Shampoo for Oily Hair – Home Remedies, Precautions & more

Oily hair is as much of a problem for girls as is dry and itchy hair. Our hair roots consist of sebaceous glands that secrete sebum. Sebum is an oily substance, which is in fact beneficial for our hair, keeping it hydrated, smooth and silky. The excess secretion of sebum in hair is the major cause of oily hair. 

Causes of Oily Hair

There are many reasons causing oily hair, some can be controlled and some are just natural. Below are the top causes of oily hair.

1. Hormone fluctuations
2. Heredity
3. Unhealthy lifestyle
4. Seasonal changes

20 Homemade Shampoos for Oily Hair

• Lemon and Vinegar Shampoo

The acidic properties of both lemon and vinegar balance the level of pH in our scalp and control the secretion of sebum. The presence of vitamin C in lemons and acetic acid in vinegar makes it very helpful in treating oily hair.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon lemon
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Any mild shampoo

Process:

1. Take any mild shampoo and add 1 tbsp of vinegar, honey and lemon.
2. Mix all these ingredients together properly.
3. Apply this new homemade shampoo on your hair, allow it to rest for 10 minutes and then rinse your hair well with plain water.
4. You may use this shampoo 2-3 times a week for best results. (Once you’ve made the shampoo you can also store it in the refrigerator.)

• Oatmeal Shampoo

Colloidal oats or rolled oats have a very high protein content as well as the presence of polysaccharides and beta-glucans helps cure an itchy scalp as well nourishes the scalp, which in turn strengthens hair follicles. It also cleanses the scalp fully, removing any dust, air pollutants and accumulated sebum and thus is a perfect home remedy for oily hair.

Items Required:

• 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal
• ¼ -½ tablespoon baking soda
• ½ cup natural shampoo

Directions:

1. Add 1 cup of ground oatmeal to the warm water and blend it properly so that no lump remains. 
2. Add ½ cup natural shampoo and ½ tablespoon baking soda to the oatmeal blend.
3. Use this oatmeal shampoo like your regular shampoo twice a week for substantial results. 

• Aloe Vera Shampoo

Aloe vera consists of proteolytic enzymes that help unclog hair follicles. Thus, it is an excellent home remedy, as it helps cleanse hair follicles of any accumulated sebum and dirt. 

Aloe vera gel not only helps people with greasy hair but it also can be used to treat an itchy scalp.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup castile soap
• ½ cup aloe vera gel
• 5 drops Vitamin E oil
• Vanilla Essence (for aroma)

Process:

1. Mix ½ cup castile soap with ½ cup aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil and 1 drop vanilla essence.
2. Apply this as a shampoo all over your hair and scalp.
3. Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse it off.
4. For good results use this remedy twice a week.

• Corn Starch Shampoo

The alcohol and water present in this shampoo act as a natural degreasing agent. The cornstarch on the other hand helps soaking up of excess oil present in the scalp and pore. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of water
• 1 tablespoon of lavender essential oil (You may put other essential oils as they provide a great scent to the shampoo.)
• 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol

Process:

1. In a bowl mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with all the ingredients mentioned above.
2. You may apply this to your hair like any regular shampoo.
3. Rinse your hair with cold water afterwards.

• Black Tea Rinse

The presence of tannic acid in black tea helps tighten the pores present in the scalp, preventing any further accumulation of oil and grease. 

Ingredients:

• Black Tea

Process:

1. Add 2 tablespoons of black tea to 2 cups of water and let it boil.
2. Allow this boiled mixture to cool down.
3. Strain the tea leaves afterwards.
4. Rinse your hair and scalp with this brewed black tea and leave it on for about 5 minutes.
5. You may also add this tea rinse to any mild shampoo.
6. Repeat this twice a week for effective results.

• Baking Soda Shampoo

Baking soda helps maintain the pH of the scalp due to its alkaline properties. It is an effective drying agent and also consists of oil absorbing properties. It is a very popular home remedy for oily hair and skin.

Ingredients:

• 5-10 tablespoons of baking soda
• Water

Process:

1. Take 5-10 tablespoons of baking soda and add water to it slowly so as to make it into a paste.
2. Apply this paste to the scalp and tips of your hair.
3. Baking soda shampoo is not foamy and soapy like store bought shampoos, but it as effective and plays the same role as any other good shampoo.
4. Use this remedy at least once a week if you have oily hair.

• Coconut Milk Shampoo

Coconut milk is very different from coconut oil and thus the two should not be confused. It aids by cleansing the pores in the scalp and nourishes hair follicles.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin
• ½ cup castile soap
• 10 drops of any essential oil 

 Process:

1. Mix ½ cup coconut milk with ½ cup castile soap.
2. Now add glycerin and essential oil to the mixture and stir it well.
3. You may store this shampoo in any jar or container.
4. Use this homemade shampoo at least once a week.

• Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

The presence of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps maintain pH in the scalp. It has antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It also helps regulate oil secretions by the sebaceous glands present in the scalp. Other than that, it nourishes and replenishes hair follicles for them to grow strong and shiny.

Ingredients: 

• 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of hot water
• ½ tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon lavender essential oil for scent

Process:

1. Add 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, ½ tablespoon baking soda and 1 tablespoon lavender essential oil in 1 cup of hot water and mix them together.
2. Apply this solution to your hair and scalp as you would for any shampoo 
3. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes and rinse it off with cold water.
4. Repeat at least twice a week for effective results.

• Green Tea and French Clay Shampoo

Ingredients:

• 1 cup green tea water
• 1 cup castile soap
• 2-3 tablespoons of green clay/French green clay
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of rosemary essential oil

Process:

1. Brew one cup of green tea and allow it to cool down for about 30 minutes.
2. Strain the tea leaves from the water and add it to 1 cup of castile soap.
3. To this green tea and castile soap mixture add the green clay, olive oil and rosemary essential oil and mix together.
4. Store this homemade herbal shampoo in a container and use it 2-3 times a week.

• Lavender Flower Shampoo

Lavender flowers have a strong aroma and are therapeutic and great for hair. It has antiseptic, anti-depressive and astringent properties. It can help cure a wide range of illnesses and helps tackle oily hair as well. 

Ingredients:

• 10 -15 lavender flowers
• Mild Shampoo or 1 cup castile soap

Process:

1. Soak 10-15 lavender flowers in 1 litre of water overnight.
2. Now filter the lavender flowers from the water you had left overnight.
3. Fill another vessel with 1 litre of water and add these filtered lavender flowers to the vessel.
4. Boil this water and allow it to cool afterwards.
5. Now mix the two liquids together and add it to any mild shampoo or castile soap and use it to rinse your hair at least once a week.

• Coffee Shampoo

Coffee acts as an exfoliator and scrub for the scalp. It will help clean the sebum clogged pores in the scalp. Apart from that coffee also provide a tinge of color if you have dyed hair. The presence of caffeine in coffee also improves blood circulation in the scalp with in turn nourishes hair follicles.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tablespoons of organic coffee powder
• Any natural or mild shampoo

Process:

1. Add 2-3 tablespoons of organic coffee powder to any mild shampoo, you can use baby shampoo as well.
2. If you like instead of shampoo you can add the coffee powder to ¼ cup of castile soap.

• Yoghurt, Honey and Lemon Juice Shampoo

Yoghurt consists of lactic acid that controls excess oil production. It is highly recommended for people with oily and greasy hair.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tablespoons of yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ tablespoon lemon
• ½ cup castile soap

Process:

1. Mix all the above ingredients together so that a thick paste consistency is obtained.
2. Apply this shampoo to the scalp and allow it to settle for 15-20 minutes.
3. Rinse your hair with lukewarm water afterwards.

• Horsetail Shampoo

Out of all the home remedies horsetail is by far the best home remedy for oily scalp and hair. It consists of huge amounts of silica that improves hair health and promotes hair growth. It has astringent, anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties as well. It is also loaded with minerals such as calcium, iodine, selenium, iron and etc.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup dried horsetail
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup castile soap or baby shampoo

Process:

1. Add ½  a cup dried horsetail to 1 cup boiling water and allow it to rest for 1 hour.
2. Afterwards strain the water and add it to any mild shampoo. If you have castile soap then you can mix that in the solution as well.
3. Use this hair rinse 3-4 times a week.

• Fuller’s Earth Shampoo

Fuller’s earth acts as a potent exfoliator, helping in cleaning the scalp and removing any dirt and sebum deposits. 

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of fuller’s Earth (multani mitti)
• Water
• Mild Shampoo

Process:

1. Take 3 tablespoons of fuller’s earth and add water to it slowly so as to get a thick paste like consistency.
2. Take the fuller’s earth paste and mix it into any mild shampoo
3. Apply this shampoo to your hair, making sure you gently rub it on your scalp.
4. Rinse your hair afterwards with lukewarm water.

• Vitamin E oil Shampoo

This shampoo is an amalgamation of two shampoo recipes. If you are pregnant you should avoid using this shampoo as the recipe contains many essential oils.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup coconut milk
• ½ cup castile soap
• 2-3 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• 5-10 drops of vitamin E essential oil
• 5 drops of cedarwood and lavender essential oil (for aroma)

Process: 

1. Mix all the above ingredients together in a bowl and use it regularly as it is an excellent herbal shampoo. (The presence of vitamin E, naturally preserves the shampoo and thus you do not need to store it in a refrigerator.) 

• Rosemary and Peppermint Shampoo

Ingredients:

• 20-30 drops of rosemary oil
• 10 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 10 drops of peppermint oil

Process:

1. Mix all the mentioned above ingredients together and store them a jar.
2. You may use this mixture as a regular shampoo.
3. Use it two times a week for effective results.

• Witch Hazel Oil Shampoo

Presence of tannin in witch hazel oil makes it a natural astringent, as it is also capable of removing excess oil from the scalp.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 tablespoons of witch hazel oil
• Water
• Mild Shampoo

Process:

1. Mix 3-4 tablespoons of witch hazel oil with a few tablespoons of water.
2. Now mix this witch hazel oil with any mild shampoo.
3. Rinse your hair and scalp with this homemade shampoo.

• Beer Shampoo

As shocking as it sounds, beer can be used in cases of greasy and oily hair. The presence of vitamins nourishes hair cuticles from deep within. It also naturally absorbs the oil from the scalp.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of beer
• Mild shampoo/baby shampoo

Process:

1. Boil 1 cup of beer for about 5-10 minutes
2. Allow this mixture to cool down.
3. Add the boiled beer to any mild shampoo or baby shampoo.
4. Store this shampoo in a container.
5. Use this beer hair shampoo twice a week.

• Mint Shampoo

Mint leaves have astringent properties and makes it one of the best home remedies for greasy hair, preventing excessive production of sebum.

Ingredients:

• 10-15 mint leaves

Process:

1. Add 10-15 mint leaves to 2 cups of water and allow it to boil.
2. Strain this boiled mixture and allow it to cool.
3. Pour this solution into any mild shampoo.
4. You may use this freshly prepared mint leave shampoo once or twice a week.

• Nettle Leaves Shampoo

Ingredients:

• ½ cup dried nettle leaves
• 1 cup of boiling water
• Any mild shampoo

Process:

1. Add ½  a cup nettle leaves to 1 cup boiling water and allow it to rest for 1 hour.
2. Afterwards strain the water and mix it with any mild shampoo.
3. Use it as a shampoo for your hair, at least 3 times a week.

OTC Shampoo Oily Hair

Before buying any shampoo, make sure you check the listed ingredients watching out for the presence of any lipids and oils.

Few shampoos you can use are listed below:

• Neutrogena anti-residue shampoo
• TRESemmé Deep Cleansing Shampoo
• Matrix Biolage Normalizing Shampoo
• Himalaya Protein shampoo
• Pantene Lively clean shampoo

Precautions

• Avoid any shampoos that consist of lipids, oils and silicon as they might further stimulate the production of sebum and worsen the situation.
• Avoid using hot water as it stimulates sebum production. (You may use lukewarm water.)
• Avoid brushing your hair as it will distribute the sebum all over your hair. So if you have oily hair always try using a comb.
• If you are using any prescribed medications, make sure you keep in check with your dermatologist before using any home remedy.
• Oily hair requires less conditioning than dry hair, therefore avoid conditioning your hair too much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1) How often should you wash your hair if you have oily hair?

One should wash oily hair very frequently.

Q2) Why does the scalp get so greasy?

Many factors cause the scalp to become oily. Hormonal imbalance, stress, unhealthy lifestyle and seasonal changes are some of the factors that cause excessive secretion of oils by the pores present in our scalp.

Q3) Should you use essential oils to make homemade shampoos if you are pregnant?

If you are pregnant avoid using any essential oils while making homemade shampoos as it might complicate situations.