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17 Shampoos to Try ASAP if You Have Oily Hair

17 Shampoos to Try ASAP if You Have Oily Hair featured image
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Oily hair is nothing to be ashamed of, but it can totally be a pain to deal with. Those of us who tend to look very greasy when we dare skip a wash day know that it takes a very special mix of products to keep that oiliness at bay. And it all starts with the right shampoo.

But how does one pick a shampoo amongst the many at our disposal? To answer that, we had to turn to the experts. See what they had to say below. 

  • Bridgette Hill is a trichologist
  • April Story is a Fekkai Global master stylist
  • Andrew Fitzsimons is a celebrity hairstylist and founder of Andrew Fitzsimons
  • Kari Williams, PhD is the a trichologist and the director of education at Cécred 

Causes of Oily Hair

The key to understanding how you got oily hair in the first place starts at the scalp. As certified trichologist Bridgette Hill explains, our scalp is made up of two main dermal glands: the sebaceous gland and the sudoriferous sweat gland. The sebaceous gland (aka oil gland) produces sebum, and the sudoriferous gland produces sweat when our scalp perspires. Hill says that a healthy, functioning body will excrete a balance of sebum and water to promote a healthy scalp and environment for hair to grow. It’s when the body is overly stressed or inflamed that the sweat glands will expel a type of fatty sweat that interacts with healthy bacteria on our scalp that will give it that oily and “dirty scalp” feel. 

“Just like the rest of your skin, balance is key,” says April Story, Fekkai global master stylist. “There are several factors that can contribute to the overproduction of oil on the hair and scalp.” Story lists the following as some of the most common causes of oily hair:

  • Genetics
  • Hormonal changes
  • Over washing
  • Using the wrong hair products
  • Not rinsing properly
  • Diet
  • Environmental factors

Andrew Fitzsimons, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Andrew Fitzsimons haircare, agrees and says that understanding these causes will help guide you in finding the right solution. “By identifying the root cause, you can make informed choices in managing your oily hair,” he says. 

How to Treat Oily Hair

According to Kari Williams, PhD, Cécred director of education and certified trichologist, washing oily hair and scalps requires an approach that will remove excess oil without stripping the scalp. It’s all about finding products that strike that perfect balance. Story suggests looking for products that are gentle and sulfate-free with ingredients that are known to combat and regulate oil and sebum (think apple cider vinegar, salicylic acid and other types of exfoliants). 

With all that in mind, the experts shared their picks of what to use when washing your hair. Below are 17 of the best shampoos for oily hair.

The Best Shampoos for Oily Hair

1 / 17

Fekkai Apple Cider Detox Shampoo ($29)

Story recommends this shampoo from Fekkai for many reasons. It uses apple cider vinegar, salicylic acid and pomegranate seed oil to balance the scalp’s pH levels and perform gentle exfoliation to clear up any buildup. “The rinse is a lightweight, detoxing [and] conditioning agent that leaves hair soft and shiny,” she says. As an added bonus? The scent is divine. 

BUY ON FEKKAI – $29

BUY ON ULTA – $29

fekkai-shampoo
2 / 17

Nue Co Supa Thick Shampoo ($22)

Hill says this is one of the best formulations to maintain your scalp’s microbiome, which regulates unwanted oil and odor production. It has red algae, apple cider vinegar and vitamin B5 to leave the scalp feeling clean and hair looking shiny and soft. 

BUY ON SEPHORA – $22

3 / 17

NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Clean 2-in-1 Scalp Scrub and Shampoo ($19)

Fitzsimons recommends this shampoo that doubles as a scrub to give your scalp a detox treatment. It is made with probiotic-rich sake water, antioxidants and plant extracts to give skin a gentle exfoliation and balance your scalp’s microbiome.

BUY ON NATURELAB. TOKYO – $19

BUY ON AMAZON – $19

Award Photo: Perfect Clean Clarifying Scalp Scrub and Shampoo
Award Photo: Perfect Clean Clarifying Scalp Scrub and Shampoo
4 / 17

Rene Furterer Curbicia Purifying Clay Shampoo ($38)

Hill recommends this shampoo for its ability to purify the scalp without stripping necessary oils your scalp needs to grow healthy hair. “[It] imports minerals and essential oils like thyme and rosemary that regulate oil,” she explains. 

BUY ON RENE FURTERER – $38

BUY ON AMAZON – $31

rene-furterer-shampoo
5 / 17

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo ($9)

Hill says that apple cider vinegar should always be incorporated into a hair-care regimen for those with oily hair and scalps. This shampoo from Aveeno helps regulate and control excess oil production—but also leaves hair shiny and locks in moisture, she says. 

BUY ON AMAZON – $9

BUY ON TARGET – $9

aveeno shampoo
6 / 17

Andrew Fitzsimons Discreet AF Dry Shampoo ($16)

Fitzsimons recommends using a dry shampoo on days you need to control excess oil but can’t wash your hair. Something like Andrew Fitzsimons Discreet AF Dry Shampoo will absorb oil and odor, as well as remove dirt and debris. 

BUY ON ULTA – $16

andrew fitzsimons dry shampoo
7 / 17

Klorane Oil Control and Organic Nettle Shampoo ($19)

Hill likes this shampoo because it gently reduces excess oil and extends time between shampoos. It contains organic nettle to regulate oil production and will keep the scalp and hair clean. 

BUY ON AMAZON – $19

BUY ON KLORANE – $22

klorance oil control shampoo
8 / 17

Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub ($38)

“This dual-action product combines physical and chemical exfoliants to deeply cleanse the scalp and hair, removing product buildup without over-stripping,” says Dr. Williams. “It’s formulated to soothe and balance the scalp and includes a chelating agent that neutralizes the effects of hard water.” You’ll find exfoliants, fermented purple willow bark and tea tree oil to remove buildup and boost scalp health. 

BUY ON CECRED – $38

cecred-shampoo
9 / 17

L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo ($9)

This shampoo uses three types of refined clay to reduce oil on the scalp while also nourishing hair. Suitable for all hair types, it also helps with dandruff. 

BUY ON TARGET – $9

l'oreak elvive extraordinary clay shampoo
10 / 17

K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo ($38)

It uses its proprietary peptide, salicylic acid and activated charcoal to absorb excess oil and clear sebum buildup to give your scalp a thorough detox and cleanse. It will also help extend your wash days, which is always a plus.

BUY ON AMAZON – $38

BUY ON K18 – $38

Award Photo: Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
Award Photo: Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
11 / 17

Head & Shoulders Clinical Strength Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Advanced Oil Control ($11)

It would be remiss to not include the OG shampoo for oily hair. This refresh on a classic shampoo fights dandruff and oil at once.

BUY ON TARGET – $11

head and shoulders oil control shampoo
12 / 17

Curlsmith Wash & Scrub Clarifying Detox Shampoo ($28)

This formula is made with detoxing ingredients such as apple cider vinegar and perlite to give your scalp a gentle exfoliation and remove sebum and buildup. It also boosts your hair’s shine, which is always a welcome bonus. 

BUY ON CURLSMITH – $28

BUY ON SEPHORA – $29

curlsmith wash and scrub clarifying detox
13 / 17

Bread Beauty Supply Clear-Wash: Detox Clarifying Shampoo ($24)

Perfect for natural curls, this detox shampoo from Bread works to keep your scalp and hair free from buildup and debris. It contains amino acids, bilberry fruit, ginger root, and sage, rosemary, and eucalyptus extracts to provide antibacterial properties and regulate oiliness. It can also protect strands from damage and boost blood circulation for better hair growth

BUY ON BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY – $24

BUY ON AMAOZN – $24

bread wash
14 / 17

Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo ($15)

This lightweight shampoo works wonders in giving your hair a deep cleanse without weighing hair down. It also contains deep sea minerals to boost your hair’s hydration. 

BUY ON AMAZON – $15

nexxus hydra-light shampoo
15 / 17

Harklinikken Stabilizing Scalp Shampoo ($43)

2024 NewBeauty Award winner, this shampoo pretty much does it all. It uses burdock root and glycosides to remove excess oil and stabilize your scalp’s microbiome. It also restores your hair’s natural thickness and radiance. 

BUY ON HARKLINIKKEN – $43

Award Photo: Stabilizing Scalp Shampoo
Award Photo: Stabilizing Scalp Shampoo
16 / 17

Redken Detox Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo ($26)

This shampoo not only removes oil but can also help remove hard minerals found in water that can dull and weigh down hair. You’ll get a thorough cleanse and soft and shiny hair. What more could one want from a shampoo?

BUY ON AMAZON – $26

BUY ON ULTA – $26

redken hair cleansing cream
17 / 17

OUAI Detox Shampoo ($32)

Made with apple cider vinegar and hydrolyzed keratin, this shampoo gently exfoliates the scalp and helps smooth away any frizz. It also has special cleansing agents to remove minerals and impurities from hard water that might damage hair. 

BUY ON AMAZON – $32

BUY ON SEPHORA – $32

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