How to find the right shampoo for your oily hair
Oily hair requires a shampoo that’ll remove excess oil without stripping the hair of essential moisture.
Revivv Scalp Detox Scrub and Shampoo
$49.00
$49.00
When shopping for a shampoo for oily hair, our experts recommend looking at several factors, including ingredients and the type of formula. For our list, we chose shampoos that are formulated with ingredients that help curb existing oiliness without contributing to more oil.
Generally, clarifying shampoos are best for those with oily hair because they have heavier surfactants (cleansing agents that create a lather), allowing the shampoo to remove product buildup and oils from the scalp that normal shampoos aren’t strong enough to remove, says Santiago.
Exfoliating shampoos can also help combat oiliness. These work by “removing buildup from the scalp, whether by physically sloughing it off with materials like jojoba beads, salt and sugar, or by chemically breaking the bonds that secure dead skin cells to the skin’s surface or within the pore,” says Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist in Toronto, Canada.
Santiago is a fan of this clarifying shampoo from Ouai, saying “it’s gentle enough to use every other wash and always leaves my scalp feeling clean and my ends feeling hydrated.” It’s made with apple cider vinegar to exfoliate dead skin and remove flakes as well as hydrolyzed keratin to keep strands soft and smooth, says the brand. We like that this comes in various sizes, including a travel-friendly mini size.
Sulfate-free: yes | Color safe: yes
If you have oily hair, Yadav recommends this clay-based shampoo. “While some people need a weekly deep conditioning treatment, others need a ‘deep shampoo’ like this one,” she says. “It uses two forms of clay — kaolin and montmorillonite — to absorb excess oil as well as salicylic acid to help exfoliate the scalp and remove dead skin cell buildup.” It also has menthol, which provides a refreshing and cooling sensation on the scalp.
Sulfate-free: no | Color safe: not listed
This formula, a favorite of Yadav’s, exfoliates and clarifiesthe scalp. “This is a shampoo-scalp scrub hybrid that can be used more than once a week without disrupting the microbiome of the scalp,” she says. “It uses sea salt to slough away dead skin as well as purifying essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, orange and tea tree to remove excess oil, combat bacteria and promote balance.” Because of its whipped, fluffy texture, it’s easy to work into the hair regardless of hair type. Plus, the grains of salt dissolve once they’ve helped to get the buildup off the scalp, so you don’t have to worry about over-exfoliating, says Yadav.
Sulfate-free: yes | Color safe: N/a
According to Santiago, this shampoo removes buildup and makes hair feel clean after just one wash. It’s safe for color-treated hair and forms into a rich lather to gently rid flakes and buildup. I’ve gone through a bottle of this and love how well it clarifies my scalp, especially if it’s been a heavy week of hair styling and product usage. Keep in mind that because it has peppermint oil, it tingles, so be wary of touching your eyes in the shower after using it.
Sulfate-free: no | Color safe: yes
This shampoo, which has a 4.4-star average rating from 1,431 ratings at Target, is designed to soothe an irritated scalp and has apple cider vinegar to clarify and add shine, according to the brand. It’s made without sulfates, yet lathers well and removes product buildup without stripping the hair of its natural oils, according to Aveeno. Packaging-wise, it’s simple with a flip-top cap that’s easy to squeeze product out of.
Sulfate-free: yes | Color safe: yes
A little bit of this formula goes a long way, says Santiago, who recommends this shampoo and says it makes her hair feel “cleaner, bouncier and hydrated.” The formula, which is safe for color- and chemically-treated hair, doesn’t have any added water, leading to a more potent, concentrated formula, according to the brand. It also comes in a metal container that you can refill once you run out.
Sulfate-free: yes | Color safe: yes
Suited for all hair types, this clarifying shampoo effectively removes buildup and strengthens the hair. It’s formulated with plant extracts like lavender, rosemary, chamomile and jojoba to nourish the hair, as well as keratin to alleviate any damage, according to the brand. Plus, it has argan oil to prevent the hair from drying out.
Sulfate-free: yes | Color safe: yes
When shopping, here’s what experts recommend you keep in mind:
The ingredients you choose for your shampoo depend on what your hair needs are. For those with oily hair, sulfates may be necessary. “Sulfates are a type of surfactant and surfactants are critical to cleansers like shampoos because they grab onto dirt and oil and help to whisk it away once water is added into the mix,” says Yadav. In particular, sulfates are what give a shampoo that rich lather that many associate with getting clean.
While many people avoid shampoos containing sulfates because they’re often associated with causing scalp dryness and irritation, for those with oily scalps, they can be helpful in breaking down excess sebum and buildup that otherwise contribute to a cycle of oiliness.
Certain ingredients are better for oily hair than others and can help alleviate oiliness. “Clay is very absorbent, and when formulated in a shampoo, can effectively soak up excess oil in the hair,” says Yadav. If your shampoo has clay in it, make sure it’s well-balanced with other ingredients to prevent overstripping, says Yadav, who notes that overuse of masks made of pure clay or featuring very few ingredients other than clay could dry out your hair to the point of damage.
Charcoal is another absorbent ingredient to seek out if you’re looking to absorb oil. Beyond clay and charcoal, formulas that have witch hazel and tea tree are also helpful — they are natural astringents, meaning they help remove excess oil, says Yadav.
Generally speaking, shampoos come in gel and cream varieties. Gel shampoos tend to be more lightweight and thinner in consistency while cream shampoos are denser and help hydrate the hair. “Those with oily scalps tend to do better with gel formulas as they can often cut through grease more effectively than a creamy formula,” says Yadav. Typically, gel shampoos are oil-free, so they won’t exacerbate oiliness for those who are grease-prone.
There are several contributing factors as to why your hair may be oily. “If you wash your hair quite regularly and it still appears oily, you likely have oily skin, which is largely genetic, but can be exacerbated by environmental factors, such as hot and humid locations, certain medications and fluctuations in hormone levels,” says Yadav. Your scalp is an extension of your skin, so factors like stress and touching your hair too frequently can cause the skin in this area to produce excess sebum.
Using styling products that are too heavy for your hair type and texture, and washing infrequently can also make your hair appear oily, says Yadav. All hair types can experience oiliness, however those with fine, straight hair are more likely to look oily sooner than those with coarse, textured hair, says Yadav, who notes this is due to the fact that sebum can travel more easily from the scalp down the hair shaft when the hair is straight.
Over-washing your hair can also lead to oiliness. “Sebum exists to help support your skin barrier and maintain moisture levels — when you strip your skin of excess oil, it’ll often respond by producing more oil in an attempt to self-regulate,” says Yadav.
There are a few nuances to keep in mind when it comes to clarifying shampoos, including formulas with clay and charcoal. Because they often have surfactants that thoroughly deep clean the scalp, they can strip the scalp of its natural oils if overused. Especially if you have color-treated or chemically-processed hair, you should use a clarifying shampoo no more than once a week. Here’s a step-by-step on how to use a clarifying shampoo, according to Yadav.
Over-using a clarifying shampoo can strip too much oil from the hair and leave it dry and brittle, says Santiago. If your hair is color-treated or chemically processed and you’re finding that you want to go back to the salon sooner than usual because your color has faded or your keratin treatment isn’t holding up, this could also be a sign that you’ve overdone it with the clarifying shampoo. Other signs that you’ve overused your clarifying shampoo are if your hair tangles easily, is prone to breakage or looks very dull and your scalp is irritated, dry, itchy or flaky, says Yadav.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. For this story, Rostamian spoke to a hairstylist and board-certified dermatologist and included their direct recommendations and products based on their guidance.
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