Oily Hair - Louisville,KY

My daughter uses Pantene Volumizing shampoo and conditioner. She only conditions the ends, well maybe half way up the hair. I also help wash it 1-2 times a week in the sink, since she's not quite thorough enough about getting her hair completely clean.

Does she use conditioner? I ask because when my teen girls went through this phase, they would only condition the ends of their hair because they said conditioning their whole head contributed to the greasiness. Also, I had one daughter who used baby shampoo during that phase and swore it was the only thing that worked. She still uses it during "that time of the month" when she says her hair is extra greasy.

Good luck!

Have her rinse with 1/4 cup vinegar in about 2 cups of water after shampooing.
It helps remove build up and leaves hair shiny.

Additional:
When I was a teen, I was THE answer to the worlds oil crisis (it was the 70's).
No, washing less does NOT slow oil production in a teen.
The oil comes with the hormone surges and there's nothing you can do about that except to keep washing.
It eases off eventually (like in several years).
Switch up products every few weeks, and the vinegar rinse does help.
Go easy on the conditioner (don't use it next to scalp - just on hair ends).

Have you tried a different shampoo? I bought a cheap brand once, and my daughter's hair would be so greasy, I thought she wasn't even washing it. I finally figured out that it was the shampoo and switched brands. I haven't ever used that kind since then, and I never have an issue with her hair being greasy anymore.

Try some tea tree shampoo. And give it a good scrub (especially in the back about two inches above her hairline). I find that in the summer, my oily hair makes my hair smell bad and this will help.

Also, Neutrogena makes a clarifying shampoo. Try using that once a week. Also, she can touch up her roots with dry shampoo if needed. Mu hair is blonde so on occasion, I sprinkle baby powder into my roots and let sit for 10 minutes then brush out.

She also might be over washing - too much shampoo will make her scalp over produce oils. So only one wash per shower.

Most people I know only wash their hair every other day or so. I'm so jealous. People would run screaming if I came into the office with unwashed greasy hair!

Make sure she's not using a moisturizing shampoo, and definitely massage (not scrub with nails) it into her scalp/roots. Also, when using conditioner it should not be used on the scalp, only from the middle of the hair down to the ends. Her head is already producing enough oil, so extra moisture/conditioning isn't needed.

For myself (long straight medium hair), I have 2 sets of shampoo/conditioner that I rotate every other day. One is a clean, clear, light shampoo with a light conditioner, the other set is a more expensive thick luxurious type. Switching it up prevents my hair from getting oily, but also keeps the frizz down and the balance just right.

Good luck!

Be careful of the clarifying shampoo. It makes hair more frizzy. I sat in the hair salon yesterday and read that in one of the hair salon books.

If she is using conditioner, try leaving that out of the equation. You can get your hair clean, but use so much conditioner that you end up with oily hair.

I stopped using shampoo entirely. I only use straight up conditioner. I rub it in and massage it then rinse and do it again. My hair is light and fluffy and soft and shiny and my scalp doesn't itch anymore and my psoriasis spots on my scalp went away too.

I know many who think their hair won't be clean but I haven't used shampoo in over a year.

Try a tea tree oil shampoo. Trader Joes sells a nice O..
Or rinse with a few T of white vinegar in 2 Q water.

You can try using Dawn. Follow it with her regular shampoo and conditioner.

What about a dry shampoo?

Have her try tea tree shampoo and condition only the ends of her hair. Make sure she is scrubbing her scalp more than she is scrubbing her actual hair.