Hairstyles For Greasy Hair: 12 Ways To Hide Oily Roots - Cosmopolitan

Greasy hair is totally normal within moderation, but it doesn't exactly make you feel your best. But as much as we adore dry shampoo (thank you hair Gods), if you're trying to cut back your use, there are lots of other ways to disguise your Snape-like tresses. If you're looking for a quick fix for hiding oily roots, we've got you (besides helping you track down the very best shampoo for greasy hair).

Whether you want an extra 30 minutes in bed or just fancy giving your strands a break from all that washing, there are plenty of choices for disguising oily locks. From something as simple as switching up your hair parting to a more intricate style like the halo braid, there are a lot of options. Trust us.

So, if you need a little inspiration, let me introduce you to 12 of the easiest ways to hide oily roots (without the faff of washing your strands)...

1. Get clippy

Hide greasy hair days by styling it out with a bunch of cute clips. Whether you opt for a side or centre parting, adding a couple of slides can instantly make 'slicked down' hair look totally intentional. Spritz the mid-lengths to ends of your hair with a dry texturising spray and the extra volume will disguise any dirtiness.

Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Texturising Mist 250ml

£28 at Sephora

2. Try a sporty headband

Wide headbands had their moment in the early 2000s, but now, they’re back thanks to the likes of Bella Hadid. It’s a super simple way to look cute on lazy hair days, as it covers most of the root.

Whether you pull your hair back into a ponytail or keep the ends down, finish with a wide headband to give the illusion of a polished, thoughtful style.

3. Add extra height to your crown

If you want to counter flat, greasy roots, use a clip to pull back the top section and then mist with hairspray. Leave it up whilst you're getting ready (for at least 10 mins), then take the hair down and run your fingers through the strands to separate. It'll help cheat extra height and lift roots, giving the appearance of fresher hair.

L'Oreal Hairspray by Elnett for Extra Strong Hold & Shine 400ml

Now 20% Off£5.98 at Amazon

4. Hey 'hun' 👋

The half-up bun (aka, the hun), was made for can't-be-bothered-to-wash-your-hair days. Prep strands with a dry shampoo to add volume and thickness, then section off the top part and pull it back into a messy topknot. Secure with a few pins, then gently tug at strands to loosen the style and give an 'undone' finish.

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5. Greasy hair? No! Wet hair

NGL, wet look hair can be hard for us regular folk to pull off. Most have attempted it at least once in their life, only to bottle it when they realised the look was more Nicholas Cage in Con Air than Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala. But if you’re feeling brave, slather on a generous helping of hair oil (on top of already greasy roots) and tuck the lengths behind your ears. Complete the ‘do with a styling paste to tame any pesky flyaways. Sleek, intentional and high-fashion.

6. Become a ‘model-off-duty’

The slick back bun is the ‘clean girl’ solution to hiding a sweaty scalp; it’s the hairstyle all the models wear when off duty! The natural oils in your hair will give you a bit of grit to work with, so, little-to-no product is needed. Top tip: Use a firm bristle brush for an even finish and tame flyaways with a styling gel.

Andrew Fitzsimons Repair Leave-in Conditioner for Damaged Hair

Now 33% Off£7.33 at Boots

Andrew Fitzsimons HARD Strong Hold Hairspray

£10 at Boots

Andrew Fitzsimons Prism Shine Hair Spray Smoothing Mist

Now 33% Off£7.33 at Boots

Denman D92 Edge Tamer

£15 at LookFantastic£15 at hqhair.com£159 at beautyexpert.com

7. Embrace the beachy wave

Textured, wavy hair is the best way to hide greasy roots. Embrace this by spritzing your strands with a wave spray; it'll give you messy, dishevelled cool-girl hair with zero effort.

OUAI Haircare Wave Spray

£12 at Cult Beauty

8. Claw clips are everything

Invest in a couple of claw clips, and trust me, your oily hair struggles will be over. Whip your hair up into a twist, fasten it into a bun, or pull half of it up into a clip. The added height and texture at your roots will hide any oiliness, instantly.

Revolution Revolution Acetate Tortoiseshell/ Ivory Claw Clip - 2 Pack

Now 25% Off£7.50 at ASOS

Kitsch Kitsch Eco-Friendly Jumbo Open Shape Claw Clip

£10 at Cult Beauty

9. Switch to a side parting

Parting hair down the centre can leave the roots looking a bit flat - a no-no if you've got greasy hair as it'll emphasise the dirtiness. Opt for a deep side parting instead and your hair will instantly look thicker, plus it'll hide any straggly-ness.

10. A halo braid will help

Plaiting hair along the top of your head into a halo will act as the perfect cover for dirty roots. Pull out a few strands around your hairline to soften the style, and you're all set.

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11. Channel your inner Blair Waldorf

Let's be honest, our Gossip Girl fave would never get caught with greasy hair, but we can't all be as on it as B. We can all steal her signature hair accessory though... Yep, a humble headband offers the perfect disguise on greasy hair days.

newsbirds 3PCS Velvet Wide Headbands

£9.99 at Amazon

12. Tame that cowlick

Unwashed hair tends to emphasise any kinks and curls, particularly cowlicks, as the hair clumps together. Here's the best way to fight the flick...

13. Parting plaits = greasy fringe disguiser

Twin braids are an easy option if you need to hide an oily fringe. Braid from the parting along the hairline, and then tease the plaits to loosen and give a softer vibe. Pretty and practical.

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Victoria JowettFormer Beauty Director

Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.

Lia MappouraBeauty Writer

Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.