Oily Scalp and Hair Loss: Understanding Connection, Treatments, and More

Your scalp’s health is of vital importance for strong and healthy hair. One of the biggest challenges to a healthy head of hair is an oily scalp. Besides making the hair look unkempt and unhealthy, it can trigger conditions that can even lead to hair loss.
For those who don’t know, too much oil on the scalp can lead to a variety of problems such as clogged hair follicles, dandruff, and scalp inflammation, which in turn may reduce the strength and growth of the hair. This often causes hair thinning and in more critical cases, the visible loss of hair.

On that note, Lordhair - trusted globally for men’s hair pieces and women‘s wigs - decided to write an extensive guide explaining everything about oily scalp and its connection with hair loss. Let’s get this comprehensive blog started by answering some FAQs!

Oily Scalp and Hair Loss FAQs

Since a lot of people have very specific questions related to hair damage caused by oily scalp, let’s first answer some common questions:

Does an oily scalp cause hair loss?

An oily scalp can be one of the factors that lead to hair loss. Excessive oil can clog hair follicles, attract dirt, and even contribute to scalp conditions like dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. These conditions weaken hair roots, which results in hair thinning.

What are the signs of an oily scalp?

Symptoms of an oily scalp include greasy hair, dandruff, itching, and a heavy feeling on the scalp. You may also notice that your scalp and hair feel unclean after only one day of washing.

How do you control hair loss from oily scalp?

Shampoo your hair with a sulfate free product gently on the scalp, exfoliate the scalp, and do not use styling products a lot. Apart from that, using natural solutions such as aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil can also help to normalize the secretion of scalp oils.

Can hair loss due to oily be reversed?

In most instances, yes. If the hair loss is caused by an oily scalp and not by genetic factors, the right treatment plan can trigger regrowth.

How often should I wash my hair if I have an oily scalp?

Men and women with oily scalp are better off washing their hair every other day or after 2 days with a mild shampoo in order to regulate the excess secretion of sebum.

Now that we have addressed the most common questions, let’s talk in detail about the challenges of oily scalp!

Connection Between Oily Scalp and Hair Loss

The scalp hosts many sebaceous glands responsible for producing sebum. For those who don’t know, sebum makes sure the scalp and hair are naturally moistened to avoid dryness and irritation. In an overactive state, however, the sebaceous glands produce more oil than the scalp needs. This resultant excess oil slowly creates a hostile environment for the hair follicles.

Sebum, dirt, dead skin cells, and styling products can come together to block the follicles of the hair. The roots of hair that have clogged follicles cannot support hair, leading to thinning of hair. In rare cases, it can also promote Malassezia- a type of yeast that causes dandruff. The irritation caused by the dandruff and the itchiness damage the hair follicles and worsen hair loss.

Poor hygiene of the head, stress, hormonal imbalance, and genetic factors can also trigger overproduction of sebum and damage hair health in the long run.
Now let's understand the causes of oily scalp to discover the correct treatment plan to check related hair damage.

Causes of Excessive Oil Production on Scalp

An oily scalp is the result of several factors, each acting through different modes on the sebaceous glands. Following are some of the most common causes of excessive oil production on the scalp:

Hormonal Imbalance: The fluctuations in hormone levels, specifically at puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, results in increased secretion of sebum in women. Androgens especially are among those well-known to stimulate sebaceous glands.

Genetics: Greasiness of the scalp may be genetic. If your family medical history includes oily skin and hair, then you are prone to having overactive sebaceous glands. This is the biggest challenge of oily scalp hair loss.

Diet: A diet high in processed foods, fats, and sugars tends to spur an inflammatory reaction within the body, promoting oil production from the scalp. So, you should watch what you are eating if you want less oil on the head!

Stress: Work and life stress is directly linked to the level of one's hormones, which may yield an excess production of oil on the scalp. Chronic stress may also aggravate scalp conditions, such as dandruff, which may further cause more problems with one's hair.

Overwashing: Ironically, overwashing your hair can strip the scalp of its natural oils, thus making it overcompensate by producing excess oil. That’s why we didn’t recommend washing hair every day earlier!

Product buildup: Some conditioners, styling products, and oils promote scalp build-up and mix with the natural oils of your head to clog up the follicles.

Environmental factors: Humidity, pollution, and even heat can cause oil buildup on the scalp and lead to a greasy outcome.

Treatments for Oily Scalp and Hair Loss

An oily scalp and hair fall are mostly indicative of an off-balance scalp. Treating oily scalp requires correct evaluation and remedial actions. Here's how to bring your scalp back into balance:

Regular Shampooing

Regular shampooing keeps the buildup on the scalp under control. Use a shampoo meant for oily hair as it contains ingredients like salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, and tea tree oil. These will help clean the scalp well and keep the sebum in check. Be very careful not to over-wash your scalp, as this might dry it out and eventually make the scalp oilier because of the stimulation of natural oils. Typically, every other day or three times a week is what is advised for washing hair in cases of an oily scalp.

Exfoliating the Scalp

Just like your face, your scalp benefits greatly from regular exfoliation. It helps remove the dead skin cells, product buildup, and excess oil that could be blocking the hair follicles. Try using a gentle scalp scrub or an exfoliating shampoo once every week to wash away all kinds of residues from the scalp.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

Apple cider vinegar has astringent qualities that help regulate the pH of the scalp and strip the scalp of excessive oil. Mix apple cider vinegar with water, and rinse your hair with it after shampooing. The correct proportions are one part vinegar to three parts water. This may help reduce greasiness and leave the scalp feeling refreshed.

Avoid Too Many Styling Products

Using too many styling products can weigh down the hair, and boost the quantity of build-up on your scalp. Use gentle conditioners that are approved by a dermatologist for your skin type. Pro tip: do not apply conditioner directly to the scalp; use it on mid-lengths and ends instead.

Make Some Diet Changes

Your diet has a great impact on your scalp and hair health. Avoiding processed foods and sugar will help trim down excess oil production. While doing that, balance your food intake with whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acid dietary sources that help support the normal functions of the scalp and hair.

Manage Stress

Stress management is important for overall health, which in turn will help keep the scalp healthy too. Prolonged periods of stress can cause hormonal changes, leading to excessive oiliness and finally hair loss. Meditations, yoga, regular exercise, and good sleep are certain stress-reducing activities that one can adopt to maintain optimal hormone levels.

Get Professional Treatments

If home remedies and diet changes aren’t doing the trick, we recommend seeking professional advice from a dermatologist or trichologist for more advanced solutions. Professional treatments, medicated shampoos, corticosteroid creams, or prescription medicines containing minoxidil may be prescribed for stimulating the growth of hair.

In worse hair loss conditions, treatments may involve PRP therapy or laser therapy to stimulate hair regrowth and reduce inflammation of the scalp.

 

Natural Remedies for Oily Scalp and Hair Loss

Want a natural approach to recover from oily scalp? Here are several remedies that can help balance the scalp oil and reduce hair loss:

Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is widely used for soothing and moisturizing. Applying its gel on the scalp may reduce inflammation, eliminate excess oil, and gradually improve scalp health.

Tea Tree Oil: This essential oil comprises antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, helping regulate the secretion of oil to prevent dandruff. Add a few drops of it to your shampoo or use a diluted tea tree oil spray on the scalp for added benefits.

Green Tea Rinse: Green tea packs antioxidants and can help control sebum production. Brew a cup of green tea and let it cool. Done? Use it as a refreshing scalp rinse after shampooing to get rid of the excess scalp oil.

 

Preventive Measures for Oily Scalp

By adding preventative measures to your oily scalp care routine, you can greatly minimize the chances of recurrence. Here are some tips that will help you keep your scalp healthy:

Choose the Right Pillowcase: Use a silk or satin pillowcase, as it is less prone to absorbing oils from your scalp. It packs a lot of other benefits as well!

Avoid touching your hair: Oils from the hand can be transferred to the hair and scalp if you have the habit of touching your hair throughout the day. Cut back on the habit!

Get regular trims: Getting regular trims will help you check split ends while taking off extra oil from the bottom of the hair.

For individuals, where hair loss and thinning has escalated to an advanced degree, a complete reversal rarely happens. For such cases, hair systems are greatly helpful in non surgical hair restoration.

Also called hair toupees, hair replacement systems, and hair units, these are ideal for individuals seeking immediate, visible results after aggressive hair damage. Lordhair specializes in hair units designed to deliver a hyper-realistic and comfortable solution. Our hairpieces are made using high-quality materials that blend seamlessly with your existing hair.

Wondering what hair system is made of? Well, it involves attaching a skin friendly base carrying real hair to your scalp using adhesive tape, glue, or clips. The hair is meticulously matched to your natural hair color, texture, and density to deliver the realness you aspire for.
Don’t believe us? Check out how amazing Juha looks after wearing one of our hairpieces:

Why Choose Lordhair for Hair Damage Recovery?

For the past two decades, millions of men have trusted Lordhair for non-invasive solutions to hair loss. Here's why Lordhair is a popular choice for premium hair systems:

Quality without the middlemen

At Lordhair, all design and manufacturing of human hair replacement units are done in our own facility and shipped directly to you. This eliminates middlemen and we pass on the savings.

Promise of 100% human hair

Discover a whole new world of real hair-like hair. Lordhair creates the systems using Indian, Chinese, European, and even virgin human hair strands that blend in well with your hair.

Note: Some of these stock systems may contain synthetic gray hair. In such cases, the option for real gray human hair is possible with custom orders.

Fully customized for your hair goals

At Lordhair, you can customize everything down from base design and size to the type of hair, color, and style. Classic or bold, Lordhair gives you all the freedom in the world to create the perfect hair system.

Affordable excellence guaranteed

Owing to our factory-direct model, premium hair systems are available at less-than-premium prices. In addition to competitive pricing, we often run special sales and discounts in order to offer the most affordable wig price possible.

Recover From Oily Scalp and Hair Loss

We've covered everything you need to know about oily scalp and hair loss. While excess oil on the scalp is a pesky problem, it isn’t something you can’t overcome with the right products and guidance. In case your hair loss has reached an advanced stage, we highly recommend checking our collection of men’s wigs for sale.

Still got queries to ask? Send your queries regarding hair systems to support@lordhair.com or connect with Lordhair on Instagram.