Hairstyles for greasy hair can make oily roots look intentional with smooth parts, braids, buns, clips, and ponytails that keep the crown controlled. Instead of forcing volume into flat second-day hair, these styles use its extra grip and shine to create cleaner shapes.
The ideas below cover long, medium, short, straight, curly, fine, and thick hair, plus school, work, bangs, and no-slick-back options. Each one has a distinct shape for second, third, or fourth-day hair.
Sleek Low Bun With Middle Part
Sleek Low Bun With Middle Part features a straight center part extending from the forehead toward the crown, with glossy hair smoothed flat against both sides of the head. The length gathers into a compact, tightly wrapped bun at the nape, with tucked ends and a close-fitting silhouette that follows the scalp. This style works well on second-day straight or slightly wavy hair, using a fine-tooth comb to flatten flyaways.
High Top Knot for Oily Roots
High Top Knot for Oily Roots features hair brushed upward from the forehead, temples, and nape into a rounded bun positioned high on the crown. The roots lie flat against the scalp with a visible sheen, while the tightly gathered sides create a lifted silhouette that keeps the face unobstructed and the ends tucked inside the knot. This style suits medium-to-long hair, with a firm elastic securing the bun’s base.
Messy Low Bun for Greasy Hair
Messy Low Bun for Greasy Hair features roots swept backward from the forehead and temples, with the length gathered into a loosely arranged bun at the nape. Overlapping loops, uneven tucked ends, and a few shorter strands escaping along the neckline create an irregular outline, while the crown stays relatively flat with slight separation between sections. This style suits medium-to-long second-day hair, using bobby pins to secure the loose loops.
Medium Hair Claw Clip Twist
Medium Hair Claw Clip Twist features shoulder-length hair swept backward from the temples and folded upward into a narrow vertical twist along the back of the head. A medium-sized claw clip grips the folded section, while short ends fan out above the clip and the crown remains flat with closely gathered sides. This style suits straight or slightly wavy medium-length hair, using a sturdy claw clip to secure the twist.
Half-Up Claw Clip Twist
Half-Up Claw Clip Twist features the upper hair sections swept backward from the temples and rolled into a compact twist secured with a small claw clip at the back of the crown. The lower lengths remain loose across the shoulders, creating a clear separation between the flattened roots and flowing ends, while the sides stay close to the head. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, using a mini claw clip to hold the twist.
Half-Up Bubble Braid for Greasy Hair
Half-Up Bubble Braid for Greasy Hair features the upper sections brushed backward into a narrow ponytail, with small elastics spaced along its length to form rounded, evenly separated bubbles. The crown lies close to the scalp, while the bubble sections cascade over loose hair falling past the shoulders, creating a layered silhouette with visible volume through the center. This style suits long straight or wavy hair, with each elastic section gently pulled outward for definition.
Half-Up Bow Ponytail for Greasy Hair
Half-Up Bow Ponytail for Greasy Hair features the upper sections swept backward from the temples and secured into a small ponytail at the crown with a ribbon bow. The gathered roots lie close to the scalp, while the ponytail falls over the loose lower lengths, creating gentle movement through the shoulders and back. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, with a small elastic securing the ponytail beneath the bow.
Middle-Part Low Ponytail for Oily Roots
Middle-Part Low Ponytail for Oily Roots features a crisp center part extending toward the crown, with glossy hair smoothed flat against both sides of the head. The length gathers into a low ponytail secured at the nape, while the visible tail falls straight down the back with a slight bend at the ends, creating a narrow silhouette. This style suits medium-to-long straight or slightly wavy hair, using a fine-tooth comb to smooth the roots.
Thick Hair High Twist Ponytail
Thick Hair High Twist Ponytail features dense hair swept upward from the forehead and temples into a high ponytail anchored at the crown. A narrow section wraps around the base to conceal the elastic, while the remaining length falls in loose, overlapping waves down the back, creating a full, cascading silhouette with smooth roots and controlled sides. This style suits thick, medium-to-long hair, using a strong elastic to support the weight of the ponytail.
Long Hair Bubble Ponytail
Long Hair Bubble Ponytail features hair brushed backward from the forehead and temples into a smooth ponytail, with evenly spaced elastics creating rounded sections along the length. The crown stays flat against the scalp, while each bubble expands outward between the elastics, forming a segmented silhouette that extends down the back with a narrow tail at the bottom. This style suits long straight or wavy hair, with each section gently pulled outward to create fuller bubbles.
Classic French Braid for Oily Roots
Classic French Braid for Oily Roots features three interwoven sections beginning near the front hairline and continuing down the center of the head, with additional strands incorporated along both sides. The crown lies close to the scalp, while the raised woven pattern follows the back of the head before extending into a single plait below the nape. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, with a small elastic securing the braided ends.
Loose Double Braids With Ribbons
Loose Double Braids With Ribbons features long hair divided by a center part into two low sections, each woven into a three-strand braid falling over the shoulders. The crown sits close to the scalp, while slightly loosened braid loops create a wider silhouette with a few wispy strands around the temples, and narrow ribbons tied into bows finish both ends. This style suits long straight or wavy hair, with small elastics securing the braids beneath the ribbons.
Bubble Braids for Oily Roots
Bubble Braids for Oily Roots features hair divided into two sections with a straight center part, gathered into low pigtails behind each ear. The crown and sides lie smooth against the scalp, while evenly spaced elastics create rounded bubbles along both lengths, forming two segmented tails that extend outward from the neck. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, with each bubble gently widened between the elastics for definition.
Crown Braid With Side Bangs
Crown Braid With Side Bangs features a thick, three-strand plait wrapped around the upper head, forming a raised braided band above the ears and across the crown. The remaining hair is gathered into the braid, while side-swept bangs fall diagonally across the forehead, brushing one eyebrow and leaving part of the hairline visible. This style suits medium-to-long hair with side bangs, using concealed bobby pins to secure the braid.
Double Buns for Gym Hair
Double Buns for Gym Hair features a straight center part dividing the hair into two equal sections, each twisted into a compact, rounded bun positioned high on either side of the crown. The roots are brushed flat against the scalp, while the sides remain closely gathered and the ends tuck beneath each bun, creating a balanced silhouette with a clear neckline. This style suits medium-to-long hair, using firm elastics and bobby pins to secure both buns.
Twisted Updo With Braided Sides
Twisted Updo With Braided Sides features two narrow three-strand braids beginning near the temples and following the sides toward the back of the head. The braids meet above the nape, where the remaining length folds into a compact horizontal twist with tucked ends, while the crown stays smooth and close to the scalp. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, with concealed bobby pins securing the twist and braided ends.
No-Gel Twisted Low Bun
No-Gel Twisted Low Bun features a clean center part with hair brushed close to the scalp and two side sections twisted backward toward the nape. The twists cross above a compact, rounded bun with tucked ends, while the crown remains flat and a few fine flyaways soften the hairline without creating a glossy, wet-looking surface. This style suits medium-to-long second-day hair, using bobby pins to secure the crossed twists and bun.
No-Slick-Back Headband Waves for Oily Roots
No-Slick-Back Headband Waves for Oily Roots features shoulder-length hair with loose S-shaped waves and a wide fabric headband positioned across the front hairline. The band covers the roots near the forehead and holds the upper sections close to the crown, while the remaining lengths fall freely around the cheeks and shoulders, creating a relaxed silhouette with visible movement. This style suits medium-to-long wavy hair, using a wide nonslip headband to keep the front sections in place.
Hair Down With Mini Clips
Hair Down With Mini Clips features shoulder-length or longer hair falling loosely around the back, with two or three small clips securing narrow front sections near the temples. The clipped strands lie close to the scalp, leaving the forehead clear, while the crown retains a low profile and the remaining lengths fall in gentle bends around the shoulders. This style suits straight or slightly wavy hair, using lightweight snap clips to hold shorter front layers.
Slicked-Back Bob for Short Hair
Slicked-Back Bob for Short Hair features a jaw-length cut with glossy strands combed straight backward from the forehead, leaving the hairline exposed and the crown close to the scalp. The sides sweep neatly behind the ears, while the ends form a defined perimeter along the jaw, creating a narrow silhouette with minimal volume around the face. This style suits straight or slightly wavy short hair, using a fine-tooth comb to maintain the backward direction.
Textured Pixie for Greasy Roots
Textured Pixie for Greasy Roots features closely tapered sides and a short nape, with longer, choppy layers through the crown separated into small, defined pieces. The upper sections sweep slightly to one side, creating uneven height above the forehead, while the shorter sides follow the head’s contours and subtle shine highlights individual strands. This cut suits straight or slightly wavy short hair, with a small amount of matte styling paste defining the crown layers.
Fine Hair Sleek Claw Sweep
Fine Hair Sleek Claw Sweep features thin, straight hair brushed backward from the forehead and temples into a narrow vertical twist along the back of the head. The crown lies flat with a slight sheen, while a small claw clip holds the folded length close to the scalp, creating a compact silhouette with tucked ends and minimal bulk. This style suits fine, shoulder-length hair, using a lightweight claw clip with closely spaced teeth for a secure hold.
Curly Messy Bun With Tendrils
Curly Messy Bun With Tendrils features hair gathered upward into a loose bun at the crown, with defined ringlets escaping around the temples and nape. The roots are swept back close to the scalp, while overlapping curl loops and uneven coils create a rounded, slightly irregular bun with visible volume above the head. This style suits medium-to-long curly hair, using bobby pins to secure the bun while leaving shorter tendrils loose.
Straight Hair Sleek Low Ponytail
Straight Hair Sleek Low Ponytail features a precise center part with glossy strands smoothed close to the scalp and gathered into a low ponytail at the nape. The crown remains flat, while the sides follow the head’s contours and the straight tail falls down the back with a slight bend through the ends, creating a narrow silhouette. This style suits medium-to-long straight hair, using a fine-tooth comb to keep the roots smooth.
Blunt Bangs With Low Bun
Blunt Bangs With Low Bun features a straight, eyebrow-length fringe cut across the forehead, with fine strands separated evenly from the smoothed crown. The remaining hair sweeps backward along the temples and gathers into a compact, rounded bun at the nape, creating a close-fitting silhouette with a distinct division between the bangs and pulled-back sections. This style suits medium-to-long straight hair, with a round brush helping maintain separation through the fringe.
Curtain Bangs With Loose Braids
Curtain Bangs With Loose Braids features a center-parted fringe that curves outward from the forehead, with longer face-framing pieces falling toward the cheekbones. The remaining hair is divided into two low three-strand braids resting over the shoulders, while the crown stays close to the scalp and slightly loosened braid sections create a wider outline through the lengths. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, with a round brush adding lift to the curtain bangs.
School-Day Headband Ponytail for Greasy Hair
School-Day Headband Ponytail for Greasy Hair features a wide fabric headband covering the front hairline, with the remaining length gathered into a mid-height ponytail at the back of the head. The crown lies close to the scalp beneath the band, while the sides sweep backward and the ponytail falls freely with a slight bend through the ends. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, using a nonslip headband and firm elastic for a secure hold.
Tucked Low Bun for Work
Tucked Low Bun for Work features a clean side part with glossy hair smoothed across the crown and gathered neatly at the nape. The sides lie close to the head, while the ponytail folds inward beneath itself to form a compact, horizontal bun with concealed ends and a rounded outline that sits just above the collar. This style suits medium-to-long straight or slightly wavy hair, using concealed bobby pins to secure the tucked section.
Round-Face Side Ponytail for Greasy Hair
Round-Face Side Ponytail for Greasy Hair features an off-center part with hair swept diagonally across the crown and gathered into a low ponytail behind one ear. The upper sections lie close to the scalp with slight lift near the part, while the tail falls behind one shoulder, creating an asymmetrical silhouette with a longer line along one side of the face. This style suits round face shapes and medium-to-long hair, using a small elastic to secure the side ponytail.
Easy Braided Ponytail Updo
Easy Braided Ponytail Updo features hair smoothed across the crown and drawn backward into a low ponytail at the nape, with the sides lying close to the head. The ponytail is woven into a single three-strand braid and coiled around its base, forming a compact, rounded bun with overlapping plait sections visible across the back. This style suits medium-to-long straight or wavy hair, with bobby pins securing the braided coil against the nape.
