Healthline Wellness Wire

In a Nutshell

According to the internet — and plenty of my friends — you can “fix” oily hair through a process called oil training. The theory is that shampooing less often will train your scalp to produce less oil. I hate washing my hair every day to avoid looking greasy, so it was only a matter of time until I tried it.

During the COVID lockdown back in 2020, I had nowhere to go and nobody to see, which felt like a prime time to try out oil training. The plan was to come out of quarantine with less greasy hair. But after 2 months of shampooing twice a week, absolutely nothing changed. My hair just looked oilier day by day between washes.

Did I do it wrong? Or can I deflect responsibility and just blame it on oil training not actually being a thing? After doing some digging, I noticed that research, my personal experience, and anecdotal evidence conflict. Let’s talk about it below.

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Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Morgan Mandriota
October 17, 2026 • 4 min read

what’s got us buzzing

I want to wash my oily hair less often. SOS!

The belief behind hair training: Additives and ingredients in most shampoos strip your hair of its natural oils, causing your scalp to overcompensate by producing even more oil. By shampooing less often — say once a week, or maybe even never — you can train your hair to revert back to its natural, less oily state. Only problem is that this concept has absolutely no data to back it up.️

Every hair follicle contains a sebaceous gland that secretes sebum, an oily substance that helps protect your scalp and hair from dying out. Some people secrete a lot of sebum, whereas others … not so much. This depends on your unique biology, hair type, and hair health. ️️

The reality is, sebum production is a natural part of your body’s processes. You can’t really change it just by showering less often. ️️

How often you “need” to wash your hair varies based on personal preference and factors such as: ️️

your hair type (fine, curly, thick, etc.)
the amount of sebum your scalp naturally produces
how often you exercise and/or sweat
your environment (the weather, air pollution, etc.)
your styling routine
the types of hair products you use
the temperature of your shower water
how often you touch your hair

If you want your hair to look cleaner and fluffier, consider the following remedies for oily hair:

Wash your hair up to once a day to remove excess sebum.
Opt for a mild to gentle shampoo that’s formulated for oily hair types.
Consider using a scalp treatment.
Try air drying your hair instead of using a hot blow dryer.
Regularly clean your hairbrushes to remove oil, loose hair, and gunk buildup.
Spray dry shampoo or dust baby powder on your strands to soak up extra oil.

Ultimately, shampooing less often won’t necessarily harm you or your health in any way. So, if you want to hop on the “no poo” movement, feel free! Just know that it may not result in less oily hair like many folks believe.

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Great finds

Skip the shower

Amika Perk Up Ultra Oil Control Dry Shampoo

Many of my friends who go days without washing their hair are actually just using dry shampoo to make it look clean between washes. This Amika dry shampoo is specially formulated for extra oily scalps. Plus, it smells great! If you want your hair to look freshly washed without jumping in a shower, consider trying it out.

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Thanks for reading! Keep your eyes peeled for Friday’s newsletter.

💌 In the meantime, tell me how often you wash your hair — and if you have any oily hair remedies — at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (We may feature your name and response in an upcoming send!)

Until next time,

Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon!

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Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health.