These Are the Only Shampoos I’ll Use on My Super-Oily Hair

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Hi, I’m Beth, and I have oily hair. Like, my hair is so naturally oily that I never get very far into a hair conversation without divulging just how damn greasy my hair gets. And no matter how many clarifying shampoos and scalp scrubs I use, my roots still get wet-looking in less than 24 hours after washing. So far, the only way that I’ve actually been able to manage the grease is sudsing up five times a week with a shampoo for oily hair, sometimes even ones filled with sulfates (! I’ll explain, I promise!).

There’s def some nuance to shampoos for oily hair though, like why the occasional sulfate is actually a good thing, and how too many oils and moisturizers can weigh your hair down, which is why I’m breaking down all of my favorite shampoos for oily hair below. Then, I’m getting into the details of what causes oily hair and how to choose the best shampoo for oily hair with advice from hair-transplant surgeon Rae Lynne Kinler, MD. Keep scrolling, bb:

Our top picks for shampoos for oily hair of 2024:

Now, let’s get into my full list of the best shampoos for oily hair, complete with some answers to the most-asked Qs about oily hair, courtesy of Dr. Kinler.

Pure Volume Shampoo

This shampoo offers the best of both worlds: soothing and thorough cleansing for the scalp, along with lightweight volume for hair. "This didn't upset my finicky scalp—which is prone to oil and itchiness—and left my bob looking thick and full," says interim deputy beauty director Deanna Pai, who found it perf for her 2B curls. The citrusy scent is a major bonus, making it a must-have in the A.M.

• Key ingredients: Moringa oil, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed wheat protein

• Sulfate free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "Great product for my hair, gives it a lot of volume and helps minimize hair washing days!"

T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo

Yup, I’ve got oily roots and scalp acne—basically a match made in heaven (er, hell, IMO). I started lathering up with this salicylic acid-based shampoo years ago, and I’ve kept it in my monthly rotation ever since to help exfoliate dead skin that can get trapped in my follicles and cause zits. Just know that it is drying, so I always layer on a deep conditioner afterward to help keep my hair feeling like straw.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating)

• Sulfate free? No

Glowing customer review: “No matter what shampoo I have used or how often or not often I would wash my hair, it was almost immediately oily again. I’ve been using this shampoo for over a week now, and it is the first time in ages I’ve been able to go three days straight without having to wash it or it feel itchy and look gross.”

Fine Hair Shampoo

I keep a bottle of this shampoo in my shower at all times. Why? Because it’s legit the perfect middle-ground for my fine, oily hair. It gets rid of all the excess oils on my scalp with strong cleansers, yet also moisturizes my hair with lightweight ingredients (hi, biotin and chia seed oil) that work together to help make my hair look a bit thicker. It's also filled with hydrolyzed keratin which helps fill the "holes" in damaged hair strands to strengthen your hair over time (which, as someone who uses a curling iron every day, is much needed).

• Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed keratin (strengthening), biotin, and chia seed oil (moisturizing)

• Sulfate free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “My hair is very fine, thin, and goes flat quickly. This shampoo gives my hair a bit of body and a little goes a long way. I find myself reaching for it on days that I want my hair to look its best.”

Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo

I read a handful of the 7,800+ five-star reviews raving about this calming shampoo that actually helps break down greasy roots, and obvi, ordered a bottle for myself. And yep, the hype is real, because this shampoo uses a mix of strong cleansers to dissolve oil, along with soothing colloidal oatmeal to help calm my itchy scalp. Plus, it’s also filled with apple cider vinegar, which helps clarify my roots even more while also reducing scalp irritation.

• Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, colloidal oatmeal (soothing and moisturizing)

• Sulfate free? Yes *(but contains some harsh surfactants)

Glowing customer review: “I have very oily hair, and I have to wash it daily. I ordered my first bottle of both this shampoo and conditioner, and I was amazed by the results. My hair is not oily anymore, and it has more life and shine to it. I absolutely love this product and will be using it from now on.”

No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo

Most shampoos for oily hair contain stripping sulfates to dissolve oil and buildup, which can be quite drying for some hair types and also fade your hair color. Enter: Olaplex’s clarifying shampoo that’s filled with gentle and mild cleansers to help break down oil without totally drying out your hair. Plus, it’s also formulated with bond-building ingredients to help strengthen and repair your hair at the same time.

• Key ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (bond-building), sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (surfactant)

• Sulfate free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “I have an extremely oily scalp that must be washed often—almost every day—in order for my hair to look fresh, as dry shampoos and other maintenance products do not work on me. I used this once, and my hair was not only extremely clean, but my oils were maintained for more than a couple days!”

Clarifying Lemon Shampoo

If you’re into natural skincare products and hair products, try this natural shampoo for giving your oily hair a deep clean. It’s legit filled with organic, plant-based ingredients, including soothers like aloe vera, chamomile, and calendula, plus moisturizers like lemon peel extract, grapefruit peel oil, and cedarwood oil. If you’re also used to shampoos for oily hair making your ends feel like straw, you’ll get a nice reprieve with this mild cleanser, since it’s free of traditional strong surfactants.

• Key ingredients: Aloe vera (soothing), lemon peel extract and cedarwood bark oil (moisturizing)

• Sulfate free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “If you have oily hair, this works. On the days I use this, I notice my hair looks less shiny the following morning, and I make sure to use it in the morning if I have an evening outing since it helps control the oil a bit.”

Destined For Density Peptide Shampoo

TBH, I was fully skeptical about testing this shampoo on my fine, oily hair (I avoid basically anything with topical biotin, because my hair doesn’t need the extra moisture). So I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually great at removing buildup, thanks to its mix of strong, sulfate-free cleansers, and also left my scalp feeling so soothed with its moisturizing biotin and antioxidant-rich coffee seed oil. Have I noticed any hair growth like name claims? No, but it does moisturize and reduce inflammation on my scalp, which creates a healthy foundation for hair growth over time.

• Key ingredients: Coffee seed oil (antioxidant), biotin (moisturizing)

• Sulfate free? Yes *(but contains other harsh surfactants)

Glowing customer review: “I have fine, oily hair, so I need something that grows out my hair but also cleans my hair well. I find this shampoo fits the bill! It’s easy to suds up and clean my hair with. Also, I love the smell.”

Clarify Shampoo

If you have bleached or highlighted hair, get this into your wash routine, stat. Designed to be used just once a week—it's that powerful, folks—it deep-cleanses hair at the roots while actively brightening blond and gray tones. Pro tip: Try using this one before your next color appointment to get a radiant, even result that'll even impress your colorist.

• Key ingredients: Coconut acid, willow bark extract

• Sulfate free? No

Glowing customer review: "This is expensive but is only recommended for light usage! A little went a long way too. I love the scent very much!!! It's very a light and crisp smell and leaves behind a very squeaky clean feeling! KENRA is a fantastic hair line and is perfect for bleached/colored hair!!!"

Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo

If your fine, thin curls tend to get stretched out and weighed down by heavy oils and moisturizing shampoos, or you’re looking for a clarifying shampoo that won’t strip your curly hair, lemme intro you to this shampoo from Adwoa. It’s filled with strong cleansers that deeply clean your roots, along with lightweight oils (jojoba oil and blue tansy flower oil) to help moisturize your hair and offset any potential dryness.

• Key ingredients: Jojoba seed oil and blue tansy flower oil (moisturizing)

• Sulfate free? Yes *(but contains some other harsh cleansers)

Glowing customer review: “This is my go-to shampoo right before and after a silk press,” writes one tester in a review. “It clarifies my curls without stripping and drying out my hair.”

The Shampoo

Whenever I color-treat my hair, I’m left with the super-fun conundrum of having oily roots and dry ends—an annoyance that has led me to test dozens of moisturizing shampoos in search of the perfect unicorn. The best I’ve found so far? Necessaire’s shampoo, which uses ultra-light moisturizers (see: hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and niacinamide) to hydrate my hair without weighing it down or leaving behind an oily film.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, niacinamide (moisturizers)

• Sulfate free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “I am not one to love or hate a shampoo or conditioner,” writes one reviewer. “However, this one is different! It’s super light and feels cleansing but not too heavy.”

Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo

Okay, so maybe (maybe!) it was the gorgeous purple bottle that drew us to this shampoo. But it's the formula inside that kept us using it. "When my scalp is having a meltdown, I use this shampoo for extra comfort," says Pai. It contains a lineup of botanicals, like algae, rosebay extract, and amino acids, to balance the scalp's microbiome—aka the totally normal bacteria that help regulate oil production on the scalp.

• Key ingredients: Rosebay extract, sunflower extract, watermelon seed oil

• Sulfate free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "This is the ONLY shampoo that works for me. Everything else makes my scalp breakout and itch. My hair is healthier and more manageable. Never stop making this PLEASE!"

Sunday Shampoo

I just had surgery and couldn’t wash my hair for a few days, which left my hair extremely greasy. So, I reached for this cult-favorite clarifying shampoo from Bumble, which uses sodium laureth sulfate (SLS, one of the strongest surfactants out there) to dissolve every trace of oil and buildup on my scalp. I just follow it up with a deep conditioner on my ends to keep them moisturized, since the SLS can be quite drying.

• Key ingredients: Ginseng (light moisturizer), rosemary extract (antioxidant)

• Sulfates? Yes

Glowing customer review: “After the first use, my hair felt softer and lighter and looks healthier,” writes one reviewer. “I’ve been using it for about two months, and now I can go two to three days without washing and without dry shampoo, and it still looks and feels clean!”

Symbiose Exfoliating Antidandruff Scalp Scrub

While this scalp scrub is technically for dandruff, it’s excellent for oily scalps because it contains both physical exfoliants (see: argan seed and apricot powder) and chemical exfoliants (2 percent salicylic acid) to gently slough away product buildup, while also dissolving dead skin and oil. It’s also formulated with sulfates to break down excess oils, which is great, but also drying. So def only suds up with this scalp scrub once or twice a month, depending on how oily your roots are.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (chemical exfoliators); argan seed powder, apricot seed powder (physical exfoliators)

• Sulfate free? No

Glowing customer review: “My scalp felt deeply cleansed and refreshingly tingly, and any flaking or itchiness I had from dandruff was immediately reduced,” writes one reviewer. “All in all, I was highly impressed and would recommend this scrub to anyone looking to treat their scalp.”

Wash It Away Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | Dandruff Treatment for Oily Flaky Scalp 13 fl oz

FYI: Dandruff feeds off of excess oil, so it makes sense why my flakes tend to get worse in the summer when my scalp is oilier than usual. So to help curb the flakes, I’ve been sudsing up with this dandruff shampoo that combines selenium sulfide (an antifungal that helps reduce dandruff-causing yeast) with strong sulfates (to dissolve oil and buildup). I just massage it through my roots in the shower once a week, then layer on a moisturizing conditioner to keep my end soft.

• Key ingredients: Selenium sulfide (antifungal)

• Sulfate free? No

Glowing customer review: “I like this shampoo because it's nice to strip all the nasty oils off my hair,” writes one tester. “It also leaves my hair very clean! It's also nice that this shampoo says to use it every other wash depending on how bad the flakes or oil buildup is.”

Elvive Extraordinary Clay Shampoo

I’ve been slathering the Aztec Healing Mask on my oily skin since high school, which is why I immediately bought this drugstore shampoo when I realized it used the same main ingredient: kaolin clay. The cleanser helps soak up some of the excess oil on my scalp as I suds up, while the formula’s salicylic acid works to break down and dissolve my dead skin cells and flakes. And even though, yes, I’m rinsing it out after a minute, I swear my scalp doesn’t feel as greasy as usual the day after using this shampoo.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating), kaolin clay (oil-absorbing)

• Sulfate free? No

Glowing customer review: According to one tester, “My scalp is very sensitive, gets oily fast—like in three days—and hurts! I've tried many brands, including some expensive ones, and the Extraordinary Clay makes my hair feel clean, voluminous, and thick!”

What causes oily hair?

Oily hair is caused by an overproduction of sebum (oil) from your oil glands, and can be the result of hormones, certain medications (like birth control), eating habits, stress levels, weather, and just overall genetics, says board-certified physician and surgeon, Rae Lynne Kinler, MD. All of this to say: There is no single cause or quick fix for oily hair, and it generally isn’t something you can just “get rid of” with a topical product (though some oral meds can seriously help).

Should you wash oily hair more often?

No, you don’t necessarily have to wash oily hair more often, but you might prefer it. “If you have oily hair, it's okay to wash it every day if you use a mild, sulfate-free shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner after every wash,” says Dr. Kinler. But, if possible, “stretch the time between washes by using dry shampoo,” she says, because “overwashing your hair strips away the natural oils coating your scalp and hair shafts.”

How to choose the best shampoo for oily hair:

Figure out your stance on sulfates

Sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which are the strongest surfactants) are known for being stripping and harsh on your hair, but they’re also super excellent at breaking down oil and buildup. So, there’s no right or wrong choice if you decide to opt for a sulfate-free shampoo for oily hair or for a sulfate-filled option—at the end of the day, it just depends on your hair type and goals.

For example, sulfate-filled shampoos are great for super-oily hair once a week or as a “reset” wash once or twice a month, especially if you moisturize your hair afterward with a deep conditioner to reduce dryness. But if you have thick and/or curly hair, you might prefer to go with a sulfate-free shampoo that’s filled with milder (yet still effective) cleansers to help dissolve oils (peep this surfactants list to help you determine which are strong, mild, or gentle). Don’t worry, I’ve included a good mix of both options above, depending on your ~vibes~.

Look for lightweight moisturizers

“Hair products full of rich, heavy ingredients might leave a residue that can make your hair look more oily,” says Dr. Kinler. Instead, look for shampoos with lightweight hydrators, like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and jojoba oil. Don't feel like reading the ingredients list? Try looking at the packaging instead. It's not an exact science, but in general, a clear shampoo tends to contain fewer oils and moisturizers than a milky or creamy shampoo. So, when in doubt, go for the clear formula.

Meet the expert:

• Rae Lynne Kinler, MD, is a board-certified physician and hair-transplant surgeon at Ziering Medical in Greenwich, CT where she is the clinical director. She’s an expert in hair loss and hair thinning.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from hair-growth shampoos to curly hair products to castor oil for hair. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to shampoos for oily hair after a lifetime of trying shampoos that help her avoid washing her naturally greasy hair every single day. She regularly tests and analyzes shampoos for oily hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.

You Might Also Like

• Here’s What NOT to Wear to a Wedding

• Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You’ll Ever Try