These Are the Only Shampoos I’ll Use on My Super-Oily Hair (2025)

I keep a bottle of this shampoo in my shower at all times. Why? Because it’s legit the perfect middle-ground for my fine, oily hair. It gets rid of all the excess oils on my scalp with strong cleansers, yet also moisturizes my hair with lightweight ingredients (hi, biotin and chia seed oil) that work together to help make my hair look a bit thicker. It's also filled with hydrolyzed keratin which helps fill the "holes" in damaged hair strands to strengthen your hair over time (which, as someone who uses a curling iron every day, is much needed).

• Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed keratin (strengthening), biotin, and chia seed oil (moisturizing)
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "From the first wash, my fine hair felt fuller and healthier—no more limp strands. I love the lather of the shampoo and the conditioner delivers just the right hydration without weighing my hair down. The soft floral scent turns my shower into a mini spa, and the chic packaging looks great in my shower. This duo has truly changed my hair care routine for the better and it honestly makes every day feel like a good (voluminous!) hair day."—KARA MILLER, DESIGNER

Some of us with oily hair have to wash every day. And while that can be a problem if your shampoo is too stripping, it's totally fine with something like this. It's packed with the lightest weight hydrators to help offset any dryness without making fine hair feel too weighed down. But it also gives your hair a good enough clean so as to not make it feel greasy by the end of the day.

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "At first glance, I didn’t actually think the shampoo would be effective at removing product buildup, sweat, and oil because it’s so creamy, but I was wrong. The formula lathers up a ton and post-rinse my scalp and strands felt clean but not squeaky or straw-like. It is also safe for dyed hair and won’t contribute to color fading, which is a must for me."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR

A mix of chemical exfoliants and itsy bitsy crystals offer up double exfoliation to buff away basically everything that could be built up on your scalp. It also does so without using any silicones or sulfates, making it great for weaves and wigs too. I mean, should we expect anything less from Beyoncé's haircare line?

• Key ingredients: Tea tree oil, rosemary oil, niacinamide. purple willow bark
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "Of every clarifying shampoo I've ever used, this one gets me the deepest clean. It's what I lathered tf up with after Coachella this year, and it got out all the dry shampoo, dust, and grime that was built up on my scalp in one quick wash."— BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

Celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko herself has fine hair, so I seriously trusted her to make products that would be good for mine too. I was right, considering this quickly became my favorite shampoo as soon as I used it. The combo of exfoliating salicylic acid and hydrating-yet-lighweight macadamia and avocado oils both clean and nourish my hair. But I really love the addition of hydrolyzed collagen, which helps fluff up each hair strand a lil bit for a fuller effect.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, macadamia oil, avocado oil
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "Every time I use this shampoo, I get compliments on how good my hair looks. Legit, every single time. It makes my roots have so much lift, even with no product added. A strong feat for my fine hair."— BG

For less than $10 (!), this salicylic acid-based shampoo seriously helps de-grease your scalp. It's got a foamy lather (without any sulfates, dw) that helps you massage it into all of your roots to get them volumized and clean.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, ceramides
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "I'm consistently floored at how affordable Monday Haircare is, including this high-end-worthy clarifying shampoo. For my super oily hair, it's gentle enough to use as a regular shampoo even. It makes my hair feel super clean and fresh but not too dry."— BG

This shampoo offers the best of both worlds: It soothes and thoroughly cleanses your scalp, while also adding lightweight volume for hair. The citrusy scent is a major bonus, making it a must-have in the A.M.

• Key ingredients: Moringa oil, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "This didn't upset my finicky scalp—which is prone to oil and itchiness—and left my bob looking thick and full. It's perfect for my 2B curls."—DEANNA PAI, FORMER INTERIM DEPUTY BEAUTY DIRECTOR

Yup, I’ve got oily roots and scalp acne—basically a match made in heaven (er, hell, IMO). I started lathering up with this salicylic acid-based shampoo years ago, and I’ve kept it in my monthly rotation ever since to help exfoliate dead skin that can get trapped in my follicles and cause zits. Just know that it is drying, so I always layer on a deep conditioner afterward to help keep my hair feeling like straw.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating)
• Sulfate free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “No matter what shampoo I have used or how often or not often I would wash my hair, it was almost immediately oily again. I’ve been using this shampoo for over a week now, and it is the first time in ages I’ve been able to go three days straight without having to wash it or it feel itchy and look gross.”

I read a handful of the 7,800+ five-star reviews raving about this calming shampoo that actually helps break down greasy roots, and obvi, ordered a bottle for myself. And yep, the hype is real, because this shampoo uses a mix of strong cleansers to dissolve oil, along with soothing colloidal oatmeal to help calm my itchy scalp. Plus, it’s also filled with apple cider vinegar, which helps clarify my roots even more while also reducing scalp irritation.

• Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, colloidal oatmeal (soothing and moisturizing)
• Sulfate free? Yes *(but contains some harsh surfactants)

One Cosmo reader says: “I have very oily hair, and I have to wash it daily. I ordered my first bottle of both this shampoo and conditioner, and I was amazed by the results. My hair is not oily anymore, and it has more life and shine to it. I absolutely love this product and will be using it from now on.”

Most shampoos for oily hair contain stripping sulfates to dissolve oil and buildup, which can be quite drying for some hair types and also fade your hair color. Enter: Olaplex’s clarifying shampoo that’s filled with gentle and mild cleansers to help break down oil without totally drying out your hair. Plus, it’s also formulated with bond-building ingredients to help strengthen and repair your hair at the same time.

• Key ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (bond-building), sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (surfactant)
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: “It was a huge win for the blonde, oily hair community when I first discovered this. It's great for getting all the grease out of my roots without making my color fade. And the bond-building is a nice touch for my dehydrated ends."—BG

If you’re into natural skincare products and hair products, try this natural shampoo for giving your oily hair a deep clean. It’s legit filled with organic, plant-based ingredients, including soothers like aloe vera, chamomile, and calendula, plus moisturizers like lemon peel extract, grapefruit peel oil, and cedarwood oil. If you’re also used to shampoos for oily hair making your ends feel like straw, you’ll get a nice reprieve with this mild cleanser, since it’s free of traditional strong surfactants.

• Key ingredients: Aloe vera (soothing), lemon peel extract and cedarwood bark oil (moisturizing)
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo reader says: “If you have oily hair, this works. On the days I use this, I notice my hair looks less shiny the following morning, and I make sure to use it in the morning if I have an evening outing since it helps control the oil a bit.”

TBH, I was fully skeptical about testing this shampoo on my fine, oily hair (I avoid basically anything with topical biotin, because my hair doesn’t need the extra moisture). So I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually great at removing buildup, thanks to its mix of strong, sulfate-free cleansers, and also left my scalp feeling so soothed with its moisturizing biotin and antioxidant-rich coffee seed oil. Have I noticed any hair growth like the name claims? Not exactly, but it does moisturize and reduce inflammation on my scalp, which creates a healthy foundation for hair growth over time.

• Key ingredients: Coffee seed oil (antioxidant), biotin (moisturizing)
• Sulfate free? Yes *(but contains other harsh surfactants)

One Cosmo editor says: “When I use this, my hair strands just looks more plump. My ends are a bit fluffier and not so stringy. It's great for adding some thickness while also cleansing."—BG

If you have bleached or highlighted hair, get this into your wash routine, stat. Designed to be used just once a week—it's that powerful, folks—it deep-cleanses hair at the roots while actively brightening blond and gray tones. Pro tip: Try using this one before your next color appointment to get a radiant, even result that'll even impress your colorist.

• Key ingredients: Coconut acid, willow bark extract
• Sulfate free? No

One Cosmo reader says: "This is expensive but is only recommended for light usage! A little went a long way too. I love the scent very much!!! It's very a light and crisp smell and leaves behind a very squeaky clean feeling! KENRA is a fantastic hair line and is perfect for bleached/colored hair!!!"

Whenever I color-treat my hair, I’m left with the super-fun conundrum of having oily roots and dry ends—an annoyance that has led me to test dozens of moisturizing shampoos in search of the perfect unicorn. The best I’ve found so far? Necessaire’s shampoo, which uses ultra-light moisturizers (see: hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and niacinamide) to hydrate my hair without weighing it down or leaving behind an oily film.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, niacinamide (moisturizers)
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo reader says: “I am not one to love or hate a shampoo or conditioner,” writes one reviewer. “However, this one is different! It’s super light and feels cleansing but not too heavy.”

Okay, so maybe (maybe!) it was the gorgeous purple bottle that drew us to this shampoo. But it's the formula inside that kept us using it. It contains a lineup of botanicals, like algae, rosebay extract, and amino acids, to balance the scalp's microbiome—aka the totally normal bacteria that help regulate oil production on the scalp.

• Key ingredients: Rosebay extract, sunflower extract, watermelon seed oil
• Sulfate free? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "When my scalp is having a meltdown, I use this shampoo for extra comfort, since it's so soothing."—DP

About twice a month, I like to do a "reset" wash on my hair to help seriously de-gunk everything that's been on my scalp (dry shampoo, I'm talkin' about you), and it usually requires a shampoo that contains sulfates. I almost exclusively reach for this cult-favorite clarifying shampoo from Bumble and Bumble, which uses sodium laureth sulfate (SLS, one of the strongest surfactants out there) to dissolve every trace of oil and buildup on my scalp. I just follow it up with a deep conditioner on my ends to keep them moisturized, since the SLS can be quite drying.

• Key ingredients: Ginseng (light moisturizer), rosemary extract (antioxidant)
• Sulfates? Yes

One Cosmo editor says: "Yes, this is strong, but it seriously works. I always wash my hair with this before a trip because it starts me off with a super clean scalp and volumized roots. Peep me on day one of a Parisian adventure "—BG

While this scalp scrub is technically for dandruff, it’s excellent for oily scalps because it contains both physical exfoliants (see: argan seed and apricot powder) and chemical exfoliants (2 percent salicylic acid) to gently slough away product buildup, while also dissolving dead skin and oil. It’s also formulated with sulfates to break down excess oils, which is great, but also drying. So def only suds up with this scalp scrub once or twice a month, depending on how oily your roots are.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (chemical exfoliators); argan seed powder, apricot seed powder (physical exfoliators)
• Sulfate free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “My scalp felt deeply cleansed and refreshingly tingly, and any flaking or itchiness I had from dandruff was immediately reduced,” writes one reviewer. “All in all, I was highly impressed and would recommend this scrub to anyone looking to treat their scalp.”