Get exclusive shopping offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Beauty & Makeup
Buying Guides
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our opinions or reviews. Learn how we make money.
7 tricks to hide oily hair
Need to fix limp strands in a hurry? These quick fixes will have you out the door in a flash.
Whether you’ve woken up late or are trying to prolong your new hair color, sometimes washing your hair just isn’t in the cards. But not to worry — there are plenty of way to disguise greasy hair in a snap.
Don’t worry, we won’t tell you to braid it. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
1. Use dry shampoo.
If your strands are looking a little limp, spray some dry shampoo along your part. Then, lift small sections of hair and give the roots a little spray.
Massage the dry shampoo onto your scalp to distribute the product. The effect might not be immediate, so don’t be tempted to add more straight away.
Give it about 10 minutes to soak up the oils. After that, spray away if you still feel a little greasy. Brush the dry shampoo out if you have straight hair, or gently massage until any remaining white color disappears if you have curly hair.
Where to buy:
2. Try baby powder.
If you’re out of dry shampoo, baby powder is an excellent alternative. Sprinkle a little in strategic sections of your hair, then continue as you would with dry shampoo. Baby powder is a little harder to brush or massage out, so try not to use too much — especially if you have dark hair.
Where to buy:
4. Give oil blotting sheets a chance.
They work for your face, so why wouldn’t they work for your hair? Take some blotting paper and pat it along your part — it might take a few sheets to do the trick. Then ruffle your hair up a bit to add some volume.
5. Wear a hair accessory.
If you’re out of hair-fixing products, try adding a hair accessory to camouflage excess oil. A thick headband, scarf or hat can disguise greasy roots and make you look stylish at the same time.
Where to buy:
7. Consider astringent products like toner.
Products with astringent properties like face toner can dissolve and cleanse away oil. If you’re really desperate, add a little toner to a cotton pad and swipe it across your greasy roots.
The alcohol content should dissolve most of the excess oil. But don’t overdo this trick or you may experience the opposite problem — a dry scalp!
How to prevent oily hair
Can’t seem to keep your strands clean for longer than a day or two? Try these tricks to keep your hair from getting dirty and extend your wash cycle.
1. Don’t blow-dry.
Blow-drying your hair or adding heat in any way can make your hair get oily fast. If you want to keep your hair looking fresher for longer, reduce the heat of your dryer or let your hair air-dry.
2. Rinse with cold water.
Cold water closes up your pores and slows the production of sweat, sebum and oils in your skin. After you wash your hair, give your mane a good rinse with cold water to make sure that your scalp won’t be overproducing oil.
3. Don’t touch your hair.
Like all the other parts of your body, the skin on your hands has a lot of natural oils. By running your hands through your hair every five minutes, you’re adding a lot of unnecessary oil to your strands.
4. Wash less often.
Some people will tell you this works. Some people will tell you it doesn’t. Personally, I’m a believer because it has worked for me.
I used to wash my hair every other day because it would look like a shiny, greasy mess by day two. But this wasn’t sustainable.
I like long hair, and frequent washing dries it out and creates split ends. I started gradually adding more time to my wash routine, and now I only wash my hair once a week.
It was hard at the beginning because I hated the look of my greasy hair, but after a couple of months, it truly did stop getting so oily. Now my hair looks perfectly clean and bouncy up until around day five or six. Occasionally, I might need a spray of dry shampoo to get to day seven, but not often.
Top beauty and hair sales
Aveda
Up to 30% off Shampure haircare
Create your own peaceful sanctuary in Shampure calming aroma with 25 pure flower & plant essences including certified organic lavender, petitgrain and ylang-ylang and more at Aveda. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Chemist Warehouse
Up to 60% off beauty and cosmetics
Get up to 60% off L'Oreal, Maybelline, Nude by Nature, Revlon and much more at Chemist Warehouse. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Adore Beauty
Free same-day dispatch
Place your order before 12pm, and Adore Beauty will dispatch on the same day.
Last verified
Nude by Nature
FREE Shipping
Spend over $50 at Nude By Nature and receive free shipping on your order.
Last verified
Ask an Expert