Top 5 Shampoos for Oily HairThere’s a reason why “oily hair, don’t care” isn’t a thing, it’s not a good look. If you’re reading this then chances are you’re like me and struggle with greasy roots. Trust me, I understand how frustrating it can be. That’s why I tried the top 5 best shampoos for oily hair so that you don’t have to!
I have very fine hair, but A LOT of it! My hair looks great for about the first 36 hours following a fresh wash, but then it’s like Cinderella at midnight and instantly starts getting oily. I really want to make it all the way to 48 hours, is that too much for a girl to ask?!
Now I’m not saying you won’t still need your favourite dry shampoo, but this review may help you get a little more out of those shampoo bottles (and dollars!). Check out my top 5 shampoos for oily hair and spoiler alert: the best one isn’t the most expensive!
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Top 5 shampoos for oily hair - ranked!
Bumble and bumble. Sunday Shampoo. $23.97 for an 8 fl. oz. bottle
A true “holy grail” item that anyone with oily hair problems needs to incorporate into their hair care regimen. The description says that it’s meant to lift residue build up and I truly believe it did that. It’s a little bit more than I like to spend on shampoo (I’m on a budget!), but if it’s a one-day/week item, then it’s totally worth the price. Of the 5 shampoos I tried, this one smelled the second best. It had a very fresh, clean smell, which is what I prefer in my shampoo. It lathered up nicely, which I’m not sure that really matters, but to me it makes me feel like it’s working – lol. After two days my hair was still looking fresh, YAS! This will forever be included into my Sunday self-care routine as I think it’s a really good reset for your scalp. (Bonus: you can get 15% off your first order on Bumble and bumble with code BB15 and/or free shipping on orders over $50!).
Bumble and bumble.- Elvive Extraordinary Clay Shampoo. $3.42 for a 12.6 fl. oz. bottle
About two months ago I did a Google search for the “best shampoos for oily hair” and this was one of the results. I saw the price and immediately added to cart – anything under $4.00 is worth a try! I was so beyond pleasantly surprised. For a drugstore shampoo, this is a true hidden gem. The fresh look lasts about two days and for that reason combined with the price, this has become my everyday shampoo. I also use the conditioner and highly recommend the combo! As I mentioned before, a fresh smell is important to me, and this one just smells so CLEAN. I think you’ll be really pleased if you decide to take my word on this one. - DEGREASE Shampoo by Maple Holistics. $11.95 for a 10 fl. oz. bottle
This was a solid choice as well, although I didn’t really care for the smell. It smells very herbal (the description calls it a lemon oil scent), which isn’t really how I want my hair to smell. It has hardly any lather so when you’re rubbing it into your scalp you almost get the fingernails on a chalkboard type of feeling. One thing I really do like about this one is that it’s all natural; dye free, sulphate free, and paraben free. I’ll definitely finish the bottle because I think it did a good job, but I won’t be buying it again. If you like the non-lather/herbal smell/all natural route then this is for you! It lasted a solid two days of being non-greasy, it was just missing a fresh, clean smell that I prefer.
Posing with my fave 😉 - Sachajuan Normalizing Shampoo. $14 for a 3.4 fl. oz. bottle (yes, I got the baby bottle because this one isn’t cheap!)
This was the most expensive out of all five and I got a really tiny bottle to test it out before committing to the big bottle. SO glad I did it that way because I won’t be buying this one again. This shampoo claims that it is salon quality, but honestly it barely kept the oil out for one day. It took FOREVER to rinse out, granted I have a lot of hair or maybe I used too much, but the others rinsed out normally. This shampoo has quite a minty smell and I know I might be the only person on the planet to say this, but I really don’t like the smell of mint. So as soon as I opened the bottle I knew this would be a no-go. Again, it depends what you’re looking for in a shampoo for oily hair, but this really did not live up to its price. I would maybe try the others before testing this one. OGX Tea Tree & Mint Shampoo. $6.57 for a 12 fl. oz. bottle
This shampoo received last place in my top 5 shampoos for oily hair review purely because of its smell. I literally thought I was shampooing my hair with a bottle of mouthwash. That being said, it did do a good job of keeping my hair oil to a minimum. I typically love all OGX products; I just can’t get past the smell on this one. It had a great lather and left my hair feeling very clean. If you like minty freshness then this might be at the top of your list!
Elvive!
Final thoughts
Since the minty smell was becoming a theme in my review I decided to do more research as to why this was the most common fragrance in shampoos for oily hair. Come to find out that peppermint oil is known to help regulate the pH of your scalp, which means it helps prevent oil build up. So it is clearly a necessary evil (for those of us who like floral/fresh shampoo scents. Read more about peppermint oil for hair here.
Overall, you really can’t go wrong with any of these! It will depend on your budget, smell and lather preference, and how your hair and scalp react to the chemical makeup of the shampoo. If you have a full head of fine hair then I would follow the above, but DEFINITELY add the Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo to your routine regardless of which every day shampoo you choose. You will not be disappointed.
Happy shampooing!
Xx, Ashley