A common problem faced by people with greasy scalp is that they need to wash their hair every other day to clean it off dirt, grime, and product build-up. But when you wash your hair, the scalp gets a signal to produce oil to compensate for what’s been washed off making it oilier! It’s a vicious circle and to break it, you may want to give scalp training a try!
Oil attracts pollutants and dirt, making it mandatory to clean the scalp every other day. While regular washing may cleanse the scalp, the ends are left dry, frizzy, and lifeless. And to add to it, more oil is produced to compensate for the dried-out scalp. By training the scalp, you can cut down the hair washes to once in three to four days initially, and subsequently to once a week.
Let’s get acquainted with a few rules you can swear by if you are starting scalp training.
1. The Right Formula Of Your Hair Products Matters
View this post on Instagram
A series of hits and misses get us closer to that one product that suits our hair type perfectly. To top it, if you have greasy or dry scalp, the struggle to find the target-oriented product is real! For oily scalp, use shampoos that are not heavy on hydration as you do not want to add extra moisture to your already oily scalp. Instead, choose the one that cleanses the scalp and removes grime and product build-up. To regulate the oil production, choosing a shampoo that help regulate the oil production is necessary. Also, opt for formulas that are mild, gentle, sulphate-and silicone-free.
2. Restrict Shampooing
View this post on Instagram
Now as we are training our scalp to adjust to washing the hair less frequently, cleansing and shampooing need to be limited. So on the day of the hair wash, apply the shampoo twice.
If the need for shampooing arises during the week, then use a dry shampoo instead of washing the hair. However, avoid doing this as much as possible, as you are in the process of making your scalp used to the idea of less shampooing. The process may cause you to have greasy hair in the initial few weeks but stay patient and do not cave into washing it frequently. After a few religious weeks of following the once-a-week shampooing schedule, your scalp will get used to the idea and start producing less oil, keeping it drier and cleaner.
3. Be Cautious Of Heavy Formulas On The Scalp
View this post on Instagram
Here’s a tip: Do not apply hair masks and conditioners on the scalp because it makes the scalp oilier. Apply them only to the length of the hair. While choosing the conditioners, select the ones as per your hair type; go for hydrating ones to treat dry ends.
4. Avoid Harsh Hair Treatments
Avoid using heating tools and styling products frequently as that can rip off hair’s natural oil. If it’s unavoidable, use a styling product that forms a protective coating on hair strands while hydrating them.
Hacks to deal with the greasiness while you are at scalp training:
- Use fermented rice water on the scalp and massage it using circular motions for a few minutes. Rinse it off using normal water. Rice water helps in controlling oil production on the scalp.
- Prepare a hair mask with amla powder and buttermilk. Let it sit on the hair for 20 minutes before rinsing it. Do this only once, on the day you plan the weekly hair wash. While buttermilk acts as a bleaching agent to clear the excess oil, amla fights fungal accumulation.
- Use a dry shampoo if necessary. However, it is advisable to keep its use to a minimum while scalp training.
While these basics may help with the initial phase of training, it is also important for you to understand that scalp training may not work for everyone. And even if it works, it would not be immediately. We recommend you to give the process at least four to five months time to show results before deciding whether or not you want to continue with it. There are factors such as climatic conditions, environmental aggressors, diet, hormonal changes, and also underlying diseases that impact the scalp’s oil production. It may also happen that it works temporarily. However, there’s no harm in trying it!
Photos: Pexels
