These Shampoos Banish Oily Hair

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Besties with oily hair know all about wash days that turn into wash weeks. You could cleanse your tresses one day and wake up needing to spray on layers of dry shampoo the next (don’t do this, btw). It's like a cycle of wash, rinse, repeat, all due to the never-ending grease and oil that piles up on your scalp and strands. If you've sudsed up with everything from sulfate-free to clarifying shampoos, and still need to follow up with a second or third scrub, then it may be time to check out a shampoo made specifically for oily hair. The best shampoos for oily thoroughly cleanse hair without stripping and help combat dandruff and scalp irritation.

Seventeen tapped four experts — board-certified dermatologist Dr. Erum N. Ilyas, master stylist Trey Gillen, Dr. Sheilagh Maguiness, dermatologist and co-founder of Stryke Club, and celebrity hairstylist Carly Bethel — to get tips for how often you should cleanse greasy hair and product recommendations for the best shampoos to detox the scalp and control oil production in oily hair.

Moisturizing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Aloe

This classic shampoo, recommended by Ilyas, contains selenium sulfide, which "offers a safe and effective approach to addressing buildup and the yeast and bacteria that contribute to scalp acne," she says.

Key ingredients: Selenium sulfide, aloe

Size: 11 fl. oz

Customer review: "A good shampoo "find," and it has helped reduce scalp itching."

Classic Clean Daily-Use Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Head & Shoulders contains zinc pyrithione which has "proven antimicrobial qualities," says Ilyas, who is a fan of this drugstore staple. "Studies have shown that it inhibits the growth of yeast which is thought to be a trigger for dandruff."

Key ingredients: Zinc pyrithione

Size: 13 fl. oz

Customer review: "Definitely gets the job done as long as you use it consistently!"

Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

The use of an anti-yeast product, such as ketoconazole, which Nizoral contains, can also be helpful in eliminating dandruff and excess oil, says Ilyas, who endorses this shampoo.

Key ingredients: ketoconazole

Size: 7 fl. oz

Customer review: "Seems to do the job! On occasion if I feel like its dry out or my scalp is itchy at all I use it 1-3 days in a row and it seems to clear it up for a little while!"

Scalp Shampoo

"This is my favorite scalp shampoo by far," says Trey Gillen, hairstylist at Bella Rinova Salon in Houston, TX. "It contains lactic acid, which regulates how your scalp produces oils. In addition, it has natural ingredients like rosemary, ginger, and menthol to help with hair follicle strength." He adds that, while pricey, it will also add moisture "so the hair and scalp won't dry out completely and start producing excess oil."

Key ingredients: Lactic acid, rosemary, ginger, menthol

Size: 8.4 fl. oz

Customer review: "Works well to control my seasonal dry scalp and is fairly gentle on my color. Oddly I find it to dry out my hair slightly and need to use extra conditioner. I have re-purchased and will continue to."

Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Clarify and Shine Shampoo

"Apple cider vinegar has properties that can help address the underlying yeast that triggers inflammation resulting in scaling," says Ilyas of the multi-purpose key ingredient in this shampoo. Gillen recommends using this particular product every third or fourth wash to help remove oily buildup, followed by a conditioner applied from the ears to the end of the hair to replenish moisture that can be stripped from a clarifying shampoo.

Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar

Size: 12 fl. oz

Customer review: "This is the only product that has worked for my itchy, scaly scalp. I have psoriasis on my scalp and have tried medication and medicated shampoos that all have made my hair look oily and didn’t remove the flakes. This shampoo has been the only thing that has helped me and I think it’s worth the money!"

Oil Control Shampoo with Nettle

Another pick from Gillen, who loves Klorane's popular vegan and sulfate-free formula because it's made with "organic nettle, which is known to reduce excess oil," he says.

Key ingredients: Organic nettle

Size: 13.5 fl. oz

Customer review: "I have super hard water at my house. This works great to clean off the mineral build up and oil. You will need a good conditioner after to keep your hair from drying out."

Forticea Energizing Shampoo

"Thanks to curbicia extract and refreshing thyme, rosemary, orange, and clove essential oils, this shampoo for oily-prone scalps leaves hair soft and shiny," says Gillen. He adds, "With continual use, it will help extend the time needed between washes."

Key ingredients: Curbicia extract, thyme, rosemary, orange, and clove oils

Size: 6.7 fl. oz

Customer review: "This shampoo had a nice energizing scent that did perk me up as I took my morning shower. It’s hard to say if it did the same to my hair or scalp. It was clear, green shampoo that lathered up nicely. My hair looked and felt about the same as it usually does. It did a great job cleaning my hair, just not sure it lives up to its claims of energizing."

Detox Shampoo

Here’s another product using the powerhouse ingredient, apple cider no vinegar. Nashville-based celebrity hairstylist Carly Bethel suggests using OUAI's clarifying shampoo, which "deeply cleanses away dirt, oil, and product buildup." Plus, it's made with hair-strengthening keratin. A win-win. Just remember: You shouldn't reach for clarifying shampoos every day.

Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, keratin

Size: 10 fl. oz

Customer review: "I really like this shampoo. I use it several times a week, a couple of different ways: either alone, followed by a hair mask, or as part of a double-cleanse with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Be sure to follow the "How to Use" instructions on the Sephora site for maximum benefit; the instructions on the bottle are not as complete."

Balancing Wash Shampoo

For regular wash days, Bethel recommends using a balancing shampoo like this one. "It cleanses the hair while also nourishing it, without stripping too much of the oil," she says.

Key ingredients: Sage extract, grapefruit extract, nettle extract

Size: 6.4 fl. oz

Customer review: "This shampoo leaves my hair soft and clean for several days and has notably improved my scalp health. If you want to infrequently wash your hair (2-3 times a week) and have issues with dry, unhealthy scalp, this is worth the money 100%."

T/Sal Shampoo

Dr. Sheilagh Maguiness, dermatologist and co-founder of Stryke Club, recommends using a shampoo that contains salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide, a few times a week. "These actives help reduce oil and microorganisms on the scalp that can worsen the grease problem," she says. For a salicylic acid-based treatment, she points to Neutrogena's highly-reviewed product.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, zin pyrithione, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide

Size: 4.5 fl. oz

Customer review: "Good product for reducing shampoo buildup and itchy scalp. Best thing I've used to date. Dense and doesn't produce a lot of suds. Also doesn't have a pretty scent but works better on itchy scalp and scalp build up than others I've tried. It's a keeper! Recommended to others already."

Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment

If you suffer from scalp itchiness and haven't tried any salicylic acid-based treatments, Maguiness says this gentle exfoliating treatment is a good place to start. Sephora customers also rave about its effectiveness.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid

Size: 5.0 fl. oz

Customer review: "I used this product 3times now and i was able to see and feel the difference on first wash. Really helped me with dandruff buildup and makes hair roots nourished."

Zinc Shampoo

The key ingredient, zinc pyrithione, makes this shampoo "really effective," says Maguiness. "Use it 1-2 times weekly to help with oil production."

Key ingredients: Zinc pyrithione

Size: 16 fl. oz

Customer review: "I've had oily hair forever and itching this is the best shampoo you've had not perfect itching is gone oil reduced 75% very satisfied."

Healthy Scalp Shampoo

"Another ingredient that's helpful in reducing microbes on the skin is sodium hypochlorite which gently cleanses away bacteria that may contribute to excessive oil production," says Maguiness. Cln's shampoo stars sodium hypochlorite along with salicylic acid, "making it a great choice for oily scalp prone to dandruff."

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid

Size: 12 fl. oz

Customer review: "I have only used it for about a week but my scalp problem is clearing up."

Why is my hair so greasy?

Just like the pores on your skin, oily hair is caused by an increase of oil (aka sebum) production. There are many things that contribute to oil production. "Over time, there can be a buildup of residues from hair products, shampoos, and conditioners, as well as an accumulation of natural oils and dead skin cells. Exfoliating the scalp can help return hair’s natural luster," says Dr. Erum N. Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology and CEO of AmberNoon.

How often should I wash oily hair?

Dr. Ilyas suggests using shampoos that break down excess oil a few times a week. In addition to regular washing and conditioning — ends only, please! —, Dr. Ilyas recommends adding a clarifying shampoo to your routine once or twice a month for a deep cleanse that’ll eliminate oil.

However, if your hair is both oily and flaky, you may be dealing with dandruff, she tells Seventeen. "Dandruff generally applies to a constellation of flaking and itching of the scalp along with possible dryness and greasiness. The irony is the presence of both oiliness and dryness simultaneously," she explains. Essentially, if your hair is stripped of moisture, that too can lead to an overproduction of oil, which is why it's key to find products that nourish without overdrying.

What should I look for when buying a shampoo for oily hair?

Dr. Ilyas recommends shampoos with ingredients like selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, charcoal, apple cider vinegar, curcumin, and red clover.

Although sulfates tend to get a bad rap, Ilyas says, in this case, using a shampoo that contains them isn't a bad idea. "Sulfates are something everyone loves to hate. They were mislabeled as ‘bad’ for our health. The real issue when it comes to shampoos is that sulfates are aggressive at removing oil and dirt. They're also cheap, so they're an easy thing to add to products for their ability to clean. It’s true that they are likely too strong for daily shampoo use because they can leave the hair feeling excessively stripped of natural oils. But, if you deal with really oily hair — as in, it still feels greasy after washing — the sulfate effect may be welcome!"

How we chose shampoos for oily hair

Seventeen consulted two dermatologists and two hairstylists with backgrounds in hair and scalp health to share their recommendations for the best shampoos for oily hair and why they work.

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