Be gone, grease!

One of the best ways to treat a greasy scalp is with a good old scrubbing on wash day using a clarifying hair cleanser. In preparation for products like hair masks and heat protectants, those with oily hair should begin with a shampoo that will absorb the oil and cleanse the scalp before further styling.

Whether your hair is curly, straight or colour-treated, we’ve rounded up the best shampoo for oily hair of all types.

What to look for in the best shampoo for oily hair

When searching for a shampoo that’ll work best on oily hair, Chatters Salon ambassador and celebrity hairstylist Cindy Duplantis tells FASHION that you’ll want to start by finding the root cause of your grease (ha!). “It’s important to understand if you have naturally oily hair, or if the oil is due to the wrong products being used,” she says.

To determine which type of oily hair person you may be, look to the skin on your face for answers. “If you have naturally oily hair, you’ll also have oily skin in areas like your T-zone. If you have naturally dry skin, then you might be having a reaction to your products and it’s time to switch things up,” explains Duplantis.

When it comes to combatting oily hair, Duplantis says it’s all about balancing oil production. “Stripping your hair of its essential oils can actually overstimulate the glands and increase oil production.” With that in mind, Duplantis advises those with oilier hair types to reach for clarifying shampoos and scrubs that can break through grease and product buildup, without stripping it down.

“Shampoos best suited for those on the oily side are designed to hydrate while effectively clarifying the scalp, removing all oil and buildup. In this case, gentle hydrators that aren’t going to leave a residue or thick layer of moisture in your hair are ideal,” says Duplantis.

The takeaway? The best shampoo for oily hair is a lightweight one.

The best shampoo for oily hair 2023

Best overall

Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo

Oribe’s Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo ticks all the boxes, starting with the fundamental understanding that healthy hair begins at the scalp. Here, a clarifying blend of green marine algae and a sugar-derived prebiotic team up to minimize and control oil while regulating the scalp’s microbiome to reduce further production of excess sebum.

And if you weren’t already sold, take in the fact that this cleanser extends the time between washes, so you can prolong your styles without worrying about the impending dread of wash day.

Pros

• Regulates excess oil
• Controls sebum on both hair and scalp
• Naturally regulates the scalp’s microbiome
• Extends time in between washes

Cons

• On the more expensive side

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Best for chemically treated hair

Loma Daily Shampoo

Looking for an oily hair shampoo that’s safe for coloured locks? Opt for Loma’s natural formula. Made with an Aloemoist Complex comprised of plant extracts, oils, vitamins and minerals, this budget-friendly shampoo works to clarify the hair while naturally nourishing it in the process.

Described as the brand’s “most effective solution for oily hair and scalps,” its a product anyone with colour-treated hair can benefit from picking up. Plus, it’s got Duplantis’ stamp of approval for washing your hair.

Pros

• Safe for colour-treated hair
• Suitable for all hair types
• Adds shine
• Detangles
• Healthy deep clean

Cons

• Has a tangerine, orange, and grapefruit scent that may not be ideal for consumers who prefer to shop fragrance-free

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Best for oily scalp and dry ends

R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo

This all-in one shampoo promises body, shine, strength, softness, and smoothness for all hair types. But what makes it particularly effective for people with oily scalps and dry ends (tricky!) is an ingredient combo that balances oil-prone scalps while hydrating dehydrated ends. 

Juniper Berry extract helps maintain the scalp’s oil balance, detoxifying hair follicles and soaking up impurities on the hair and scalp while adding weightless moisture. Meanwhile, Babassu seed oil, an emollient with restorative properties, deep conditions dry hair. 

Pros

• Lightweight
• Works for all hair types
• Many users say it’s a salon quality product
• Encourages healthy hair growth

Cons

• While many reviewers love the scent, some say it’s overpowering

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Best for fine hair

Nécessaire The Shampoo

With its lightweight formula and focus on thinning hair, Nécessaire’s shampoo is a top choice for fine hair types. Taking a skincare approach to the scalp, this shampoo relies on hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the scalp, minimize build-up and relieve itchiness as it cleanses.

We love that the plant surfactant ingredients within this product provide a deeper cleanse without weighing the hair down — which is key, especially for hair that is already on the finer side. This formula is ideal for removing excess impurities like dry shampoo, too.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Suitable for all hair types
• Relieves itchiness
• Fragrance-free

Cons

• Some reviewers mention it was a tad drying, so be sure to follow up with a conditioner that works for you

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Best for curls

Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo

The words “Wash Day Delight” are sure to perk up the ears of any curly girl, especially when they’re linked to a high-performance shampoo like this one by Carol’s Daughter. This water-to-foam shampoo can deeply cleanse kinks, coils, curls, and the scalp they live on without stripping the hair of its natural oils.

The micellar water ingredient works like a magnet to draw out product buildup and the oils you don’t want, leaving the scalp squeaky clean. Did we mention it features a targeted applicator nozzle to allow for direct access to the scalp?

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Made for curly hair types
• Helps detangle hair
• Features a targeted applicator nozzle that allows for easy scalp access
• Rinses out easily

Cons

• Some reviewers wish it had more lather

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Best budget

L’Oréal Paris Hair Expertise Extraordinary Clay Shampoo

For a budget-friendly buy, opt for a drugstore clay shampoo that promises to treat both oily roots and dry ends. What’s not to love?

Infused with three mineral clays, this shampoo works its magic by simultaneously providing a deep cleanse at the scalp, while hydrating the ends of your hair as it runs down your lengths. The result? Up to 72 hours of fresh roots, and happy strands.

Pros

• Affordable
• Promotes shine
• Rinses clean and leaves no residue behind
• Keeps hair fresh for up to 72 hours

Cons

• One reviewer notes it may not be powerful enough for curly or coily hair types

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Best for oily scalp

Biolage Scalpsync Cooling Mint Shampoo

One thing we can appreciate when it comes to hair care? A product that truly feels like it’s working. That sensation is particularly rewarding in the case of oily scalps.

Thanks to its mint leaf ingredient, this shampoo delivers a cooling sensation that feels oh-so refreshing. As it penetrates the scalp, this shampoo cleanses excess oil and removes scalp debris, so you can rinse to reveal a healthy-looking, fresh-feeling head of hair.

Pros

• Designed to wash oily hair and scalps
• Provides a cooling sensation
• Helps balance the scalp
• Affordable
• Minty-fresh alternative to typical shampoo for oily hair key ingredients apple cider vinegar and salicylic acid

Cons

• Some reviewers are not fans of the fragrance

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Best luxury

Ouai Detox Shampoo

Spoil your scalp with a thorough cleanse using Ouai’s Detox Shampoo. As its name suggests, this cleanser acts as a “detox” that can be used once a week (or more if you need a really deep cleanse).

Apple cider vinegar and hydrolyzed keratin are the star ingredients within this product that exfoliate and cleanse the scalp while keeping the rest of your hair looking soft and shiny. For that extra spa-like feel, this shampoo is scented with notes of rose, bergamot, lychee, cedarwood and white musk so your hair can smell as fresh as it’ll feel after use.

Pros

• Provides a deep cleanse without stripping the hair down
• Clears the scalp of product buildup
• Suitable for all hair types
• Boosts softness and shine while reducing frizz

Cons

• On the more expensive side

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Best sulfate-free

OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint Shampoo

The name of the game when shopping for oily hair types is balance, not removal! It’s important to remember that you don’t want to strip the hair of its natural oils completely. Sulfate ingredients in shampoos can often prove to be too stripping, which is where sulfate-free shampoos come in.

OGX’s Refreshing Scalp + Teatree Mint shampoo is one of our favourite sulfate-free selects. Inside this bottle, tea tree oil and peppermint awaken the scalp with a tingling sensation, as witch hazel helps carry out a gentle yet effective cleanse.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Creates a satisfying tingling sensation
• Affordable
• Sulfate-free
• Great for scalp and hair treatment

Cons

• One reviewer says the formula may be too thick for an even flow to come out of the nozzle

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Best for dry/damaged

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Here’s a haircare revelation that may come as a shock to some: not all shampoos have to exist in liquid form! Briogeo’s scalp-exfoliating shampoo is proof, and it works wonders for thirsty tresses that are also oily — a tricky combination to treat.

In addition to detoxifying and soothing the scalp, this micro-exfoliant cleanser draws upon coconut oil to help lock in moisture. In a clinical study, it was revealed that this product increased scalp hydration by up to 120 per cent! No wonder it’s one of the brand’s bestsellers.

Pros

• Suitable for all hair types
• Deeply exfoliates
• Hydrates the scalp
• Soothes itchiness
• Use frequency depends on your hair type and scalp conditions

Cons

• Some consumers who typically use liquid shampoos may not be used to the texture

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