Why Does My Hair Get Greasy Overnight?
Why does my hair get greasy overnight? How to treat greasy overnight hair and how to train your scalp to restore natural pH.
Why does my hair get greasy overnight!?
It’s so frustrating when you go to the store, pay money for a whole new product that doesn’t seem to work. Isn’t it?
I completely agree.
So let’s talk about what’s actually happening to your scalp and why your hair gets greasy overnight.
The new shampoo isn’t working. You still have to wash your hair every day or else it looks like you’ve just finished a shift at the grease factory.
Alright. Remain calm. It’s fixable. There’s a biological thing happening here.
Your Hair Gets Greasy Overnight Because of the Sebaceous Glands at Work
The scalp is designed to create sebum (oil) to rehydrate the scalp throughout the day and night.
After washing all of the oil that the skin worked so hard to produce off and down the drain.
So imagine this, the skin talking to itself. “Good grief, the scalp is so dry! Let’s fix this and make more sebum than before!”
But then you shower again. “That wasn’t enough! We must make even more!” And this continues in an unending cycle.
When changing shampoos it is good to get a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Specifically, one that is pH balanced with the skin. Human skin sits at 4.5-5.5 on the scale. More acidic than alkaline.
Shampoo and Conditioner pH
Shampoo is supposed to generally sit at a 7 or 8, which is neutral and slightly above. This is supposed to throw off the scalp to break down the oils, products, buildup, and dirt and pull them off of the hair.
Conditioner is imperative! A good conditioner is supposed to sit at a 4 or 5 on the pH scale bringing the scalp back to its natural pH level so that it doesn’t have to work twice as hard to do this on its own.
Once using a really good conditioner, it may take a month or so to re-train the scalp that it doesn’t need to make so much oil.
Patience, dear reader. There is no instant fix for an oily scalp to come back to a healthy natural state.
Let’s go back to the imaginative scenario that the skin talks to itself.
You’ve been using the correct shampoo and conditioner for a while, and hydrating the scalp rather than just trying to strip the grease. “Hm, the scalp doesn’t seem to need this much oil anymore. I suppose we can tone it back a little.”
Over time, the scalp will make less sebum, oil, but it takes patience and a good conditioner.
Is there a shampoo that is pH balanced?
Yes, there is! My professional and personal favorite is Original Sprout.
Original Sprout is a vegan product line designed by a stylist with curly hair for her daughter who has skin sensitivities.
The pH of Original Sprout shampoo is 7, and the pH of the conditioner is 5, the perfect pH! Not only is it just the right pH but Original Sprout is also gluten, soy, and dairy-free, and paraben and sulfate-free.
To read more about this product line, please visit
Best Shampoo for Skin Sensitivities, Allergies, Dry Hair and Lice Repellant!
Not using Shampoo
Another alternative option for retraining the scalp to restore the natural pH on its own is to stop using shampoo entirely but experiment by using an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse.
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse- Recipe and Benefits
Not only is Apple Cider Vinegar a natural cleanser but is also rich in potassium, pectin, malic acid, calcium, and vitamins B and C. Which means it’s chemical-free!
Wash less often even if the hair gets greasy again overnight
And as annoying as it may be, washing your hair less often will help. Even if it looks greasy and you can’t stand it. Balancing the scalp to its natural state takes time.
To sum up…
Human skin and hair sit on the pH level of 4.5-5.5, your shampoo should be just above that. And your conditioner should be a 4 or 5 on the pH scale. Wash your hair less often, and condition it well.
Be patient. Your scalp will balance itself out soon enough. With enough love and patience.