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
Read More
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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.