The 9 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair, According to Hair Stylists

To create this list, we combined a product tested in a Good Housekeeping Institute's Beauty and Personal Care Lab study with recommendations from expert hairstylists and GH editors.

Because volumizing shampoos leave hair light and free of buildup, we included one product, the Kérastase Densifique Bodifying Shampoo, from our study of volumizing shampoos. In that test, we label-masked 14 shampoos before they were distributed to 308 consumer testers to use at home. Testers evaluated the products on factors like the shampoo's ease of use (level of lather, scent, ease of rinsing, etc.), hair cleansing performance, and how their hair looks and feels after use.

The rest of the products in this list were selected based on expert recommendations and editor experience. We enlisted the help of two celebrity hairstylists—Glenn Ellis and Ashleigh Marie—to recommend shampoos for oily hair based on their professional experience with their clients, and asked our team of editors and analysts to share their favorite shampoos for oily hair based on their own long-term use.

If you're in the market for a shampoo for greasy hair, consider the following when shopping:

✔️ Formula appearance: Look at the color and texture of the shampoo for a cue, suggests GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. "In general, the rule of thumb should be to look for clear shampoos, not milky ones," she explains. Milky shampoos typically have more conditioning ingredients, making them better for dry hair, while clear formulas are usually stronger cleansers and designed to effectively remove excess oil from the hair and scalp.

✔️ Look for the word "clarifying": In the shampoo world, clarifying means formulated to wash away oil and product buildup. Clarifying shampoos "clear up" the residue on your hair to give your strands a fresh start.

✔️ Don't be afraid of sulfates: Sulfates in shampoo have gotten a bad rap, but they're very effective at cleansing hair. In our label-masked tests of shampoo, we've found that consumers like shampoos containing sulfates just as much or more than sulfate-free formulas.

Though you can't change the amount of oil your scalp produces, you can keep the appearance of greasy hair at bay with these tips.

• Avoid touching your hair. "When you touch your hair the oil on your hands gets in your hair so it can make your hair dirtier faster," says Ellis.
• Wash your hair when it feels oily. This may seem obvious, but it bears repeating. Washing two to three times a week may not be enough for someone with higher oil production, advises Marie, and washing when your hair starts to feel oily prevents visible buildup.

The answer can be complicated. Your schedule for sudsing up comes down to a few factors, including your hair type and texture, natural oil levels, and lifestyle. For example, if you work out frequently, you should wash your hair more often. In general, the more textured your hair is, the less often you need to shampoo. If you have an oily scalp and fine hair, washing every day is perfectly safe. A typical benchmark is washing hair every two to three days, but see what works best for your individual needs.

Good Housekeeping Freelance Beauty Editor Dori Price wrote this original article. She has over 15 years of experience researching and writing haircare and hairstyling stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals such as hairstylists, hair colorists and trichologists. She is an expert in all hair product categories, including shampoos.

Good Housekeeping Beauty Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler updated this article. She is a cosmetic chemist who has formulated shampoos and who currently tests shampoos and other hair care products in the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Celebrity hairstylists Glenn Ellis and Ashleigh Marie are experts in hair and provided product recommendations and expert advice.