Did you know that the oils in your hair also have a “ pH”? That stands for “potential of hydrogen.” It’s a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. A substance with a low pH is acidic, and vice versa. Your hair and its natural oils fall somewhere in the middle, with a neutral pH of around 5.5. So why does it get so greasy at night? The answer can be found in your pillowcase or any other materials that come into contact with your hair at night, such as hats or headbands. Any surface like this that touches your hair has some effect on how much oil your hair produces and how quickly it evaporates afterward. If you aren’t using the right shampoo, it can also affect how oily your hair gets overnight. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about why my hair gets greasy Overnight.
Why Does My Hair Get Greasy Overnight?
This is a natural process that all hair goes through every so often. Our hair produces sebum which is a waxy substance that helps protect your hair and give it shine. However, sometimes the sebum production can be too much, and your hair ends up feeling greasy and looking dirty, even though it’s clean. This tends to happen after showering. This is when your sebaceous glands kick into overdrive and start producing more sebum than usual, which can make your hair look greasy if you’re not careful.
What Determines How Oily Your Hair Gets?
1. pH of Your Hair
Your hair and skin share the same pH, a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. As far as your hair is concerned, it has a neutral pH of around 5.5, which means it’s fairly neutral in terms of acidity. If you are washing your hair with products that have too much acidity or alkalinity for it to handle, the oils in your hair will start to break down at a faster rate than usual. This will make your hair look oily and greasy overnight.
2. The Type and Amount of Your Shampoo
Shampoos are made from surfactants (surfactant being a fancy word for surfactant), which are positively charged molecules that attract negatively charged molecules like oil from your scalp and help them stick to each other so they can be rinsed away in the shower. If you have an overly acidic shampoo that has more than one surfactant per molecule, chances are you will end up with more oil on your scalp after washing than normal because the surfactants come together more easily than they would if the shampoo were less acidic. This extra oil can make your hair look greasy overnight, even when you don’t use any styling products afterward.
3. The Type of Conditioner You Use After Washing Your Hair
Most conditioners use silicone polymers which help hold moisture in the shaft of the cuticle layer of your hair. Silicone polymers are negatively charged and can attract positively charged water molecules from your hair and scalp, which will make the ingredients in your conditioner cling to it more than they would if they were neutral. This extra moisture can also make your hair look greasy overnight, even when you don’t use any styling products afterward.
4. The Amount of Silicone You Use in Your Styling Products
Silicone is a surfactant, so it will also increase the amount of oil on your hair overnight when used in styling products. If you have oily hair, chances are you will end up with more oil on it after using silicone-containing products than if you hadn’t used them at all. Because silicone is a surfactant, it attracts water and oil from your hair and scalp, which can cause dryness or frizziness, or both if the wrong type of silicone is used in a product that isn’t specifically made for styling purposes.
5. The Type of Heat You Use When Styling Your Hair
Heat will damage your cuticles and make them more susceptible to frizzing or breaking off during washing because heat expands particles (like oils) around them, so they become less stable with each other. Because of this effect heat has on oils, heat styling can cause frizzing or greasiness overnight if the temperature isn’t hot enough to actually damage cuticles but high enough to cause them to be damaged by heat expansion.
Why Does My Hair Get Greasy After Shampooing?
Your Hair Is Not Oily Enough
You have to have enough natural oils in your hair to make it look shiny. Otherwise, you will end up with greasy hair. This is why people with dry hair often use styling products that contain oil, such as mousse or gel. If your hair is too dry, it can also be the reason why your hair gets oily overnight. You can use a conditioner to help restore moisture and balance the pH of your scalp.
Your Shampoo Has Too Much Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a chemical used in shampoo and body wash that is commonly found in the form of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It has been found to be damaging to the skin and can cause skin irritation, itching, and rashes. Some people are allergic to SLS, which can cause redness and flaking of the skin around the face or scalp. The effects are more severe on people with sensitive skin who are also prone to eczema or psoriasis.
You Are Not Using Conditioner Properly
Conditioners help restores moisture and balances your pH level after shampooing as well as condition your hair from root to tip. They also reduce frizziness so that you don’t have curly or frizzy hair after conditioning, which makes it look like you have greasy roots! If you don’t use a conditioner regularly, then you will end up with greasy hair at night.
Your Hair Is Too Dry
Dry hair can also be the reason why your hair gets greasy overnight. If you don’t use a conditioner regularly, then you will end up with greasy hair at night. You should always use a conditioner after shampooing and before styling your hair, especially if you are using a lot of heat on your head
What’s In Shampoos That Causes Hair To Get Oily?
- The main ingredient in most shampoos is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a detergent that cleans the hair. It does this by removing oils, dirt, and other impurities from the hair shaft. It also has a mild soap-like effect on the scalp.
- The second ingredient in many shampoos is alcohol. Alcohol can be drying to hair and scalp. It has been linked to dandruff and dry skin as well as redness and irritation of the scalp. Alcohol also strips the natural oils from your hair and scalp, making your hair more susceptible to becoming oily overnight or during the day if you don’t wash it often enough (which is why you should wash it nightly).
- The third ingredient in shampooing products is fragrance or essential oils. The fragrance has been linked with allergic reactions, irritations, rashes, and other side effects when applied to the skin or used as an ingredient in foods (source: CosmeticsInfo). The only essential oils that are safe for use on the skin are lavender oil, tea tree oil, rosewood oil, clary sage oil, bergamot oil, orange flower water, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, grapefruit seed extract, ylang-ylang extract, neroli (citrus Aurantium) flower water, patchouli leaf oil. These essential oils have been studied extensively for their safety for use on skin as well as in personal care products.
- The fourth ingredient is often water. Water is a great solvent for cleaning the hair, but it can also be drying to the hair and scalp. It can cause frizziness, dryness, and breakage when used on wet or dry hair.
- The fifth ingredient is usually sodium hydroxide (lye). Lye has been linked to chemical burns as well as skin irritation and sensitization.
Tips To Manage Greasy-Hair Issues
Shampoo and Conditioner That Are Made For Oily Hair
If you have oily hair, you need to use a shampoo and conditioner that are made for oily hair. This is because your natural oils will get trapped in the product, which will make it greasy. Instead, opt for a shampoo and conditioner that is specially formulated with ingredients that fight oiliness. You can also use products like dry shampoo to get rid of excess oil in between washes.
Make Sure Your Hair Is Clean
It’s important to make sure your hair is clean before you go to bed at night. If your hair isn’t clean, it will trap the oils in your natural oils and cause them to produce more oil throughout the day. So wash your hair every day and follow up with a deep-conditioning treatment if necessary.
Use The Right Shampoo And Conditioner
If you have oily hair, then make sure you’re using the right shampoo and conditioner for it! Find something that works best for your type of hair, whether it’s a clarifying shampoo or an anti-dandruff treatment for those with dandruff. It’s also important to note that not all shampoos contain sulfates (commonly found in shampoos), which are known to strip natural oils from the scalp when used on a long-term basis. If you want to find out more about sulfates, check out this article.
Avoid Using Too Much Moisturizer
Another way to cause your hair to get greasy is by using too much moisturizer. This will make your hair produce more oil and trap it in the product, which means it won’t be able to evaporate as quickly as it normally would. So avoid using too much moisturizer and find a product that works well with your type of hair.
Choose A Shower That Is Right For Your Hair Type
If you have oily hair, then you should always choose a shower that is right for your type of hair. For instance, if you have curly or frizzy hair, then find a shower that has moisture-rich ingredients like shea butter or aloe vera. If you have straight or fine hair, then opt for something with silicone ingredients or keratin proteins, which can help add shine and prevent frizziness. The right shower can also help reduce the amount of oil on your scalp when you wash it. So take note of what other people are saying about their showers before committing to one!
Wrapping Up
Greasy hair can be frustrating, especially when it leads to breakouts or clogs your pores, but it’s usually easy to control with the right shampoo. If you have oily hair, you can try using a gentler shampoo and adding some extra cleansing to your skincare routine. If you have dry hair, you can combat the problem by using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. No matter what your hair type, you can reduce the number of oils transferred to your pillow by wearing a silk or satin pillowcase.
