15 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair

Table Of Content

• Best Overall: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
• Best for a gentle cleanse
• How often should you wash oily hair?
• Best daily shampoo for oily hair
• Best for Natural Hair: Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo
• How We Chose the Best Shampoos for Oily Hair
• Best for Dry Scalps: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) strongly advises opting for a shampoo that's formulated specifically for your hair type to ensure it's tailored to your needs. Otherwise, you likely won't reap the benefits you're looking for — or worse, you could risk damaging your hair, says Levine. Between the healing plant-based oils and butters and the invigorating caffeine — which stimulates blood flow to the scalp — this luxurious shampoo is well worth the splurge. "This shampoo contains amaranth extract which acts as a natural hair strengthener and also has ceramides and biotin to improve the strength of each strand, preventing premature breakage," explains Han. That's why experts advise only pursuing this option with your dermatologist or trichologist as a last resort.

Best Overall: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

"I recommend it because it can help increase blood flow to the scalp nourishing the hair follicle with nutrients," she says. Sims also describes rosemary oil to be "anti-inflammatory and it can decrease the inflammation caused by DHT attaching to the hair follicle with those with hair loss caused by increased androgens." Choosing the right oil can boost hair follicle growth, nourish the roots, and promote stronger, healthier hair. With an overwhelming number of hair oils to choose from, we turned to experts in dermatology, medicine, and hair care to discover the benefits of oils like castor, rosemary, pumpkin seed, and thyme. These oils are particularly useful for women with fine hair who are looking to achieve thicker and healthier locks.

Best for a gentle cleanse

"It removes oil and product buildup without all the unnecessary additives," he notes. Plus, the Maine says that this shampoo makes it easy to cleanse oily hair without the help of a clarifying agent. "It does this while being scientifically as gentle on your hair cuticle as water alone," he adds, "Which will help both your hair texture and hair color."

How often should you wash oily hair?

To narrow down your search, I tested more than 10 different kinds of shampoos for oily hair to identify which bottles were the best in the following categories. This smoothing shampoo eliminates greasy roots while also giving you the shiny, healthy-looking of your dreams. The secret is juniper berry extract, which aids in balancing the scalp oils—some of which are beneficial to the health of your hair! Glycerin, a natual humectant, lends a helping hand, maintaining the moisture balance of hair. We love how this shampoo enhances every hair texture; if your hair is straight, it adds shine and body, and if your hair is curly, it makes your curls glossy and bouncy.

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Best daily shampoo for oily hair

They target grease and product build up, break it down, and remove it from your scalp. Rahua's top-rated organic shampoo uses natural lemongrass and green tea to remove excess oil and balance the scalp, while helping to enhance body and volume. Plus, the soothing lavender scent makes washing your hair a spa-like experience. "This natural shampoo cleans well and gives a squeaky clean feeling without drying my hair out." However, note that this pricey pick doesn't lather as much as other shampoos. Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from hair-growth shampoos to curly hair products to castor oil for hair. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to shampoos for oily hair after a lifetime of trying shampoos that help her avoid washing her naturally greasy hair every single day.

Some clarifying shampoos are not recommended for color-treated hair — but not this one. The Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Detox Shampoo is the best of both worlds, providing a safe cleanse for those who color their strands while also clarifying the scalp and hair to remove excess oil and product buildup. If you have fine hair that gets a bit greasy (especially at the roots), the AG Hair Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo is our top recommendation. After testing this lightweight product for several weeks, we found that the apple cider vinegar formula worked fantastically at lifting away excess oil and providing a natural clarifying effect without stripping the strands. We love that this shampoo lathers really well and you don’t need to use a lot of the formula to cover your hair, which means a little goes a long way. People with oily hair think they need to shampoo more, but shampooing every day can actually create more oil, says celebrity hairstylist Dominick Pucciarello.

How We Chose the Best Shampoos for Oily Hair

Formulated with apple cider vinegar, the shampoo lifted away excess oil and product buildup from the roots, which added lots of amazing volume, especially when we gave ourselves a DIY blowout. This shampoo does have a strong apple vinegar scent, which might not be for everyone. "For scalp buildup and dandruff, I highly recommend this shampoo," says hairstylist Jana Rago, owner of Jana Rago Studios in Boston.

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Best for hair loss

They may need to prescribe a stronger medicated shampoo if over-the-counter shampoos don't relieve your dandruff. There are a lot of charcoal beauty products on the market, but the ingredient is actually great in shampoo, too. The Drybar On the Rocks Clarifying Charcoal Shampoo uses activated charcoal to absorb excess oil, which helps clear up scalp breakouts. (Activated charcoal is also a dermatologist-recommended ingredient for treating scalp acne.) It can even help remove any chemical or dirt buildup that’s left on your scalp from other hair products. It's easy for fine hair to get weighed down by hair care products, so it's best to look for a lightweight shampoo.

Best for Dry Scalps: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Overall, our testers agreed that their hair looked smoother, and reported hair looking softer and more nourished after the trial. Our lab test backed this up, confirming it as a top performer when it came to removing artificial sebum. Better still, despite its thorough clean, it still managed to leave strands more hydrated after washing. It’s also tricky if you’re planning a trip to the gym on a non-wash day, but that’s where a dry shampoo can step in as a quick and easy solution.

This formula is free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, so it can be used on all hair types (including color-treated hair). But most importantly, it leaves your hair feeling super soft and silky, and it even helps keep frizz at bay. Just keep in mind that the Olaplex shampoo is pretty thick, so people with very fine hair might think it’s a bit too heavy.

At least once a week, you should swap your standard conditioner for a hair mask. As a face mask does for your complexion, it's a quick and easy way to improve the state of your mane—think of it as an elevated version of a regular conditioner. We love Verb's Ghost Hair Mask, an extremely moisturizing yet surprisingly lightweight formula that imparts mega shine. Suitable for all hair types and textures, this silicone-free superfood conditioner is a surefire pick for pretty much anyone and everyone.

Chicago-based hairstylist Nick Stenson also recommends steering clear of silicones. "Silicone tends to coat the hair, making it heavy, which counteracts the benefits of the volumizing," he explains. What's more, "continued use of silicones over time can weigh down the hair," board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, who is based in New York City, previously told Allure.

If you're anything like us and like to really load up on cream rinse, opting for a wallet-friendly option like this one is always a good move. It works as well as its pricier counterparts, nourishing strands from the inside out. We like that it delivers both immediate smoothing benefits while also improving the condition of your hair over time. Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings.

And yep, you'll still get that coveted shine without the unnecessary chemicals. If you have an oily scalp or hair that quickly becomes greasy after washing, this lightweight, silicone-free formula might be your answer. This detoxifying shampoo is paraben-free, sulfate-free, and phthalate-free, says Ilyas. Still, it's one of the most effective shampoos for oily hair out there—and one she especially recommends for patients who want to minimize their chemical exposure. For a simple, relaxing scalp-cleansing session, reach for this two-in-one scalp scrub and shampoo by Biotera.

As a general rule, we heart pretty much all conditioners (and shampoos, for that matter) found at the drugstore—but this one really stands out. The namesake ingredients work to tamp down flyaways, hydrate parched strands, and prevent breakage. Although it does contain silicone, the simple formula is free of sulfates and parabens. We also noticed results immediately and our hair not only looked amazing but felt super clean, too. According Kopelman, dealing with both an oily scalp and dry ends is a common concern due to factors such as genetics, hormonal changes and hair care habits. Your hair is as unique as you are — and getting to the root of your oily scalp issues will call for some trial and error.

Just mild scalp massaging will produce a creamy bunch of bubbles, making for a sensorial experience as you cleanse your hair and scalp. Many shampoos infuse hair with extra oils and silicone ingredients, which can make your hair look heavier and less clean even right after you wash it. The vegan formula includes rahua, lavender and eucalyptus oils to strengthen strands and improve shine, while balancing an oily scalp. The shampoo's name says it all—it works hard to degrease and purify your hair and scalp by reducing buildup.