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If your hair feels greasy by noon—no matter how recently you washed it—finding the best shampoos for oily hair can make a huge impact on how your hair looks and feels. Oily scalps are incredibly common, and while sebum (the natural oil your scalp produces) plays a key role in keeping your hair healthy, too much of it can leave hair limp, flat, and in need of yet another wash. And while there are exceptions to this, people with fine hair types tend to be more prone to greasy roots, since oil can more easily slide down the smooth, skinny shafts of the hair.
Your current hair-care routine might even be playing a role—especially if you've relied on dry shampoos to sop of excess oil. “Though genetics and hormones can be factors in an oily scalp, most often it’s caused by an imbalance—too much product or oil buildup can suffocate the pores and trigger more oil production,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, Florida. Her advice? Treat the scalp separately from the hair.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo, $42
- Best for Damaged Hair: Virtue Recovery Sulfate-Free Shampoo, $42
- Best for Textured Hair: Head & Shoulders Royal Oils Moisture Boost Scalp Care Shampoo, $7
- Best for Thinning Hair: Bumble & Bumble Prêt-à-Porter Très Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo, $35
- Best for Dandruff: Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo, $34
- Best Clarifying Shampoo: Ouai Detox Shampoo, $32
- Best for Daily Use: Evo Normal Persons Daily Shampoo, $33
Frequently Asked Questions
From clarifying hair products that cut through greasy hair to gentle drugstore shampoos, we rounded up the best shampoos for oily hair—whether you're dealing with buildup, overactive sebaceous glands, or just trying to stretch your style one more day.
Best Overall: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
Why we love it: If your oily hair also comes with a side of flakes, itchiness, or a dry, irritated scalp, Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo calms everything down. Unlike your typical squeeze bottle, this Best of Beauty Award winner comes in a tub because of the creamier, mousse-like formula. “It’s a little gritty so it can gently exfoliate while cleansing,” says Adam Campbell, a hairstylist in Los Angeles.
Charcoal is doing most of the heavy lifting in this formula, according to Dr. Chacon. “Charcoal is naturally cleansing and detoxifying and helps remove impurities from the scalp and hair,” she says, calling it “an amazing product for removing buildup, dryness, and flaking.” The scrub-like texture boosts that clarifying effect, while coconut oil helps balance the charcoal’s intensity so it doesn’t lead to a dry scalp. “It leaves your hair fresh, smooth, and clean,” she says. And perhaps our favorite part: It smells like whipped cream blended with fresh mint and warm vanilla.
Tester feedback: Commerce editor Sarah Han has found this to be an incredible scalp exfoliator—and the right shampoo to calm her irritated, itchy scalp. "I spend a full minute massaging the shampoo into my scalp before rinsing and following up with a moisturizing hair mask,” she says. “My scalp has never felt cleaner, and I've been noticing a lot less flakiness."
Key ingredients: charcoal, coconut oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Damaged Hair: Virtue Recovery Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Why we love it: A favorite among Allure editors who regularly bleach their hair, this Best of Beauty Award winner is specially designed for dry, damaged, or chemically treated hair with oily roots and buildup. Virtue Recovery Sulfate-Free Shampoo gives you that deep-clean feeling without stripping your hair, thanks to a formula that balances moisture while gently dissolving excess oil and grime. “This shampoo is such good stuff: It gets your hair clean while leaving it soft, smooth, and healthy-looking, and helps dissolve buildup over time,” says Dr. Chacon, who also likes that it’s sulfate-free, so it won’t strip away moisture or result in dry hair.
The hero ingredient is the brand’s proprietary alpha keratin 60ku, a protein identical to the keratin found in your hair. Your hair recognizes this protein and soaks it up, allowing it to repair damage from the inside out more effectively. We’ve found that the texture is super-thick—similar to a gel-cream formula in the skin-care world—but it still builds to a respectable (and satisfying) lather.
Tester feedback: Allure tester Sable Yong used this to rehabilitate her color-treated hair. “Upon rinsing, my hair felt clean, but not that squeaky-clean where your hand alarmingly drags as you're running it through your hair,” she says. “Clean and gently softened—like my hair without all the gunk buildup. I guess sometimes all you need is some gentle cleansing that gets the job done without being too extra about it.”
Key ingredients: alpha keratin 60ku, hydrolyzed quinoa, baobab seed oil, grapefruit extract | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Textured Hair: Head & Shoulders Royal Oils Moisture Boost Scalp Care Shampoo
Why we love it: Although the Royal Oils line was initially created for textured and curly hair, Head and Shoulders Royal Oils Scalp Care Shampoo offers benefits for anyone dealing with an imbalanced scalp. This nourishing scalp cleanser is “an excellent option for not only people with textured hair, but those who experience dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis,” says Ruth McTighe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Although it doesn’t directly nix oil production, it does contain zinc pyrithione, an ingredient usually found in anti-dandruff shampoos. “It helps control the yeast and inflammation responsible for flaking and itching—issues often linked to oily scalps,” she says.
At the same time, the formula is designed to deeply hydrate, making it especially well-suited for natural and curly hair types that need moisture without buildup. Not surprisingly, Allure editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel is a fan, using it as part of her everything-shower routine for her 4B coils.
Editor’s tip: The apple cider vinegar in this shampoo is slightly acidic, which helps rebalance your scalp’s pH and makes it less inviting for oil production.
Key ingredients: pyrithione zinc, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Thinning Hair: Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Porter Très Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Why we love it: Sometimes, a complete wash isn’t in the cards—and that’s where Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-powder Très Invisible Dry Shampoo comes in. Technically a dry shampoo, it helps you through no-wash days, thanks to French pink clay, which absorbs excess oil from roots to ends and leaves your hair feeling clean and refreshed.
“It comes in aerosol and powder forms, so you can choose based on your preference—the powder version is super easy to travel with,” says Dr. McTighe. “It helps soak up oil without weighing hair down, and the scent is subtle, which makes it a great option for anyone sensitive to fragrance.” It adds a touch of volume and cool-girl texture, and the formula is truly invisible, even on dark hair.
Editor’s tip: if you’re dealing with hair loss, the hair powder is worth a shot, as hair-restoration surgeon Ross Kopelman, MD, shared with Allure. “It’s lightweight, absorbs oil, and provides instant volume at the roots,” he says. To apply the powder, Kopelman recommends shaking a small amount directly onto the roots and massaging it in with your fingertips to get maximum lift.
Key ingredients: French pink clay, rice starch | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dandruff: Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo
Why we love it: If it hasn’t sunk in yet, healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. And Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo gets the assignment. “It’s made specifically to treat scalp issues, which are often the reason behind oily roots in the first place,” says Julie Dickson, master stylist and founder of Joon Drop Salon based in NYC. “But it’s still gentle enough for fine or delicate hair.” She tells her clients that if “this doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to bring in a derm, but more often than not, it’s exactly what their scalp needs.”
A mix of salicylic and lactic acids gently exfoliates the scalp, clearing out excess oil, dead skin, and buildup. Meanwhile, piroctone olamine and climbazole help fight flakes and dandruff—common sidekicks to oily scalps. A heads up: “It’s medicinal, so I recommend using it just once a week, alternating with a gentle shampoo,” she says.
Editor’s tip: Oily scalps often itch, especially when reacting to buildup or dandruff, and the cooling effect of menthol helps reduce redness and inflammation.
Key ingredients: piroctone olamine, climbazole, menthol, salicylic acid | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Clarifying: Ouai Detox Shampoo
Why we love it: When your oily scalp feels like it’s drowning in dry shampoo, product gunk, and who-knows-what from air pollution, OUAI Detox Shampoo is the clean slate you need. “It’s amazing for getting rid of buildup—dirt, oil, and leftover product,” says Dr. Chacon. “You see and feel the difference. It gives your hair a true deep clean. One of the key ingredients is apple cider vinegar, which helps calm itchiness, reduce flakes, and melt away residue without stripping your scalp.”
And if you live somewhere with hard water, this formula has chelating agents to rinse away minerals that dull shine and extend that fresh feeling. Even more: It’s sulfate- and paraben-free, so your typically oily hair gets that squeaky-clean feeling without irritating a sensitive scalp.
Editor’s tip: Oily scalps have a way of losing their freshness fast, but this shampoo tackles both the grime and the smell. It deep cleans your roots while leaving behind OUAI’s signature Melrose Place scent: a chic blend of rose, bergamot, lychee, and white musk that makes your hair smell so fresh and so clean.
Key ingredients: apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed keratin, chelating agents | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Daily Use: Evo Normal Persons Daily Shampoo
Why we love it: If you can’t fathom going a day without washing—which is common for those with oily hair—Gareth Bromell, a hairstylist in Los Angeles, has a go-to solution: Evo Normal Persons Daily Care Shampoo. “It’s amazing at cutting through excess oil and product residue,” he says. Despite its deep-cleansing power, it’s still gentle enough to use daily—and won’t leave your hair feeling stripped and crunchy.
The formula features panthenol to hydrate and add shine, plus peppermint oil for that refreshing, cooling tingle that wakes up your scalp. Beyond the invigorating scent that instantly wakes you up, “I love it for bringing dull, lifeless hair back to life,” says Bromell. “It refreshes the texture and bounce—especially in my curly-haired clients, where I’ve seen a noticeable difference.”
Editor’s tip: People with oily hair often hesitate to wash daily, worried it’ll dry out their scalp—but a gentle, sulfate-free formula like Normal Persons strikes the perfect balance.
Key ingredients: panthenol, peppermint oil, hydrolyzed quinoa | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Volumizing: Epres Healthy Hair Shampoo
Why we love it: Campbell swears by Epres Healthy Hair Shampoo—it’s the one he always has in his shower. This volumizing shampoo, created by Dr. Eric Pressly (the same scientist who co-founded the Allure editor-favorite Olaplex), is made for daily use and lives up to the hype. “It gets my hair super clean without overdoing it,” says Campbell. “And because it’s free of quats, which are those sneaky chemicals that stick to your hair and cause buildup, it helps keep my scalp balanced instead of making it oilier.”
It’s also a worthwhile option for damaged hair. This cleansing shampoo employs patented technology that keeps repairing your hair even after you rinse—specifically, diethylhexyl maleate, a bond-repair agent that reinforces broken disulfide bonds along the hair shaft to boost elasticity, shine, and resilience—so your hair gets healthier every time you wash. It’s all about fresh, stronger hair with none of the heavy residue.
Editor’s tip: Since this shampoo doesn’t have quats, it won’t have a ton of suds. Use the pads of your fingertips to work it into your scalp.
Key ingredients: sodium cocoyl isethionate, malic acid | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Curly Hair: Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo
Why it's worth it: Mia Santiago, a hairstylist based in Ohio and New York City, loves Philip B's Peppermint Avocado Shampoo because it provides "the perfect combination of refreshing and cleansing," she says, adding that its peppermint-based formula leaves the scalp feeling tingly and refreshed for days. People with hair types 2A (wavy hair) through 3C (tighter, curly hair) will especially benefit from this rich-lathering, deep-cleansing formula.
Editor's tip: It does have fragrance as well as essential oils, which is worth keeping in mind if you have sensitivities.
Key ingredients: jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, sesame seed oil | Who it's for: people with waves and curls
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Kevin Murphy Maxi.Wash
Why we love it: Some clarifying or detox shampoos leave your hair feeling stripped and bone-dry, but not Kevin.Murphy Maxi.Wash. “It’s designed to deeply cleanse without overdrying,” says Dickson. “It leaves the scalp feeling super clean, but still balanced and hydrated.”
One of the star ingredients here is witch hazel bark, a natural antiseptic that helps reset your scalp. It tightens the hair cuticle, boosts shine, and brings your scalp back to balance, so your hair feels clean, hydrated, and softer than you’d expect from a detox shampoo. And if you regularly color your hair, this is a good shampoo to use pre-wash or pre-color treatment to create a clean, balanced base—which in turn can yield better, longer-lasting color results.
Editor’s tip: Tea tree oil is a pro at breaking down excess sebum, so it can clear away buildup and dirt collecting on the scalp.
Key ingredients: witch hazel extract, tea tree oil, thyme extract, rosemary extract | Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of shampoo is best for an oily scalp?
The best shampoo for an oily scalp deeply cleanses without stripping your scalp’s natural moisture. Look for clarifying or detoxifying formulas with ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil, or apple cider vinegar, which help break down excess oil and product buildup while keeping the scalp balanced.
If you’re also dealing with flakes or itchiness, you’re not alone. “Dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis can be common in people with an oily scalp,” says Dr. McTighe. Shampoos with ingredients like ketoconazole (an antifungal), zinc pyrithione (fights bacteria and yeast), selenium sulfide (reduces scalp flaking), salicylic acid (exfoliates and removes buildup), or coal tar (slows skin cell turnover) can be especially helpful in cases like this, says Dr. McTighe.
And no matter which formula you choose, “aim for one that’s sulfate-free and silicone-free to avoid triggering even more oil production,” adds Dr. Chacon.
Why is my hair oily?
This question has a nearly-infinite amount of answers, so it’s hard to tell exactly what’s causing your scalp to become oily. That being said, some of the biggest contributors to chronic grease-prone hair include genetics, hormones, stress, and weather. "Some of us naturally produce more oil than others, which can lead to a greasy scalp," Charlotte Birnbaum, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, previously told Allure. "If you have both an oily face and scalp, it's likely you are naturally oil-prone."
However, suppose oiliness is a new concern for you. In that case, New Haven, CT-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, says the culprit could be: 1) a switch in your usual hair habits, or 2) developing a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. She says this condition is characterized by "greasy, scaly, dandruff from an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia."
In a twist of irony, dry shampoos are another contributor to oily hair. "When dry shampoo particles build up on the scalp over time, they can clog hair follicles, trap oil, and prevent normal skin cell turnover," Nancy Samolitis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles previously shared with Allure. It creates something of a domino effect since Dr. Samolitis explained that "this can lead to overgrowth of bacteria and yeast that normally live on the scalp and cause folliculitis, or the inflammation of hair follicles, and dandruff." Folliculitis can, in turn, lead to red pimples and pustules—sort of like scalp acne.
Can you prevent hair from getting so oily?
You can’t completely stop your scalp from producing oil—a natural and healthy function—but you can manage it so your hair doesn’t get greasy as quickly. “This can also depend on your hair type,” says Dr. McTighe. “If you have fine or straight hair, limiting certain products like oils, conditioners, or serums to the ends can help prevent your scalp from becoming too oily.”
What can I do to reduce oiliness?
A traditional liquid shampoo for oily hair, which will essentially work the same way a powder does: absorbing oil, without leaving any residue, is one of the best first steps you can take to minimize oiliness. When seeking out the best shampoo for oily hair, King advises against buying formulas formulated with silicones. Some silicones may accumulate on the scalp over time, similarly to the way powder particles do, King explains.
This advice was a common thread among the experts we spoke to. Chicago-based hairstylist Nick Stenson also recommends steering clear of silicones. "Silicone tends to coat the hair, making it heavy, which counteracts the benefits of the volumizing," he explains. What's more, "continued use of silicones over time can weigh down the hair," Dr. Zeichner previously told Allure.
The best shampoos for oily hair are those that are formulated with clarifying and exfoliating ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids, which reduce residue, oil, and build-up on the scalp, says King. Dr. Birnbaum, agrees and noted to look for a clarifying shampoo for a deep hair cleanse, preferably one formulated with salicylic acid.
Now that you know which ingredients to look out for—and which to avoid—the next step is to adjust your washing frequency. "For an oily scalp, I recommend more frequent shampooing, up to once a day," Dr. Birnbaum said.
All of this really depends on your hair type and texture, though. For example, Dr. Birnbaum explained that those with curly hair might be able to get away with less frequent shampooing—once per week—while folks with finer hair may need to shampoo more often. Everyone is different, so do a test run for a few weeks to see how your hair responds to a new regimen.
Meet the experts
- Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
- Adam Campbell, a hairstylist in L.A.
- Gareth Bromell, a hairstylist in L.A.
- Julie Dickson, master stylist and founder of Joon Drop Salon based in NYC
- Ruth McTighe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Waccamaw Dermatology based in Mt. Pleasant, SC
- Mia Santiago, a hairstylist based in Ohio and New York City
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Charlotte Birnbaum, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
- Mona Gohara, MD, a New Haven, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist
- Nancy Samolitis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles
- Nick Stenson, a Chicago-based hairstylist
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best shampoos for oily hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, dermatologists, and hairstylists—all of whom want a deep cleanse without drying out their hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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Now, watch the road to healthier hair:
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