all hair types How to Get Rid of Greasy Hair Without Washing It

We can all agree that while shiny hair that has bounce and movement is what we all desire no matter our hair type, overly greasy strands do not fit into that category. While no one wants dry or dehydrated hair, oily hair is just as undesirable and difficult to style. 

How Do I Fix Greasy Hair Fast?

Greasy hair may be just as big of a bummer as dry strands, but at least the former is easy to fix. In the past, beauty aficionados have been known to sprinkle a little baby powder on their roots to alleviate excess oil and slickness on their strands. The only problem is anything powder-like is likely to leave white residue on your hair. What won’t leave white residue on your tresses is the right dry shampoo. 

Tinted dry shampoo, specifically, is made to do the exact opposite of leave white residue on your greasy hair. Formulated with pure pigments for color and rice starch for smoothness and shine, the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Brown Hair (Dark Tones) and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair (Light Tones) are the perfect solution for tackling greasy roots and lengths in minutes. Of course the quick cleanse that it offers leaves the scalp feeling fresh and absorbs unwanted smells from your mane, too.

Shake the can so that the pigments will spread evenly throughout your hair. Holding the can about six to eight inches from dry hair, spray the formula onto your roots. Wait for the dry shampoo to dry then massage it in and brush it an inch or two into your lengths to blend it. 

Editor’s tip: Tinted dry shampoo may be meant to rid hair of grease first and foremost, but people with budding grays have been known to use it (successfully) in a pinch to conceal those silvery strands when they’re all out of root cover spray. 

How to Fix Greasy Hair Without Dry Shampoo

You didn’t think dry shampoo was the only tool in our greasy hair-fighting arsenal, did you? While it may be the most effective tool for ridding your scalp of excess oil in minutes, there are other methods (some unorthodox even) for dealing with greasy hair fast. Here are three you may also want to consider using:

1. Blotting Paper

Blotting sheets don’t have to be reserved for just touching up a shiny face, they can work wonders for removing excess oil from your hair too. Of course, if you have a pack of teeny, tiny papers you may have to go through the entire thing to handle a head-size job. But if you have larger squares, feel free to take a few and press them against your scalp and hair to get the grease out.

2. Seat Covers 

Now don’t scoff at this next recommendation because it’s weird — it actually works. If you happen to be at the gym (or the office) and notice your hair is looking shinier than Rudolph’s nose but you have no blotting papers, grab a fresh toilet seat cover — trust us, they’re made from the same stuff as blotting sheets. 

Break the large cover into smaller pieces that are easy to work with, and blot your scalp and hair as you would with your terry cloth towel at home. You’ll be surprised at how well that little bathroom companion will help you refresh your tresses.

3. Matte Cream 

Matte hair cream isn’t wildly popular but it is known amongst the greasy hair circles. It does exactly what it sounds like it does — leaves hair with a matte finish. Though, beware, some matte creams only mitigate the appearance of grease but offer little more than a temporary solution for just aesthetics. You also run the risk of having product buildup since it doesn’t work by absorbing grease the way that dry shampoo does — leaving you needing to refresh your scalp with a dry shampoo in the long run anyway.

Next: How to Tell What Your Scalp Needs, According to a Dermatologist

Written by: Shalwah Evans, Photo Credit: Matthew Kelly