If you put time, effort, and products into your skincare routine, you should definitely be doing the same for your hair-washing routine. Just like your face, your scalp has oil glands that can become overactive and leave you with greasy strands. If you’re sick of washing your hair constantly or are always reaching for dry shampoo to add life back into your tresses, you may have an oily scalp, and require a dedicated shampoo for cleansing.
Dr Anastasia Therianou, consultant dermatologist and hair-loss expert says a greasy scalp and dull hair are the two main characteristics of oily hair, which often lacks root volume, especially if not frequently washed. “Oily hair tends to occur through genes but there are other causes, particularly hormones (including stress hormones) or by using products that do not clean the scalp properly. If you are predisposed to excessive sweating, this can also trigger oily hair, as can environmental pollutants and climatic temperature changes,” she explained.
Excess oil production can be combated by washing your hair regularly and using the right shampoo, Therianou reveals. “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.” Dr Therianou cites clarifying shampoos as the most effective tool in your shower routine and recommends steering clear of even the best sulphate-free shampoos as “sulphates are the ingredients that help clean the scalp properly.”
She also advises applying conditioner only on the ends of the hair and never to the roots and ensuring you rinse off any shampoo and conditioner thoroughly, to avoid exacerbating any 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.”
In a bid to find the very best shampoos for oily hair, I put a range of brands to the test, spanning luxury buys and affordable picks to see which one deserves a spot in your shower. My favourite formula overall is the Oway sebum balance hair bath (£31, Ukbeautyclub.com) but there are plenty of other options that impressed me during testing. Keep scrolling for my full review.
How I tested
Over a number of months, I tried each shampoo a minimum of three times and blowdried as well as air-dried my locks. During testing, I considered the following...
- Value for money: I tested whether each shampoo’s performance matched its price point, assessing how long the bottle lasted and how much product was needed per wash.
- Effectiveness: I tested how well each shampoo kept my roots feeling fresh and clean between washes, and whether it helped balance the oiliness of my scalp over time.
- Packaging: I tested how practical and easy the packaging was to use in the shower, from bottle design to how easily the product dispensed.
- Scent: I tested the fragrance of each shampoo, noting how pleasant it was during use and whether it lingered in my hair afterward.
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 shampoosto her roundup of the best hair sprays, she knows what to look for when it comes to finding haircare products that actually work.
The best shampoos for oily hair 2025 are:
- Best overall – Oway sebum balance hair bath: £31, Ukbeautyclub.com
- Best budget buy – Monday Haircare clarify shampoo: £4.99, Superdrug.com
- Best for itchy scalps – Vichy Dercos anti-dandruff shampoo for normal to oily hair: 11.62, Amazon.co.uk
- Best sustainable pick – Davines naturaltech purifying shampoo: £24.50, Cultbeauty.com
- Best for colour-treated hair – Hello Klean anti-thinning hard water shampoo: £22, Amazon.co.uk
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Oway sebum balance hair bath
Best: Shampoo for oily hair overall
Size: 240ml
Key ingredients: Tectona drandis wood extract, cimicifuga racemosa root extract and zinc
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 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.
Buy now £31.00, Ukbeautyclub.com
Monday Haircare clarify shampoo
Best: Budget shampoo for oily hair
Size: 354ml
Key ingredients: Grapefruit extract, vitamin E and coconut oil
Why we love it
- Great for everyday
- Great price
Take note
- Pump could be more effective
This is a great 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.
Buy now £4.99, Superdrug.com
Living Proof clarifying detox shampoo
Best: Weekly shampoo for oily hair
Size: 236ml
Key ingredients: Witch hazel and charcoal powder
Why we love it
- Great for regular users of dry shampoo
- Lasts a long time
Take note
- Pricey
While this 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.
Buy now £21.25, Amazon.co.uk
Vichy Dercos anti-dandruff shampoo for normal to oily hair
Best: Shampoo for oily hair and itchy scalps
Size: 200ml
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid and selenium disulfide
Why we love it
- Leaves hair soft and soothed
- Quick results
Take note
- Not suitable for dry hair
Oily hair and scalps can also be prone to dandruff and itchiness, and this shampoo ticks every box to combat it all. It’s an almost neon shade of orange, lathers well, and easily rinses out after a few minutes, with 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, less itchy and fewer wash days were required.
Buy now £11.63, Amazon.co.uk
Davines naturaltech purifying shampoo
Best: Sustainable shampoo for oily hair
Size: 250ml
Key ingredients: Dandelion root extract
Why we love it
- Sustainable brand ethos
- Helps treat dull, flat hair
Take note
- Strong scent may not be for everyone
This shampoo targets oil build-up and dandruff flakes to improve your overall scalp health and reintroduce bounce to flat strands. A detox for your hair, if you will. It’s a fluid gel texture and while the bottle feels smaller than standard shampoos, it contains 250ml, which is industry standard. It doesn’t lather as much, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effectively cleansing your strands and scalp. I found it left my hair with a healthy shine and reduced flakiness after a week. Just be careful not to apply too much and to see more of a lather.
For those who like to shop sustainably, the brand is B Corp certified, focused on sustainable farming methods to source its natural ingredients, and favours renewable electric energy and minimal packaging to lower its impact on the environment.
Buy now £24.50, Cultbeauty.co
Typebea g2 strength + length shampoo
Best: Shampoo for oily long hair
Size: 250ml
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid and provitamin B5
Why we love it
- Smells lovely
- Lovely lather
- Rinses out easily
Take note
- Packaging is a bit leaky
- Expensive
I was left impressed by this shampoo, which is rich in salicylic acid, helping 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.
Buy now £23.00, Boots.com
Hello Klean anti-thinning hard water shampoo
Best: Shampoo for oily, colour-treated hair
Size: 380ml
Key ingredients: Astaxanthin, biotin and aminexil
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Aesthetic packaging
- Great if you live/work in a city
Take note
- Pricey
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.
Buy now £18.00, Boots.com
TRESemme replenish and cleanse shampoo
Best: Shampoo for value for money
Size: 680ml
Key ingredients: Vitamins B3, B5, B7, C, E, amino acids and ceramides
Why we love it
- Great price
- Huge bottle
- Great for everyday
Take note
- Not as luxury as some other options
This shampoo is great value for money, as you get a huge 680ml of product for less than £10. The formula caters to greasy hair, gently cleansing while balancing your scalp during your everyday shower routine. It’s formulated with a vitamin complex of B3, B5, B7, C and E, amino acids and ceramides. There’s no fuss, frills, overcomplicated packaging or luxury price tag involved. Simply lather into hair and rinse out after a few minutes, for clean, smooth strands and less oily build-up.
Buy now £7.00, Boots.com
What is the best shampoo for oily hair?
Overall, the Oway sebum balance hair bath came out on top during testing. The formula is packed with a cocktail of ingredients to soothe an oily scalp and reduce sebum production from the first use, while also tackling any irritation. It smells great, too. However, if you’re looking to spend less, I’m also a huge fan of the Monday Haircare clarify shampoo. At just £5, it is a brilliant everyday option that lathers well and rinses out easily for clean, shiny hair.
Meet the expert
Dr Anastasia Therianou: consultant dermatologist
For more haircare heroes, read IndyBest’s guide to the best shampoo bars
