The 10 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair, According to Hairstylists

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Finding the best shampoo for oily hair is often easier said than done. It's important to select a shampoo that will remove excess dirt and grease without stripping hair of the natural oils it needs to stay shiny and lustrous. In other words, less is sometimes more.

"When it comes to oily hair, it's important to look at the 'root' of the problem. Is the scalp actually producing too much oil (called sebum) or are there other factors that are making the hair appear oily?" Gina Scipioni, Director of Education at Neuma Beauty, tells Health. "These factors can include product residue/build-up, hard water mineral build-up, using an improper amount of shampoo/conditioner for your hair type and scalp, or even just excess sweat from working out."

"Those with oily hair tend to think they need extra-strong shampoos to lift oil and dirt away from their scalp, but sometimes that's actually making it worse," says David Lopez, a celebrity hairstylist and T3 Lead Stylist based in New York City. "The harsher the detergent, the more natural oil that's stripped from the scalp. Your body will want to replenish its natural oils and will go into overdrive, making those with healthy oil production get super greased-up quickly."

For advice on choosing the perfect formula, we asked 10 hairstylists to recommend the best shampoos for oily hair. Check out their top picks below.

Best Overall: Rene Furterer Curbicia Normalizing Regulating Shampoo
Most Gentle: DevaCurl Low-Poo Original Mild Lather Cleanser
Best for Color-Treated Hair: ColorProof ClearItUp Detox Shampoo
Best Hydrating: Beachwaver Co. Good Vibes Moisturizing Shampoo
Best for Sensitive Scalps: Neuma Reneu Shampoo
Best Volumizing: Living Proof Full Shampoo
Best for Damaged Strands: Aquage SeaExtend Strengthening Shampoo
Best Clarifying: RUSK PureMix Activated Charcoal Purifying Shampoo
Best for Curls: Imbue Curl Liberating Sulphate Free Shampoo
Best for Thin Strands: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo

Best Overall: Rene Furterer Curbicia Normalizing Regulating Shampoo

Buy it, $32

Younghee Kim, principal stylist and owner of Younghee Salon in New York City, likes the Curbicia Lightness Normalizing Shampoo from Rene Furterer because it's "designed to deeply cleanse the scalp while removing excess oil, leaving hair feeling clean and fresh, but not overstripped."

Most Gentle: DevaCurl Low-Poo Original Mild Lather Cleanser

Buy it, $24

"For fine, oily hair, I always recommend to switching to a gentle, sulfate-free, detergent-based shampoo," says Lopez. "I really love DevaCurl Low-Poo Original Mild Lather Cleanser—it uses saponified coconut, which is great at lifting and rinsing away excess oil from the scalp."

Best for Color-Treated Hair: ColorProof ClearItUp Detox Shampoo

Buy it, $68

"The most well-known culprit of an oily scalp is the buildup of minerals, hormones, products, and sebum," says Erica Conan, Director of Education at ColorProof Color Care Authority, who recommends using the brand's ClearItUp Detox Shampoo once per week to cleanse and eliminate buildup on the hair. "This is my preferred detox shampoo because it is specially formulated to protect and prolong hair color, where clarifying shampoos are generally a culprit of color fade," she adds.

Best Hydrating: Beachwaver Co. Good Vibes Moisturizing Shampoo

Buy it, $24

Celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of The Beachwaver Co., Sarah Potempa, recommends going with a sulfate-free shampoo like this moisturizing option from the brand. She calls it a "gentle cleansing shampoo that won't strip the hair of its natural oils," adding that the formula's patented active strengthener, Hix Bond Multiplier, gives "added shine, [while also] strengthening the hair from the inside out!"

Best for Sensitive Scalps: Neuma Reneu Shampoo

Buy it, $50

Scipioni calls the reNeu line from Neuma "gentle, sulfate-free, and color safe," adding that two standout ingredients—bamboo stem powder and pea sprout extract—can "help balance oil production on the scalp and hair." The vegan formula is designed to "gently exfoliate and refresh the scalp without irritation," she says.

Best Volumizing: Living Proof Full Shampoo

Buy it, $29

Adam Bogucki, master stylist and owner of Lumination Salon in Chicago, "always recommends" this Living Proof shampoo to his clients with concerns about oily hair. "It removes residue and helps repel dirt and oil to keep hair cleaner, longer. It also provides lift to flat hair that may be weighed down by oil," he adds.

Best for Damaged Strands: Aquage SeaExtend Strengthening Shampoo

Buy it, $26

This strengthening shampoo from Aquage is formulated with the brand's signature AlgaePlex blend, which "strengthens, smooths, and protects strands, and is great for deeply penetrating the cuticle while hair is wet and most vulnerable," according to Aquage brand ambassador Laura Polko. "With continued use, oil build up will balance out, and you'll be able to get away with washing hair less often and the ends won't feel as dry," she adds.

Best Clarifying: Rusk PureMix Activated Charcoal Purifying Shampoo

Buy it, $18

This activated charcoal-based shampoo from Rusk is "infused with a powerful cocktail of vitamins E, B3, B5, and B6 to help strengthen strands," Rusk Global Creative Director Matt Swinney tells Health. "This formula works to purify and add moisture back into the hair, all while balancing the scalp which is where our natural oils stem from. I love that this product offers a gentle yet effective cleanse, while preserving natural oils," he adds.

Best for Curls: Imbue Curl Liberating Sulphate Free Shampoo

Buy it, $15

Michelle Sultan, textured hair specialist and brand ambassador for Imbue Curls, recommends this vegan shampoo because the formula is "free from sulfates, oil-based silicones, and mineral oils for a gentle yet effective cleanse." It includes coconut and cupuacu to "nurture the scalp and lift dirt while leaving curls bouncy and smooth post-wash,", she says, adding that it "won't strip your hair of natural moisture."

Best for Thin Strands: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo

Buy it, $31

Siobhán Quinlan, creative director at Art + Autonomy Salon in New York City, says she loves this option from Bumble and Bumble for oily hair. "Shampoo that is [described as being] 'thickening' or 'volumizing' can sometimes feel a little drying, as it is roughing up the cuticle of the hair—so it's perfect to help achieve balance for people that have hair on the more oily side."

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