Hair Care Tips for Fine, Thin, Oily Hair

Fine and thin hair may be a bit more difficult to manage and style because it’s often limp and wispy. Oily hair can also be hard to manage, especially if the excess oil is due to overactive oil glands. The weight of the oil in your hair can weigh your hair down, making almost any hair style seem impossible. Fortunately, a few different techniques and products can make your hair look fuller and manage oil control.

If you have thin or fine hair, choose a volumizing shampoo. Volumizing shampoos help make your hair look fuller, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. These types of shampoos contain protein, which coats your hair and thicken your hair shaft. Avoid conditioning shampoos, as the conditioner can weigh hair down and make it appear thinner than before you shampooed. Wait until your hair is dry before combing or styling, as wet hair tends to break easier than dry hair. Wet hair breaks easier when your hair shaft is stretched, causing it to snap.

If you have oily hair, shampoo at least once per day, or more often if you have been sweating. When you shampoo, start by wetting your hair and massaging the shampoo into your scalp, working from your temples to your crown, and wash thoroughly at the edge of your scalp around your hairline. Try to move your scalp as you’re massaging the shampoo into it; this will help ensure that you’re thoroughly cleansing and applying enough pressure, according to the Fitness Magazine website. If you have oily hair, avoid deep cleaning shampoos as they can strip your hair of all the essential oils it requires and send your oil glands into overdrive.

Finding the right conditioner will prove challenging, as different varieties, brands, needs and ingredients exist. For fine and thin hair, choose a conditioner formulated specifically for fine and thin hair, or one that promotes volume and thicker hair. Thin and fine hair types should never apply conditioner to the scalp, as this will weigh the hair shaft down at the base of your scalp. Instead, concentrate on conditioning the tips of your hair or begin at the base of your hairline and condition your hair to the tips, so that only half the length of your hair receives conditioner.

For oily hair, avoid conditioning your scalp, as this may trap oil and make your hair appear oilier.

Fine, thin and oily hair types should avoid using heavy conditioners, as they will weigh your hair down or make it appear oilier.

Fine, thin and oily hair types can benefit from using products labeled oil-free or grease-less. Heavy, greasy products tend to weigh hair down and make an oily scalp worse by locking in oil and adding additional oil to your scalp. These hair types should also avoid applying products too close to the scalp to avoid excess oil and limp hair.