12 of the best shampoos for oily, greasy hair

Washing our hair is a chore most of us wish to avoid as much as possible, and if you experience oily, greasy hair you might feel you spend most of your life in the shower.

The thought of washing our hair one or two times a week may seem unrealistic to many, who feel weighed down by hair just one day after a wash. Some hair can become greasy and oily very quickly due to a multitude of factors, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Identifying the root of the issue is the best place to start, and a great shampoo designed to target oily hair is your next step.

Why is my hair oily and greasy?

According to Pantene, greasy hair is caused by an excess or build-up of sebum, the natural oils our scalp produces to support the health of our hair. After every wash, these oils build up and can leave the surface of your hair to appear oily or greasy and weighed down.

All hair gets greasy over time, but there may be a direct reason your hair is appearing oily quicker, here are a few to note:

• Over washing your hair – washing your hair too often is one of the biggest reasons your hair could be appearing greasier. Ease down on washing and aim for one to two times a week max.

• Artificial chemicals – many shampoos on the market contain crazy amounts of chemicals and ingredients that are actively making our hair worse. Look out for paraben-free, silicone-free and sulphate-free hair products.

• Unhealthy eating habits – You are what you eat! A healthy diet rich in nutrients and great vitamins will promote healthier hair.

• Genetics – if you’ve noticed oily hair runs in your family, this may be a genetic condition, consult your GP for the best treatment.

• Hormones – changes in hormones from puberty to pregnancy and menopause, can have a huge impact on our hair and increase the amount of sebum your scalp is producing.

How can I stop my hair from getting so greasy?

There are a few things you can look out for or choose to change in your routine, to help you decrease the amount of time you spend washing your oily hair.

1. Shampoo and conditioner: Choose your shampoo and hair care products very carefully, look out for products free of harsh chemicals and designed for greasy and oily hair.

2. Don’t wash your hair every day: Try not to over-wash your hair, dry shampoos are great for a quick re-fresh but make sure all products are thoroughly cleansed out of your hair.

3. Amount of hair product: Most of the population use way too much shampoo and conditioner in their hair. Aim for around the size of a 10p coin for shampoo and target conditioner only to the ends of your hair, avoiding roots.

4. Natural remedies: Apple cider vinegar diluted with water is believed to be a great at-home treatment for oily hair. Watch this great YouTube video to try it out yourself.

Start your journey to healthy, clean and shiny hair with the best shampoo behind you all the way. We’ve found the best clarifying and purifying shampoos for oily hair available, to help you get your hair back under control and looking the best it ever has.

SHOP: The best shampoos for oily, greasy hair

VERDICT: The best shampoo for oily hair

With so many amazing shampoos out there, each designed to combat factors of oily and greasy hair, picking the best will be different for every hair type and budget.

If you’re looking for a shampoo that targets your scalp and roots for longer-lasting freshness, the best shampoo for oily hair would be the Redken Scalp Relief Shampoo.

Willing to splash the cash? Then the GOOP G.TOX Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo is a top pick. With amazing ingredients that work together to purify and detoxify, this scalp scrub will banish greasy hair for sure.

Drumroll, please… if you’re going to make us pick an overall winner for the best shampoo for oily hair, we’re going to present the award to the OGX Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Shampoo. With over 1000 amazing five-star reviews on Amazon, the shampoo comes at a great affordable price point and promises exceptional results within a few washes.

There are loads of options out there so just make sure you do your research. We have rated every shampoo above with specifications and features, so read into them carefully to make the best decision for you and your hair.

What is my hair type?

Your hair type refers to your hair texture and structure, knowing your hair type can help you to find products that work best for your hair as well as the perfect haircut and styles.

Hair texture

Hair texture relates to the shape and pattern of your hair strands. There are four main categories we commonly use:

• Type one: straight

• Type two: wavy

• Type three: curly

• Type four: coily

This diagram from Healthline.com is a great visual guide to help you identify your hair texture.

Hair structure

Hair structure refers specifically to your individual strand thickness, this will affect which styles your hair can hold and products best for volume, hold and shine. Generally, your hair can fall into three categories: fine, medium, and coarse (or thick). Function of Beauty has a great trick for identifying your hair structure:

An easy way to tell which category your hair falls into is to take a single strand from your hairbrush and lay it down on a plain, flat surface.

Next, cut a piece of sewing thread about six inches long (choose a similar colour to your hair if you can) and place it next to your strand of hair.

If your hair appears thinner than the sewing thread, your hair is fine, while if it seems thicker, it’s likely coarse. Anything in between them would be medium.