EVELYSS / Guides / Beauty

How to Stop Your Fringe Getting Greasy (Morning, Midday and Under a Hat)

“A fringe spends all day on your forehead, so of course it gets oily first. Don't punish the whole head for it. Wash the bit that needs washing, get a little distance between hair and skin, and stop touching it.”Her take

Why a fringe goes greasy first

A fringe has less hair than the rest of your head and it rests directly against the forehead. So skin oil, sweat, moisturiser and make-up have a short route on to fine strands. Its short length also means there's less hair to spread any oil along, so it shows up fast.

Winter brings its own version of the problem. Hat bands press the fringe on to warm skin, then a heated train or office makes it sticky. Fixing this comes down to three things: removing the oil, slowing its return, and keeping your fringe off your skin wherever you can.

Wash only the fringe when you need to

You don't need a full wash to rescue it. Clip back the rest of your hair, lean over the basin, and wet just the fringe. Use a pea-sized drop of shampoo, rinse thoroughly, and press out the water with a towel. The whole process takes about five minutes, including drying.

Skip conditioner on the fringe unless the ends are really dry, then use only a tiny amount on the last centimetre. Rich masks and hair oils applied to your lengths can also transfer when you run your hands through your hair. Wash your hands before you touch your fringe, not just after.

Dry it from the root

Drying the roots well matters more than the final style. Damp roots flatten and stick to your forehead, which makes the fringe look oily sooner. While the hair is still wet, use your fingers or a small brush and blow-dry it to the left, then to the right, and then forward. This helps the root lift off your skin.

Point the nozzle down the hair so it lies smooth, and finish with cool air. For a slightly curved shape, use a small round brush rather than pressing it flat with straighteners. A fringe with a little lift will stay off your skin for longer than one that sits completely flat.

Use dry shampoo properly

Use it early. Dry shampoo works better when applied before the fringe looks oily, rather than after it has separated into strings. For very oily hair, some people apply a light layer after blow-drying or the evening before. Hold the can at the distance shown on the label, and be careful around your eyes.

For better control, spray a small amount on to a clean make-up brush or small round brush and work it through the roots. If you have dark hair, choose a tinted product or brush it through until no powder is visible. Keep a travel-size bottle or a little translucent powder in your bag for afternoons.

Keep skincare and make-up off your fringe

Your morning order matters. Clip your fringe back with a flat clip while you apply skincare and foundation, then leave it clipped until the products have settled. Five minutes is usually enough. Keep rich creams away from your hairline, and blot your forehead with a tissue if it feels slick.

Then dust a little translucent powder across your forehead, particularly where the fringe rests. Change your pillowcase regularly, and clip your fringe back at night if you sleep in hair products or a heavy night cream.

• Morning: clip back, skincare, base, powder, then release the fringe.
• Desk: use the back of a clean comb, not your fingers, to move hair.
• Evening: clip it away while you do your skincare.

Wearing a hat with a fringe

A hat band holds your fringe against warm skin, which is the fastest way to flatten and oil it. Make sure the roots are completely dry before the hat goes on, because damp hair sets in whatever shape the band pushes it into. Choose a looser hat, or wear it over a soft headband so the band isn't pressing directly on your forehead.

Take the hat off as soon as you're inside, on the train as well as at the office, so the heat doesn't build up beneath it. Clean the inside of the band regularly, as it collects oil and product and passes them back. If you know it'll be on for hours, sweep the fringe to one side under a flat clip and release it when you arrive, then brush it through with a little dry shampoo.

A fast fix when it's already greasy

Hold a blotting sheet or clean tissue under the fringe and press your forehead first. Next, apply a little dry shampoo or translucent powder at the roots with a small brush, leave it for a minute, then brush through. Finish with a hairdryer on a cool setting if there's one to hand.

If there's no saving it, change the shape. Pin it back with a neat clip, twist it to the side, or sweep it under a silk scarf worn as a headband. A deliberate clip looks better than strings you keep pushing around. If oiliness is sudden or comes with an irritated scalp, a pharmacist or GP can offer advice.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Wash the fringe, not your whole head. Dry from the root, powder the skin beneath it, use dry shampoo early and keep your hands off.

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