The 6 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair, According to Stylists
Does your hair get greasy and matted down quickly? Do you find yourself needing to shampoo every single day? While there are many different reasons why your hair feels oily—from genetics to hormonal changes to a hairbrush that needs cleaning—the solution is a bit more straightforward: Find a shampoo that works for you.
To help you cut through the options (and the grease), we tapped two people who know a thing or two about healthy, happy and balanced hair: Ashley Streicher, a celebrity hairstylist for Garnier (she’s also Mandy Moore’s go-to gal), and Kiley Fitzgerald, a hairstylist at Mare Salon in Los Angeles. Here, they each discuss the best shampoo for oily hair—plus, a few tips.
RELATED: Got Hair That’s Both Oily and Dry? Here’s How to Deal with It
1. Best Overall: Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo
"I recommend clarifying shampoos to almost all of my clients with oily hair. I don't recommend using them all of the time but it's good to swap in every third wash or so to remove buildup from other styling products and daily dust that's sticking to your strands and weighing them down. One of my favorites that immediately comes to mind is Redken's cleansing cream shampoo. Not only does it clear up any product buildup from your hair, but it also removes copper, iron and hard water minerals, which can be dulling," says Fitzgerald. "Plus, it has fruit acids in the formula to add shine and refresh your scalp."
2. Best Budget: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying Shampoo
"It's a common misconception that people with oilier hair should use stronger, more astringent shampoos to make their hair feel clean, but that can actually strip the hair of natural oils and nutrients and leave ends feeling very dry. Instead look for gentle cleansers that remove oil from your scalp without disrupting its natural balance. I love this formula because it gets rid of grease and residue without using any harsh cleansers. It just leaves your hair feeling light and clean and it smells amazing," says Streicher.
3. Most Hydrating: Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo
Another go-to for Fitzgerald? Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil shampoo (which is also one of our longtime favorites). Like its name implies, the formula acts similarly to a cleansing oil you’d use for your face in that it has a nice slip to it and is gentle on your skin. "I love this shampoo because it quickly lathers up into a rich foam, which effectively draws out any impurities or buildup from the scalp without stripping it dry," says Fitzgerald. "In fact, it has hydrating ingredients like plant and fruit oils that leave your hair softer after use." (Ed note: Though it’s certainly pricier than most shampoos, the 13.4 oz bottle lasts a long time.)
4. Best Gentle Cleanser: Virtue Refresh Purifying Shampoo
"Virtue’s purifying shampoo is unlike any other," says Fitzgerald. It's a clarifying formula that’s infused with proteins and keratin that actually fills in damaged or weakened areas of hair, while clearing away any oils or impurities that are sitting on your scalp and strands. "I tell my clients to use this once a week and follow up with your favorite conditioner."
5. Best for Processed Hair: Davines Solu Shampoo
This is a great shampoo for anyone who processes their hair regularly (i.e., if you keep up with highlights, keratin treatments, or any other chemical services at a salon). It uses buckwheat extract and amino acids to remove any residue from your hair and it feels downright invigorating when you massage it into your scalp. "It's also a great cleanser for swimmers because it pulls the chlorine from your hair," says Fitzgerald.
6. Best Quick Fix: Garnier Pure Clean Dry Shampoo
We'd be remiss not to include a dry shampoo in the mix (a godsend for any oily-haired gal on the go). Streicher swears by this drugstore pick because it’s "super lightweight and doesn’t feel gritty on your hair." She recommends using it between shampoos to absorb any excess oils, while still delivering a soft movement to your strands rather than weighing them down like some formulas can.