is there a way to decrease scalp oil production? this is getting kinda nuts. i have tried the advice from people that the less you shampoo- the less oil your scalp will produce, i've been trying to step down gradually for the last couple of MONTHS! but nothing has been working. i'm getting pretty tired of it. are there any treatments or oils i can put on my scalp that reduce the oil production? are there any scalp disorders that cause your scalp to produce excess oil? any help would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't found a way to decrease it, lol, I wish there was a way! but consider yourself lucky, your baby hairs are coming out well conditioned and on their way to becoming long and well conditioned. I think having an oily sclap is a good thing. It's annoying sometimes, I know, but your hair loves it!

I think I have heard that vinegar rinses should help?!...

Other that that maybe use som EO's to regulate oilyness. I think lavender, rosemary and peppermint and maybe tea tree would help. But Im pretty sure that the EO's experts can be of more help.
Someone said that jojoba oil directly on your scalp would trick your scalp to produce less oil (Feye?). You could try mixing jojoba and lavender and massage lightly unto your scalp.

Make sure not to dry out your scalp, massage/brush it too much or irritate it.

Someone said that jojoba oil directly on your scalp would trick your scalp to produce less oil (Feye?).

Yeah, I said that. But I haven't tried it myself.

Otherwise I've tried just about everything. I even went without neither shampooing or conditioning for two whole weeks (it was greasier beyond belief!), but when I finally shampooed everything went back to normal immediately. Bummer.

Also, the more hair follicles you have (blondes and fine hairs, for example), the more oil you produce. At least that's what I've read.

I've noticed that my hair and skin are a lot less oily since I began taking saw palmetto a couple of months ago. This herb helps to remove (or prevents from forming? I forget...) DHT, the "bad" form of testosterone that causes acne, oily skin, hair loss and excess body hair.

It took a couple of months to see results, but taking 480 mg. of the standardized extract per day has really helped.

I've noticed that my hair and skin are a lot less oily since I began taking saw palmetto a couple of months ago. This herb helps to remove (or prevents from forming? I forget...) DHT, the "bad" form of testosterone that causes acne, oily skin, hair loss and excess body hair.

It took a couple of months to see results, but taking 480 mg. of the standardized extract per day has really helped.

Saw Palmetto huh? Off to Wally World to get some tomorrow. Less zits, less body hair and less oil on the face and scalp? sounds good to me!

Also, the more hair follicles you have (blondes and fine hairs, for example), the more oil you produce. At least that's what I've read.
I think you are right, Feye...about the above AND the oil on your scalp. My hair is fine, but I have a lot of it and it gets oily at the roots. I have been using an oil on my scalp sometimes, and I think I have noticed a slight difference. It's difficult to tell though, since I don't do it every day.

weird! I replied to this post earlier and now I don't see it..hmmm..anyway just wanted to mention that I skipped a wash today like I do once in a great while and I'm REALLY looking forward to washing tomorrow. It sure looks shiny though :)

I have the traditional oily scalp that goes with an oily complexion *and* fine hair! I used to wash my hair every day and couldn't possibly miss a day. Now I wash my hair twice a week, Mondays and Fridays, and usually only one of those days (Thursday) is a bit icky. It took me <b>four years</b> to get to this stage, gradually decreasing my washing frequency, so maybe two months isn't long enough. Do it gradually - you can't just not wash for 2 weeks and then expect miracles. I started by going 36 hours instead of 24 - so instead of every evening, I'd wash Monday morning, Tuesday evening, Thursday morning, Friday evening, Sunday morning etc etc. After a couple of months of that I went to every 48 hours, which I had to stick with for over a year. Then 3 times a week, which again I had to do for a year. And now twice a week, which still hasn't settled down after a year.

Things that can encourage oil production include massaging and brushing, so avoid stimulating your scalp or touching your hair too much. Harsh shampoos can also stimulate your scalp, so however often you wash, use a nice mild shampoo. I've heard that using jojoba oil on your scalp can 'fool' your follicles into producing less oil because they can detect that oil is already there, but I don't know if it works. Vinegar rinses might also help balance out your scalp.

If you really have to wash your scalp every day, try scalp washing. It isn't washing your scalp that is the problem, it's washing the delicate length. Scalp washing enables you to wash your scalp as often as you like, but only wash your length once or twice a week - it would bean ideal routine for me but I don't currently have suitable bathroom facilities :(

HTH!

This is probably way different from everyone else, but the only way I can deal with my oily scalp is to wash it almost everyday. If I go over a day,almost two without, then My scalp itches so bad, I almost scratch it till it's raw. So, washing it every day, or every other is my only alternative.

Do it gradually - you can't just not wash for 2 weeks and then expect miracles. I started by going 36 hours instead of 24 - so instead of every evening, I'd wash Monday morning, Tuesday evening, Thursday morning, Friday evening, Sunday morning etc etc. After a couple of months of that I went to every 48 hours, which I had to stick with for over a year. Then 3 times a week, which again I had to do for a year. And now twice a week, which still hasn't settled down after a year.

I just thought of one thing... My oil production (especially face, but also scalp) gradually started to settle down between 20-25. Maybe your scalp hasn't gotten used to it, but your body has changed and now produces less oil naturally? And that's why you can now go longer between shampoos?
Just a thought... It's hard to know what makes the difference. If it's really less frequent washing, or if it's hormonal, or age, or nutrition?

When it comes to Saw Palmetto, is it really a good thing to make your skin less oily? I always thought oil was good for the skin, making it smooth and prevent it from aging. At least that's what I've read somewhere.

Besides, I've done it the gradual way too, and I couldn't make it work. Not even after a long period of time of less frequent washing.

One more thing...
When my mom was young people only washed their hair once a week. And she told me her scalp never settled down, she just walked around with greasy hair all the time.

Not that it must work like this for everyone... I just think scalp oil production is an individual thing, and I doubt everyone can train their scalp to produce less oil, even though some can.

Feye,
I don't think it is hormonal changes, because the skin on my face is still as oily as ever :oops: But it's a great idea, I'm sure it could apply to others here, I certianly hadn't thought of it until you mentioned it :D

But I do agree that (as with everything hair LOL!) different things work for different people, and I'm sure some people simply can't train their scalp. I just wanted to encourage people not to give up too soon 8)

And while I'm agreeing with you ;) I'm not convinced that it is a good idea to make your skin less oily either, not unless you have a huge problem (and I doubt there are many oilier than me - sometimes the oil runs into my eyes and stings my contact lenses if I don't blot regularly :evil: ). I've been told that people with oily skin show wrinkles and signs of aging slower than normal or dry skin. Oil is a natural moisturiser that decreases with age, so I'm trying to learn to love mine while I've still got it :mrgreen:

But I do agree that (as with everything hair LOL!) different things work for different people, and I'm sure some people simply can't train their scalp. I just wanted to encourage people not to give up too soon 8)

Oh, I don't want to come across as a negative person :oops:
A few ideas just popped up into my head, and I wanted to try them out here.

It's funny. My sister always had a very greasy head, while mine is just 'average' greasy. Still, we have exactly the same dry skin (dry but oily, how's that for a combination? :rolleyes: ). I just make sure to apply moisturizers for dry skin, and that seems to work just fine.
On the other hand, my dad always had very dry skin, and he looks 15 years younger than his age. I wish there could be some magic formula that worked for everyone!

The saw palmetto doesn't make my skin dry, it makes it NORMAL. My skin feels nicer now than it ever has, moist but not yukky-greasy. I even use a mixture of avocado oil and aloe to moisturize in the morning and my skin looks and feels good all day now. Before, it would have been an oil slick by noon, or 10 am if I used moisturizer!

I have the same type of thing--I've tried the gradual decrease thing, but it hasn't worked for me. So right now I'm still washing almost everyday. :( I was wondering how frequently you wash? I guess you wouldn't call my hair "SuperGreasy," but it still doesn't look too nice if I even skip one day.