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14 Of The Best Shampoos For Greasy Hair
From clarifying heroes to weekly deep treatments, these are the best shampoos for endlessly oily hair
Tired of catching your hair looking less than fresh on a time-poor morning before work? Well, it might be time to look at your shampoo, switching out your usual bottle for one specially formulated for greasy hair.
Not only will a shampoo for oily roots cleanse away dirt, sweat and product build-up, it will also keep your scalp feeling fresher for longer. Interested? We've tested the best shampoos for greasy hair on the market, so you can keep your 'do looking its best. Keep scrolling for the products that impressed us the most.
Shampoo for greasy hair: the ELLE top five
What causes greasy hair?
Just like an oily T-zone, the reason your scalp isn’t feeling so fresh is likely down to too much sebum being produced. This can be due to a number of reasons, from genetics to hormones, as well as environmental factors such as pollution or excessive sweating caused by workouts.
This dreaded oily build-up can even start on wash day, but rather than grabbing the dry shampoo or washing your hair more frequently (which only makes things worse), you need to break the cycle by using products that are suited to your hair type.
Also, try limiting your washes to three times a week to retrain your locks. We’ll admit, the first few weeks will be a challenge, but your hair will thank you in the long-run.
Is greasy hair healthy?
Let's start by saying that greasy hair is natural. Sebum is naturally produced by our scalps and is key for a healthy, hydrated head of hair, but sometimes it can get a bit excessive, which is where you may want to intervene.
Trichologist Ricardo Vila Nova explains: ‘Like the skin on our faces, our scalps can present as oily or dry. However, some oily conditions can lead to dermatitis, which can increase sensitivity of the scalp and intolerance to water types or products.’
It also has some unwelcome side effects, too. ‘Excess oil production can lead to scalp inflammation, dermatitis and congestion, which can also promote flakiness and dandruff. An unbalanced scalp or excessively oily scalp can also be a major cause for hair loss,’ says Vila Nova.
Can I stop my hair from getting greasy?
The good news is that you can help rebalance a stressed-out, oily scalp, and it starts with picking the right formula.
‘I always advise that the scalp is like the skin, so we have to wash our scalp but we shouldn't forget to balance and replenish its pH and protective film of hydration. Formulas containing oil-targetting ingredients such as salicylic acid or natural clay are efficient in extracting excess grease,’ says Vila Nova.
What's more, you should also avoid using too much dry shampoo (sorry). It may seem like the obvious answer to mattifying a glowing hairline, but in the long run, it'll lead to build up and do more harm than good.
‘Using products like dry shampoo to make the hair appear freshly washed are nothing more than a quick fix,’ Vila Nova explains. ‘In fact, they can create congestion in the scalp, obstructing the segregation of oils through the follicles that contributes to build up of excess grease on the roots.’
So, what's a girl to do? Here, see the shampoos for oily hair that strike just the right balance...
The best shampoos for greasy hair, tried and tested
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites


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