How To Manage Sebum on the Scalp for Healthy-Looking Hair

If you’re a skincare enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with sebum and its role in supporting smooth, moisturized skin. What you may not know is that you have sebum on the scalp, too. Scalp sebum plays an important role in supporting soft, healthy-looking hair, but too much of it can make your tresses look flat, greasy, and limp. The right haircare routine can help keep sebum on the scalp balanced, allowing your strands to look and feel their best.

Whether you frequently struggle with oily roots or are simply hoping to brush up (pun intended) on your haircare basics, keep reading. Ahead, we’re sharing everything you need to know about scalp sebum and explaining how to address oily build-up without stripping your strands dry.

What Is Sebum?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, sebum is a protective substance that’s produced by your body and secreted through sebaceous glands and hair follicles. You can think of it as your skin’s natural oil—it’s the same substance people refer to when discussing oily skin or hair. Despite being colloquially known as oil, sebum actually consists of various lipid molecules, including cholesterol, fatty acids, glycerides, and squalene. Everyone produces sebum, but the quantity depends largely on your skin type and genetics.

Why is sebum important?

Sebum is a natural lubricant that helps to keep your skin (and scalp) moisturized. The oily, waxy substance helps prevent water loss that can contribute to dry or itchy skin. As the Cleveland Clinic notes, sebum on the scalp also helps keep your hair moisturized, which helps prevent common concerns like brittleness and breakage.

Is sebum bad for hair?

No, sebum isn’t bad for hair—in fact, some sebum is necessary for smooth, hydrated, and healthy-looking strands. That being said, balance is key. A higher-than-average production of sebum can result in greasy roots or dirty-looking hair. Too little sebum, meanwhile, can leave your hair dry, brittle, and frizzy.

Signs your scalp sebum is out of balance

If you often find yourself struggling with these concerns, it may be time to reassess your hair and scalp care routines:

• Greasy-looking roots: Sebum buildup on the scalp can cause your roots to look and feel oily (even, in some cases, shortly after shampooing).
• Breakouts: Sebum-clogged hair follicles on the scalp can lead to acne breakouts on your scalp or along your hairline.
• Dandruff: Though dandruff is often conflated with dryness, it can result from both dryness and excess oiliness. If you have a flaky scalp, it’s a clear indication that your scalp sebum is, in some way, out of balance.
• A tight, itchy scalp: Without enough sebum, your scalp may feel tight, dry, and itchy.
• Dull, dry strands: If your hair appears dull and straw-like, it could be an indication that your scalp doesn’t have enough oil to keep your strands smooth and moisturized.

How To Manage Balance Sebum on Your Scalp and Hair

If oily roots or dry, brittle hair (or both!) are holding you back from your haircare goals, keep reading. Ahead, we’ll explain how to keep your scalp sebum balanced for hydrated, healthy-looking strands.

1. Use a targeted shampoo

It should come as no surprise that using products designed for your hair type is the best way to help support a balanced, healthy scalp. For oily scalps, that means reaching for lightweight products that won’t weigh down your strands. To help remove sebum build-up without stripping your scalp of essential moisture, try swapping your go-to shampoo for the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Pure Purifying Shampoo. The gentle formula removes up to 100% of scalp residue, leaving the scalp feeling refreshed for up to 72 hours.

2. Only condition your mid-lengths and ends

It may be tempting to skip conditioner if you’re prone to greasy hair, but we’d advise against it: Even if your hair is oily at the roots, your mid-lengths and ends need moisture. To replenish your hair without weighing it down, work the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Rehydrating Conditioner throughout your hair after shampooing. Avoid applying it to your scalp and roots—instead, finger-comb it through your tresses from the mid-lengths down to help replenish moisture where your hair needs it most.

3. Bathe with lukewarm water

While you may enjoy a steamy shower (who doesn’t?), hot water can strip your scalp and hair of their natural oils, resulting in dry strands and an itchy, flaky scalp. To help keep your scalp and skin feeling balanced, try turning down the temperature in your shower—it doesn’t have to be freezing, but it shouldn’t be scorching, either. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) also recommends limiting showers to ten minutes or less to avoid drying out your skin.

4. Exfoliate your scalp regularly

Chances are good you exfoliate your face and body—as it turns out, your scalp deserves the same level of care, too. Once a week (or as needed), deep-clean your scalp and strands by pre-treating your tresses with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Pure Oil-Erasing Serum before shampooing. The innovative formula, which contains salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid, is designed to remove excess oil and impurities without stripping your scalp or hair. To use it, part your dry hair, massage a generous amount of the lightweight liquid onto your scalp, and set a timer for 15 minutes. Once the timer is up, hop in the shower and lather up as usual for clean, fresh-feeling strands.

5. Adjust your shampooing schedule

If you tend to wash your hair every day without much thought, it may be time to reassess your shampooing schedule. Over-washing can dry out your scalp and strands, making your hair feel rough, dry, and brittle. The frequency at which you need to wash your hair depends on your hair type and texture. Per the Cleveland Clinic, those with fine, straight hair should aim to wash every day or every other day to keep scalp sebum at bay. If you have curly or coily hair, however, you’ll want to wait longer to avoid drying out your scalp—up to two weeks, depending on your daily habits and routine.

6. Use dry shampoo on no-wash days

Dry shampoo can be great to lean on between wash days to keep your mane looking fresh. Simply spritz your chosen formula onto your roots and brush it throughout your hair to help absorb excess oil and keep oily roots at bay. Keep in mind, however, that using dry shampoo (or other styling products) frequently can contribute to buildup over time. To help remove weighty debris and product residue, consider lathering up once a week with a clarifying shampoo, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Clarifying Shampoo. It helps remove both product residue and hard water build-up, and it’s suitable for all hair types (even color-treated hair). Don’t forget to rehydrate your lengths and ends post-wash—for lightweight moisture, we love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Restoring Conditioner.

7. Avoid touching your hair

When you touch your scalp or hair, the natural oils from your hands can transfer onto your mane, making your tresses look and feel greasy. To help keep your hair looking fresh for longer, try to limit how much you touch your hair—idly twirling your hair can be a hard habit to break, but we promise, you’ll notice a difference once you stop.

Next Up: How To Moisturize Dry Hair for Shiny, Healthy-Looking Strands

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris