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Sticky / Oily / Greasy scalp?!?

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Fairenough

Jan 02, 2012

Wow, Until I came across this site, I seriously thought something was wrong with my hair. I'm 40. Did not have a diet change or medication change. I am blonde and needed to touch my roots every 6 weeks by coloring. I started using John Freida lightening spray to help reduce coloring/touch ups. I stopped using the JF spray 3 weeks ago and the sticky roots has not gone away. Thank you so much for posting. I will give the vinegar, Listerine or lemon juice solutions a try.

ja917

Jan 03, 2012

Same issue for me, although I really don't have any of the factors that have been mentioned:

- No noteable stress.
- No past gallbladder surgery.
- Not on birth conrol and haven't been for 10 years.
- No noteable hormone changes:  I'm 31.
- No severe dietary changes.

I've seen mentioned that it could possibly have to do with PH balances being off, and I did recently use Metrodanizole Gel prescribed to me by my gyno to treat BV -- but it didn't work.  I have to call him back re: that issue, but I'm wondering if the two issues are perhaps related.

I first noticed the problem after using Vive Ultri Gloss Shampoo.  Not sure if that was related or not.  I've tried a clarifying shampoo AND the Listerine along with it, twice.  It seemed to help a slight bit, but certainly didn't cure the problem.  I'm a little wary of trying dishwashing liquid on my scalp!  I did buy Neutrogena T/Sal, which is supposed to combat build-up, but I haven't used it yet.... Has anyone tried that?  I am not even sure if that's right for me, because I don't have any of the other symptoms mentioned (like dandruff).  Not sure what to do! :(

funnygirl32

Jan 03, 2012

First I am shocked that I have found so many women out there with the same problem! I honestly have spent the last 30 minutes in the shower soaking my hair with apple cider vinegar and then washing with baby shampoo only to find a sticky mess when I went to blow dry it. I AM AT MY WITS END! The apple cider vinegar helped somewhat but it's still SO sticky.

I live in the Middle East and cannot find Selsun Blue - does any other Anti-Dandruff Shampoo work? Or does it have to be Selsun Blue?

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease help!!!

Tina0118

Jan 05, 2012

To: funnygirl32

I am beyond dis belief that all of you are having the same problem I am having at the crown of my head as well, it comes and goes each month. I am 42 years old and this only started a few months ago, its DRIVING ME CRAZYYYY!! I have never posted when I 1st searched this about a month ago, I have tried everything that has been posted on this forum, nothing worked! I have not gone to a doctor, I think a doctor would look at me like I have 2 heads, I just knew they wouldnt know anything, a medical mystery!!
*****I want to let you all know what helped, did not cure but it helps ALOT!! Before bed time, pour baby powder in your hands, turn your head upside down and just rub away on the problem area!! IT ABSORBS, leave it in all night until you shower the next day! You look silly, but who cares, your going to bed!! Good luck everyone, and if anyone has a cure or a reason as to why this happens, I would love to know!! Happy New Year! I also get the acne on my face along with it, its boggling my mind!!!

ja917

Jan 06, 2012

Hi ladies.  I posted a few days ago and have an update:

I would not go so far as to say I'm "cured," because I'm still so apprehensive that it'll come back, BUT I tried something this morning that helped me a LOT:  tee tree oil shampoo and conditioner (nape of the neck down only, skipping the roots).  I know this shampoo has been mentioned a few times on the various forums, so I decided to try it (I tried the famed "Listerine trick," but it did not have lasting success for me).  You know that squeaky feeling your hair gets while still in the shower after you've washed, before you've conditioned, where if you run your hands over the top of your hair, it squeaks?  Well I haven't had that for about two weeks -- until this morning, after using the tea tree oil shampoo.  I went to the beauty supply store yesterday and the brand I bought is Desert Essence, but I know Paul Mitchell makes one as well as a brand called "Generic."  (Here is a link to the Generic brand, which is sold on Amazon for a very reasonable price: http://www.amazon.com/GVP-Tea-Tree-Oil-Shampoo/dp/B0041TBSS4/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325860209&sr=8-1-fkmr1).  I used the T/Sal shampoo yesterday, which is supposed to help with oily scalp, but I found much more success today with the tea tree oil though... One thing I will suggest though is that you do NOT virorously scrub it into your scalp, but rather gently massage it and let it sit for a few minutes.. Scrubbing the head roughly may seem logical because you want to get the grime out, but instead it sends your scalp's oil glands into overdrive, causing them to produce more oil.  So the past few days I've been using much more of a gentle massaging approach to try to "calm down" my scalp, and I think that's helped...

GOOD LUCK LADIES!  We can all surely sympathize with how frustrating this is, and all we can do is share our successes with each other and hope to help one another out!

jl44

Jan 06, 2012

I've had the same problem the last few days, had NO clue what was going on, and came up with all sorts of excuses, none of which actually helped fix the problem.

Anyway, I came across this post and read that using a clarifying shampoo followed by Listerine had worked for them, so I thought I'd give it a go. It's worked for me! I recommend that method, and I think quite a few others would as well. Good luck!

jen874

Jan 17, 2012

Hey Guys!
I have two degrees - one in applied science, the other in business and am presently completing my masters (RN). I have experienced the same issues and have three possible explanations based on my own methods of deduction:
1. Birth Control as a Primary Cause: Have you been going on/off your contraceptive meds/ on the sugar pill? We have to remember that despite the medical world offering a plethora of wonderful options for our wholistic health - the pill is not 'natural' and it does GREATLY contribute to fluctuations in our hormones. I know in my experience that I ran out of a script + repeats and was off the pill for about two weeks whilst taking a few of my sister's in the interim. I am back on the pill. I have had this issue with my hair now throughout this time period.

2. The same time that my hair started getting sticky I had a large "underground pimple" on my chin (the hormonal region of the face). It has since cleared up, however I WENT ON AKAMIN.... WHICH I BELIEVE TO POSSIBLY BE another contributory factor... to get rid of this pimple and what I feared would be a break out owing to my 'greasy scalp' and the pimple.

3. STRESS. I really do feel that this could be THE REAL CULPRIT as I was under an enormous amount of stress/ still am. I remember learning in highschool biology that another reason for 'greasy hair' was to mask the scent of oneself from predators and was a reaction to the adrenal glands production...therefore, if you are feeling stressed - the same adrenal glands which produce the fight or flight reaction are occuring....So maybe stop stressing? OF COURSE this is waaaaaaayyyy easier said than done. I have since repainted my room and organised it so that I have a 'safe haven' to come and 'sleep'/ 'relax' in....buuuutttt I am stressing still over other things that I didn't think were an issue but are... I have tried meditation.... am begining to think that I may need to start on effexor (an anti -depresent owing to long term stress).....

On the other hand I am going to give this vinegar a go! And am seeing a naturopath tmrw and will report with my findings!

X

ja917

Jan 18, 2012

jen847,

While I agree that your hypotheses could certainly be the cause of the greasiness for many women, I personally feel that there simply must be another underlying reason that no one has thought of yet, since:

1.  I have not been on birth control for 10 years.  I get migraines, which were much worse on the pill, so I decided to use alternate methods, which has worked fine for me.  So for me, this can't be a possible cause.

2.  I did not have any sort of blemishes appear at the same time as the greasy scalp (or since).  I would imagine that if the cause was hormonal in any way for me, then I would also see those other changes, like in my skin, and I haven't seen any change there...

3.  I have not been under any particular amount of heightened stress as of late, so I don't believe that this could be a factor for me either...

For me, I really believe that using Vive Ultra Gloss shampoo somehow changed the composition of my hair, since my issues started immediately after that.  The Listerine method with the clarying shampoo did not work for me as it did for everyone else.  It helped a bit, but I still have the issue, just not as severe.  Now I have been using tea tree oil shampoo and this BY FAR gets my hair the cleanest.  But again, it's still not totally back to normal, unfortunately.  I'm currently investigating the possibility that sulfate levels in my old shampoo suddenly started to affect me adversely (perhaps similar to how people can develop allergies out of nowhere), so just yesterday I bought a sulfate-free Loreal shampoo that I will be trying tomorrow morning.  I also plan to switch my brush -- again.  I had just bought a new one around the time this started, so I guess that could also be a possible cause for me, so I need to replace it again.  Perhaps it just distributes too much oil throughout my hair -- who knows.  Regardless, I'll keep everyone updated!

Fairenough

Jan 18, 2012

I posted almost 3 weeks ago... I have tried EVERYTHING that has been suggested and nothing has worked. I do not have the acne issues as many have mentioned. I did see my hair stylish and she was a bit baffled and said that she had never heard of this in all her years in the business.
She felt that it was b/c my hair was damaged? Ugh. Nonetheless, she gave me clarifying shampoos and conditioners. They only seemed to have made the issue worse. I'm not sure what to do anymore. I did try the tree oil, but that hasn't helped either.

wpggirl306

Jan 20, 2012

Thank you to everyone who has commented on here, you have saved my hair :) Just like the majority of you, I woke up last week with sticky/waxy hair on the crown of my head. I washed my hair five times trying to get it out and it just made it worse. I was in tears and my sister decided to try baby powder as she often uses it when her hair is greasy and she doesn't have enough time to shower. She put it in my hair and that helped a lot!!!!!! The next day it still looked good because of the baby powder so I left it and just to be sure, the next time I showered, I used two cap fulls of Listerine (Vanilla Mint) so it would smell nice. To my surprise, my hair was 100% back to normal!!!! FYI, I am a 21 year old famale with long, straight, brown healthy hair so I have no idea why this would have happened.

Depaulot

Jan 21, 2012

To: All sticky head people

*******It's a scalp fungus, use Selsun Blue, it goes right away. *******

suzyq965

Jan 30, 2012

I had the same issue when the weather and temperatures changed in the late fall. I was seriously baffled and frustrated because anything my hairdresses or anyone else gave me just didn't work! My skin broke out more often because my hair was just plain gross! I went to my dermatologist and just let out my frustrations. Within 2 minutes, they said I had dermatitis of the scalp and that it's a condition that may need to be treated once a week, once a month, or every other day. I'm using Clobex, a special shampoo that sits on my scalp for 15 minutes every 3-4 days and then just wash it out in the shower well with cold water. On the off days, I use Nioxin from Ulta and wash my hair in cold water. My hair still flares up more when I have my period or when the weather changes drastically, but it's a million times better than the greasy and disgusting mess that wouldn't go away with clarifying shampoo, Dawn, Palmolive, etc, etc! Hope this helps anyone else since sometimes you have to leave it to the experts! By the way, I'm a 25 year old female who lives in an area where the 4 seasons are at its finest in the Midwest.

stickyhair

Feb 02, 2012

To: mom175

Hi, I have had this happen to me twice now. Last time I read through these posts and tried everything suggested. Nothing was working so I grabbed the rubbing alcohol!! It worked great!! This time again I just grabbed the rubbing alcohol and it is working!! Just wanted to share.

sallisond

Feb 10, 2012

I have been having my "sticky hair" problem on and off for about three yrs. now. It has never been this bad. It came and go and I thought it would always be like that. It was in one spot on my head, always the same small spot. It isn't just on my scalp, all the way down my hair strands. It looks greasy, and feels sticky. The hair sticks together into one big blob. Now it is starting to spread to the rest of my hair so idk what to do.
I tried the Listerine....did not work at all. I'm going to try the vinegar. And I'm going to set up an appt. with dermatologist.
I hope I can find a cure, or I'm cutting my hair off.

nurse94

Feb 11, 2012

I am thankful for this forum because this problem started for me in December out of the blue. My hair became sticky and I couldn't get conditioner through it in the shower. I thought it was the Dove I was using, so I threw it out and went to my hairdresser. She did a Redken clarifying treatment and I bought Paul Mitchell Clarifying shampoo. My hair just seemed to get worse. The more I scrubbed it the stickier it got. When I would blow dry my hair, the waxy substance seemed to melt and get on my fingers. It was so gross. After reading all the different items everyone was using on this site, I decided to try Tea Tree Shampoo. I stopped at Walgreens and bought Jason's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. They are all natural. After the first shampoo: my hair felt WONDERFUL again! The waxy, sticky residue completely disappeared! The bottle says Tea Tree is naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, which would explain why so many people have had luck with Listerine (kills fungus and bacteria).

I am so thankful for this site and everyone's suggestions....Jason's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo worked great for my hair!

aknight730

Feb 12, 2012

So thankful to have found this blog! I have had this problem for 9 months now and could not figure out what the problem was! Mine got much worse when I went to Louisina over the summer so I thought it was weather related, but it stuck around through fall and winter. I tried using claifying shampoo, tea tree shampoo, spending more time washing my shampoo out, stopped using conditioner, dry shampoo, and baby powder. I find it strange that most of us are around our late 20's and had thick hair before. My guess would be the dimethicone in some hair products like the nice and easy, I know I didnt use that brand but I dont remember which I did use. Anyway...I washed my hair with Dawn dishsoap, rinsed and then mixed baking soda with my clarifying shampoo, rinsed it after 5 minutes and used conditioner only on the ends of my hair. (These were the things I had on hand that people had mentioned) I could tell while I was scrubbing that it was working because my hair felt less sticky and my fingers slid through the hair at my scalp. After I got out of the shower my hair felt lighter and I could feel the wind/breeze on my scalp....sounds crazy but I guess when you havent felt that in awhile you notice when you do again. Thanks again everyone! So happy my thick, soft hair is back!

gilletteisdebi

Feb 12, 2012

To: Lovely_Leo

did you also experience any burning on your skin due to a fine oily mist like substance that sprays from this reddish/orange sticky oily goo that was in your hair and scalp? my husband and I have been suffering much like all of yor and the others that have posted their experieces on this formum. We want our life back and to not be a slave to all the laundy, and weird processes we have to go thru daily just to survive this monster !

Thanks

Debi gillette at ***@****

xjessxx

Feb 12, 2012

i read a few comments on here and tried a bunch of them. the vinegar and water didn't work so i went back in the shower and poured the vinegar into my hair then washed it with dish soap and rinsed with the water. took everything right out! don't know how long it will last but it worked for now.

doctden

Feb 14, 2012

This happened to my 14 year old daughter. The longer the oil build up is in your hair, the longer it takes to get rid of. She is a brunette. I poured straight lemon juice on her hair and rubbed it in (but not the scalp) a lot. It worked, but we needed to do it a second day to get the last 20 percent out. It happened to her a year and a half later, and I poured straight apple cider vinegar on it. She worked it in and washed. It's gone!

Fairenough

Feb 17, 2012

Has anyone tried all of these suggestions only to make their hair worse?
NOTHING that has been suggested above is working. If anything, it's made the problem worse.
A jar of keratin was recommended b/c my hair started to break off.
It has helped a little bit, but not entirely. Am I the only with this problem?

ja917

Feb 17, 2012

To: Fairenough

Have you tried tea tree oil shampoo? I got the GVP brand from Amazon.com and that's helped me a lot... My hair stylist said that my scalp was thrown out of balance and it was a matter of figuring out how to rebalance it (which was not, at least for me, by dumping Listerine and/or other very drying products in it, since that causes breakage like you've experienced). I would try this tea tree oil shampoo if you haven't already, and make sure NOT to vigorously scrub the scalp, even though that sounds counteractive... You'll feel like you want to, but that will just stimulate your scalp to produce more oil, making matters worse. Massage it in, let it sit for a bit, and then wash it out, and only use conditioner from the nape of your neck down, avoiding the roots... I wish you luck! I know how frustrating it is, and while my hair hasn't fully returned to normal, this has helped. I also bought Moroccan Oil "oil no more" treatment at my salon (again, don't rub vigorously but instead let it sit), but that's a more expensive treatment, just so you know...

bowtiebetty

Feb 25, 2012

To: Not Alone

So glad I'm not alone on this! This started happening a few days ago and has since gotten worse! I've read every single comment and still no one has found a diagnosis? I am diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease, 21 y/o F, no medications, Started getting moderate to severe acne after having a child about a year ago, but at the time my sticky hair started my skin was actually fairly clear. Did not do anything out of the regular, have been using head and shoulders for a few months due to excess dandruff. I got my hair died in october too. Chronic Lyme messes with my hormones and so did my pregnancy, so I'm thinking this is hormone related, possibly even Lyme related in the long run. I'm uninsurred so I'm hoping I can find a cheap enough dermatologist this week to rule out ring worm on my scalp which I'm pretty confident it is not, then from there I'm going to try some sort of hormone therapy either with birth control or over the counter hormones like melatonin, ect. I'm going to check with my Lyme doctor as well to see if he has any suggestions about the role of hormones and what a solution might be! Will post back!

QuickLizard

Feb 26, 2012

greasysue was right. I'm the kind of person who needs to know WHY things happen and I looked into (mild?) Seborrheic information.

My kids started daycare when I went back to work full time and have brought home every daycare-crud for three months. It's also been an unseasonably wet and warm winter. We're all healthy now and boom, I get greasy hair from hell. A quick look at Wiki: "Seborrhoeic dermatitis may be aggravated by illness, psychological stress, fatigue, change of season and reduced general health. It may also occur during times of stress or sleep deprivation."

Yes to all of this. I don't have Listerine, I have Crest mouthwash, but a regular shampoo and a rinse with this still worked.

SChristianna

Mar 05, 2012

To: My fellow crown sufferers

Today, I FINALLY got the chance to research this and happened upon this site. The crown of my head has been oily for about a month now! I have hidden it by wearing my hair curly. So, it hasn't been urgent for me. I am 40 years old and I have VERY DRY, long, wavy, dark brown hair - that is, except for this greasy gunk that isn't going away!!! I have never had a problem with oily hair. I have always had to condition and put in a leave-in conditioner. So, this issue is ridiculous to me. As a result, I have read these posts closely. I was intrigued about the suggested link to dimethicone, so I researched "dimethicone sensitivity" today and just found this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7323094_remove-dimethicone-hair.html

I have very sensitive skin, so it would not surprise me to find that I have yet another skin sensitivity! I get contact dermatitis from the most mundane things - moss, benzoyl peroxide, cleaning products. I am going to try to eliminate dimethicone and see what happens. Oh, first, I will be putting Listerine in my hair TONIGHT!!!! Thanks for the tips. If you look at the link you will see that most of the suggestions given on this blog are given to remove dimethicone build-up!!!!

stephanie_wchen

Mar 07, 2012

I've had this same problem for a couple weeks now.. My hairdresser told me it was fungus (not ringworm), but the same fungus that causes dandruff (which is a problem I've never had until recently)... She said it's because my hair is really long and I don't blow dry my hair enough. She said that I should not air dry my hair or sleep with wet hair. She said that moisture and dampness is perfect breeding ground for the fungus. So I should always blow dry my hair, and if I want to reduce heat exposure I should just blow dry the roots and let the ends air dry.

I'm also going to try the vinegar treatment tomorrow and see if that helps.

armygfprincess

Mar 13, 2012

This started happening to me a few years ago. I tried everything and nothing made it go away. But i'm telling you, I had to come back and let you know I figured it out. I remembered reading this question right before Christmas and I was so worried about going thru the holidays with this grease in my hair, but then I tried baking soda. It can't be good for your hair or anything, but it made it go away. i mixed about a cup (i have long hair) of baking soda into one application of shampoo and let it sit for the duration of my shower. 1 APPLICATION WAS ALL IT TOOK. Try it. It worked for me.

atnn

Mar 14, 2012

I have the exact same problem. Yesterday I woke up and took a shower with the Pantene 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner. While I was in class I started touching my hair and I realized I had sticky hair! At first I thought I didn't wash out all the shampoo so I took a shower later on that day and it was still there. I took a shower that night and I scrubbed the top of my head for a while but unfortunately it wouldn't go away. I don't know what the problem is though. My acne is not breaking out like it is happening to other people. How long with this last?!?! It's really frustrating and irritating!

atnn

Mar 14, 2012

To: stephanie_wchen

What's weird is that I blow dry my hair everyday but I still have the sticky/greasy feeling on my head.

mariann324

Mar 16, 2012

hi i am 20 turning 21 i died my hair red and recently got off birthcontrol and i suffer from acne and i had many uru=ine track infection..............i notice this today and its scary am try the vinegear but question do i just shampoo after or do i use conditioner

PrinterT

Mar 18, 2012

To: teresavigil

I also have the problem and use nice & easy hair color! I'm also 52 and going through menopause and you're the first one that's made sence!! What is the product you mentioned? Jojoba? Is that a shampoo?

martha59

Mar 19, 2012

To: Everyone

I am so happy I found this page. First, it's nice to know that I am not alone in the greasy/sticky crown only. Second, I have now got my hair back!!! I put about 4 capsful of neat Tea Tree Oil on the affected area and massaged it in. I let it sit there for 20 minutes. I washed it out 3 times with Morning Fresh dishwashing liquid. I could tell it had worked as it was 'squeaky clean'. I then pour several tablespoons of apple cider vinegar on my head and let that sit for about 5 minutes. Rinsed out with just water, and conditioned only my ends. My gut feeling is it is either a fungus or thrush outbreak. The Tea Tree oil should take care of fungus, and the vinegar should take care of thrush. I will probably repeat both tomorrow, as I want to make sure whichever infection it is, doesn't rear its ugly head again! Good luck to you all. xx

martha59

Mar 21, 2012

To: martha59

Just an update. I waited until today to repeat the tea tree oil. My hair was fine, but I'm paranoid that it will come back, so I massaged about 3 tablespoons of tea tree oil into dry hair on the crown. Let it sit for 20 minutes, washed once with dishwashing liquid (tea tree oil is very oily!), then shampooed and conditioned with Pantene. Didn't bother with the apple cider vinegar this time. All is well! Please try the tea tree oil - it really works!

emmah13

Mar 26, 2012

unbelievable! the comments here are s if i have written them myself.

about 3 days ago i noticed that my hair felt as if i had not rinsed the conditioner or shampoo out of my hair properly. my hair looked as if i hadn't washed it for weeks. i wash my hair daily as i hate the feeling of unclean hair.
the next morning i washed my hair twice so as to get rid of the sticky greasy feeling, but when i blow dried my hair it looked and felt awful. it looked like i had had bryl cream all over my crown. the ends of my shoulder length hair are completely normal.
i thought i must have a build up of products on my hair so went out and bought a detox shampoo to remove the build up. my hair still was sticky and greasy. i felt really frustrated, as i've always had lovely thick hair , which friends compliment me on.
i decided to look online and found a recipe for baking soad cleanser. i tried this tonight , and it has helped slightly, but my hair still has a sticky waxy greasy residue on it.
tomorrow i will try the tee tree oil, and listerine method. i just want my soft silky hair back. :(

kat471

Mar 28, 2012

Hello!
I've literally never posted on a forum before... came across this thread when googling this awful sticky/waxy hair nightmare!!

I've been suffering from this the last week or so... and washing my hair sooo often that the ends are completely dried out now. Yet the sticky crown refused to go.

Finally, this morning, at the suggestion of a pharmacist that had heard it somewhere, I used a little Fairy Liquid washing up liquid on it.... and, touchwood, it seems to have done the trick...!

Hope I can go back to using regular shampoo now - I don't fancy washing my hair with Fairy everyday... but it did certainly seem to 'strip' this weird residue off the roots.

xx

zizbee

Mar 29, 2012

To: Everyone

I developed this problem two days ago, and I decided to try natural methods in the form of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil worked for me. I used tea tree oil extract and just applied it to the grease spot on the top of my head and let it soak in, then i powdered the spot with an anti fungus body and foot powder with tea tree oil in it and let it sit for a while. I then washed my hair with tea tree oil and lavender shampoo and conditioner by the brand Hugo, and the problem is gone!!! Finally!!
I found all of these products at my local organic natural foods market, thank goodness for tea tree oil!

Sarrybeary

Apr 02, 2012

To: everyone

I am so glad I found this forum! About 2 1/2 weeks ago I went to my hairdresser and got my hair dyed with red. I don't know if it was Nice N Easy or not - probably special salon stuff. As far as I remember, my hair was fine before that. Then about a week later, I noticed after I washed my hair it was disgusting - greasy at the roots, waxy, flat, etc. It has never been this bad. I have changed my diet recently - went semi-Paleo/low carb (I'm gluten-intolerant, as well as dairy, egg, grains, etc), but I changed it a few weeks before I got it dyed, and it's a healthier diet, so I figured that wouldn't be a problem. I am also not on the pill and haven't been for over a year. I wash my hair with Desert Essence, since it is gluten-free and organic. I've never had a problem with the brand before. Then a week after my hair was dyed it got gross. I thought maybe the water in our apartment or something like that had changed. I even tried washing my hair last night with filtered water that was cold, because I've heard too much heat can aggravate it. I tried not scrubbing it and just letting it sit there. I also tried 2 other types of shampoo and conditioner, but nothing worked. But after reading this I feel much better and hopeful - a fungus makes perfect sense. I go to bed with wet hair a lot, and the temperature just got warmer here. So I'm thinking maybe it's a fungus. I also have had scalp and skin issues before this due to being food-intolerant (skin problems are very common with food sensitivities), but the worst it ever got was a little itchy and dandruffy before - never greasy to the point where I can't wear it down at all. So I am thinking I will either try the tea tree oil shampoo or an anti-fungal shampoo/conditioner and see if it works. If that doesn't work, I'll try something else mentioned on here. I'll let you know how it goes!

Sarrybeary

Apr 02, 2012

To: Sarrybeary

Tonight I used Hugo's all natural tea tree oil and lavender shampoo and let it sit there for a minute. Then i put conditioner only on the ends- now dry, my hair is still really greasy, but I can tell for sure the problem is coming from the scalp, which is really oily. I'm thinking next I'm going to try the Listerine or vinegar thing...I can tell this is good shampoo for my actual hair because it feels silkier and smoother, but I need something to get rid of the darn oil on my scalp. I hope the vinegar or Listerine works!

lolo745

Apr 14, 2012

To: JerseyGirlNB

Hi,

I am having the same problem. I can't get rid of it. All my friends think I am
"dirty" and should wash my hair. I can't figure out what to do. Plus I am only thirteen years old. Can you help me in any way?

Thanks (:

Anna17

Apr 15, 2012

To: anna17

My problem is similar to the basic one being discussed here, but a little weirder...

I have the "sticky when wet" problem at my hairline. It's like there's SuperGlue on my upper forehead and temples, but nothing will wash it off. Furthermore, the very fine hairs in these areas get trapped in the sticky stuff. When my face/hair dries, the hairs are stuck under my skin! Well, maybe it's not my skin but this weird coating that seems to have molded itself to the surface of my skin. I can sometimes wash some of it off if I massage it with soap and warm water, but it's right back the way it was in a few hours.

I promise you I'm not one of those Internet nutcases who has no life other than posting about bizarre medical issues that are probably mostly in their heads. I'm just really baffled by this (gone on for 2 years) and hope someone can shed some light on it.

Yes, I've seen dermatologists...that's a subject for another post. :-(

momoftwo30

Apr 16, 2012

To: Everyone

BINGO! found a solution. I had the same problem with greasy hair at the roots on the top of my head. I tried tea tree shampoo and vinegar, didn't help. So then I tried baby shampoo, it did help some. I would wash my hair twice with reg shampoo, then wash it once with baby shampoo and then condtioner. I think washing it alot helped some. THEN I saw my face wash that I use in the shower, I thought why not. So after I shampoo and rinse I put a glob of facial wash on the roots of my problem area then wash off and use conditioner. It works completely. My hair was like it used to be just a couple of months ago. I use it everytime I wash my hair. I am not sure if I still need to use it, I think in a week or I will not use it and see how my hair turns out. I first used Olay facial wash, then I tried the Target and Walmart version of Olay. All 3 worked the same. I really hope this helps someone.

little1lz

May 08, 2012

Hello All,
I had the same problem with the sticky greasy stuff on the roots of my hair. My hair was gross. I thought one time that I didn't get all the shampoo out of my hair so the next day I really rinsed my hair. didn;t work. Then I thought it was my shampoo. I tried all different types including baby shampoo-nothing worked. I tried to rinse with cold water-thinking my hot shower had something to do with it-nothing again. I also tried vinegar, which helped slightly. I spoke to a few people who believe (and so do I ) that it is due to hormone changes. I just bought paul Mitcheal clearifying shampoo from Sallys Beauty supply. Salons also carry it. do not buy from walmart or any other store-not the same product and can be watered down. only buy from the salon or a beauty supply place. I was told to brush my scalp well (to break up any oil build up--do not do too often this can stimulate more oil production) I used a small amt of paul mitcheal and the first time I used it there was no suds. I rinsed and repeated and my head was full of bubbles. when my hair dried, it was 100% better. I could not believe it. The next day, I wased my hair with it again two times. My hair was back to normal. No more sticky feeling roots as if I had gel in it. It was even lighter in color. I am going to try to cut back on the Paul Mitcheal clarrifying to three times a day and use regular shampoo the rest of the week so that my hair does not completely dry out (not that it is not, just preventing) I also use conditioner -but only on the ends of my hair. I hope this workes for everyone else.

myfreakyhair

May 12, 2012

To: Anna17

OMG Anna17.  You must be my lost twin or something.  Exactly the same thing has been happening to me for over two years.  I have sought help everywhere, tried every solution, mousse shampoo's, ointment, oils clarifying, zinc shampoo's  hair vitimins, zinc tablets.  My list is endless and the result is always the same.

I wake up with my hair just stuck all over my facial hairs, my eye brows, my nose, in my hair. superglued behind my ears.  It takes all day of pulling and tugging to get my hair to relax and only to spring back up towards my scalp.   Even worse is my son who doesn't even live with me is suffering with exactly the same problem.

I have even had some sessions of Acupuncture which to date has not worked but will continue this with this as it feels like my last hope of any abnormality sensation on my head.  Regards  and good luck.  myfreakyhair

Cleo_Snow

May 15, 2012

To: Depaulot

How long and how often do you use selsun blue? I use it and yes it keeps the greasey patch away but it also dries my hair out.....A LOT. Not to mention if you colour your hair it stripes away the colour. I love the selsun blue helps but I can't use it everyday...yet if I got two or more days without using it the grease comes back. What is this fungus? What causes it? Is it permanent or will it go away??

pjmcleod

May 15, 2012

I am so grateful to have found this page! Like everybody else, I thought I was going crazy...and I am still SHOCKED that this is so common yet nobody (doctors, dermatologists) seem to know what it is and what is causing it. I am a 46-year-old female and honestly thought it was hormones. I have NEVER had oily hair/skin and this started quite suddenly several days ago: Thick "oily" scalp, felt sticky/waxy and looks like I haven't washed my hair in days. This is only on my crown...the rest of my hair and scalp is "normal". Like so many others, on the first day this occurred I initially thought I had forgotten to rinse out my conditioner. I rewashed my hair and it was no better...oily looking and sticky as soon as I dried it. Because i have just completed a 10 day course of antibiotics following a skin infection I am becoming suspicious of a fungus infection. After reviewing everybody's posts, I went and bought Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap/18-in-1 Tea Tree and Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo. Because I kept reading about Listerine I decided to buy a small bottle for good measure. I started by putting three capfuls of Listerine on my scalp before getting into the shower. I combed this through and let it sit for about five minutes. I then added the Dr. Bronner's soap lathering it up prior to getting in the shower. Once in the shower I thoroughly washed my entire head with the Dr. Bronner's, combing it through from the scalp to the ends. I could tell a difference in my hair even as I was rinsing it. Finally, I washed my hair with Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo. I dried my hair as usual and it feels completely normal again. Because I am suspicious that this may indeed be caused by a fungus I am going to continue to use the Tea Tree soap on my hair for a few days (Tea Tree Oil inhibits fungus) and the clarifying shampoo once or twice a week. I will update if any changes occur. Good Luck to everybody!

Darby79

May 23, 2012

To: Everyone

I can't thank all of you enough for posting your findings (both good and bad) regarding this "greasy scalp syndrome". I am a 33 year old woman, with no health concerns, no children, and am not on birth control. Within the last month I have battled an isolated greasy patch of hair from the back of my scalp to the nape of neck. Yesterday morning I tried Jason's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. I still felt the grease, so I then doused the affected areas with two capfuls of Listerine (blue). After conditioning my hair with Jason' Tea Tree Oil Conditioner, I crossed my fingers. I blew dry my hair completely, but the grease was still there. Last night I washed my hair again with the Tea Tree Oil Shampoo (making sure my hair was fully lathered), then I added Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to the affected areas. After I thoroughly rinsed my hair, I then used a huge handful of the Tea Tree Oil Conditioner, combed it through my hair, and then got out of the shower, put a shower cap on, and let my hair condition for 30 minutes. When I popped back in the shower- and rinsed my hair, IT WAS GONE! My hair has never felt so clean. I don’t usually condition my hair, because my hair is naturally oily (but not this oily!), but now I will be using conditioner daily. I don't know if I am out of the woods yet, but I think I will stick with Jason's Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner, and keep some Apple Cider Vinegar on hand, just in case.

mckinney81

May 24, 2012

To: funnygirl32

I've been having similar problems and Selsun blue only made mine worse. I began to wonder if there was something in our water causing it. I'm 48 and only started having this problem in the last 5-years.

KCCO87

May 25, 2012

I just wanted to post my results. I followed the advice of a previous poster so the credit (and my gratitude) should go to her.

Last night:
-Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo, rinse
-Baking Soda mixed with green Palmolive, rinse
-4 capfuls of brown Listerine, let sit for several minutes and rinse
-Tea Tree oil, rinse
-Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo, rinse
-Comb out and air dry

Result:
The oily spot was completely gone. My hair wasn't dull or weighed down.

This morning:
-Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo, rinse
-Conditioner on my ends, rinse
-Comb out and air dry

Result:
The oily spot was still completely gone. My hair wasn't dull or weighed down.

bmviola

May 29, 2012

thank you to everyone who posted their stories because now i dont feel alone in this greasy/waxy roots problem i have been goin through the past few days. I did not change my shampoo it just happened out of the blue and i normally have dry curly hair so i can go 4-5 days without washing my hair but I have gone as far as shampooing my hair with laundry detergent which i thought would strip my hair of everything and did NOT work! ive washed my hair about 8x in the past 3 days and my scalp is raw from vigorously washing my hair. I now believe it is a fungus and will do the vinegar treatment (hopefully apple cider vinegar will do becuase that is what i have in my cubboard right now lol) if not then i will go out and get tea tree oil. Thank you to everyone i was really getting depressed because i thought i was the only one out there with this " sticky" situation

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