First, a quick note on why it happens: Oily hair usually starts at the scalp, where overactive sebaceous glands produce excess oil . Genetics and hormones play a big role, and stress can make it worse . One counterintuitive thing that surprises a lot of people — overwashing can actually make it more oily, because stripping the scalp triggers it to produce even more oil to compensate .
Natural remedies worth trying:
Apple cider vinegar rinse: Mix 2–3 tablespoons of ACV into a cup of water, pour it over your hair after shampooing, let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse . The acetic acid helps balance scalp pH and break down product buildup .
Green tea rinse: Brew two green tea bags, let the tea cool completely, and use it as a final rinse after shampooing . Green tea has polyphenols that can help reduce oil production .
Aloe vera and lemon: Mix a couple tablespoons of aloe vera gel with a few drops of lemon juice, apply to the scalp, leave for 15 minutes, then wash out . Aloe acts as an astringent and lemon helps balance oil .
Multani mitti (fuller's earth) pack: Apply a paste of multani mitti and water to the scalp to absorb excess oil .
Tea tree oil: Add 2–3 drops to your shampoo before lathering . It has natural clarifying and antibacterial properties .
A few habit fixes that matter just as much:
Wash with lukewarm water — hot water is harsh and can trigger more oil production .
Condition only the lengths and ends, not the roots .
Keep hands off your hair — touching and flipping it just moves oil from your scalp down the strands .
Clean your brushes regularly and consider a boar bristle brush to distribute oils away from the roots .
Silk pillowcases cause less friction and don't absorb your hair's natural oils the way cotton does .
One important caveat: If your friend's oiliness comes with persistent flaking, redness, or itching, it might be seborrheic dermatitis (a form of dandruff) rather than just plain oily scalp . That's a different situation and responds best to medicated shampoos with ingredients like ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione . If simple natural remedies don't help after a few weeks, it's worth seeing a dermatologist.