Why do the roots of my hair feel and look greasy straight from the shower?

Right now it’s probably a good sign. You are getting enough nutrition that your body can condition your hair.
My daughter switched to a product that uses essential oils. She was amazed at the results. If you’re interested in it PM me as it is sold kind of like Amway and I don’t want to spam. It’s expensive unless you “join.” I’ve never sold it because I hate multi level marketing but I love and use the products.
Congratulations on your surgery. I’ve known several people who have had great success.

I’ve found that when I stopped using conditioner, my hair came out cleaner. Also, is it possible that you shouldn’t be washing it every day?

@janbb: If I don’t, it looks nasty… my hair gets greasy really fast.

I’ve tried not using conditioner for days in a row, and it still does nothing to even improve it.

Have you tried some of those dry shampoos that are basically powder in an aerosol can?
I know your frustration. I dealt with uber greasy hair until menopause.

@Judi: I always wondered how they work.. because I imagine the result to look like I sprinkled baby powder in my hair.

@poofandmock, they work ok for a while. I think there is some alcohol in it that dries it out a bit too. You don’t see the powder unless you use to much. Not a solution but good for an afternoon fix.

@poofandmook What color is your hair? As long as you don’t have very dark hair, the dry shampoo absorbs the oils at the roots and becomes invisible when you lightly work it through your hair. It may still show some on very dark hair, so if you have dark hair, you might have to experiment with it to see if it will work for you. You can find dry shampoo for $5 or under in the shampoo section of most grocery and drug stores, so it’s not a particularly large investment. Dry shampoos also work well as a volumizer, which might also help to lessen the appearance of greasy hair. Plain baby powder (the main absorbing ingredient in dry shampoo) also has similar effects, so you could give that a try.

Changes in your diet can definitely change your scalp and hair, so this may very well be a result of that. I don’t know what age you are, but aging and menopause can also cause this, as can hormonal changes in general. What types and brands of shampoos, conditioners, and other products are you using? If your hair is already oil-prone and now has become more so, you may be using the wrong products for your hair. Ingredients in some products, even if they claim to be clarifying or for oil-prone hair, can also worsen grease and weigh down hair.

@Fly: I have blonde hair.

I am prone to greasy hair after a day, but I’ve mostly battled with dandruff. That’s when I started switching every other day with what brand I used. At first, to clear it up, I switched between Head and Shoulders and T-Gel. Then I used Head and Shoulders and some other brand. (All in all, I’ve used Garnier, Tresemme, Herbal Essences, Dove, and Pantene). I almost ALWAYS buy the volume-boosting type. Currently, I’m using Head and Shoulders and Dove Intensive Therapy (I reasoned it would strengthen my hair and possibly help the hair loss issue).

My diet hadn’t changed when this problem started… I thought maybe the surgery would change it either for better or for worse, and yet there’s been no change.

And I’m 29. no menopause for me.. lol

Dry shampoos are great if you get a good one. It definitely shouldn’t look powdery. I use dry shampoo every other day on my “second day hair,” and it does a good job of soaking up oils, getting rid of that waxy shiny look, and restoring volume for a day.

Are you blow drying correctly – as in, away from the scalp? Have you tried flipping your head upside down and drying it that way?

NEVER apply conditioner to roots. Ends only.

Is your hair very thick and heavy? Maybe layers will lighten it up a bit so it doesn’t lie flat on your head.

Some people just have greasy scalps. Have you talked to your doctor about it? Perhaps there’s a health-related cause.

Sounds like you’re doing everything else right.

@livelaughlove21: I don’t think my hair is thick… it might be a tad heavier because of the length. I do have layers. and I always blow dry upside-down. I’ll try the dry shampoo.. and if that doesn’t work, I’ll see my doctor.

Luckily, you can’t see the offending waxy roots when it’s pulled back. Only when I try to wear it down.

@poofandmook I’m wondering if wearing it back so much has something to do with it. Do you typically tie it back in a tight ponytail or is it loosely tied?

@livelaughlove21: very loose. I pull it back with all my fingers.. so that there’s hair between all my fingers. Then I pull the band from my wrist over all of it, halfway over the gathered hair, twist, and then pull it back over. So the ends of my hair sorta rest on my head and the rest is in a messy bun type deal. If I tug on the elastic it takes about 2–3 shakes and all the hair falls right out of it.

@poofandmook My initial thought is that the Dove Intensive Therapy may be too heavy for your hair, as this is generally intended to repair very dry and damaged hair. They are supposed to be very moisturizing, which could in turn make already grease-prone hair greasier. That said, considering the possibility of hair loss after your surgery, I’m not sure it would be best to change that product at the moment.

Does the Head and Shoulders improve your dandruff at all, and have you been using it for a long time? I have found that, at least in my case (I have itchy/dry scalp with dandruff), dandruff shampoos and conditioners don’t actually help much. Head and Shoulders also tends to be very strong- it can actually end up drying the scalp more than a normal shampoo for some people, which would cause your scalp to produce extra oils. If you have been using it for a long time and/or it does improve your dandruff, you might consider trying the Citrus Breeze version, which is intended for fine and/or oily hair.

Besides one of these two products or the combination of the products possibly causing the greasiness, I can’t seem to think of anything that you are doing that would cause this. You seem to be doing everything else right. If you don’t want to change shampoos/conditioners at this time, which would be totally understandable considering your surgery, I would definitely recommend trying out a cheap dry shampoo and, if it seems to help, possibly investing in a nicer one.

@Fly: I buy Head and Shoulders when I start noticing dandruff… and yes, it does clear it up. But I’m okay with switching off that at the moment. I bought Garnier Pure Clean or some such nonsense, and I think it might have improved it a tiny bit, so maybe I’ll keep trying that.

The biggest issue, above my hair looking clean, is that with the possibility of hair loss, I am extremely concerned about the weight of extra oil at the follicle. I’m so careful with my hair since surgery—I wash/rinse gently, I don’t twist it as tightly as I used to in the towel, and instead of brushing it after my shower I use one of those combs that are like hair picks with the big, thick teeth and big spaces between them… and if I have a knot, I hold the hair above the knot so I’m not pulling on my scalp. I don’t know if I’m imagining the extra oils at the follicle making it easier for the hair to fall out, but I’m so paranoid about the possibility of hair loss, I can’t take any chances.

I’m getting married in 6 months, for crying out loud. I can’t be balding. lol

@poofandmook I think that’s a totally rational concern! While I’m not sure that the extra oil will actually make it easier to fall out, since that usually occurs more with dry, brittle hair, I think you’re completely within reason to be concerned about it. Like I said, I definitely recommend trying the dry shampoo. If that and the shampoo change and/or dry shampoo doesn’t make it any better, I would second @livelaughlove21 and suggest that you talk to your doctor about it.

I would love to find out why mine is so greasy as well. I can wash it…then 4 hours later it looks unwashed. By the end of the day, it looks/feels like I haven’t washed my hair in a week.
I recently tried some dry shampoo but didn’t like the weird coating it left on my hair. I tried not using conditioner…I had trouble brushing through my hair and it got knotted all day (my scalp is extremely sensitive).
My hair is brown with, I think, medium thickness. I have a lot of it though.

@Plucky I’ve definitely tried dry shampoos that gave my hair a strange texture – like the one by Big Sexy Hair. However, there are good ones out there that don’t change how your hair feels. Aerosol works best. Right now I’m using a cheap one by Not Your Mother’s that has really impressed me.

a few days of no conditioning and just shampooing with a clarifying shampoo has cleared up the issue. Finally wearing my hair down today, and it looks clean and feels silky. :)