Many of us are well-versed in treating oily skin on our face, but an oily scalp can be a struggle, too. It’s not that surprising, given there are hundreds more oil glands on your head, but if you’re finding your hair gets greasy very quickly, your hair washing routine may need rethinking.
Excess oil production can leave your strands lacking the shine and gloss we often associate with optimal hair health, and one of the best places to treat this is with one of the best shampoos for oily hair.
I spoke to Dr Anastasia Therianou, consultant dermatologist and hair-loss expert, who revealed that oily hair is typically genetic, but it can also be influenced by stress, the use of the wrong products, excessive sweating, temperature changes, or environmental pollutants.
Given that your shampoo is the first step in any haircare routine, I’ve spent the last few months testing products to narrow it down to the very best luxury, mid-range, and budget brands that made a difference.
The way you wash your hair is important, too, says Dr Therianou: “Rather than simply giving the hair a quick lather then rinsing, leave the shampoo in for a few minutes to give it enough time to work.” She also advises steering clear of even the best sulphate-free shampoos as “sulphates are the ingredients that help clean the scalp properly.”
Armed with this information, I tried and tested the best shampoos for oily hair.
Read more: 24 best shampoos and conditioners, reviewed
The best shampoos for oily hair 2026 are:
- Best overall – L’Oréal Professionnel scalp advanced shampoo: £22.50, Lookfantastic.com
- Best budget buy – Monday Haircare clarify shampoo: £4.99, Superdrug.com
- Best for dandruff – Vichy Dercos anti-dandruff shampoo for normal to oily hair: £16.50, Lookfantastic.com
- Best for exfoliation – Lush squeak shampoo: £10, Lush.com
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L’Oréal Professionnel scalp advanced shampoo
Best: clarifying shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Gentle
- Effective at removing dry shampoo build-up
This L’Oreal Professionnel shampoo treats an oily scalp at its source, using gentle AHA exfoliants and carbonic acid to slough off dead skin cells, reduce sebum production, and remove sweat and product residue.
It’s a shampoo I reach for when I’ve relied on dry shampoo for a couple days too long and need a product to make my scalp and hair feel refreshed, clean and lighter. There’s no tingling sensation, just a nice-smelling shampoo that lathers well, rinses out quickly and gets to work fast.
Key specifications:
Buy now £22.5, Lookfantastic.com
Monday Haircare clarify shampoo
Best: budget shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Tackles product build-up and oiliness
- Adds shine to dull strands
- Great price
Take note
- Pump could be more effective
Monday Haircare’s clarify shampoo an excellent everyday shampoo that covers all the basics – it’s affordable, comes in a generous 340ml bottle and gets rid of excessive grease. The bottle is pretty, too, and feels more luxurious than the price tag suggests. I have been using this shampoo for months, multiple times a week, and it has lasted a lot longer than most shampoos I’ve used.
Grapefruit extract is the star ingredient for tackling product build-up and oiliness, while the addition of vitamin E and coconut oil helps inject shine back into dull, limp strands.
My only gripe is that I wish the pump distributed a bit more product with each push, but I can look past that, given how affordable and hard-working the formula is.
Key specifications:
Buy now £4.99, Superdrug.com
Lush squeak shampoo
Best: scalp exfoliating shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Gently exfoliates
- Cuts through excess sebum
- Smells zesty
- Adds volume
Take note
- As it’s a pot, it can be messier if you’re not careful
If you enjoy a manual exfoliating salt scrub, and hair that’s squeaky clean, soft and shiny, this Lush’s squeak shampoo is for you. It’s made with sea salt, but don’t worry, it’s not abrasive, instead it's a luminous, creamy balm texture with salt crystals that you can scoop out with your hand.
It’s accompanied by a fruit cocktail of juices from lemon, papaya, and pineapple, along with seaweed and mango, which help reduce dullness and add a bit of volume. For flat, naturally straight hair like mine, it’s an easy, low-effort way to add lift, remove grease, and make it feel healthier with just one product.
Key specifications:
Buy now £10, Lush.com
Davines rebalancing shampoo
Best: shampoo for oily hair to add shine
Why we love it
- Balances oil production
- Adds shine and bounce
Take note
- Pricey for the amount of product
Sometimes an oily scalp can feel itchy and your hair constantly looks and feels limp. If that’s you, Davines rebalancing is an excellent shampoo that can revive strands while adding bounce, fullness and hydration, without weighing it down.
Formulated with sustainably farmed ingredients, including lemon leaf, cassia bark and ginger root extract, it has a zesty, refreshing scent that wakes you up in the morning, and works quickly to clean hair.
I used it every day for some weeks, other times I used it twice weekly, and found it worked equally well. It doesn’t lather as much as the other shampoos on your list, but that doesn’t mean you need to use more; just make sure you’re thoroughly coating each section before rinsing.
Key specifications:
Buy now £23.25, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Being nourish + shine daily clean shampoo
Best: value shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Very reasonably priced for the amount of product
- Rich, creamy lather
- Good everyday option
Take note
- Very fine hair may be weighed down by the shea butter
Being’s everyday shampoo contains the largest amount of product compared to everything else we tried - 54ml more in fact, making it the best value shampoo for oily hair at less than a tenner. While the formula is sulphate-free, which Dr Therianou typically advises against, it’s a good option for everyday use if you want something simple that won’t break the bank.
It lathers into a rich, creamy foam that’s easy to distribute and visible on each strand, leaving behind a delicious, clean scent. It doesn’t leave hair feeling heavy, nor so soft it cannot hold a style, and one bottle has lasted us ages. It’s an excellent all-rounder that will suit most hair types, cause no irritation and come in under budget.
Key specifications:
Buy now £7.99, Superdrug.com
Living Proof clarifying detox shampoo
Best: weekly shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Great for regular users of dry shampoo
- Lasts a long time
- Leaves hair feeling soft
Take note
- Pricey
While Living Proof’s clarifying detox shampoo is one of the more luxury shampoos I tested, it’s designed for use once a week, rather than for every hair wash, so I found it outlasted most of my shower hair products. I have repeatedly gone back to it since it launched.
It’s dark grey in colour, so be careful when applying it or it can get all over your bathroom, but it lathers nicely and spreads easily through your strands. If regularly using dry shampoo, texturising spray, hairspray and mousse leaves your locks feeling ladened, you’ll be pleased by this charcoal powder, which not only reduces oil production but helps leave your hair silky soft.
Key specifications:
Buy now £32, Lookfantastic.com
Vichy Dercos anti-dandruff shampoo for normal to oily hair
Best: anti-dandruff shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Leaves hair soft and soothed
- Quick results
Take note
- Less suitable for dry hair
Oily hair and scalp can also be prone to dandruff and itching, and the Vichy Dercos shampoo ticks every box to combat them. It’s a neon shade of orange, lathers well, and rinses out easily after a few minutes, leaving a very mild, fresh scent that doesn’t linger.
The formula is made with 1 per cent selenium disulphide (commonly found in haircare to treat dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis) and 1 per cent salicylic acid, which you may recognise from skincare products designed to treat oiliness and acne. With regular use, my scalp felt more soothed, was less itchy, and required fewer wash days.
Key specifications:
Buy now £16.5, Lookfantastic.com
Ouai detox shampoo
Best: weekly treatment shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Doesn’t irritate a sensitive scalp
- Smart packaging allows you to see how much is left
- Scented with the brand’s Melrose Place fragrance
Take note
- An expensive upfront cost
Ouai detox is a clarifying shampoo that’s formulated with chelating agents, hydrolysed keratin and apple cider vinegar, which work together to cleanse away excess oil and minimise frizz.
It’s not designed for everyday use; instead, it’s recommended once to twice a week. I found it particularly helpful at combating the hard water effect on my hair (besides investing in a dedicated hard water shower head filter), which often leaves it looking dull.
Given that it’s recommended for biweekly use rather than daily, it helps manage costs, as it’s not cheap. I also discovered it didn’t disrupt my freshly highlighted hair, nor did it leave it a knotty mess.
Key specifications:
Buy now £30, Lookfantastic.com
Oribe serene scalp oil control shampoo
Best: luxury shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Balances an oily scalp
- Reduces oil production
- Leaves skin and hair feeling clean
Take note
- Very expensive
If you have a bigger budget, Oribe serene scalp oil control is a beautiful shampoo with luxury packaging that matches its price tag. It’s part of Oribe’s oil-control range and is a good-quality first step in your haircare routine.
Utilising probiotics and green amrine algae, it works by rebalancing your scalp’s microbiome, so achieves the perfect equilibrium of hydrated but not too oily or dry. I noticed with regular use, three times a week, that it extended the time in between washes, and my scalp felt noticeably less greasy, meaning I wasn’t relying on dry shampoo as much.
Key specifications:
Buy now £50, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Kérastase specifique shampoo for sensitive scalp
Best: sensitive shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Hydrating
- Doesn’t affect bleached colour
- Soothes sensitivities
Take note
- Expensive
Sensitive scalps can be irritated in many ways, and this Kérastase shampoo is designed to be a tonic for itchiness, inflammation and dehydration. If you’re struggling with a combination scalp/hair, with excess oil on your hair follicles but dry ends in need of moisture, this is the solution – especially if you have fine hair that gets easily weighed down with product.
My scalp was left lighter, cleaner and grease-free after every use, and the shampoo worked well with my blond bleach highlights without affecting the colour. If you have an oily scalp but are conscious of how often you wash your bleached strands, this is a great option.
Key specifications:
Buy now £30.5, Sephora.co.uk
Typebea g2 strength + length shampoo
Best: shampoo for oily long hair
Why we love it
- Smells lovely
- Lovely lather
- Rinses out easily
Take note
- Packaging is a bit leaky
I was left impressed by Typebea’s g2 strength + length shampoo shampoo, which is rich in salicylic acid. This helps to gently exfoliate your scalp, removing product build-up from hairsprays and dry shampoos alike. Meanwhile, argan oil and provitamin B5 help to hydrate strands. However, it is a sulphate-free formula, so while I enjoyed using it, loved the clean, fresh scent, and found it worked well at keeping my strands feeling soft but not greasy after a couple of days, keep in mind it may not be a preventative measure long-term.
Typebea is the haircare brand co-created by beauty entrepreneur Anna Lahey (who is also the founder of Vida Glow supplements) and singer Rita Ora. The lineup features this shampoo, a conditioner, a peptide serum and a glossy hair mask, with a focus on hair growth.
Key specifications:
Buy now £23, Boots.com
Hello Klean anti-thinning hard water shampoo
Best: shampoo for oily, colour-treated hair
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Aesthetic packaging
- Great if you live/work in a city
Hello Klean was first founded in 2019 to specifically tackle hair problems created by washing with hard water. London and Oxford (for example) have some of the hardest water in the UK, which can lead to dullness, discolouration, increased breakage and even hair loss. This gel formula – which has a fun tangerine orange colour – combats it all while also minimising product build-up (which can make hair greasier and more prone to excess oil production).
The shampoo is packed with alpha hydroxy acids and amino acids to balance your scalp, as well as biotin to make hair more resistant to breakage. I found it worked particularly well on my bleached and highlighted hair, keeping it soft after every wash but helping increase the time between washes, too.
Key specifications:
Buy now £22, Amazon.co.uk
Oway sebum balance hair bath
Best: smelling shampoo for oily hair
Why we love it
- Can be used on dry or wet hair
- Fast results
- Fresh scent
Take note
- Takes a while to come out of the bottle
- Expensive
This Oway shampoo – aptly named hair bath – is aromatic and fast to deliver results, for clean hair that doesn’t accumulate as much grease after just one use. It’s a clear, thick gel that can be applied to dry hair by massaging into your scalp, adding water until it lathers then rinsing off, or you can apply it to wet hair, as per a traditional shampoo.
It’s designed to regulate sebum production from your sebaceous glands (where the oil in your hair follicle is produced), which reduces greasiness and any irritation that comes with it, such as itchiness.
It doesn’t lather as much as a typical shampoo, and it does take a little longer to come out of the bottle, as there’s no pump, but overall this is a great shampoo that improved my greasy-prone hair very quickly. Scented with sage and star anise, it’s an uplifting fragrant blend and I loved using it.
Key specifications:
Buy now £31, Ukbeautyclub.com
Your questions on oily scalps answered
What is the best shampoo for oily hair?
My top recommendation for the best shampoo for oily hair is the L’Oréal Professionnel scalp advanced shampoo. It worked so well that I found myself needing less dry shampoo in between washes, and it does exactly what it promises. Sebum production decreased, and it immediately improved my scalp, which is very oily and prone to grease.
How I tested shampoos for oily hair
Over a number of months, I tried each shampoo a minimum of three times and blow-dried as well as air-dried my locks. During testing, I considered the following:
What causes oily hair?
Oily hair is a result of an oily scalp, where the skin produces more oil than necessary, which is what makes it feel and look greasy. This can be as a result of genetics as well as external factors such as stress, pollution, climate, or excessive sweating.
Other than shampoo, what else can I do to treat oily hair?
Dr Therianou recommends applying conditioner only on the ends of the hair when it needs more moisture, and never to the roots. She also stresses the importance of thoroughly rinsing shampoo and conditioner to avoid exacerbating oiliness.
Lastly, “it’s important to avoid using too many styling products on the roots of the hair, and avoid using any type of hair oil near the scalp,” she says.
Meet the expert
Dr Anastasia Therianou is a consultant dermatologist who runs her eponymous dermatology clinic on Harley Street and practices at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. She initially trained at the University of Bologna, then completed a skin cancer fellowship at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology, and is a leading expert in hair loss.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent’s product reviews section, IndyBest, employs knowledgeable reviewers to test products as you would use them in your own home, to bring you an impartial list of the very best.
Louise Whitbread is a beauty writer who has tested countless products for The Independent. From her guide to the best dry shampoos to her roundup of the best hair sprays, she knows what to look for when it comes to finding haircare products that actually work.
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