You might find yourself in a tricky situation with a dry scalp and oily hair. How does this happen? Well, environmental factors, the weather, and the way that you care for your hair can all cause a dry scalp and oily hair.
In most instances, a dry scalp can lead to oily hair. When your scalp dries out, the sebaceous glands can go into overdrive, which creates excess sebum in your hair, making it look more oily than usual.
As a result, you need to treat the dry scalp as the source of the problem, as this will reduce the oily look of your hair.
With that in mind, here are five products you need to consider to improve the health of your hair, followed by some handy FAQs to bear in mind. You can find best products for dry hair and learn how to fix dry hair here.
What causes dry scalp and oily hair?
Dry scalp and oily hair can be caused by various factors. Overactive sebaceous glands may lead to excess oil production on the scalp, while insufficient moisture or harsh hair products can cause dryness. Hormonal changes, diet, genetics, and environmental factors also play a role.
- Overactive sebaceous glands: Result in excessive scalp oiliness.
- Insufficient moisture: Leads to dry scalp.
- Harsh hair products: Strips natural oils, causing dryness.
- Hormonal changes: Affect oil production.
- Diet and genetics: Influence scalp health.
- Environmental factors: Such as weather and pollution, contribute to scalp issues.
Best tips for dry scalp and oily hair
Here are some effective tips for managing dry scalp and oily hair:
- Use a gentle shampoo: Opt for a mild, sulfate-free shampoo to cleanse the scalp without stripping away too much natural oil.
- Frequent washing: Wash your hair regularly to remove excess oil and prevent buildup on the scalp.
- Hydrate the scalp: Use a hydrating scalp treatment or oil to moisturize the scalp and prevent dryness.
- Avoid overwashing: While it’s important to keep the scalp clean, avoid washing your hair too frequently as it can strip away natural oils and exacerbate dryness.
- Balanced diet: Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to promote scalp health from within.
- Limit heat styling: Reduce the use of heat styling tools like flat irons and blow dryers, as they can further dry out the scalp and hair. Using negative ionic blow dryers.
5 best dry scalp and oily hair products in 2024
Explore our recommendations for healthier, more balanced hair today.
Top 1. Blow dryer
One of the leading causes of a dry scalp is blow drying your hair incorrectly. Specifically, if you always use a blow dryer on its hottest setting, you’re likely to cause accidental damage to your scalp.
One of the reasons why Laifen dryers are so popular is that they all feature adjustable heat settings, meaning you can easily control how hot the air is when you dry your hair. We recommend drying your hair on the cool and medium setting from time to time, particularly if you’re suffering from a dry scalp or dry ends.
What’s more, each Laifen blow dryer features ionic technology and a brushless motor, delivering efficiency and effortless blow drying. If you opt for the Laifen Swift Special, you can make use of three nozzles – the magnetic styling nozzle, the diffuser nozzle, and the concentrator nozzle – to add even more control over the way you dry your hair.
Check out our comparison table below to see why a Laifen dryer beats 99% of the competition when it comes to protecting your hair and scalp.
You can opt for the Laifen Swift, the Laifen Swift Special, or the SE dryer to improve the way you blow dry your hair this year.
Top 2. The best shampoo for dry scalp and oily hair
If you have a dry scalp and/or oily hair, you need to think about the shampoo that you’re using. Often, if the shampoo has harsh chemicals like sulphate, it can lead to itchiness, dryness, and soreness of the scalp.
What’s more, if shampoos consist of rich and heavy ingredients, you might find that it leaves your hair looking more oily than it should.
The key here is balance. You want to retain the natural oils in your hair without your scalp drying out. So, shampoos with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and jojoba oil are great, as they are lightweight hydrators that help to maintain your hair’s natural oils.
Top 3. A hair mask for oily scalp and dry ends
A simple home remedy for oily scalp and dry hair is a DIY hair mask. You can put together a hair mask for your dry hair with ingredients that you already have at home, or you can shop online to get the ingredients that you need.
If your ends are super dry, you need to opt for a hydrating hair mask. There are so many DIY options out there – check out our recent blog post (link) on the subject – and put together a mask that rehydrates your hair to perfection. Read up to how to avoid split ends.
For the best results, we recommend leaving a hair mask in for at least thirty minutes, and you will need to thoroughly wash it out after to protect your hair’s shine.
Top 4. A boar brush
Using the wrong type of hair brush can have consequences for your oily hair. One of the best types of brush is a boar brush, as it helps to distribute natural oils from the root of your hair to the locks.
You also need to think carefully about the thickness of your hair brush. For instance, if you have thicker hair, opt for longer bristles. If you have damaged your scalp, consider flexible bristles, as these are more gentle on your hair follicles and prevent damage in the long run.
Top 5. A leave-in conditioner for dry scalp oily hair
Moroccan Argan Oil is one of the best leave-in conditioners for damaged and dry scalps, as it provides nourishment and hydration for your scalp.
If you opt for a different product, you need to check that your chosen leave-in conditioner is made specifically for a dry scalp. Some leave-in conditioners may end up doing more harm than good if they are not fit for purpose.
The same logic applies when choosing a shampoo and conditioner – avoid harsh chemicals and look for nourishing and hydrating ingredients wherever possible.
Recap
If you’re struggling with dry scalp and oily hair, the chances are you’re using the wrong products as part of your daily haircare routine.
Good enough, making some simple changes can result in the world of difference. Opt for a better dryer, the best type of hair brush (boar bristles), and select a shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask with hydrating properties.
You can also read our FAQs below for more information about why your scalp may be dry and your hair oily.
FAQs
Q1: Why is my scalp dry but hair oily?
There are several reasons for this. One might be the weather, another might be your hair care routine. The key is to rehydrate the scalp with the right ingredients. You also need to use products that prevent your hair from looking too oily, such as those introduced above.
Q2: Does dry scalp cause oily hair?
In some instances, dry scalp can lead to oily hair. This is because a dry scalp can trigger activity within your sebaceous glands, which means they produce more sebum than necessary. As a result, your hair can look more oily than it normally does.
Q3: How to treat dry scalp and oil hair?
To treat a dry scalp and oily hair, you need to choose the right products. We have introdcued five products to help you in the article above.
