Advice

Oily Scalp in the Summer? Christophe Robin’s Top Tips

It’s rare to find someone who doesn’t appreciate at least one aspect of summer. From the stretch in the evenings to al fresco dining, there’s no denying that this time of year comes with its strengths. However, like everything, it also has its weaknesses. One of which is, of course, an oily scalp in the summer. With the intense mid-day sun and high temperatures, the natural sebum in the hair often seems to double as it is accompanied by the perspiration from humid conditions. While an oily scalp can be temporarily concealed with slick back hairstyles, prevention is always better than the cure.
Keep reading for Christophe Robin’s guide to overcoming an oily scalp in the summer.

Does sweat make the hair greasy?

To begin, is it sweat that makes the hair greasy during this time of year?

While there are plenty of causes of greasy hair, one of the major contributors to an oily scalp in the summer is certainly sweat.

The sweating that occurs during the summer months can worsen an oily scalp by helping the oil to slide down the hair follicle and cover more of the hair instead of it remaining closer to the scalp.

What’s more, sun accessories may add to the burden that is an oily scalp in the summer. Wearing sunglasses on the head can often transfer the sweat from your face to your scalp, while sun-hats and caps can add oils to the roots and flatten them.

Meanwhile, the sebum production that occurs in the hair’s follicles is controlled by the body’s sebaceous glands. These glands can become overactive in warmer weather and produce more sebum.

To put it short, yes. The summer sweat can make the hair greasy.

How to prevent greasy hair in the summer

The first piece of advice to prevent greasy hair in the summer is to wear the hair back off of the face at night time. When sleeping, the face produces oils that transfer into the hair that sits around the face. Tying the hair back into a tight ponytail can be damaging, so instead twist the hair around itself into a loose top knot at the top of the head and secure it into place with a fabric scrunchie to minimise any breakage.

If the scalp is naturally oily already, the chances are that your skin type is also oily or combination, so try to wear the hair back during the day too or during periods when the temperatures are at their highest.

The next piece of advice is to distribute the oil. Use a clean, gentle boar-bristle brush to disperse any oil that is already sitting on the scalp down the hair towards the ends. Make sure to learn how to clean your hairbrushes to avoid putting oils back into the hair.

The final piece of advice on how to prevent greasy hair in the summer may be a surprising one. Although it may be tempting, try to avoid washing the hair at the first sign of an oily summer scalp. The issue with shampooing too often is that the scalp can become stripped of its natural oils. Once these oils are stripped from the scalp’s surface, the sebaceous glands are triggered into producing excessive amounts of oil to compensate. This leads to a vicious cycle of washing the hair to rid of the excess oil that is being caused by the washing itself.

The perfect hair routine for an oily scalp in the summer

When it is time to shampoo, once a week use a Purifying Mask with Thermal Mud as a pre-wash, revitalising, purifying treatment to help draw out the build-up of impurities and pollution. This will not only help to prevent greasy hair in the summer, but will leave the scalp is feeling comfortable, the roots freshened and the hair soft, manageable and healthy-looking.

Follow the pre-wash with a Cleansing Purifying Scrub. This deep cleansing shampoo is designed to refresh oily scalps both in the summer and all year round. It removes daily build-up, helping to calm the sensation of excess oil in the roots.

Finally, finish with a conditioner formulated to detangle, hydrate and soothe the scalp and dry ends such as the Christophe Robin Purifying Conditioner Gelée with Sea Minerals. The sea minerals refresh the hair as the conditioner gently glides through the lengths and ends.

rinsing with cold water tip

Try to finish the regimen by rinsing the conditioner out from the hair with cold water. This is because cold water seals the hair cuticles in the scalp closed which adds shine and gloss to the hair. It will also preserve the natural oils and therefore prevent the sebaceous glands from going into over-drive. Lastly, the closed pores will make the scalp less vulnerable to the grease that can accumulate, making it the final step to helping prevent that oily scalp in the summer,

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Josie Wilkins

Josie Wilkins

Writer and expert

Josie is an Online Beauty Editor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. Her passions involve all things skincare and beauty and in her free time she likes to travel, read and get her beauty sleep.