How to Strip Oil Out of Your Hair

Cooking oil splattering in hair, the use of cooking oil to loosen extensions, killing lice with essential oils or just not washing your hair for several days can all lead to an oily scalp or hair. The excess oil will not only make your hair look dirty, but also weigh it down. Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo multiple times may be enough to remove the oil, depending on your hair type and type of oil. Absorb oils by sprinkling baby powder in the hair if washing your hair doesn't remove all of the oils. Use astringents as a last resort. Although they will strip the oil from your hair, they also strip oils that condition your hair and scalp, leaving your hair dry, brittle or straw-like. Does this Spark an idea?

Wash Your Hair

Pour a quarter-sized drop of a clarifying shampoo into the palm of your hand.

Rub the shampoo into your scalp. Massage the shampoo into your hair, working from the scalp down to the end of your hair.

Rinse your head under running water to remove the shampoo from your scalp. Repeat the process up to two more times.

Apply a moisturizing conditioner to your scalp and head to restore moisture to your hair. Allow it to sit in on your hair for one to three minutes. Rinse clean under cool running water.

Baby Powder

Sprinkle baby powder liberally over your scalp and throughout your hair.

Allow the baby powder to soak up the oil in your scalp and hair. Leave the baby powder on overnight, if possible.

Wash and condition your hair as described in Section 1.

Witch Hazel or Lemon Juice

Combine 1/2 cup of witch hazel or lemon juice with 1 cup of room temperature water. This will act as an astringent to strip the oil from your hair.

Pour small amounts of the liquid astringent into your hair and scalp, massaging it into your hair so it is fully absorbed.

Place a shower cap over your head to keep the liquid from drying out. Leave the astringent in your hair for one hour.

Wash and condition your hair as described in Section 1.