7 Mistakes That Make Your Hair More Greasy

You're washing your hair too often

According to Marinelli, greasy hair often starts with overusing shampoo. Although piling on the suds might seem like the logical thing to do, overwashing can be counterproductive by stripping your hair of its natural oils, instigating your scalp to go into overdrive to replace them. Try cutting back to every other day. "If you tend to overwash your hair, try co-washing instead, or extending time between washes with dry shampoo," adds Marinelli.

Co-washing, or conditioner-only washing, is a common practice that helps hair retain its natural oils between shampooings. By incorporating a co-wash into your hair care routine, you'll likely find strands are smoother and silkier.

RELATED: How Often Should You Wash Your Hair? Our Top Tips

You're using too many styling products

If you're a product junkie, you may want to ease up on the hairspray—too many styling products can clog up your scalp. Give your locks a detox with a product designed to exfoliate the scalp, like the Frank Body Stimulating Scalp Scrub ($20; frankbody.com). If you want to go the extra mile, use it with a scalp exfoliating brush to slough away dead skin cells. Another option is to use a clarifying formula like IGK First Class with activated charcoal, one of our favorite shampoos.

You're incorrectly applying your styling products

Keep products like waxes, creams, and oils away from your roots—these can make your hair greasier since they're made with emollients. "It's important to analyze your hair in sections. One product can't always be used from roots to ends," says Marinelli. "When styling, I recommend using products with an alcohol base on the roots for volumizing and thickening, something to add body to the middle of your strands, and something that seals protection on the ends."

You're eating the wrong diet

According to Marinelli, "Your hair indicates what's going on with your insides. The healthier your diet is, the healthier your hair will be." Stay away from sugars, dairy products, and red meats, which have been shown to break down into androgens (hormones) and result in an overproduction of sebum. Taking supplements with vitamin B6 or essential fatty acids can also help control deficiencies and get your body's balance back on track.

You're not cleaning your pillowcase

Just like contaminated makeup brushes can make you break out, using dirty pillows can reap repercussions on your scalp. "I'm a big advocate for changing pillows weekly—pillowcases can store hair's natural oils, contributing to it looking greasy," says Marinelli. This one is a simple fix—just toss your case in the wash to avoid oil buildup.

You're brushing your hair too frequently

Brushing your hair might make your hair look glossy, but overdo it and you'll stress the hair and overwork it, causing your scalp to produce more oil. If your hair gets easily tangled, stick to detangling the lengths with a wide-tooth comb, working upwards toward the scalp to avoid breakage.

You're not washing out conditioner

Be cautious with conditioner: Over-applying or not washing it out properly can weigh down your hair and make it feel greasy. "To combat it, I'd recommend using a hair mask once a week instead of conditioner every day," says Marinelli. "Using a leave-in conditioner can also help detangle hair and add moisture." When you apply, focus the conditioner on the lower half of your strands only.