The best shampoo for fine oily hair

Glossy, not greasy — it’s a fine balance. If you’ve found your locks falls into the latter camp, it’s time for an intervention, namely one of the best shampoos for oily hair.

Scalps that are overwhelmed with oiliness, will not only look greasy, but can also lead to irritation. In addition, excess oil can disrupt your hair’s natural texture, weigh locks down and lead to styles dropping at lightning speed — causing a plethora of problems.

Thankfully a clarifying shampoo for greasy hair is a simple solution to help restore your hair’s natural balance. Unlike your average cleansing formula, these products are supercharged with ingredients to banish unwanted grease, without drying out thirsty ends.

So to help, we embarked on a thorough test of the market, to discover the best oil-busting formulas, guaranteed to leave you with a happy, healthy scalp.

Can poor diet cause greasy hair?

We’ve learned by now that if there’s something going on with our hair, skin or nails, our lifestyle and diet usually has a big role to play.

The same applies if you’re suffering from an oily scalp. Foods rich in vitamin B (such as eggs, fish and green veg) will work wonders for your health, but work particularly well when it comes to helping to regulate your sebum production.

There are also foods to avoid, too. For instance, a diet high in dairy, fatty meats, sugar and refined carbohydrates can cause your body to work overtime and actually cause more oil. You can still enjoy your truffle pasta, just remember, everything in moderation.

Can dehydration cause oily hair?

Just like your t-zone looking greasy, an oily scalp can be a sign that your hair is lacking in hydration.

If your body thinks it’s lost too much water, it will go to the other end of the scale and produce extra oil to help rectify the problem. Of course, we might think the opposite and try to dry hair out to eliminate the issue, creating a problematic pattern.

A dehydrated scalp might suffer from itchiness, irritation, inflammation and dandruff, so it’s important to help regulate your oil production.

A shampoo packed with hydrating ingredients – such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera – are just some of the key components that could help return some moisture.

How can you stop hair from getting greasy?

It sounds counterproductive, but try to limit the number of times you wash your hair per week. Once-a-day cleansing will only strip away your natural oils, causing your scalp to produce even more sebum. This often leads to a build-up of excess oil and sweat at the roots, which leaves hair looking greasy and can, over time, cause dandruff and excess hair breakage.

Instead, aim to reach for the shampoo three times a week – subject to your hair texture – as this will act as a reset button, regulating your scalp’s oil production over time. The first few weeks may be testing, but your hair will thank you in the long run.

How we test to find the best products

We asked 350 people with a range of hair textures to try 23 brands of shampoo for two weeks.

Each shampoo claimed to tackle oily hair, and our testers reported back on whether they actually did. They judged how well each one cleaned hair and whether they noticed any long-lasting benefits, such as added hydration, shine or smoothness.

We also applied artificial sebum to hair swatches and used a sebumeter to measure oil and sebum levels after washing with each shampoo. This told us how well each one controlled oil levels.

Below, we’ve also made clear if our winning shampoo contains parabens, silicones or sulphates, in case you’d rather avoid them.

Best For Oil Control

Sunday Shampoo

Bumble and Bumble

Best For Softness

Serie Expert Pure Resource Shampoo

L'Oréal Professionnel

Best For Thicker Hair

Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Shampoo

Living Proof

Best For Sensitive Scalps

Dercos Anti-Dandruff Purifying Scalp Shampoo

Vichy

Best For Detoxing

Balance Shampoo

Josh Rosebrook

Best For A Deep Cleanse

Deep Cleansing Shampoo

Authentic Beauty Concept

Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Feeling slick? Lather up with these oil-reducing shampoos that won't overdry hair.

Courtesy

Oil on your body? Glistening. Oily scalp? Not as nice. If you fall into the Need to Shampoo Daily category, we feel you. Greasy hair can be a hassle, as can the need to wash it every day. But with the right technique, it's possible to keep the oil slicks—and the wash days—to a minimum.

"People with oily hair need a gentle cleanser that removes buildup and product," Joseph Maine, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Trademark Beauty, explains. But he also shares that the issue may not be excess oil after all. "Often, people think they have an oily hair type or oily scalp when in reality it's buildup from products or shampoo."

That's why it's important to wash thoroughly and with products that don't leave residue behind. Read on for 15 formulas that'll cut the grease while also keeping your hair healthy and shiny.

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  Best for Color-Treated Hair

  Color Security Shampoo Color Wow

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  Best for Fine Hair

  Fine Hair Shampoo OUAI

  Read More

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  Best for Scalp

  Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Scrub Shampoo Briogeo

  Read More

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  Best Treatment

  Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Treatment Serum Sunday Riley

  Read More

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  Best for Major Excess Oil

  Shampoo with Nettle for Oily Hair and Scalp Klorane

  Read More

Best for Color-Treated Hair

Color Wow

Color Security Shampoo

Best for Fine Hair

OUAI

Fine Hair Shampoo

Best for Scalp

Briogeo

Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Scrub Shampoo

Best Treatment

Sunday Riley

Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Treatment Serum

Best for Major Excess Oil

Klorane

Shampoo with Nettle for Oily Hair and Scalp

Best Tea Tree Shampoo

Tea Tree

Special Shampoo

Best for the Gym

ACURE

Daily Workout Watermelon & Blood Orange Shampoo

Best Hydrating

Kérastase

Specifique Divalent Balancing Shampoo for Oily Hair

Best Strengthening

Kevin.Murphy

Balancing.Wash

Best Luxe

Dr. Barbara Sturm

Balancing Shampoo

Drugstore Deal

L'Oréal Paris

Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo

Best Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

Aveeno

Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Best Clarifying

Maple Holistics

Degrease Shampoo for Oily Hair Care

Best Balancing Shampoo

Leonor Greyl

Bain TS Shampooing Balancing Shampoo

Best for Roots

Christophe Robin

Purifying Shampoo with Thermal Mud

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you condition your hair if it's oily?

Yes, but ... "Always keep conditioner away from your scalp," Maine explains. Apply conditioner from the middle to ends of your hair, and that's it. Any higher will just add to the greasy appearance.

Is it bad to wash your hair every day?

If you don't have to, it can be nice to give your hair a day or two in between washes. But if you must shampoo every day, stick with one of the gentle, balancing formulas above, like Kevin Murphy's.

Does my shampoo cause buildup?

"A lot of people experiencing excess oil are unaware that their shampoo can be contributing to this issue," Maine says. This includes moisturizing agents in the shampoo that build up over time and can make your hair appear greasy." If you've recently swapped shampoos and are suddenly seeing extra oil, or if you've been oily for a while and haven't changed up your shampoo, the fix might be as simple as making a switch.

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