I wash my hair and by the next day it's already a bit greasy, and by the third day it's impossible. I've tried shampoos for oily hair but nothing works, I'm still the same. Is there something that actually works or is it just that my scalp produces a lot of sebum?
When you wash your hair more than twice a week, your scalp gets stuck in a cycle where it produces more sebum to compensate. It sounds backwards, but those "oily hair" shampoos you probably tried are drying out your roots too much, so your body reacts by making even more oil to protect itself. What you're seeing in the mirror is that rebound effect.
Try spacing out your washes: aim for every three days for a couple of weeks, even if it looks rough at first. Use a gentle shampoo - neutral type or even a baby shampoo if you want something really basic. On the in-between days, a bit of dry shampoo or absorbent powder helps without stressing your scalp. Also check if you're getting your roots too wet or if you're scrubbing with your nails; sometimes that irritates things and causes more oil production.
If after a month you're still in the same boat, then yeah, it could be that your scalp is just naturally greasier. Some people are like that. In that case, the goal isn't to never have greasy hair, but to keep it at a point where it looks decent for as long as possible without obsessing over washing it constantly.
Oily scalp can be genetic, but it also depends a lot on how you wash it and what products you use. Most anti-dandruff shampoos or "for oily hair" ones are too harsh, which paradoxically makes your scalp produce more sebum to compensate. It's a vicious cycle: the more you attack it, the more it defends itself by producing oil.
Try gentler shampoos, preferably sulfate-free. The trick is to wash with lukewarm or cold water, not hot, because heat stimulates the sebaceous glands. Try massaging only the scalp, not the ends, and rinse thoroughly. If you want, use conditioner only on the ends. Some people say that changing how often you wash also helps: if you wash every day, your scalp gets used to it. Try going to every other day for a few weeks even if it's greasier at first, because eventually it will regulate itself.
If after trying this for a month it's still the same, it could be seborrheic or something more specific to your scalp. In that case it's worth consulting about, but first exhaust the basic options. Sometimes diet, stress, or even what pillow you use can play a role too. But the first thing is to change the shampoo and washing technique, because that's what makes the most difference.
What I've noticed is that often the problem isn't your scalp producing more sebum, but rather strong shampoos are irritating it and then your body compensates by generating even more oil! Try washing with cold or lukewarm water (not hot) and go for something gentler like a neutral shampoo or even the "co-wash" method (washing with conditioner only) - it works incredibly well for this type of hair!
Also check if you're touching your hair a lot during the day, because seriously the dirt and oils from your hands speed everything up! And if none of that works, well, some scalps are just like that and it's completely normal - some people use dry shampoo between washes and it's life-changing for them!
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