Long thick hair always greasy

[RattieOfCatan]

I'm desperately after advice. Once my hair gets past my shoulder height it starts getting really greasy really quickly. I've tried so many different shampoos and conditioners but nothing seems to combat it.

At the moment I have to wash my hair every morning and by evening it's looking greasy. The best thing I can do it not condition it and have it in a pony tail all day which drags it out a little longer but even then, I couldn't go a second day without washing it.

I don't often blow dry it, don't use other products, it's usually up but if down it does have to be brushed regularly. I really don't want to cut it at the moment as I'm starting to like the length again but I can't think of another way around it
I've tried washing every other day (doesn't seem to clean well after a week), washing and conditioning every day (gets greasy more quickly), just washing everyday (by day three it's too knotted), etc.

I'm using orgx on it at the moment which has been the best shampoo for it in along time. The blue one and sometimes the peppermint and tea tree one as it smells divine. I condition it when it's unbearably knotted.

[HeyMacWey]

How about just conditioning the ends? Not sure why its getting so knotty? Are you outside in windy weather a lot?
Have you tried dry shampoo for the second day?

[RattieOfCatan]

I do, sorry should have said, I never put shampoo on my scalp, only up to the base of my neck.
It comes out of the shower like a rug and then just knots during the day, I run around quite a bit but even on calm days I have to brush it as it dries.

I haven't tried dry shampoo in a long while, it used to make my head itchy but this was 5 years ago that I last used it

[atticusclaw2]

I have very long very thick hair. This is how I do it. It might or might not suit you.

You need to be shampooing your hair properly. Its not surprising its getting greasy if you're never putting shampoo on your scalp.

I brush my hair thoroughly before washing it. That gets rid of the hairs that are about to shed (which will otherwise come out during washing and cause tangles).

Use a moisturising shampoo and shampoo and rinse. when you shampoo just use a 10p sized amount and don't scoop up the whole hair, just use your finger tips to massage it into your scalp. Don't shampoo the ends, just let the shampoo run down the back of your hair with the shower water.

Then condition only the ends and mid lengths. Don't put conditioner onto your scalp since its very unlikely to need it there and its hard to get out properly.

Then rinse very thoroughly. Run your fingers through to separate your hair as you rinse.

get out of the shower and then rinse your head again in cold water until it runs completely clear.

Immediately comb through with a wide both comb (or thoroughly with your fingers). Apply serum/oil. If you are not drying it with a hairdryer then try plaiting it to stop it from tangling as it dries.

Mine gets washed every other day.

[Wolfiefan]

You don't wash the hair from your neck up?

[hippospot]

I was about to start a thread about greasy hair.

Mine is very short and I use a tiny amount of conditioner and rinse thoroughly, and still it feels greasy by mid-afternoon most days.

It seems to be worse (with age?) as I reach 40. I used to be able to wash every second day, but now that seems impossible.

I blowdry my hair every day (medium heat) but otherwise try to handle my hair as little as possible.

I am desperate for a solution!

[Jelly101]

I swear by dry shampoo for my hair! I used it once I few years ago and I didn't get what the fuss was about. I tried it again a few months ago and use it most days now! It's brilliant for refreshing in between washes. Well, for me anyway. I use one which supposedly helps with volume. I always stock up when they're on offer

[DonkeyOaty]

Hippo I had the same prob. Abandoned conditioner and use Aussie spray in. Called Miracle Hair Insurance.

OP you must wash hair properly! Neck down, I ask you. Follow Atticus' directions

[burnishedsilver]

Did I read that right? You don't put shampoo on your scalp? That would explain the greasy hair.

[LettuceLaughton]

I'm pretty sure the OP means she never puts conditioner on her scalp!

[penny13610]

Use a decent shampoo and steer clear of any silicone type ingredients. I have found ORS works well and can get away without conditioner. I have thick, bonkers, curly hair.
Use as little shampoo as possible, wash the two or three inches of hair nearest your scalp, finger comb the slightly sudsy stuff down to the ends. Rinse and rinse again.
Rattie is your hair ever drying properly?

[Scattymum101]

I find if I don't blow dry my hair it gets greasy much quicker.

I have a similar issue but I get around 3 days out of mine now. I use sulphate and silicone free shampoo and conditioner. I really get in at my scalp with the shampoo and then rinse thoroughly with warm then cold water. Then I condition the very ends, leave two mins then warm and cold rinse again.
I use a tiny bit of argan oil on the ends to protect them and stop them drying.
I give my hair a rinse in apple cider vinegar once a week and find that helps re balance the ph in it and it's not as greasy after. I also find its more greasy right before my period.

If your hair is very thick you might not be getting all the shampoo and conditioner out when you're rinsing.

[RattieOfCatan]

Bollocks. I do shampoo I meant that I don't condition above my neck, that would have explained the greasiness I will get on my pc and respond properly in a moment but thought that I should clarify that asap!

[RattieOfCatan]

Right, on my PC now! I was on my phone in a flap trying to get ready for work when I posted the second post! I did mean that I don't condition above my neck as that makes the greasiness worse!

I do everything the same way as atticus until the running under cold water part. I will try that. I will also try plaiting it, it's only recently that it's gotten to a length that I can plait it so I will start doing that if/when it gets left wet. What kind of serum or oil should be used? I have often wondered about one but worried it would make things worse?

When my hair is shorter it can go a day or two without washing (and without conditioning), it's just once it reaches past my shoulders it's a nightmare.

I used to use Aussie and that worked the last time my hair was this long, doesn't seem to any more though :( I haven't tried a spray in conditioner though so I will attempt that instead of normal conditioner. I was using my charges spray-in after swimming with them in the summer and it did tackle tangles out of the pool well so hopefully it'll work!

I tried a non-silicone shampoo before when my hair was shorter (I was using natural/organic products for a year or so) but they always turned my hair into a tangled mess

I'll have a nose at dry shampoos and see what there is too!

My hair probably doesn't dry properly in the winter, I usually leave it to dry naturally so in the summer it's fine, obviously in the winter it takes forever. I will start blow drying it and seeing if that helps too.

Thanks all! I shall try these suggestions and see how I get on. Since I was a teen I've only grown it once and that was to donate, that was my intention again but I'm actually enjoying having long hair to play around with when it behaves!

[burnishedsilver]

I use a blow dry root lift spray (John Freida). I dont have greasy hair but find the spray can make the roots a little dry. It might suit you. It also makes the roots move less which might also be helpful.

[NewLeafExpat]

Wash and condition as per atticus' directions, and make certain the conditioner is neck down only. I used to creep up with mine and it would be greasy for sure.

When damp I use a serum or oil but my hair is still quite breakable and knotty in the lengths. Looking for a good product to soften and sort that problem..,

I use dry shampoo on day two and wash every second day. Roots and overall fresh appearance. Another tip is that if u are brushing mid day or evening, don't burst the roots, just the mids and ends to clear the knots.

[justabigdisco]

Stop using conditioner and buy shares in Batiste.

[burnishedsilver]

Is it just me that cant stand the smell of Batiste? I end up washing my hair before the end of the day just to get rid of the sickening smell of the stuff.

[RattieOfCatan]

I do have to use conditioner sometimes but it really is only on the ends to smooth out the knots. It's horrendous if I use much of it! But equally horrendous if I don't use it at all. Pft. Now I remember why I cut my hair to start with!

So much of my hair comes out in the shower so I'll see if giving it an extra brush before going in helps too! And batiste is on the shopping list before I buy the shares

[theveryhighlife]

I've got very thick hair too. I use bed head recharge. I shampoo then rinse and then shampoo again and rinse before using conditioner. I find I can go a bit longer between washes by shampooing twice. The second shampoo really lathers up a lot more than the first.

[Hopefully]

I have thick straight hair that goes lank very quickly, but I can get two days (as opposed to about 12 hours) if I use root/thickening spray and blow dry upside down - the volume seems to stop it lying flat and getting greasy instantly. I sometimes even get a third day with the help of dry shampoo, but only if I'm not working!