Can Hair Dryers Make Hair Greasy? (Basic Facts)

Over the years, hair dryers have become necessary to the point that most households have one. Even hotels have them and consider them a basic amenity.

Many people use hair dryers daily for practical reasons: it dries hair faster, thus saving them time. Hair dryers also allow some people to style their hair in certain ways.

There are many uses for hair dryers, making them good to have at home. However, hair dryers can make hair greasy.

Here is How Hair Dryers Can Make Hair Greasy:

When using hair dryers, oil can be an issue sometimes. Using the hair dryer in a high heat setting increases oil production on your scalp. This happens more when the weather is hot. This is why hair can get greasy after using a hair dryer.

Do Hair Dryers Make Hair Greasier?

Hair dryers can make your hair greasier if you have naturally greasy hair.

In general, hot temperatures can cause an increase in oil production in our bodies. This is why our face often gets oily when the weather is hot. This is why people have greasy hair in the summer.

So if you have naturally greasy hair, using a hair dryer can increase oil production on your scalp.

Thus it will result in greasier hair.

How To Use Hair Dryers Without Getting Greasy Hair?

There are ways to use hair dryers without getting greasy hair.

Here are some tips and tricks that you can do when using a hair dryer so that it would not result in greasy hair:

Change How you Shower:

How you shower and prep your hair before drying can contribute to how greasy your hair can be.

Washing your hair too much can dry it out, causing the glands to activate and increase oil production.

Decreasing how often you shampoo your hair can help prevent it from being greasy. Also, it helps to shower with cold water.

Showering with cold water prevents an increase in oil production, so you will not end up with greasy hair after drying.

Avoid Applying Hair Products for Added Shine:

If your hair is already greasy, you do not need to apply hair products for added shine.

You should avoid hair products designed to boost your hair’s natural shine.

Avoid Using Hot Air:

While blow-drying on high heat settings makes drying time much faster, it increases oil production on your scalp. 

If you have greasy hair, do not put your hair dryer on a high heat setting. Please set it to low or medium, so your hair does not get greasy.

You can also use that option if your hair dryer has cold air or no heat setting. Drying your hair with cold air may take longer, but it does work. 

It will not add to the oil and grease production on your scalp.

What Is The Best Way To Dry Hair Without Getting It Greasy?

Many people prefer drying their hair before going out because it makes them look presentable.

Plus, going out with hair that is wet can look a bit weird sometimes.

Here are some tips for drying your hair without getting it greasy:

Do Not Dry your Hair All the Way:

Letting your hair air-dry and blow-drying it completely can both damage your hair.

Use a hair dryer to dry your hair but do not use it all the way.

After showering, leave your hair alone and let it air dry until it is about 75% dry. Once you have let it dry 75% of the way, you can use your hair dryer to blow-dry the remainder.

Do not use high heat since you want to prevent your hair and scalp from getting greasy.

Apart from preventing your hair from getting greasy, this is also the healthiest way to dry your hair. It prevents your hair from getting damaged by heat.

Use Heat Protection While Drying your Hair:

If you do not have a lot of time to let your hair partly air-dry and you have to resort to using a hair dryer all the way, use heat protection.

Applying hair balms to protect your hair from heat damage can also prevent increased oil production on your scalp. This, in turn, will not result in your hair becoming greasy after using a hair dryer to dry it.

Does Heat Always Cause Greasy Hair?

Heat is one of the most common causes of greasy hair. However, it is not the only cause of greasy hair.

Here are the other causes of greasy hair:

Too Much Brushing:

Brushing or combing your hair too much can actually result in greasy hair.

Too much brushing can stimulate the sebaceous glands. These glands are the ones in-charge of oil production.

Too Much Touching:

Touching your hair too much can also result in greasy hair.

Oil from your fingers can spread to your hair and scalp, making your hair greasy.

Excessive Use of Hair Products:

Applying too many hair products can result in greasy hair.

Hair products, when not washed off properly, can leave a residue, and it will build up over time, causing your hair to become greasy.

Too Much Washing:

Washing your hair too much can eliminate the necessary oils that dry your hair and scalp.

This will trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, thus making your hair greasy.

Excessive Conditioning:

Using too much hair conditioner can increase oil production in your hair.

You can find lighter and less greasy products for your hair that are like conditioners but not as thick.

Skin Conditions:

Some people have skin conditions that can produce very active sebaceous glands that produce more oil.

This is why some people have noticeably greasier hair than the rest.

Dirty Pillowcases and Bedsheets:

Oil from your face and body can get onto your pillowcases and beddings, and your hair can absorb some of it.

This is why washing and changing your pillowcases and bed sheets is important.

Hot Water Showers:

Since heat is a common cause of having greasy hair, hot showers can also result in greasy hair.

Try to take slightly cooler showers, or cool your hair down toward the end of your shower.

Can You Get Rid of Grease After Drying Your Hair?

If drying your hair results in it becoming greasy, then do not fret.

You can get rid of grease after drying your hair.

Apply Dry Shampoo:

Applying dry shampoo to your hair is one of the simplest solutions to eliminate grease.

Dry shampoo absorbs any excess oil and grease from your hair and scalp. It is very easy to use.

Just spray it evenly on your roots, let it sit for a minute, and rub it in.

Use baby powder on your Hair:

If you do not have dry shampoo, baby powder is another effective product for removing grease from your hair.

Baby powder can absorb oil and grease. It is also a common product that is easier to find.

Sprinkle a bit of baby powder on your roots and rub it in. Alternatively, you can apply the baby powder on clean hands first, rub your palms together, and run them over your hair and scalp.

Blot away the grease:

If you get greasy hair after drying it, you can wipe the grease away or blot it off.

You can use facial tissue to blot off your face, hair, and scalp grease.

If you want something more effective, you can buy those thin oil-absorbent sheets from a drug store or a department store’s skincare section. These oil-absorbent sheets are designed to remove excess oil and grease from your face and would work well for your hair and scalp.

It helps to have these sheets handy in your purse, especially when your face and hair become oily in the middle of the day.

To summarize, hair dryers can make hair greasy because of the heat it produces. However, you can prevent this with a few practical tips and tricks.

Sources:

Why Does Hair Get Greasy When You Air Dry It?

The Healthiest Way To Dry Your Hair

What Causes Greasy Hair? 9 Causes And How To Fix It

How To Get Rid Of Greasy Hair Without Having To Wash It