hair look and feel greasy. On the other hand, thick, curly hair tends to be drier and takes longer to look greasy in between washes.

7. Using the Wrong Shampoo or Conditioner for Your Hair

If you have thin or fine hair, certain types of shampoo may be too rich, possibly containing ingredients like coconut oil or argan oil. Greasy hair probably means you’re not dealing with frizz or flyaways, but it can still look weighed down.

Moisturizing shampoo is a great option for dry hair, but it often contains oils that can make hair look greasy. What’s the best shampoo to prevent greasiness and dryness? Go with an oil-free cleanser that hydrates with humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

Using conditioner on your roots can also cause premature greasiness — instead, apply lightweight conditioner only to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair.

8. Overwashing

Why does my hair feel greasy after washing it daily or multiple times a day? It seems counterintuitive, but washing your hair too much can actually cause greasy hair.

When you overwash your hair, you strip the natural oil from the scalp. Then your scalp might overcompensate by producing more oil.

How often should you wash your hair? Our blog has answers.

The good news is there are several easy fixes for hair that looks greasy after washing.

Greasy Hair Fix: Practice Scalp Care

Healthy hair starts with scalp care, so make sure you’re showing your scalp some TLC every time you wash.

When dealing with oiliness, make sure to lather your shampoo and massage it into your scalp using circular motions. This will help remove dead skin and product buildup that may contribute to an oily scalp.

It’s helpful to use a scalp treatment about once a week. These are specifically formulated with ingredients that help sop up excess oil while nourishing and hydrating the scalp.

Greasy Hair Fix: Adjust Your Hair-Washing Schedule

If your hair is greasy after washing, you might think you should wash it more often. Instead, see what happens if you take a day off between wash days. This can help your scalp recalibrate and stop producing excess sebum.

Greasy Hair Fix: Use a Clarifying Shampoo

If you regularly use styling products or your hair has a waxy texture after washing, a clarifying shampoo might help. Clarifying formulas typically have a higher concentration of cleaning ingredients (called surfactants), so they efficiently eliminate grease and product residue.

For optimal hair health, you may want to alternate clarifying shampoo with your regular one, as the former can dry out your hair if you use it too often.

Greasy Hair Fix: Try Medicated Shampoo

Seborrhea can be frustrating, but medicated shampoos can help manage the condition. You can try an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo (like our dandruff detox shampoo), which usually does the trick.

For more severe or persistent cases, your healthcare provider might prescribe or recommend a medicated shampoo containing an antifungal ingredient like ketoconazole, pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, or coal tar.

Greasy Hair Fix: Be Mindful of Your Diet

We’d never tell you to cut out dairy, sugar, or processed foods completely. That said, ensuring you’re eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water is good for your overall health, including your hair and scalp health.

You can learn more in our guide to the best vitamins and minerals for hair growth.

Greasy Hair Fix: Choose the Right Styling Products

Besides oil-free shampoo and conditioner, try switching to lightweight products if your hair is greasy after washing and styling — think water-based hair serums or mousse.

You can also concentrate the product on the ends of your hair so your scalp doesn’t get oily.

Greasy Hair Fix: Rinse Your Hair With Lukewarm or Warm Water

We love a hot shower, but rinsing shampoo with lukewarm or cool water is gentler on the scalp and hair. Hot water can strip hair of natural oils, causing an overproduction of oil as the scalp tries to stay balanced.

Greasy Hair Fix: Keep Things That Come Into Contact With Your Hair Clean

Make sure any hats, pillowcases, towels, headscarves, and hairbrushes you use regularly are clean and oil-free. If there’s grease or grime on anything else that comes into contact with your hair (including your hands), it can easily transfer.

Greasy Hair Fix: Try Products Containing Green Tea

A small 2016 study found that a hair tonic made with green tea extract “significantly lowered” scalp sebum in participants after 21 and 28 days.

Many hair care products use green tea. But you can look for a DIY hair mask recipe to make at home using tea.

Our guide has more details on the benefits of green tea for hair. 

There are several possible reasons your hair and scalp may still look greasy, even with freshly washed hair. Fortunately, it’s rarely a serious condition and can be easily remedied with simple fixes.

Why is my hair greasy after I wash it? Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Greasy hair after washing can be due to excess oil production, product buildup, or even external factors like what you eat and where you live.

• Choosing the right shampoo, washing less frequently, and keeping hair accessories clean can help balance oil levels.

• Clarifying or medicated shampoos, lightweight styling products, and ingredients like green tea can help keep your scalp fresh, balanced, and grease-free.

If you’re curious to learn more about caring for men’s hair, check out our guide to hair care for men and our in-depth guide to scalp care.

Not sure what’s causing your scalp to go overboard on sebum production? It’s always a good idea to check in with a dermatologist or another medical professional.

Dealing with hair loss or thinning? Take our free online hair loss assessment to start exploring treatment options with personalized guidance from a licensed healthcare provider.