Managing dry, oily or curly hair can be difficult, as they come with their unique challenges. Dealing with combination hair types, however, like oily scalp and dry ends, can be even more difficult. 

This combination hair type is most common among people who color or bleach their hair. The color treatments lead to dry ends, as bleach strips your locks of natural oils and lifts the scales of the cuticle, letting moisture escape with ease. Dry ends and oily scalp are easy to spot, but the only way to restore your locks is to deal with the problem as soon as you identify it. 

Table of Contents

1. What Causes Oily Scalp and Dry Hair Ends
2. How to Balance Oily Scalp and Dry Ends
3. What to Look For and Avoid in Hair Products for Oily Scalp and Dry Ends

What Causes Oily Scalp and Dry Hair Ends

There can be various causes of excessive sebum secretion leading to oily hair and scalp. Here are some significant factors that contribute to an oily scalp:

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin and scalp condition that leads to an itchy and inflamed scalp. You'll experience excessive sebum secretion and a pink and scaly scalp in the affected areas. This excessive production of sebum oil in the scalp also causes dandruff. In some cases, seborrheic dermatitis occurs as a symptom of an autoimmune disease. 

Eczema / Psoriasis

Two widely known skin conditions that can cause oily scalp are psoriasis and eczema. Both the conditions lead to a scaly, itchy, and red scalp, often making your hair roots extremely greasy. 

Genetics

Genes are the determining factor for most of your physical traits, which stands for your scalp and hair as well. Genes are known to influence your hair texture and thickness. For instance, you'll be more prone to greasy hair and dry ends if you have thin and fine hair.

Acne

While scalp acne is not a cause, it can be a sign that you’re dealing with oily hair. 

Over-washing your hair

Over-washing both dries your hair ends further and puts the sebaceous glands into overdrive, leading to oily hair. Although you do need to shampoo to clean the scalp and remove product buildup, dirt, and sebum, over-washing can be harmful. It strips the natural oil from your hair strands and makes your hair ends dry. So try not to wash your hair more that 2-3 times per week and only apply the shampoo close to your scalp. 

Sun exposure

Continuous exposure to UVA and UVB rays can make your hair extremely dry. Direct sunlight breaks down the cuticle, the outer layer of your hair shaft, causing dryness and hair discoloration. 

How to Balance Oily Scalp and Dry Ends

Start by changing your hair washing routine and look for a balancing shampoo. As I already mentioned, you should only apply the shampoo on the scalp and the first 1/4 to 1/3 length of your hair, starting from the scalp down. There is no need to apply the shampoo directly to your ends. The lather from the shampoo dripping down on them should be more than enough.  

You should also be more careful about choosing your conditioner and only apply it starting 5-10 inches from your scalp and down to your ends. Never apply conditioner to your scalp, as it can cause product buildup and weigh your hair down, making it look greasy and limp. You can also indulge in a weekly deep treatment mask that uses natural oils as conditioning agents rather than artificial chemicals like silicones.  

What to Look For and Avoid in Hair Products for Oily Scalp and Dry Ends

People with oily or greasy scalp and dry ends have likely tried dozens of hair products with little luck. You can try everything from allowing days between shampoos to control excess oil production to washing daily without getting any positive results. If recognize these scenarios, here is what to avoid and what to look for when choosing a shampoo and conditioner for excess oil on scalp and dry ends: 

• Avoid shampoos that contain harsh chemicals, such as sulfates and parabens, and conditioners that contain silicones. 
• Look for hair care products containing natural ingredients that can help regulate sebum production, such as tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar. 
• Try using two types of shampoo – one for your scalp and one for your ends. Normally, you do not need to apply shampoo on your ends, but if you work in a polluted or smelly environment, you might have to. In this case, use a shampoo for oily scalp at the roots and a shampoo suited for very dry hair on your ends. 
• Look for a clarifying shampoo  such as out Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo or Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo that will help clear your scalp and regulate sebum production. 

How to Control an Oily Scalp & Dry Hair Ends

Home remedies like aloe vera and essential oils have shown good results in treating greasy hair and preventing dry ends. You can use essential oils like peppermint oil and tea tree oil or hair oils such as onion oil to soothe your scalp and nourish your hair shafts. Just add a few drops to your homemade hair masks or directly to your balancing shampoo.  

Apple cider vinegar is also an exceptional and well-loved natural ingredient that can be used for treating excess oil and an itchy scalp. Its anti-inflammatory properties can balance the pH of your hair and reduce sebum production, while also closing the cuticle, preventing hair breakage and split ends. Check out our apple cider vinegar guide on how to properly use it!

A convenient way to introduce ACV into your hair care routine is to choose an apple cider vinegar shampoo. WOW’s Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo And Coconut & Avocado Oil Conditioner Pack are enriched with the goodness of apple cider vinegar, avocado oil and other ultra-rich natural ingredients. This dynamic combo of one of the best shampoos for oily hair and a highly nourishing conditioner will help detox your scalp, regulate sebum production, nourish your hair down to the ends and leave it stronger, smoother, and flake-free.

Explore the WOW website for more natural hair care products.