Best Shampoo for Oily Hair (and Why It Gets Greasy So Fast)

The best shampoo for oily hair is one that cleans your scalp well enough to wash every day, then stays off your ends. For most people that's Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo, a deep-cleaning, color-safe daily shampoo with a cooling tingle. If you want a drugstore bottle, choose Garnier Fructis Pure Clean, which a board-certified dermatologist recommended to NBC Select for oily hair.

Below are six picks, plus why your roots look greasy a day after washing.

Quick picks

Why does my hair get greasy so fast?

Oily hair happens when the oil (sebaceous) glands in your scalp make a lot of oil, says MedlinePlus. That oil, called sebum, is normal. The problem is how fast it reaches the hair you can see.

Five things speed it up:

• Your genes and hair type. Dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav told NBC Select that an oily scalp is "largely genetic". She adds that fine, straight hair looks oily sooner because "sebum can travel more easily from the scalp down the hair shaft when the hair is straight."
• Hormones. MedlinePlus says hormones affect oil production, and that stress or birth control pills may change how oily your hair is. Trichologist Sara Hallajian told NBC Selected that women often notice changes with their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause.
• Not washing often enough. Yadav lists "washing infrequently" as a cause of hair that looks oily.
• Heavy conditioner and styling products on your roots. Yadav says products that are too heavy for your hair type make it look oilier. That includes masks.
• Touching and brushing. Hallajian says frequent touching or brushing affects "how fast oil spreads from your scalp down the hair shaft." MedlinePlus agrees that brushing too often carries oil from your scalp to your ends.

Age matters too. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, says oil glands in the scalp "become less active with age."

Why is my hair so oily even when I wash it?

Usually you're not washing often enough for your scalp, your conditioner is touching your roots, or your shampoo isn't strong enough to lift the oil.

Should you wash oily hair every day?

Yes, if your scalp needs it. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to wash your hair based on how often it gets dirty or oily, and that "if you have straight hair and an oily scalp, you may want to shampoo every day."

Does washing more make your scalp oilier? Experts don't fully agree. Yadav told NBC Select that stripping oil can make skin "respond by producing more oil." Trichologist Aga Tompkins told NBC Selected that "the issue isn't washing itself, but the ingredients." A 2021 study found daily washing beat weekly washing on every measure, with no harm to hair. Its participants were Asian adults, and three of its five authors work for shampoo maker Procter & Gamble.

Our take: wash as often as your roots need, with a gentle enough shampoo.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Best for: an oily scalp you want to wash every day, with a fresh, cooling feel.

What we love

• Its "Tingle Complex" of tea tree, peppermint and lavender leaves "a cooling, 'tingling' sensation on the scalp," says Paul Mitchell.
• The amazon.com listing describes it as "Deep Cleans, Refreshes Scalp, For All Hair Types, Especially Oily Hair."
• It's color safe, vegan and paraben-free, according to the brand.
• PureWow calls it "The Fan Favorite" and says it "leaves roots squeaky clean."

Keep in mind

• PureWow warns it "might be too tingly for some."
• It contains sodium lauryl sulfate, so it isn't sulfate-free.
• Paul Mitchell says to check with a dermatologist before using it on a sensitive scalp, and not to use it on broken skin.

Key ingredients: tea tree leaf oil, peppermint, lavender, panthenol, menthol.

How to use: lather into damp hair and rinse. Paul Mitchell suggests following with Tea Tree Special Conditioner.

Check price on Amazon

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Purifying Shampoo

Best for: a budget-friendly daily shampoo for oily hair.

What we love

• Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King recommends it for oily hair, NBC Selected reports, because it has salicylic acid to exfoliate the scalp and lift buildup, plus niacinamide.
• PureWow named it Best Overall. Celebrity hairstylist Ashley Streicher told PureWow it "gets rid of grease and residue without using any harsh cleansers."
• Garnier says it's "gentle enough to use every day," silicone-free and vegan.

Keep in mind

• PureWow notes some people find the scent too strong.
• It contains sodium laureth sulfate, so it isn't sulfate-free.

Key ingredients: aloe leaf juice, niacinamide (vitamin B3), vitamin B6, citrus peel extract; salicylic acid is in the ingredient list.

How to use: wet your hair with warm water (Garnier says "never hot"), and massage the shampoo into your scalp for one to two minutes before rinsing.

Check price on Amazon

CeraVe Oil Control Balancing Shampoo

Best for: a sulfate-free shampoo for greasy hair that's color-treated or sensitive.

What we love

• CeraVe says it's made for "normal to oily hair" and developed with dermatologists to "remove excess oil and purify the scalp."
• It's free of sulfates, dyes, parabens and fragrance, and suitable for "sensitive scalps, as well as curly or color-treated hair," according to the brand.
• Zinc PCA is there to help remove excess oil, CeraVe says, alongside ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Keep in mind

• We didn't find an independent test of this shampoo, so this pick rests on the brand's claims and its ingredient list.
• CeraVe's "72 hours of refreshed roots" claim is for the shampoo and its matching conditioner used together.

Key ingredients: zinc PCA, niacinamide, three ceramides, hyaluronic acid; salicylic acid is in the ingredient list.

How to use: massage into a good lather and rinse. Follow with the Oil Control Balancing Conditioner through your lengths, as CeraVe suggests.

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Kérastase Spécifique Bain Divalent

Best for: greasy roots with dry ends, when budget isn't the main concern.

What we love

• Kérastase calls it a "balancing shampoo for oily roots, sensitized lengths" that "purifies the scalp to reduce excess oil and odors."
• Dermatologist Dr. Geeta Yadav recommended it to NBC Select as a "deep shampoo" for oily hair. NBC Select's pros: absorbs oil, adds volume, feels refreshing.
• Kérastase says it "gently nourishes lengths."

Keep in mind

• NBC Select notes it has a cooling feeling, which not everyone likes.
• Yadav described a formula with two clays. Kérastase's current ingredient list has no clay, so the formula in stores may have changed since she reviewed it.
• On amazon.com we only saw it sold in a shampoo and mask set, not as a single bottle.
• It contains sulfates.

Key ingredients: an amino acid Kérastase says helps "regulate sebum cycle," salicylic acid and a cooling agent (menthoxypropanediol).

How to use: apply to wet hair, massage and rinse.

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Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo

Best for: a weekly reset when buildup from styling products or hard water makes hair look greasy faster.

What we love

• It was NBC Select's best overall shampoo for oily hair, praised as a balancing, color-safe gel formula.
• Moroccanoil says buildup "can cause dull, greasy or limp hair," and calls this "a deep-cleansing formula that removes everyday buildup."
• The brand says it's color-safe and sulfate-free, and that it removes 88% of oil, based on an independent lab study.

Keep in mind

• Don't use it every wash. Moroccanoil suggests every two weeks, or once or twice a week if you use lots of products, swim or have hard water.
• Yadav, via NBC Select, says to clarify no more than once a week if your hair is color-treated.

Key ingredients: argan and avocado oils, keratin, lavender, chamomile and jojoba extracts.

How to use: massage through wet hair and scalp, rinse well, and follow with conditioner. New to clarifying? Read our guide to clarifying shampoo.

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Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Best for: an oily scalp with buildup that regular shampoo doesn't seem to shift, used once a week.

What we love

• Briogeo says it suits all hair types, including oily scalps, and is safe for color-treated hair.
• It uses a plant-based, dissolvable exfoliant, plus binchotan charcoal and tea tree, peppermint and spearmint oils, according to the brand.
• PureWow calls it the best pick for processed oily hair and says coconut oil and panthenol keep the rest of your hair from feeling "overly stripped."

Keep in mind

• It's a scrub, not an everyday shampoo. Briogeo recommends no more than twice a week to avoid over-exfoliating.
• PureWow flags it as pricey and says the formula can separate.

Key ingredients: binchotan charcoal, tea tree oil, peppermint and spearmint oils, coconut oil, a vegetable-derived exfoliant.

How to use: use in place of shampoo once a week. Massage into your scalp with your fingertips, rinse well and follow with conditioner.

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How to choose an oily hair shampoo

1. Choose for your scalp, not your ends. Tompkins told NBC Selected that your shampoo "should always be based on your scalp type," while your conditioner should match what your strands need.
2. Don't fear sulfates. A dermatology review says shampoos for oily hair use detergents with "strong sebum removal qualities," usually lauryl sulfates or sulfosuccinates. Yadav says sulfates can help oily scalps. We'd go sulfate-free (CeraVe, Moroccanoil, Briogeo) if your hair is color-treated or your scalp feels tight.
3. Pick a gel, not a cream. Yadav says gel shampoos "cut through grease more effectively than a creamy formula."
4. Read the ingredient list. Tompkins suggests niacinamide, tea tree oil, salicylic acid (a BHA) or glycolic and lactic acids (AHAs). Yadav adds clay, charcoal and witch hazel.
5. Add one weekly reset. The same review says deep-cleaning shampoos are "typically used once weekly." Hairstylist Kiley Fitzgerald told PureWow she swaps one in "every third wash or so."

A scalp shampoo for an oily scalp

Exfoliating scalp shampoos lift buildup with fine grains or with acids, Yadav explains. Once a week is plenty. She warns that an irritated, itchy or flaky scalp is a sign of overdoing clarifying products.

Keep conditioner off your roots

The AAD says to apply shampoo to your scalp rather than the full length, and that if you have fine or straight hair, you should apply conditioner to your ends.

Comparison table

When oily hair isn't just oily hair

Oil plus flakes can mean something else. The AAD describes seborrheic dermatitis as a common condition that causes a scaly rash on oily areas like the scalp and face, and says dandruff may be its mildest form. Hallajian told NBC Selected that oily hair with itching, redness, flaking, odor or shedding is worth a professional look.

Dandruff shampoos are sold over the counter with specific active ingredients, a different category from the cosmetic shampoos above, so we haven't included them. If flakes don't settle with regular washing, see a board-certified dermatologist.

FAQs

How can I get rid of greasy hair?

Wash as often as your scalp needs, even daily, with a shampoo made for oily hair. Keep conditioner on your ends, use a clarifying or scrub shampoo once a week, and touch and brush your hair less. Hallajian says skipping washes "rarely fixes oiliness and often makes it worse."

Is a sulfate-free shampoo good for greasy hair?

Yes, if it still cleans well. CeraVe Oil Control Balancing is sulfate-free and made to remove excess oil. Sulfates aren't the enemy, though: Yadav says they help oily scalps break down excess sebum. We'd go sulfate-free if your hair is color-treated or your scalp feels tight.

What's a good shampoo for oily hair on a budget?

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean, which a dermatologist recommended to NBC Selected, or CeraVe Oil Control Balancing if you want a fragrance-free, sulfate-free formula.

Can you train your hair to be less oily?

Not really. Hallajian told NBC Selected, "You won't be able to train your sebaceous glands to produce less oil." You can change how fast oil shows: wash often, keep heavy products off your roots, and clear buildup weekly.

What are the best products for oily hair besides shampoo?

A lightweight conditioner used only on your ends, and a weekly clarifying or scrub shampoo. NBC Selected's experts suggest skipping heavy conditioners, oils and masks on the roots. Dry shampoo can stretch the time between washes. Like other hair products, it can leave buildup, which Moroccanoil lists as a cause of greasy-looking hair, so pair it with a weekly reset.

One daily shampoo for your scalp, one weekly reset, and conditioner on your ends only: that covers most greasy-hair days.