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“Why does my hair get so greasy after even just a day?” I remember asking my mom in middle school. All of my friends could go days without washing their hair. Mine looked like I could fry an egg on it a mere 16 hours later. That was precisely when my fight against my oily hair ensued. From “scalp training” (doesn’t work for me) to slicked-back hairstyles (fine, sometimes) to all the dry shampoos in the world (made my scalp itchy over time—ugh), I’ve tried just about everything out there to get my hair wash to last longer. Turn’s out, the answer was kinda simple all along: the right shampoo for oily hair.
De-gunking my scalp has been key to unlocking fewer necessary hair-washing days. But what exactly constitutes a shampoo for oily hair specifically? It’ll depend a bit on your exact hair type, but a cleanser with enough surfactants to break down grease is imperative. I’ve tested hundreds of shampoos over the years (seriously) and have narrowed down a list of my absolute favorites that have to live in my shower at all times. Plus, of course, I consulted a few Cosmo staffers with different hair textures and lengths to test a few other formulas—a mix of iconic shampoos and new ones to the market.
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 hair-transplant surgeon Rae Lynne Kinler, MD.
Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo
Why we love it: Across the board, Oribe’s oil-control shampoo is loved by editors of all hair types. This creamy shampoo is both hydrating and cleansing, but most of all, it can actually give you some extra time between hair wash days. Thanks to a combo of extracts and amino acids, this shampoo can help balance the microbiome on your scalp, effectively cutting down on how much oil builds up from shampoo to shampoo. Think of it like a skin-barrier reset for your scalp.
Cosmo editor review: “I’m obsessed with all of Oribe’s shampoos, but this one is especially good for my fine hair and oil-prone scalp. It gently removes buildup while helping to regulate sebum production so I get extra time in between shampoos.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo
Why we love it: In this shampoo for thinning hair, you’ll get the best of both worlds: a deep clean with scalp-loving ingredients that can actually help create a better environment for healthy hair growth over time. Antioxidant-rich rosemary oil and caffeine, as well as biotin, make up this hair-growth shampoo that’s fantastic for oily hair too. Even though there are no drying sulfates, there’s a handful of strong cleansers that seriously reduce buildup that could be causing your hair to look flat and greasy between washes.
Cosmo editor review: “Not to be dramatic, but I have never loved a shampoo as much as I do this one. My hair is baby-fine and gets greasy in about a day or so of washing. And while I’ve gotten by in recent years with dry shampoo, I’d never found a shampoo that cleansed my scalp enough that I could genuinely get away with fewer days between washing. This shampoo changed everything, though. It helps get rid of grease on my scalp, making my roots have some natural volume even without adding any product. My hair has a bit more bounce whenever I use this.”—BG
Detox Shampoo
Why we love it: No one needs a weekly reset rinse like someone with oily hair. All the oil buildup on your scalp can make your roots look flat without some intervention. But the key here is choosing a product, like this from OUAI, that helps dissolve all of the dry shampoo, mousse, and styling cream without making your hair feel like straw. OUAI’s Detox Shampoo was made with a lot of hair textures in mind, meaning it’s not too strong but still gives you a good clean. And it’s all thanks to the sulfate-free formula that’s empowered by apple cider vinegar and other strong surfactants to clarify.
Cosmo editor review: “As someone who does Corepower 3-4 times a week (aka the sweatiest workout ever) and I don’t wash my hair everyday, I need to make sure I use a detox shampoo that can sweep all the built-up grease and oil out of my hair. I like using this once a week during a necessary ‘everything shower’ for a full scalp reset. It makes my hair feel squeaky clean without overly stripping my strands. This paired with a nice hydrating mask is heaven for my hair.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Come Clean Shampoo
Why we love it: If your curls can get limp and stretched out, they might actually need a reset, clarifying wash like this. It uses phytic acid—not sulfates or other harsh cleansers that could be too drying for your hair—to help break down oils and product buildup. A combo of hydrating botanical extracts round it out to give you defined curls, even if you’re just using it every few washes.
Cosmo editor review: “The shampoo left my hair feeling clean without feeling stripped, which is something I have noticed is difficult to find with other clarifying shampoos for curly hair. And since I only wash my hair once a week, it’s quite hard to find a shampoo that will actually properly clean my hair without leaving it feeling completely dried out. Also, the smell is very subtle and clean, which is just another bonus. For the price, this is an excellent option!”—CORINNE BICKEL, SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Lite
Why we love it: Some of us with oily hair have to wash every day. And while that can be a problem if your shampoo is too stripping, or if you have color-treated hair, it’s totally fine with something like this. This hero ingredient in this rinse is apple cider vinegar, a powerful yet gentle clarifier that helps dissolve buildup, sweat, and oils. But unlike sulfates or other strong surfactants, it doesn’t strip your hair at all, meaning you get rid of what’s making your hair look greasy without the color fading or dryness.
Cosmo editor review: “I’ve never gone through so many bottles of a product as I have this rinse. It’s fantastic for my oily, color-treated hair. I just squeeze it onto my roots in the shower and let it drip down my hair, massaging in a little before rinsing. It takes legit two seconds but completely revives my hair as if I just washed it (but, of course, doesn’t fade my color a quickly).”—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Platinum & Diamonds Volume Shampoo
Why we love it: Damaged hair is less porous, not being able to hold onto moisture as easily—hence why it’s much more likely to experience greasy hair when your strands are brittle. Miriam Quevedo’s line is specifically dedicated to anti-aging, but it’s also gold-star for damaged hair as well. This shampoo does exactly what you need to lather up and get rid of excess oils on your scalp and hair. But where it really ~shines~ is nourishment. Formulated with amino acids, niacinamide, argan oil, and even a retinoid, it helps strengthen and boost hair health.
Cosmo editor review: “Yes, this luxe shampoo is pricey, but hear me out! First off all, it’s super concentrated, so a bit of product goes a long way in terms of lathering and cleansing—I’ve been using the same bottle for months. It’s also loaded with fancy ingredients that promote hair longevity like a diamond and platinum complex, as well as collagen-boosting amino acids. And while I could go on about the scalp-boosting ingredients, the best part of the entire formula is the scent. I wish I could bottle it up into a perfume and spray it on my entire body.”—JH
Aloe Vera Shampoo
Why we love it: A conundrum for the ages: Oily roots with dry ends. This shampoo pretty perfectly balances the two by gently cleansing and hydrating with lightweight ingredients. We’re talking aloe vera (the MVP of this formula because it actually goes into your hair strands and scalp to hydrate rather than just sitting on top), as well as clarifying witch hazel and soothing cucumber extract.
Cosmo editor review: “This is the perfect everyday shampoo for my oily, frizz-prone hair. It balances my scalp with witch hazel and aloe, but because the formula is creamy it’s moisturizing enough to make my hair feel smooth.” —LB
Daily Shampoo Concentrate
Why we love it: Founder James Pecis is one of the most well-known hairstylists in the business, having worked with supermodels and celebrities for decades. When he launched his own brand Blu and Green, he vowed to create effective products that were also clean and sustainable. From there, the idea of a concentrated shampoo was born.
And let me tell you, this formula is a dream for oily hair. It uses a blend of gentle surfactants to cleanse hair, along with lightweight hydrators that help nourish and fortify the scalp. When you squeeze it into your hand, it has a rich texture that might feel like it’d be too heavy to break down your scalp oils. But when you work it together between your hands and some water, it develops a really nice lather that gets rid of grease while soothing and hydrating skin.
Cosmo editor review: “I am constantly telling people I have oily hair like it’s a disclaimer. ‘Sorry, I’m a bad person to try XYZ hair product, because my scalp is so oily and my hair is so fine that it’ll just sit on top!’ I told those exact words to hairstylist Pecis, in hopes he could see I understood that when his products didn’t work on me, I knew it was a me problem. But he took it as a challenge. And fast-forward a month, and this shampoo is one of my most-used. Every time I lather up with this concentrate, I have a really freakin’ good hair day. It somehow deeply cleans but doesn’t strip, so my hair has lift in the roots but also looks shiny and feels soft as hell. And it hasn’t led to any fading of my hair color, which is a huge feat for me as someone with dyed red hair who unfortunately has to wash fairly often.”—BG
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 Dr. Kinler.
All 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).
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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.”
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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.
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How we tested the best shampoos for oily hair:
We’ve been testing shampoos for oily hair for four years, bringing you the best ones with all of our firsthand experience and updating whenever we try new launches or underrated gems. To compile this full list, we:
Tested on a handful of Cosmopolitan beauty editors with a range of hair textures and grabbed their first-person reviews, pros, and cons
Researched each formula to see if they offered ingredients that would actually reduce or break down oils. We prioritized those that included exfoliants, like salicylic acid, or powders, like charcoal.
Took into account our expert dermatologist’s take on what shampoos and ingredients are best for oily hair types
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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.
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Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven 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.
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