How to Make Your Hair Not Greasy Overnight?

We bet that many of you have faced this issue: you wash your hair in the evening, dry it, and go to bed being happy with the feeling of clean hair.

But! Right the next morning you wake up only to find out that your hair that was washed yesterday has turned into an oily mess overnight!

We agree that is annoying and even frustrating since many of us would start asking the same question: what makes my hair get greasy so fast?! Is it possible to do anything to stop this process?

In this article, we will do our best to answer this and other related questions on this subject.

You will learn how to keep your hair from getting greasy after just one day (or night), why it happens, and what you can do in order to prevent this effect on your tresses.

Also, we will explain what you should avoid if you don’t want to wake up with oily locks the next morning after you wash your hair.

How to Keep Your Hair From Getting Greasy Overnight?

We don’t know whether it is good or bad, but there is no universal method of keeping your hair from greasiness that appears overnight.

However, if you wonder how to prevent greasy hair, we are happy to tell you that there are a few tips and recommendations, which can help you to significantly decrease this unpleasant effect on your locks!

Generally, speaking, in order to prevent grease and oily buildup from appearing on your mane overnight, you should consider checking several factors. For example, the key to the problem of oily tresses could be your hair care routine or the hair care products that you use.

Also, excessive and too quickly grease development can take place when you wash your hair improperly. But let us explain in detail!

Below, you will find a detailed explanation of the most common reasons why your hair might get oily way too quickly.

There are going to be two major factors that we will divide into several subfactors.

Read carefully: who knows, maybe you will find the answer to your question!

How to Keep Your Hair From Getting Greasy Overnight
via crello:GarnaZarina

Try to Change Your Nighttime Hair Routine

See, one of the reasons why your hair may get oily way too quickly is some flaws and mistakes in your nighttime hair care routine.

It will only take you a few minutes to double-check your nightly and weekly hair care habits in order to see if you need to make any changes.

Simply try adjusting your usual grooming and bedtime routines to see if you notice a positive difference in the way your hair looks and feels each morning!

Apply Some Dry Shampoo Before Going to Bed

This method is great especially for those of you whose hair tends to get especially oily overnight! But even if it doesn’t, still give this method a try. Start with examining your roots in the mirror in order to see if they look and feel especially oily.

If you see that they do, pulverize some dry shampoo onto them. However, we need to warn you: avoid massaging the product into your hair!

Instead, go right to bed after its application. If there is any shampoo powder visible in the morning, knead the leftover powder into your roots.

If your hair is straight, you can make use of a brush to spread the leftovers of your dry shampoo along the tresses. And by the way, this solution is especially handy for the owners of darker hair colors!

See, in your case, a dry shampoo will not leave any powder-like residue on your mane in the morning since it will absorb all the oily buildup!

Apply Some Dry Shampoo Before Going to Bed
via crello: triocean2011

Related9 Care Tips To Keep Hair Healthy And Strong

Make Twists Before Going to Bed

Most of those who have long enough hair tend to tie it up or make a braid before going to bed, and it makes sense. Like this, our hair will not get tangled during the night.

However, if you have faced the issue of excessive greasiness, tying your hair up can also be a good helping option. Before going to bed, secure your mane in twists!

Simply divide your hair into three sections, arranging them comfortably so that they won’t disturb you during the night. And then twist each of those sections into a loose coil with a hair band. Like this, you will prevent your hair from getting greasy overnight.

By the way, this method works the best on those who have shoulder-long hair and long hair, but anyone can try it!

And also, the number of twists may vary depending on the length and the thickness of your chevelure, but three is the minimal number.

Make Twists Before Going to Bed
via crello: Milkos

Sleep On a Clean Pillowcase

This tip may seem to be odd but if you sleep on a dirty pillowcase, it may contribute to your locks getting oily much faster!

This is why we recommend everyone choose a time each week to toss your pillowcase in the washing machine with a small amount of detergent.

Set your washing machine to a hot wash mode, with the temperature of water of at least 130 °F (54 °C).

Related7 Reasons To Include A Lavender Pillow To Your Wellness Essentials

Don’t Touch Your Hair Excessively Before Going to Bed!

What, you may ask?! Why is that? How touching my hair can lead to greasiness? See, when we touch our hair too often, we transfer more grease to it. If you have to touch your hair, use a brush instead.

And also, we would suggest you make a sort of mental inventory and try to check how often you touch your hair throughout the day.

Try to stop yourself, or come up with something else for your hands to do!

Bring the Greasiness to Minimum

This is another factor that you should take into consideration when dealing with excessively greasy hair.

To cope with the problem, you need not only to treat your hair and care for it correctly. It is also important that you do your best to bring that annoying oily buildup to its minimal level!

And here is how you can achieve that.

Shampoo And Condition Once Every Few Weeks

We recommend you set a regular schedule for your hair care routine. In particular, you should consider shampooing your hair no more than two or three times throughout the week.

If you wash your hair with the shampoo on a daily or near-daily basis, you may end up washing away your scalp’s natural oils! As you probably know, it causes your hair to produce extra oil in the long run, so here is exactly where that grease comes from!

It will also be great if you manage to pick particular days that you will be washing your hair.

Like this, you will develop a regular habit.

Shampoo And Condition Once Every Few Weeks
via crello: IgorVetushko

Avoid Shampoos With Extra Oils

If you want to get rid of the excessive greasiness on your tresses, stay away from the shampoos that are labeled as “anti-frizz” or “shine-creating”. They typically contain quite many oils which will only make things worse.

Instead, opt for shampoos that give your hair more lift and volume. This will bring down the risk of getting super oily tresses before going to bed.

Include Purifying Shampoo

As a part of your hair care routine, wash your hair with purifying shampoo once each week. Massage this product into your hair to wash out any oils that have built up.

You can also use your regular shampoo and conditioner after washing your hair with this special shampoo.

Get Rid Of Buildup With Apple Cider Vinegar

This natural product is a great hair cleanser!

Mix one cup (240 ml) of apple cider vinegar with one cup (240 ml) of water, stir it, and pour the mixture into your hair.

Let the vinegar sit for approximately 5 minutes, then rinse the solution out with cool water.

Use this cleanser whenever your hair feels greasy, especially before going to bed.

Get Rid Of Buildup With Apple Cider Vinegar
via crello:bondarillia

Limit the Amount Of Conditioner

Any hair care product, even the most beneficial one, can work vice versa if we use it too much. This is why try not to overload your hair with conditioning products!

Instead, read the instructions on the bottle to see what amount of the product is ideal for being used.

When applying it, knead a small amount of conditioner through the ends of your hair so it doesn’t weigh down your roots and create extra oil and grease.

Do Not Comb Too Often!

This is another frequent mistake that people make, which also leads to excessively oily strands. If your hair looks smooth, don’t bother combing it! Use your brush only to cope with the knots or tangles.

See, if you brush your hair a lot, you could end up creating and spreading more oil throughout your hair, which will make your locks look extra greasy.

So, now you know what to do in order to keep your hair from getting oily during the night after you wash it. As you can see, there is nothing difficult about the hair care routine that prevents your mane from excessive greasiness.

So make sure that you revise the way you take care of your mane and add some of the tips that we have shared with you here. You will see how much better the state of your locks will become!

Do Not Comb Too Often!
via crello: AntonMatyukha

Why Does My Hair Get Greasy So Fast?

If your hair gets greasy fast, you definitely wonder why it happens. Especially if you don’t have any health problems or any issues with your hair or scalp. But before we list some of the most widespread reasons, let’s see why our hair tends to get greasy at all.

As you all probably know, our hair gets oily when there is a build-up of natural oil on the scalp.

That natural oil is called sebum. It is produced by our sebaceous glands and its major goal is to lubricate and waterproof the skin of the head and hair. This is essential for maintaining healthy hair and scalp. These sebaceous glands are working all the time!

But if you have noticed that your hair gets greasy overnight right after you wash it, that shows that your glands are probably overactive, or you need to adjust your hair care routine.

In addition, extra hair oil production can be caused by hormones (e.g. during puberty, periods, and menopause), diet, genetics, medications that you are taking, changes in the environment, and even your haircare routine!

By the way, your sleeping habits can also be the cause for greasy hair!

Your hair washing routine also matters a lot since it contributes to extra oil production.

The way you wash your hair can definitely end up in an excessively oily scalp. For example, if you wash your hair too often, or if you don’t wash your hair enough, you will most likely end up with an oily buildup.

You should even be wary of how hot the water is! Hot water stimulates the sebaceous glands which leads to more active oil production, so make sure you are using it warm.

So, dear ladies (and maybe gentlemen), now you know way more about what makes your hair get too oily overnight if you have just washed it before going to bed.

As you can see from what we have explained to you here, the major reason is your hair care routine, e.g. the way you comb your hair and the products that you use on it.

However, the way you sleep also matters, so make sure that you always have clean pillowcases, and you wash your brushes and combs regularly.

And of course, pay attention to how you maintain your mane and what products you use for keeping it healthy!

This will take quite little time to adjust your habits, but as a result, you will get clean and shiny hair.

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28 thoughts on “How to Make Your Hair Not Greasy Overnight?”

  1. Hi! I need your help folks! We have recently moved into a new house, and I noticed that after the move, my hair started getting greasy more quickly. We do have quite bad water here now. Could that be the reason?

    • Hi! I’m sure it can! I had the same problem last year when I was renting my old apartment. The quality of water was awful: I could see the white water marks on my faucet a few hours after I cleaned it! Naturally, such water will also affect your hair badly.

  2. I noticed that my hair now gets greasy faster than before. What could be the reason? I checked my health and everything is fine. I also have no issues with my scalp or hair itself. I haven’t changed my hair products either. Any other ideas?

    • Your diet, perhaps? Maybe, you consume more sugar or fat now? Try to adjust your eating by adding more raw fruits and veggies, reduce the amount of sugar and sweets, as well as fats, and see how it works. 

  3. Why does my hair always become oily during the night? I happens even after I wash it! The next morning I can already see those greasy strands.

    • Maybe your pillowcase is dirty or you haven’t changed it for a while and it accumulated sebum and scalp oils. Those can be transferred to your hair whileyou’re sleeping. Or the shampoo might not be suitable! I remember I was using one that always left my hair oily. Simply the wrong product. 

  4. If I constantly running through my hair with my fingers, could that lead to the strands getting greasy?

    • Well, I’m not sure dude, but I guess it has something to do with how easy your hair will be to work with later. I’m also offered this option when I visit barbershops, and I rarely refuse – why not to use this chance?!

  5. How to make your hair not greasy in 5 minutes? I often notice that my hair gets a bit oily at the roots on the day I wash it. But when I make a ponytail, those greasy strands are visible. Is it  possible to do something to them?

    • In such cases, I use dry shampoo and it really works great! It’s the quickest method I know, besides, you can take it with you anywhere. Oil blotting sheets could also be helpfyl, by the way! I heard people apply baby powder as an option, but to me, it’s less useful mostly because you’ll have to get rid of that powder residue somehow afterward.

  6. Hello! I have a problem that I do hope you can help me with! See, my hair gets greasy in less than 24 hours. It’s a tragedy! The next day after I wash it, the roots are already oily. I tried to change shampoos, I even used professional ones, but nothing works. What’s the problem?

    • If you have thin or fine hair, this could be the cause of the problem. Also, it can happen because of the amount of oil your scalp produces, as well as how well your hair can carry that oil. 

  7. Is it normal that male hair gets greasy overnight? Or is it a sign of any health issues?

    • It’s absolutely normal to a certain point. See, if you have thin or fine hair, it will most likely become greasy way too fast. Also, it matters how well your hair can carry the oil your scalp produces. But if your hair isn’t thin/fine and you noticed this issue recently, perhaps you should visit a doctor. 

  8. Do you guys know some simple tricks how to make your hair not greasy in 5 minutes? 

    • Oh, I tried one life hack and it worked! You just need to dust some baking soda on your hairline and scalp and scatter it using a makeup brush. Then remove the excess with your fingers. Baking soda absorbs grease really well!

  9. How to make your hair not greasy overnight without dry shampoo? Are there any alternative products, both commercial or DIY?

    • I’ve recently discovered baby powder as a great remedy for this purpose! Seriously, baby powder is the multipurpose product that can handle greasy scalp problems very effectively.

  10.  I need your help folks. See, I often notice that, after I wash my hair and go to bed, the roots are already greasy by the morning! The problem is that my hair is long so washing it daily is not an option since the length gets wayt oo dry! Could you suggest overnight hairstyles to prevent greasy hair?

    • Well, I only know that a high bun helps well. I also have long hair and I always tie it in a high bun before going to bed. I use scrunchies since they’re softer plus they help me keep the hair tied safely without pulling it out. As a bonus, in the morning I have soft waves because scrunchies also work like a styling tool!

  11. Does anyone know how to keep straight hair from getting oily overnight? I’m so tired of it already! And I definitely can’t wash my hair daily, otherwise, it’ll get way too dry.

    • I guess you need a complex approach. First, identify your hair type. It’ll allow you to see why it’s getting greasy so fast. Then, you might need to use a shampoo designed for oily roots and use a clarifying treatment once a week. Remember to wash your pillowcases regularly too! 

  12. How to stop my hair going greasy after 1 day? Are there any simple methods?

    • I guess you need to figure out why your hair gets greasy so fast. I’d recommend you visit a hair specialist at a  hospital and get your mane and scalp examined. Then you’ll be able to select the right treatment.

  13. Why does my hair get oily when I sleep? The room is not too hot, and I’m wearing a very light and breathable cotton pajamas. But in the morning, the roots are already oily!

    • Maybe it’s your pillowcases? Do you wash them often? I wash mine once a week but I have a batch of pillowcases that I change every other day.

  14. Why does my female hair get greasy so fast? Is that because I’m a woman? I almost never hear about this problem from men I know!

    • To be honest, I don’t know hwy it happens. I guess it might have something to do with hormones, but I’m not a doctor so I have no information on this subject. I guess you should get your hair and scalp checked to learn the reason.

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