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When it comes to oily hair, mine takes the cake. These aren’t your typical, run-of-the-mill, “it’s been a few too many days between washes” greasy locks. We’re talking a full-on oil slick, sometimes right after I’ve washed my tresses. You see, friends, I likely suffer from an overproduction of sebum (that’s natural oil from the scalp), which means that if my scalp isn’t balanced properly, it pumps oil out in excess, particularly near the crown of my head. I haven’t been clinically diagnosed or anything, but after plenty of research (excess sebum is also linked to a type of eczema called seborrheic dermatitis, and I happen to have atopic eczema, so I wouldn’t be shocked if I had this too), I’ve managed to keep it under control with the best shampoo for oily hair, which helps me hide my dirty little secret for up to three days at a time.
What Is the Best Shampoo for Oily Hair?
While I am not a scientist, I have tested (and wasted a lot of money) on shampoo marketed for oily hair in my quest to find the best of the best.
I’ve also done a lot of digging into the matter. According to my research, shampoo with salicylic acid *should* have done the trick, since this ingredient is meant to eliminate oil buildup and break down scaly, dead skin. And yet none of the shampoos I tried that boasted this as the star component stood a chance against “the spot” on my scalp that regularly does me dirty (literally). In fact, I liked these the least, since they also dried my hair out in the process.
Apple cider vinegar-based shampoos, which beauty experts also tout for its ability to “rid the hair of oil and product buildup to give volume and lift,” was also a non-starter—these made my hair feel kind of waxy, but certainly not clean.
Looking at the three shampoos that worked the best for me, it was those containing niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) or tea tree oil, both of which are known to help control sebum, or salt, which Vogue has pointed to for potential sebum control, that really made a difference.
Another ingredient that I saw across all three of my faves was lactic acid, which is an alpha-hydroxy acid, and/or menthyl lactate (a derivative of menthol and lactic acid). According to board-certified trichologist Aga Tompkins, who spoke to NBC News on the topic, similar to salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids like lactic acid, “gently exfoliate your scalp, regulate oil and keep follicles clear without triggering rebound oil production.”
In short, while salicylic acid, apple cider vinegar and even lactic acid may be effective for those with day-to-day grease, I believe that it’s those known sebum busters—a.k.a. the ones that have been proven to control the sebum—that really held up their end of the bargain for me.
Below, find the three shampoos that promised to do the heavy lifting of removing oil from my strands—and got the job done.
The Best Shampoo for Oily Hair
- Best Shampoo for Oily Hair Overall: Christophe Robin Scalp Scrub
- Best Paraben-Free Shampoo for Oily Hair: Nutrire S.3 Balance Shampoo
- Best Cooling Shampoo for Oily Hair: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
1. Christophe Robin Scalp Scrub
Best Overall Shampoo for Oily Hair
This is the end-all, be-all hair cleanser for oily-haired girls. I’ve been using it religiously since 2021, and not only has it seen my hair through its greasiest states, it’s what I reach for when I need an extra little bit of power for other shampoos just aren’t cutting through the grease. This isn’t a typical shampoo: You don’t squeeze a gel out into your hand and lather. Instead, it comes in a jar with tightly packed natural sea salt crystals that are meant to be scrubbed into your scalp. It’s got a long list of ingredients—my money’s on the combo of salt and menthyl lactate that truly make it effective—but frankly I don’t care what exactly the rest of them are doing: The combination works. The (French—of course it’s French)‚ brand recommends using this twice a week, which is perfect for my hair wash schedule, and it’s gentle enough on my hair dye to use it as often as I need. It even comes in a convenient little travel size jar that I’ve taken everywhere from Paris to Chicago.
2. Nutrire S.3 Balance Shampoo
Best Paraben-Free Shampoo for Oily Hair
I’ve always been skeptical of sulfate- and paraben-free shampoos. Apparently, that skepticism may be adding to my problem, since the powerful cleansers that are sulfates may be stripping my hair of so much oil, my scalp is overreacting and producing more (that’s the theory). Meanwhile, bacteria and yeast-preventing parabens are reportedly doing the same, drying my tresses out and causing my sebum to go wild. The thing is, nothing formulated without them has ever left my hair feeling clean. Experts speak of an “adjustment period” when making the switch, but frankly, I haven’t been willing to walk around with nasty, grease-soaked locks long enough for my scalp to get used to a new workflow. And so, I reach for the sulfates and parabens any chance I get—or at least I did before I was sent Nutrire. Made with niacinamide and lactic acid, it’s the *only* sulfate- and paraben-free shampoo I’ve ever tried that still left my hair feeling like I actually washed it. While there are still the bad days when I have to pair it with the Christophe Robin to get the *full* clean effect, I’ve added this to my regular rotation, swapping it for my main squeeze every other wash or so, just to give my hair a break.
3. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
Best Cooling Shampoo for Oily Hair
This is the first shampoo that actually made a difference with my grease pit. Not only did it leave my scalp feeling tingly and cool, I could finally dry my hair again without that sinking sense of dread when I realized that my efforts to wash it had been for nought. This stuff worked—it really, really worked. My only issue was that it worked a little *too* well when it came to my hair color. After several (too frequent) trips back to the salon to fix my dye, my stylist suggested switching my shampoo (the horror!), which led me to the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Color Shampoo ($25). And it’s … OK. I don’t get that same tingly, cooling feeling I loved in the original formula, and I do think the formulation change that makes it gentler on color also makes it a bit gentler on grease. As such, it’s not my top pick against the other two shampoos listed above. If dye preservation isn’t an issue for you, however, the OG formula is a highly effective and affordable option.
Other Shampoos for Oily Hair I’ve Tried
- Ouai Anti-Dandruff Shampoo ($38): Though this is marketed for both dandruff and oil-control, its star ingredient of salicylic acid did little to make my scalp feel cleaner—it just made my strands feel dry.
- Luseta Scalp-Balancing Shampoo ($16): I had high hopes for Luseta, but this salicylic-based pick was so ineffective in the shower that I had to set it aside for my regular go-to mid-wash. I will say that I did like the brand’s scalp balancing hair mask ($36), which didn’t necessarily make my hair feel cleaner, but deeply, deeply moisturized and nourished it.
- Pura D’Or Apple Cider Vinegar Thin2Thick Set ($30): This has a 4.4-star rating from 8.7K Amazon shoppers, and is meant to promote thicker, fuller hair while also deep cleansing the scalp. I can’t say whether it does all those other things, because all I know is that I used it once, and my hair felt … weird. Certainly not clean and fresh, but rather, kind of waxy, is the best way I can describe it. It may work wonders for regrowth, but it didn’t cure my grease.
What shampoo am I missing? Tell me in the comments below!
Xo, Nicole
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