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17 best shampoos for oily hair, tested by 450 women
Some top-scorers cost as little as £4 a bottle, so why not stock up?
Tested by Orla BadgerFormer Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester
If you find you’re having to wash your hair on a daily basis to ensure your scalp remains grease-free, it may be time to switch up your shampoo routine. And we've found the best shampoos for oily hair to stop the endless wash-day cycle.
Having oily hair means you need specific products to target the issue, rather than constantly jumping in the shower (which could actually be making things worse – more on that below).
Having tested a lot of shampoos in the lab and with our panel – head to our complete best shampoos roundup for the full results – we've looked at the ones that specifically claim to detoxify the scalp and control oil production and analysed the results to find the formulas that really work. Here are the products we recommend at a glance, but keep scrolling for our full reviews.
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We also spoke to Darren Bain, International Artist at Taylor Taylor London's Liberty salon for the low-down on how to keep grease at bay.
What causes oily hair?
According to Bain, it could be caused by various lifestyle habits or how we shampoo and condition our hair. “Oily hair can often be caused by too much washing, which in turn overstimulates the sebaceous glands,” he tells us. “Another culprit is using too much conditioner or using products that are too heavy for your hair to absorb, so they sit on the outside of the hair shaft and make it look greasy or weighed down.
“At the salon, we always recommend applying shampoo to your scalp and roots, massaging thoroughly and letting the suds run down your mid lengths and ends. Unless you have a large amount of styling product on your hair, it really is all it needs, or else you begin to dry out your ends and your roots aren’t cleaned properly… hey presto, oily roots and dry ends.
“Applying conditioner to your roots will also create instant greasy-feeling hair. Remember, your scalp is where the sebum production is at its most concentrated and it rarely needs conditioning. So, apply one of our tried and tested best conditioners to mid lengths only and your hair will thank you for it.”
Think about the products you use, too. “It may sound simple but check when you last washed your hairbrush as well, as the dirt, bacteria and products transfer easily onto your brushes,” adds Bain. “The same is true of your pillowcases, which are in direct contact with your hair for seven to eight hours a night.”
“Overproduction of sebum can also be down to changes in hormone levels, or deficiency in certain vitamins such as vitamin D, which plays a key role in the regulation of sebum production.”
Vitamin D synthesis is triggered by the UVB rays in sunlight, and it’s perhaps unsurprising that here in the (not-so) sunny UK, one in five UK adults are deficient. Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a vitamin D supplement in the autumn and winter months when we have reduced hours of sunlight.
Can you train your hair to be less greasy?
“You can try gradually reducing how frequently you wash your hair to help train your scalp to produce less oil – because sometimes, over-washing can cause the scalp and hair to dry out, meaning more oil is produced to try to make up for the lack of moisture,” says Bain.
“Even if you try and move your regular morning shower to the evening of the same day, or from the evening to the next morning, you’ll should reap the benefits long-term. The longer you train your hair to regulate itself between washes, the less you’ll need to wash it.”
However, this may not work for everyone, he warns, and not washing your hair often enough can also cause it to look greasier, so it’s about finding the right frequency for you.
It’s also tricky if you’re planning a trip to the gym on a non-wash day, or your social schedule doesn't match up to your hair-wash one, but that’s where the best dry shampoos can step in as a quick and easy solution. Just make sure you don’t over-use the product as it can cause build-up and irritation.
How often should I wash my hair a week?
“The general rule of thumb is every two to three days, but if you have curly or particularly dry hair, you may find that once or twice a week is enough,” advises Bain. “I suggest using a clarifying detox shampoo up to once a week.”
How we test
Our panel of 450 testers — with hair textures ranging from straight to afro — tried 33 brands of shampoo for two weeks.
They noted how effectively the products cleaned oily hair, how much they lathered up and whether they noticed any long-lasting benefits. They also reported back on how their hair felt after use, focusing on hydration, smoothness, shine and volume.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, our experts applied artificial sebum to hair switches before using a Sebumeter to measure oil and sebum levels after cleaning with each shampoo, to judge how effective they were. Should parabens, silicones or sulphate-free shampoos be non-negotiable for you, we've listed them below
Here are our best shampoos for oily hair.
Redken Amino-Mint Scalp Shampoo
Score: 90/100
Brimming with peppermint extract, our winning shampoo aims to balance out your pH to leave scalps feeling fresh.
Its gentle, irritation-free formula sloughed away product build-up and grease for all testers, leaving shinier, smoother strands in its wake. In fact, it was such a powerful cleaner that many testers found they could go an extra day or two between washes.
Key specifications
| Volume: | 300ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | No |
Kérastase Specifique Bain Divalent Shampoo
Score: 89/100
This bottle left our entire panel with glossy ends and minty-fresh scalps. Our lab test backed this up, confirming it as a top performer when it came to removing artificial sebum. Better still, despite its thorough clean, it still managed to leave strands more hydrated after washing.
Key specifications
| Volume: | 250ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | No |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | No |
OGX Clarify & Shine+ Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
Score: 88/100
Apple cider vinegar is known in the beauty world for preventing dandruff and boosting shine, as well as containing antibacterial properties.
This clever cleanser scored best across the board for its ability to banish oil and product build-up. Overall, our testers agreed that their hair looked smoother, and reported hair looking softer and more nourished after the trial.
Key specifications
| Size: | 385ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | No |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
TRESemmé Deep Cleansing Shampoo
Score: 86/100
If you go through hair products quickly, this supersized shampoo is guaranteed to keep you going for longer.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, we found it helped reduce oiliness in hair, with the majority of testers agreeing that hair felt deeply cleansed and softer after use, too.
Key specifications
| Size: | 800ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | No |
| Sulphate free: | No |
Head & Shoulders Citrus Fresh Anti Dandruff Shampoo
Score: 85/100
You might think dandruff is a telltale sign of a dry scalp but it can often plague those on the oilier side too.
All our testers noted how well this shampoo cleaned hair, which they said left their scalps felt refreshed. Those who suffered from dandruff also agreed that it made a huge difference in eradicating it.
Key specifications
| Size: | 500ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | No |
| Sulphate free: | No |
Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo
Score: 84/100
Acting as a weekly treat for tresses, this shampoo is designed to remove product build-up, pollutants and any residue to give hair a spring clean.
Testers agreed, with the majority appreciating how purified their hair and scalp felt. In the lab, it managed to cleanse hair of over almost all oiliness in one wash.
Key specifications
| Size: | 250ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | No |
Bio Balance Organic Citrus Shampoo
Score: 83/100
This is the highest-scoring shampoo on our list that's also designed for colour-treated hair. Our panel reported deeply cleansed hair and some also noticed added bounce and volume.
Key specifications
| Size: | 330ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Oribe Serene Scalp Balancing Shampoo
Score: 82/100
If you're looking for relief from an itchy scalp, look no further. This pH-balancing shampoo banished product build-up and unwanted oil for nearly everyone, while the formula itself was irritation-free. Scalps were left refreshed, and it helped to eliminate dandruff for some testers.
Key specifications
| Size: | 250ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | No |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Virtue Purifying Shampoo
Score: 81/100
What this shampoo lacks in size, it makes up for in detoxing power. Despite the deep clean it offered, it didn't cause irritation for any of our testers, leaving many with added smoothness and softness. Our lab test gave it a thumbs up for removing artificial sebum too.
Key specifications
| Size: | 20ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | No |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Score: 81/100
Not only is this shampoo great value for money, but it also cleansed everyone's scalps of dirt and oil, all while providing long-lasting oil control.
It was so effective that all testers found that they could wash their hair less, with everybody left with softer, smoother and more hydrated manes.
Key specifications
| Size: | 300ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | No |
Christophe Robin Purifying Shampoo with Thermal Mud
Score: 80/100
Looking to zhush up your roots? This shampoo delivered impressive volume for nearly everyone, all while its thermal mud soaked up any excess oil.
Scalps felt refreshed, while lengths were left with some mirror-esque shine and iron smoothness.
Key specifications
| Size: | 250ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Score: 80/100
We're not going to preach about the damage excess heat styling can do to fragile strands, but if beachy waves or poker-straight tresses are on your agenda, this shampoo is great at prepping hair.
Many testers found it blitzed product residue that clung to roots, while boosting shine and volume. Hair was easier to detangle after washing, with many enjoying added bounce.
Key specifications
| Size: | 250ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Score: 79/100
One of the highest-scoring shampoos in our lab test, this value buy eliminated most oiliness from hair. Testers also appreciated the fresh scent, while almost everyone said it did a great job at cleansing. Our panel didn't report any irritation either, with testers loving how bouncy it left lengths.
Key specifications
| Volume | Shampoo, 400ml |
|---|---|
| Price | Shampoo, 69p |
| Paraben free | Yes |
| Silicone free | Yes |
| Sulphate free | No |
L'Oréal Elvive Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Shampoo
Score: 79/100
Having combination hair — where the ends feel dry but the scalp oily — can be tricky to manage. This shampoo claims to leave roots feeling purified for up to 72 hours, while hydrating lengths.
Testers with combination hair said it worked particularly well, leaving scalps fresh and ends shiny and soft. The majority of our panel also said their strands looked more nourished and smoother, and agreed the shampoo was gentle on hair.
Key specifications
| Size: | 400ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | No |
L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Pure Resource Shampoo
Score: 78/100
Our panel appreciated this gel formula, which managed to produce a rich lather without using much product. Testers were left with softer, smoother ends, and said hair felt clean after use.
The “luxurious” scent was also a hit with the panel and, in the lab, we found it reduced oiliness by 89%.
Key specifications
| Size: | 300ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | No |
The Body Shop Tea Tree Purifying & Balancing Shampoo
Score: 76/100
Tea tree oil is well known in the beauty world for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory powers, so we had high hopes for the impact this ‘purifying’ shampoo would have on clammy scalps.
Sure enough, its vegan formula scored top marks in our lab test for removing sebum, while our panel rated it for its gentle approach to lifting dirt and sweat.
Key specifications
| Size: | 400ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Score: 70/100
Emmy-nominated actress, Tracee Ellis Ross, is the brain behind this curl-friendly brand. Specifically designed to cater to type 3 and 4 curls, its lightweight texture lathered up impressively to give many testers a gentle yet thorough cleanse.
It banished excess oil like a champ and left most of our panel delighted with their freshened up hair.
Key specifications
| Size: | 230ml |
|---|---|
| Paraben free: | Yes |
| Silicone free: | Yes |
| Sulphate free: | Yes |
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Orla was our Former Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester.
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