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Beauty Hair Care
By Noelle Ike, CNN Underscored
Published 1:00 PM EDT, Thu May 22, 2025
What's in this guide
- Best clarifying shampoo for oily hair
- Best detoxifying shampoo for oily hair
- Best gentle shampoo for oily hair
- Best shampoo for oily hair and dry scalps
- What causes oily hair?
- How to choose the best shampoo for oily hair
- What to avoid in shampoos if you have oily hair
- FAQs
- Meet our experts
- Why trust CNN Underscored
Finding shampoo for oily hair that actually works has been a lifelong journey for me. The very first beauty rule my mom ever gave me was to make sure I never left the house with visibly greasy or oily hair — something all the women my family had dealt with at one point or another — and we weren’t even using dry shampoo back then.
Fortunately, hair care has come a long way. We have formulations to nourish gray or color-treated hair, an innovative hair dryer that uses way less heat and hybrid tools like blowout brushes to save you time and money. So where to start when it comes to tackling oily hair? We spoke with four hairstylists and two dermatologists that all agree — it’s with your scalp.
Best clarifying shampoo for oily hair
If you love the feeling of squeaky clean hair, you can’t go wrong with a clarifying shampoo. Dr. Kristin M. Baird, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dermatology of the Rockies, recommends this option from Aveda, which she describes as a “lightweight formula that refreshes the scalp and reduces oiliness.” In addition to peppermint and spearmint oil, Baird said that the shampoo includes white vinegar, which helps clarify your hair without the harsh stripping of synthetic alternatives.
Editor Favorite
An expert favorite that I’ve personally used throughout my teen years, this lightweight and affordable shampoo delivers the most refreshing sensation to your scalp without stripping it of natural oils. The tea tree and peppermint-infused formulation is perfect for “anyone who wants a lightweight, deep clean with a burst of scalp stimulation,” according to celebrity hairstylist Jerilynn Stephens, while Banowitz shares that it’s a great option for those with oily roots and anyone who just uses a lot of product in their hair.
Baird recommends this fan-favorite tingling shampoo, which contains tea tree oil, peppermint and lavender — all ingredients that work to “invigorate the scalp and remove excess oil,” according to Baird. Not only will this shampoo work to rebalance and clarify your scalp, but she said it’ll give your hair that coveted “fresh and clean feel throughout the day.”
Best detoxifying shampoo for oily hair
Adam Federico, a professional hairstylist and vice president of technical education at R+Co, recommends this shampoo scrub, which is perfect for scrubbing away any buildup contributing to oily hair. “Once-weekly use delivers a full scalp detox,” he said, “which can help rebalance any excess oil production that you’ve been experiencing throughout the week.”
A favorite among the pros, this shampoo from Ouai both detoxes and clarifies. “It smells amazing and works even better,” Banowitz said. “The apple cider vinegar helps cut through oil and buildup, and it’s surprisingly gentle.” Because this shampoo should only be used once or twice a week, it’s a great option for anyone who uses dry shampoo regularly, he added.
Walker-Rodgers is a big fan of this detox shampoo, which she describes as great for all hair types and for removing product buildup on the hair and scalp. “This shampoo does not leave hair dry and crunchy,” she said. “I use it at least once during a service for everyone.” With this detoxifying shampoo, you can expect hair to feel even softer after washing with it, even before applying conditioner.
“This is a scalp scrub and shampoo in one — super satisfying,” Banowitz said. The formulation includes charcoal, which helps detox your scalp and hair, while the coconut oil keeps the product from being too harsh. “I use this on my curly-haired clients too,” he said. “Just be sure to rinse really well.”
Baird recommends this sulfate-free and color-safe shampoo from Living Proof, which she said uses “charcoal and a chelating agent to remove buildup from pollution, hard water and oil.”
Best gentle shampoo for oily hair
“This is a lightweight formulation that does an excellent job at cleansing oily roots with ingredients like amino acids and vitamin B6,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky said. Banowitz agrees, adding that it’s perfect for those who also deal with dry or sensitive ends. “It purifies without drying out your lengths,” he explains. “I use this a lot on my fine-haired clients who tend to get oily by day two.”
Stephens recommends this purifying shampoo, which she describes as great for keeping your hair strong and voluminous. “It’s gentle enough for regular use but really effective at removing oil and buildup,” she said, recommending it for those with fine or normal hair that tends to get greasy quickly. It’s also worth opting for in between washes with your more powerful clarifying shampoo.
“This uses skin care-like ingredients that perfectly balance the scalp,” Walker-Rodgers said. “It's like extending a facial to your scalp.” According to the hairstylist, the formulation works to cleanse the hair while keeping it soft and voluminous, and is a good fit for all hair types. It's a great option for anyone who deals with a host of common scalp issues, whether that’s a flaky scalp, an oily scalp or a dry and sensitive scalp, she added.
Many thickening and volumizing shampoos can be beneficial for those with oily scalps since their formulation tends to prevent weighing down your hair with excess product. “This shampoo has effective cleansing agents that help to volumize and cleanse without overstripping hair oils,” Zubritsky said. “It has the added benefit of lightweight hydration and ingredients like biotin that help to strengthen hair.”
Best shampoo for oily hair and dry scalps
When it comes to what Walker-Rodgers looks for in an oily hair-friendly shampoo, she recommends “microbiome-balancing shampoos that don't strip the natural sebum from the scalp [...] preferably with those that have skin care-like ingredients for retaining moisture and hydration.” One of our favorites is this stabilizing shampoo from scalp care brand Hårklinikken, which focuses on restoring scalp balance for all hair types.
Editor Favorite
Beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw has always dealt with dandruff with those clinical-looking drugstore brands, until she tried Jupiter's hair care. This hydrating dandruff shampoo includes tea tree, jackfruit and pre- and probiotics to support the scalp's microbiome. It leaves Shaw's hair shiny, scalp soothed and she loves the dense lather it creates while she washes her hair.
Neutrogena T-Sal is one of Zubritsky’s go-to picks for those who struggle with both oily roots and scalp flakes. “It contains salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that helps gently exfoliate away excess oil, sebum, product build-up and old skin cells and flakes,”she said.
Described by Baird as ideal for oily or flaky scalps, this anti-dandruff shampoo includes LHA,or lipohydroxy acid, to gently exfoliate your scalp. She added it’s “dermatologist-formulated and gentle enough for regular use.”
What causes oily hair?
The main reason some people have oily hair is due to an overproduction of oil and sebum from sebaceous glands in your scalp, explains Zubritsky. “Most of the time this is genetically determined,” she explains, which makes a lot of sense given how oily hair has been a struggle for nearly everyone in my family.
But there are a number of other factors like hormonal fluctuations, using products incompatible with your hair type, heat and humidity and even medical scalp conditions that can cause or exacerbate an oily scalp.
“Sometimes oily hair can be a reaction to overwashing,” Federico said. Though it may seem counterintuitive, “if you strip your scalp too often, it’ll try to compensate by producing even more oil,” triggering a cycle that can be hard to break out of, he explained. “The key is balance — cleansing without overdoing it.”
There are also small, daily actions you can take to minimize oily hair. Our experts recommend spacing out washes if possible and using dry shampoo during the transition to ensure overwashing isn’t the cause. Avoid heavy conditioners and apply conditioner to the mid-section and ends of your hair, making sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards. Try not to touch your hair throughout the day and be sure to keep your hairbrush clean, as both actions can lead to redepositing product buildup and oil back into your scalp — exactly what you don’t want.
“And remember, oily hair isn’t a bad thing,” Frederico said. “It usually means your scalp is healthy — it’s just about finding the right rhythm.”
How to choose the best shampoo for oily hair
“When you’ve got oily hair, you want a shampoo that hits a reset button,” Federico said. “Something that gives you a clean slate without stripping your scalp.” For that reason, clarifying, exfoliating, detoxifying and even volumizing shampoos are all popular options.
“These are usually formulated to remove excess oil without adding heavy moisturizers,” Baird said. “Key ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil can be helpful because they gently exfoliate the scalp and reduce buildup.” Celebrity hairstylist Dean Banowetz recommends adding rosemary and charcoal to that list, which are additional ingredients found in lightweight and balancing shampoos that are “ideally sulfate-free but still effective at removing excess oil.”
If you suffer from dry or damaged hair but you also experience an oily scalp, Jeannetta Walker-Rodgers, a professional hair stylist specializing in textured hair and global technical director of Joico, recommends looking for shampoos with “hydrating ingredients like water, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and natural oils like argan.” This way, you can get the hydration you need without further trapping oils in your scalp.
What to avoid in shampoos if you have oily hair
Baird suggests steering clear of shampoos marketed as hydrating, moisturizing or smoothing. “They often contain ingredients that can weigh hair down or contribute to oiliness,” she said.
This logic extends to other hair products beyond shampoo as well. Most of our experts called out heavy silicones and oils as a no-go in shampoo and even in other hair products because they tend to coat the scalp and trap oil. And if you must use a beloved hair oil, “save those for the ends,” advises Banowetz. “And even then, go light.”
On the flip side, you’ll also want to avoid “harsh surfactants or drying alcohols that would strip skin of natural sebum,” Walker-Rodgers said. Though it may seem counterintuitive, drying out your scalp won’t stop the oil production — it’ll further contribute to your scalp’s imbalance. It makes sense then that many shampoos formulated to help oily hair are often beneficial for those with dandruff and vice versa.
FAQs
The following FAQs have been answered by hairstylists Dean Banowetz, Adam Federico and Jerilynn Stephens and dermatologists Dr. Kristin Baird and Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky.
Not necessarily, but the answer ultimately depends on your hair type. “There is a misconception that washing your hair everyday isn’t ‘good’ for your hair,” Zubritsky said. “For oily hair types, washing daily can be beneficial.” So if you’re someone who, for example, has always been washing their hair daily and everyone in your family washes their hair daily, washing it less frequently isn’t necessarily going to help.
On the flip side, washing too frequently can backfire for many people. “While it might seem logical to wash oily hair more often to decrease oiliness, washing can strip hair of natural oils, which signals your scalp to produce even more oil to compensate,” Baird said. If you think this may be the case, our experts recommend starting by washing your hair every other day and adjusting the frequency based on how your scalp reacts.
“Choose a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo specifically formulated for oily hair and avoid using heavy conditioners or applying them directly to your scalp,” Baird said. Instead, focus on the mid-lengths to ends of your hair. “Everyone’s scalp is different, so the key is finding a rhythm that keeps your hair clean without triggering more oil production,” Baird said.
“Yes, clarifying shampoos can absolutely help manage greasy hair,” Federico said. “They’re like a detox for your scalp — breaking down oil, sweat, pollution, styling products — all the stuff that builds up and weighs hair down.” But as Stephens said, it’s less of a daily solution and more of a reset for your scalp.
“Once a week is a good rhythm for most people,” she said. “Overdoing it can dry your scalp and trigger even more oil production.” Banowitz recommends following a clarifying wash with “a lightweight, hydrating conditioner on the mid-lengths to keep things balanced.”
Meet our experts
For this article, we consulted the following hair and skin experts to gain their professional insights.
- Dr. Kristin M. Baird, a board certified dermatologist and founder of Dermatology of the Rockies
- Dean Banowetz, known as the Hollywood Hair Guy, is an Emmy-nominated celebrity hairstylist
- Adam Federico, a professional hairstylist and vice president of technical education at R+Co
- Jerilynn Stephens, an Emmy-nominated and Guild Award-winning Hollywood hair stylist and educator
- Jeannetta Walker-Rodgers, a professional hair stylist specializing in textured hair and global technical director of Joico
- Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a board-certified dermatologist, speaker and educational content creator
Why trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, Noelle Ike interviewed hairstylists and dermatologists about the best shampoo for oily hair. She has previously covered the best hair styling tools and best at-home hair color kits.
Noelle Ike Former Editorial Coordinator
Noelle Ike is an editor and writer based in NYC, covering everything from fashion guides to beauty trends and gift guides. She joined CNN Underscored as an intern in 2018, as an editorial coordinator in 2019, and has been supporting the team as a contributing writer since 2020.
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