A. Curing Waxy & Greasy Hair After Shower Caused by Seborrheic Dermatitis
I have waxy, oily hair after taking a shower once a year, since I was a young teenager. It just wouldn’t go away. It started in a small area close to my scalp, a type of scalp that may have formed and was very waxy. I washed and scrubbed thinking it was going to pass, but when I got out of the shower and dried my hair, it was still there – that flat, greasy hair after washing! It was obviously not a cleaning problem – I was amazed – I just couldn’t understand. It just happened again recently and spread and got worse with each wash with my usual natural shampoo. Next, I knew that my whole head was an oily mess. I was so ashamed that I had to wear a hat. When I was younger and did not know about the benefits of non-toxic skin care, I used a variety of shampoos that I would not now be able to handle with a 3 meter bar. But I would still develop this accumulation of wax that would not come out of the bath. Therefore, we cannot blame the natural products I use now for being less effective, as I have seen the same lack of results with ordinary drugstore shampoos.
1. What causes this oily and waxy hair?
According to Dr. Lio it is “the first part (of seborrheic dermatitis) is the increase in oil production, so the yeast Malassezia grows, then the immune system goes crazy, then there is flaking and redness. Dandruff is an uninflamed form of seborrheic dermatitis. Dandruff appears as scaly patches similar to bran that are scattered in areas with scalp hair. “I found this very interesting because traditionally I associate dandruff (also called pityriasis capitis) with seborrheic dermatitis, but not with oily and waxy scalp.
Dr. Lio’s theory is that this waxy, non-scaly residue on my hair was probably seborrheic dermatitis that, for some reason, had no chance of developing fully. It may be that my diet is so clean that I did not develop dandruff and redness, but when I was younger I DID NOT eat anything healthy. Hello, helpers from Hamburg and lean cooking! thankfully, those days are a thing of the past.
But it doesn’t give me many clues as to why my hair likes to grow on me. Apparently, there are many common triggers for seborrheic dermatitis like; Hormones, stress, climate, diet and a genetic makeup. So it is probably one of those things that are responsible for the changes in my scalp.
What I find even more interesting is that I also suffer from dandruff, but for me it is more chronic, unlike this waxy and oily scalp problem that only occurs about once a year. So it looks like I have seborrheic dermatitis that manifests itself in different ways in different parts of my scalp.
2. How to treat waxy physique
In the past, I used – GASP – a strong, whitening shampoo loaded with chemicals from the pharmacy. But it rid my hair of oil after a single use, so luckily I went back to my regular shampoos afterwards. However, this last time, I opted for a natural method. Even though it took longer to get my hair out of this oily, waxy substance, I was determined to get my hair out of this mess naturally.
I looked for ideas on the internet and my son was there in abundance! It seems that this is a very common thing. Who knew ?! I think an oily scalp is linked to impurity, so people don’t want to discuss it openly, except behind the privacy of an online conversation. But what I had in common with all these people with waxy scalps is that they all found that washing with regular moisturizing shampoos was worse afterwards.
Many forums I found recommended aggressive and clarifying shampoos that worked for me before. Some have also recommended stripping their hair with liquid soap. I found some natural recommendations, like rinsing with apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil-based shampoos (which Dr. Lio also recommends). I also read about adding baking soda to increase the cleaning power of shampoo.
3. In the end, I tried the following
- I saturated my hair and scalp with pure apple cider vinegar (which I don’t recommend because it is too strong and will burn my skin! Try to dilute it with the same amount of water so you don’t get burned like me)
- Then I put my hair in a shower cap and let the vinegar treat my hair and scalp for 30 minutes.
- I washed and added about 1 tablespoon of baking soda to Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threatening Shampoo, a natural tea tree and dandruff shampoo, and carefully cleaned my scalp with this mixture.
- I washed and conditioned as usual.
Also in relation to WHY this is happening – I think this type of dermatitis seems to appear when I consume a lot of milk on some days. I know that I am intolerant of dairy products, so this must be one of the ways my body is detoxifying a lot of cheese, milk, ice cream, etc. This theory makes sense when I think about how many times it happened when I was younger and ate a lot of milk. Now I know that my body is not handling it well based on the results of the elimination diets, as well as this food intolerance test that I did.
4. Ideas to stay free of wax and dandruff
Although baking soda has helped a lot, I don’t recommend using it regularly. Apparently, it can be very harmful to hair, and many people who use it to clean their hair using the “no poo” method realized this after their hair was irreparably damaged.
Among shampoos, I recommend trying a shampoo for dry hair like this, when things get too oily and you need to be presentable and fast. OR make your own! It’s super easy and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
5. DIY hair shampoo
I take corn starch without GMO, potato starch or any starch and apply cocoa powder to darken it – apply it directly to the hair. Instead, I tried carob and it worked, but I think cocoa powder is more effective, but your hair smells a little bit like chocolate. For blondes, you can use only starch. For brunettes, add cocoa powder until you get a color that disappears in the roots. Voila! DIY shampoo for dry hair to cut fat in the next bath. It works wonderfully well.
For a daily shampoo, look for a pH and tea tree oil. I use the Giovanni Tea Tree triple treatment shampoo. I like the line of shampoos and conditioners Giovanni because they are natural and I think they work very well on my hair. In fact, they are the only natural conditioner I can use to run a comb through my slightly matted hair. In case you are curious, the conditioner Giovanni Smooth as Silk is what I love.
B. How to Get Rid of Greasy Hair
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1. Overview
Oily hair can prevent you from looking great and feeling good. Like oily skin and acne, it can make you feel confident. It can be especially difficult if you don’t know the cause or how to control it. We all want our hair and skin to look healthy when we go out into the world!
Read on to learn more about what causes oily hair and what you can do to tame oily hair.
2. 7 ways to get rid of oily hair
In general, making some changes to your beauty routine can help your hair maintain its natural shine without adding any fat.
a. Shampoo daily
Your personal hygiene habits may be to blame. Washing too little or too often can leave hair greasy. Usually, if you have oily hair, you should wash it daily. If you wash more than once a day, your glands may overreact and produce more oil to compensate for the extra wash.
You should also choose a shampoo suitable for oily hair. These products are designed to clean the scalp and hair without adding extra moisture. If dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis are contributing to scalp problems, choose a product with zinc pyrithione, such as the head and shoulders, to kill bacteria and fungi, or one with salicylic acid to get rid of excess oil and flakes.
b. Be kind
When washing, focus on rubbing your scalp – but not too hard. Rub moderately, enough to scrub the soap, but not so much as to irritate the scalp. Irritation can over-stimulate the glands, causing them to produce more sebum.
Rinse well before leaving the bath. Leftover shampoo or conditioner can create an oily film on the hair to the touch.
c. Condition carefully
The conditioner will help restore hair moisture and prevent it from becoming embarrassed. Your tips may need a little more love, but your scalp doesn’t need help to get oily. Instead of applying the conditioner to the scalp, massage to the ends.
d. Take your hands off
Try not to brush or touch your hair more than necessary. Frequent brushing can stimulate the glands to produce more sebum. Dealing with hair not only helps to increase the flow of sebum over the follicles, but can also add oil from the hands to the hair.
e. Drying
If you want to allow a little more time between washes, a dry shampoo or an oil-absorbent powder can help. These products absorb extra oils, mask odors and increase volume.
f. Clarify
Over time, some products can cause a layer to remain on your hair, even after washing it. This can help to leave your hair oily. A clarifying shampoo will remove any residue or film from your hair. This product should be used once or twice a month to remove residues of styling products or other shampoos and conditioners.
g. Avoid products that add moisture
If your hair is already producing additional oils, using an oil-based styling product is not the best idea. Use a hairspray or mousse to model it without weighing or adding more grease.
3. Causes oily hair
The oiliness of the hair comes from the sebaceous glands attached to each hair follicle. The glands produce an oily substance called sebum, which rises through the hair follicle to keep skin and hair hydrated. When these glands do not function normally, they can cause problems with the skin and hair. For example, acne occurs when the body produces extra sebum, which causes dead skin cells to stick together and clog pores. Another condition caused by excess sebum is seborrheic dermatitis. Scaly red patches of skin appear on the scalp and face. They look oily and can be scaly and itchy.
Hormones can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. That’s why teenagers often have problems with oily skin and acne. Women may also notice a difference during pregnancy or menstruation. Your body is genetically more likely to produce sebum than others. This can change with age. As we age, our bodies produce less oil. There is a reason why the beauty salon offers products for different hair textures. Tallow migrates through straight hair more easily than curly hair. Therefore, if you have fine, straight hair, you are more likely to have problems with oily hair. People with curly hair usually need to add more moisture to the products because the sebum does not reach the ends.
4. Summary
In some cases, you may need additional help to control your oily scalp. If you are dealing with dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis and have had no luck with over-the-counter or self-care products, it is a good idea to see a dermatologist. They can help you discover the root cause of your scalp problems and prescribe medications or skin products if necessary.
