We’ve all heard that washing our hair practically every day does us no favors and encourages more oil production. But will that stop us from wanting to look clean and presentable when we go about our daily business? Hardly.
When you’re cursed with an oily mane, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place – leave the house every day looking like somebody dipped your head in a pot of Vaseline, or continue to damage your hair by overloading it with products?
This sad state of affairs might not exactly be the pinnacle of suffering, but it can certainly feel like it when your roots are already looking oily after washing them just twelve hours ago.
Getting the right shampoo won’t (necessarily) solve all your woes overnight, but it can certainly be an excellent first step toward recalibrating your hair. Just make sure to choose the right product!
- What to Look for in Shampoos for Oily Hair
- Top 10 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair 2026
- 1. Best Overall Shampoo: Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo
- 2. Best Budget Pick: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo
- 3. Best Premium Pick: Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three
- 4. Best for Color-Treated Hair: BIOLAGE ColorLast Shampoo
- 5. Best Shampoo Bar: Ethique St Clements Shampoo Bar
- 6. Best Anti-Dandruff: Maple Holistics Moisture Control Shampoo
- 7. Best Shampoo for Damaged Hair: WOW Activated Charcoal and Keratin Shampoo
- 8. Best Daily Use Shampoo: Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
- 9. Best Volumizing Shampoo: HONEYDEW Volumizing Shampoo
- 10. Best for Fine Hair: BIOLAGE Volumebloom Shampoo
- Guide to Finding the Perfect Shampoo for Oily Hair
- How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
- Types of Surfactants
- Should I Choose a Natural Shampoo?
- Choosing a Shampoo for Curly Hair
- Choosing a Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
- Choosing a Shampoo for Hair With Dandruff
- Choosing a Shampoo for Fine Hair
- Choosing a Shampoo for Damaged Hair
- Should I Use Dry Shampoo?
- FAQs
- Time to Go Treat Yourself
What to Look for in Shampoos for Oily Hair
Hopefully, you already know a thing or two about what shampoo is and how it works. But what about shampoos for oily hair? What makes them effective at tackling grease, and how can we choose between them?
Fear not – we’ll answer all your questions
Surfactants
One of the principal differences between a shampoo for oily hair and a regular shampoo is the concentration of surfactants, also known as active matter: ingredients that cleanse strands to remove the oil.
Surfactants give shampoos their lathering, soapy texture. They can be overly stripping for anyone with dry hair, but they’re excellent for successfully cleaning grease.
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) is one of the most common types of surfactants found in shampoos. It might have a bad reputation for being toxic, but if you have greasy hair, you might find that the pros outweigh the cons. You can find more about SLS and other surfactants in our detailed overview.
Types of Shampoos
A shampoo, is a shampoo, is a shampoo, right? Not quite. There are “regular” shampoos that try to do everything at once, but you’ll also encounter three more specific types: clarifying shampoos, moisturizing shampoos, and chelating shampoos.
Clarifying shampoos are the most potent; they remove all products from your hair. They contain more surfactants than your average shampoo – 13-17% compared to the usual 10-15%. But they’re certainly not suitable for using every day – use them once a week (or twice at most).
If you need to wash your hair more often, opt for daily use shampoos, which have a 7-10% concentration of surfactants.
A chelating shampoo is for removing the hard water minerals that come from hard water, plus chemicals and toxins from pool water. These are even more drying than clarifying shampoos.
Finally, moisturizing shampoos are for keeping dry hair looking shiny and hydrated. If you have greasy hair, steer clear – but if you struggle with dry ends, you might find that some hydration is helpful.
Hair Type
Even among oily-haired types, we’re all a little different. You need to take extra considerations if your hair is color-treated, damaged with split ends, very fine, or if you have dandruff.
There are also some shampoos built for those with coarse, or curly hair – but, since curly hair is almost always dry, these shampoos tend to be moisturizing rather than cleansing.
Ingredients
Although surfactants are the most important component for tackling grease, that doesn’t mean you can discard everything else on the ingredients list. Some people like to avoid ingredients like parabens, silicones, and other chemicals in their shampoos since they can irritate your scalp.
If you’re unsure whether to opt for a natural or chemical-based shampoo, check out our detailed breakdown.
Texture
The best way to figure out what type of shampoo you’re dealing with is to go through the ingredients list with a fine-toothed comb and figure out whether it’s the one for you. But the second-best way is to take a look at the texture and make an educated guess.
Moisturizing shampoos tend to have a creamier, thicker texture, while stronger shampoos with more active ingredients (like those designed for people with greasy hair) are usually clearer and lighter.
Cruelty-Free
It’s no little-known secret that cosmetics brands are notorious for testing on animals. If you’re a vegan or you’re trying to be mindful of your consumption habits, look out for cruelty-free products.
We hope you’ve been taking notes, because it’s now time to take a look at the best shampoos. Whether you want something high in surfactants or natural ingredients, if your hair is color-treated or dandruff-ridden, we have you covered.
If this doesn’t apply to you, be sure to check out our other shampoo guides like the best organic dry shampoos, the best shampoos for permed hair, and the best shampoos for hard water.
Top 10 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair 2026
1. Best Overall Shampoo: Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Size: 6 Fl Oz
- Hair type: All types (including color-treated hair)
- Shampoo type: Clarifying
- Texture: Thick, foamy
- Scent: Mild orange
- Cruelty-free: No
- Free from: Artificial dyes, colorants, and silicones.
Want to get rid of that horrible grease and the traces of previous shampoos lingering in your hair without using a product so harsh that it irritates your scalp? Of course you do, and that’s exactly what Neutrogena provides.
The formula promises to get rid of 90% of residue in your locks, boosting volume and restoring shine – yet it’s also gentle enough for color-treated hair and anyone with sensitive skin.
The only downside is that you can’t use it every day. As a clarifying shampoo, it’s only designed for using once a week – complement it with a gentler shampoo if you need to wash your hair more often than that (which, as an oily-haired individual, you almost certainly do). We recommend the Aveeno daily use shampoo.
Ingredient Quality
Neutrogena prides itself on being the #1 Dermatologist Recommended skincare brand, so you can count on it to vet their ingredients carefully. The anti-residue formula contains no artificial dyes or colorants (although it does have synthetic fragrances).
However, as a clarifying shampoo made to strip your hair of residues, it does contain some harsh ingredients. Sodium laureth sulfate is the second largest ingredient, which is a harsh surfactant. It also contains the weaker surfactant cocamidopropyl betaine.
However, that’s why this is a once-a-week shampoo for a deep cleanse and not designed for daily use.
Other than a few harsh substances designed to give the hair a deep cleanse, in general the ingredients list is very simple. It contains only eleven substances and no silicones. There’s glycerin to moisturize the hair and prevent it becoming too dry after being stripped.
Pros
- Non-irritating
- Simple and minimal ingredients
- Strong enough to remove hair products and grease
Cons
- Not cruelty-free
- Contains fragrance
2. Best Budget Pick: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Size: 12.6 Fl Oz
- Hair type: Dry ends, color-treated hair
- Shampoo type: Regular
- Texture: Thick and creamy
- Scent: Floral
- Cruelty-free: No
- Free from: Silicones
Some people float through life looking permanently like they’ve just left the salon, with luscious locks and not a split end or spot of grease in sight. Others are less fortunate, battling not just oily hair but also dry strands. Life isn’t fair, but products like the L’Oréal rebalancing shampoos can accomplish a task you’d expect to be impossible: tackling both problems at once.
The shampoo promises to keep your roots looking clean for 48 hours, while a few magic ingredients will nourish any dryness.
Ingredient Quality
L’Oréal markets the shampoo as containing three refined clays. Clay is an excellent absorbent of oil, toxins, dirt, and everything in between. It can even help to fight dandruff and hair loss.
As well as clays, it also contains salicylic acid, a known moisturizing ingredient that helps to loosen dead, irritated skin.
It contains sodium laureth sulfate and cocobetaine glycol as surfactants, making it so effective as a cleanser. But this might not be suitable for more those with more sensitive scalps, especially since it also contains artificial fragrance. Consider a hypoallergenic option like the Maple Holistics shampoo instead.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Great for dry or split ends
- Clay helps cleanse hair
Cons
- Cruelty-free
- Harsh ingredients
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Size: 10.14 Fl
- Hair type: All
- Shampoo type: Chelating and clarifying
- Texture: Thin gel
- Scent: Grapefruit and orange
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Free from: Parabens
Paul Mitchell is a renowned brand for professional haircare products, and Shampoo Three is no exception. As a chelating shampoo, it’s capable of getting chlorine, iron, and minerals out of your hair. It’s also clarifying, helping with product buildup and the resulting dullness, including dyes and color treatments lingering in the hair.
Although the price tag is higher than other items on the list, it’s one of the few shampoos out there that is both chelating and formulated specifically for oily hair. If you’re a swimmer or the hard water from your faucets doesn’t agree with your hair, this should be a no-brainer.
Oh, and did we mention it’s also cruelty-free and vegan?
Ingredient Quality
Unlike many clarifying shampoos, the principal surfactant in Paul Mitchell Three is disodium cocoamphodiacetate, a gentler option that is less likely to irritate your scalp. It also contains sodium laureth sulfate, but in a lower concentration than many other shampoos.
To get chlorine and other toxins out of your hair – which manifest as green or yellow clumps – there are a few special ingredients. There are various sources of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which attach to trace minerals and get them out of your hair for extra cleansing.
There’s also magnesium sulfate, a natural curl activator that you might also know as Epsom salts. It’s great for improving the appearance of your hair or anyone with curly hair.
Pros
- Chelating
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Suitable for color-treated hair
- No parabens
Cons
- Contains sodium laureth sulfate
- Expensive
4. Best for Color-Treated Hair: BIOLAGE ColorLast Shampoo
