Banish Greasy Roots for Good With These 10 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair
While we’re all about embracing a dewy glow when it comes to our summer skincare routine, unfortunately, the same can’t be said for our scalps and hair. Greasy hair can make your roots look oily and dull your hair color, and it can also seriously weigh down your strands. Whether you’re prone to excess sebum production on your scalp or you’ve simply gone too many days relying on dry shampoo, if you’re looking to give your hair a deep clean, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up the best shampoos for oily hair to banish everything from excess oil to product build-up and even environmental pollutants without further stripping the hair shaft of moisture.
Healthy hair starts at the scalp, and keeping your scalp clean and eliminating build-up, dirt, and oil is the best thing you can do to ensure your hair can grow harmoniously. We think it’s just as important as keeping your complexion clear. And while it might seem impossible to strike the perfect balance when it comes to a healthy scalp, rest-assured that it can be done. With shampoos crafted with ingredients borrowed from your favorite skincare products (like salicylic acid and tea tree oil), you can balance oil production and keep hair tresses looking fresher than ever.
Greasy hair, be gone!
The Best Shampoos for Oily Hair:
1. Best to Remove Product Buildup:
BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Sunday Shampoo
BUMBLE AND BUMBLE hair products have been a staple of professional hairstylists for years now, and this clarifying shampoo is pretty solid proof as to why they love it so much. The formula features a line-up of powerful natural ingredients that target oily scalps and greasy hair shafts way better than anything with parabens or toxic chemicals. Ginseng root extract is used as a tonic for the hair and scalp, rosemary leaf extract stimulates the scalp and boasts an invigorating scent, and salvia extract scrubs the scalp to boost cleanliness. These ingredients are such an effective trio, in fact, that you should only use it once a week to remove excess oil and product build-up. And while this shampoo is ideal for greasy hair, it’s also suitable for all hair types, from healthy hair to color-treated hair to fine hair.
2. Best for Dandruff:
KÉRASTASE Bain Divalent Shampoo
Is it looking like a snow day on your shoulders? Say goodbye to dandruff and reach for this scalp-soothing, anti-dandruff shampoo that’s silicone-free and hypoallergenic to gently yet thoroughly wash away dirt and excess oil. It’s made with tamanu oil and piroctone olamine, which has antifungal and anti-bacterial properties to prevent build-up and alleviate itchy scalps, plus menthol to cool down your roots. Dandruff doesn’t stand a chance.
3. Best Drugstore Buy:
NEUTROGENA Anti-Residue Shampoo
You don’t have to break the bank if you want to banish oil. Try this brand-new, deep-cleansing shampoo that will wash away dirt, grease, and grime like no other. This citrusy clarifying shampoo will leave your hair feeling soft and smooth without further stripping your hair of natural oils, thanks to the mild exfoliating properties found in the sulfate-free formula. Bonus: The grapefruit scent is an incredible pick-me-up on those mornings when you’re still half asleep.
4. Best for Color-Treated Hair:
DRUNK ELEPHANT Cocomino Glossing Shampoo
Unfortunately, when it comes to getting a deep clean, many shampoos still rely on sulfates to degrease—and these can strip hair of much-needed natural oils (not to mention damage color-treated hair). Thankfully, this skincare-meets-hair care hybrid makes it so you don’t have to sacrifice the integrity of your strands to clean deeply and manage oil.. If you regularly dye your hair or just have damaged hair in general, lather up this sulfate-free shampoo for a hit of coconut-based surfactants (like coconut oil, but better) that washes away dirt, excess oil, and product build-up while also gently moisturizing your strands. Your hair will be left feeling soft, shiny, manageable, and oh-so-clean.
5. Best for Sensitive Scalps:
CHRISTOPHE ROBIN Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
If you have an oily and sensitive scalp, it can be tough to find a product that will thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Enter: this cult-favorite scalp scrub. We like to think of it like a detox for your head. It’s a powerful-yet-gentle exfoliator that removes dirt and oil without leaving your hair feeling like straw as it restores balance to your scalp. Follow it up with a generous amount of conditioner on your ends for an extra dose of hydration.
6. Best for Removing Hard Water Build-Up:
ORIBE The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo
If the water in your shower is weighing down your hair, this detoxifying foam is here to lighten things up. It’s formulated with volcanic ash that helps wash away build-up caused by water sediments, products, and oil, to leave you with soft, smooth hair that looks vibrant after just one use. Dispense this mousse-like foaming shampoo, then massage into your roots before rinsing away for a deep clean.
7. Best for Pollution:
KLORANE Detox Shampoo With Aquatic Mint
You’re probably aware of the impact pollution can have on your skin, but did you know it’s equally as damaging to your strands? Pollution can clog and damage the hair fiber, leaving you with lifeless, weighed-down hair. It also can cause scalp congestion, which can contribute to hair loss (no thank you!). So if you think your hair is suffering from environmental stressors, it’s time to introduce this effective formula to your hair care routine. This detoxifying shampoo gets excess oil production under control without the use of harsh chemicals like silicone or parabens. Non-stripping, sulfate-free, and paraben-free, this minty-fresh formula uses a refreshing complex to nourish your scalp, preserve its natural balance, and eliminate oil build-up to make your hair feel fresh and light as air.
8. Best for Dull Hair:
AVEENO Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
If you want to restore shine to dull strands, look no further than this scalp-soothing shampoo that’s made with colloidal oatmeal extract and apple cider vinegar. You’ll transform lifeless hair into clean, shiny, and smooth strands worthy of a shampoo-commercial hair flip—or at least a selfie.
9. Best Multitasker:
ALTERNA My Hair. My Canvas. New Beginnings Exfoliating Cleanser
Want an exfoliator that can work double-time on your body and scalp? Look no further than this innovative formula that can be used on both your hair and on your body to slough away dirt, pollutants, and product build-up while absorbing excess oil. Bonus: This formula is cruelty-free and vegan.
10. Best for Curly Hair:
IGK HAIR First Class Charcoal Detox Clarifying Shampoo
If you have curly hair, dealing with an oily scalp can be that much harder as you attempt to give your roots a deep clean without further stripping your hair. That’s where this powerful shampoo gets to work, gently clearing away impurities and maintaining your hair’s natural moisture. The winning trifecta here is a combination of witch hazel, charcoal, and tea tree oil, which work to remove color-dulling residue, styling products, chlorine, hard water, and pollution.
Want to sample some of our fave shampoos for oily hair before you decide which one is worth the splurge? Sign up for the IPSY Glam Bag to get access to products like these and more. Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.
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