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Here are the products that will help banish a greasy scalp
If you find you’re having to wash your hair on a daily basis to ensure your scalp remains grease-free, it might be time to switch up your shampoo and conditioner.
Having oily hair means you need specific products to target the issue, rather than constantly having to jump in the shower.
We tested the top shampoos and their matching conditioners that claim to detoxify the scalp and control oil production, to find the ones that really work. Here are the products we recommend:
Over-washing your hair is often the culprit. It may be hard to resist but if you scrub your hair every day it will strip the scalp of its natural oils, causing it to stimulate the production of even more oil. Worse case scenario, washing too often can cause dandruff and even excess hair breakage.
Instead, reduce how often you cleanse your hair. Depending on your hair type, try limiting your washes to three times a week. The first few weeks will be greasy but once your hair gets used to the new routine, you’ll thank yourself.
It might sound obvious but also reducing how much - albeit unconsciously - you run your hands through your hair will limit oiliness too. Every time your hands come into contact with your scalp you’re transferring even more oil, which makes for an unhappy, greasy scalp.
Just like your skin can be oily, your hair can be too. Greasiness is down to your scalp working overtime and producing too much sebum. This could be down to genetics and hormones but there are also environmental factors such as pollution, working out and overwhelming the scalp with products that can take its toll.
Although it may be tempting to use a dry shampoo to mattify, too many products too often will only cause the scalp to get clogged. Your best bet is to invest in a powerful shampoo that’s specifically targeted to tackle greasiness. That’s where we can help...
Our panel of 450 testers - with hair textures ranging from straight to afro - tried 33 brands of shampoo and their matching conditioners for two weeks.
They noted how effectively the products cleaned oily hair, how much they lathered up and whether they noticed any long-lasting benefits. They also reported back on how their hair felt after use, focusing on hydration, smoothness, shininess and volume.
In the GHI lab, our experts applied artificial sebum to hair switches before using a Sebumeter to measure oil and sebum levels after cleaning with each shampoo, to judge how effective they were.
Should parabens, silicones or sulphates be dealbreakers, we've listed which shampoos contain them below.
Here are our best shampoos for greasy hair:
Brimming with peppermint extract, our winning shampoo aims to balance out your pH to leave scalps feeling fresh.
Its gentle, irritation-free formula sloughed away product build-up and grease for all testers, leaving shinier, smoother strands in its wake. In fact, it was such a powerful cleaner that many testers found they could go an extra day or two between washes.
Key specifications Volume: 300ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
This bottle left our entire panel with glossy ends and minty-fresh scalps.
Our lab test backed this up, confirming it as a top performer when it came to removing artificial sebum. Better still, despite its thorough clean, it still managed to leave strands more hydrated after washing.
Key specifications Volume: 250ml Paraben free: No Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
Apple cider vinegar is known in the beauty world for preventing dandruff and boosting shine, as well as containing antibacterial properties.
This cleansing duo scored best across the board for its ability to banish oil and product build-up. Overall, 88% of testers agreed that their hair looked smoother, with 81% reporting hair looking softer and more nourished after the trial.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 385ml; conditioner, 385ml Price: Shampoo, £7.99; conditioner, £7.99 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: No Sulphate free: Yes
If you go through hair products quickly, this supersized shampoo and conditioner set is guaranteed to keep you going for longer.
In the GHI lab, we found it helped reduce oiliness in hair by an incredible 97%, with the majority of testers agreeing that hair felt deeply cleansed and softer after use.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 800ml; conditioner, 800ml Price: Shampoo, £3; conditioner, £3 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: No Sulphate free: No
You might think dandruff is a telltale sign of a dry scalp but it can often plague those on the oilier side too.
All our testers noted how well this shampoo cleaned hair, with 88% saying their scalps felt refreshed. The majority of testers who suffered from dandruff also agreed that it made a huge difference in eradicating it.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo,500ml Price: Shampoo, £5 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: No Sulphate free: No
Acting as a weekly treat for tresses, this shampoo is designed to remove product build-up, pollutants and any residue to give hair a spring clean.
Testers agreed, with the majority appreciating how purified their hair and scalp felt. In the lab, it managed to cleanse hair of over 95% of oiliness.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 250ml Price: Shampoo, £24.50 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
Not only is this plastic-free shampoo bar compact - making it perfect for travel - but the water-free formula helps keep water wastage down too.
Our testers found it cleansed effectively - all were happy with the lather it created - and 88% found hair looked more nourished and softer after washing. Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 55g Price: Shampoo, £9 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
This is the highest-scoring shampoo on our list that’s also designed for colour-treated hair.
From our panel, 87% reported deeply cleansed hair and some also noticed added bounce and volume. In the lab, oiliness was reduced by an impressive 84%.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo,330ml Price: Shampoo, £9.95 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes
If you're looking for relief from an itchy scalp, look no further.
This pH-balancing shampoo banished product build-up and unwanted oil for nearly everyone, while the formula itself was irritation-free. Scalps were left refreshed, and it helped to eliminate dandruff for some testers.
Key specifications Volume: 250ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: No Sulphate free: Yes
Aiming to hit the refresh button on claggy scalps, this daily shampoo uses lavender oil and grapefruit extract to clean deeply while boosting shine.
It removed product build-up brilliantly and smoothed frazzled ends, making it easier for our entire panel to detangle their manes. The formula didn't upset anyone's scalps, and it left strands feather-soft too.
Key specifications Volume: 250ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: No Sulphate free: Yes
What this shampoo lacks in size, it makes up for in detoxing power.
Despite the deep clean it offered, it didn't cause irritation for any of our testers, leaving many with added smoothness and softness. Our lab test gave it a thumbs up for removing artificial sebum too.
Key specifications Volume: 120ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: No Sulphate free: Yes
Not only is this shampoo great value for money, but it also cleansed everyone's scalps of dirt and oil, all while providing long-lasting oil control.
It was so effective that all testers found that they could wash their hair less, with everybody left with softer, smoother and more hydrated manes.
Key specifications Volume: 300ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
Looking to zhush up your roots? This shampoo delivered impressive volume for nearly everyone, all while its thermal mud soaked up any excess oil.
Scalps felt refreshed, while lengths were left with some mirror-esque shine and iron smoothness.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 250ml; conditioner, 200ml Price: Shampoo, £29; conditioner, £30 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes
We're not going to preach about the damage excess heat styling can do to fragile strands, but if beachy waves or poker-straight tresses are on your agenda, this shampoo is great at prepping hair.
Many testers found it blitzed product residue that clung to roots, while boosting shine and volume. Hair was easier to detangle after washing, with many enjoying added bounce.
Key specifications Volume: 250ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes
One of the highest-scoring shampoos in our lab test, this value buy eliminated 87% of oiliness from hair. Testers also appreciated the fresh scent, while 88% said it did a great job at cleansing.
Our panel didn't report any irritation either, with testers loving how bouncy it left lengths.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 400ml Price: Shampoo, 69p Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
Having combination hair - where the ends feel dry but the scalp oily - can be tricky to manage. This shampoo claims to leave roots feeling purified for up to 72 hours, while hydrating lengths.
Testers with combination hair said it worked particularly well, leaving scalps fresh and ends shiny and soft. The majority of our panel also said their strands looked more nourished and smoother, with 75% agreeing the shampoo was gentle on hair.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 400ml; conditioner, 300ml Price: Shampoo, £6; conditioner, £6 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
Our panel appreciated this gel formula, which managed to produce a rich lather without using much product. Testers were left with softer, smoother ends, and 94% said hair felt clean after use.
The ‘luxurious’ scent was also a hit with the panel and, in the lab, we found it reduced oiliness by 89%.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 300ml Price: Shampoo, £13.80 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: No
Tea tree oil is well known in the beauty world for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory powers, so we had high hopes for the impact this ‘purifying’ shampoo would have on clammy scalps.
Sure enough, its vegan formula scored top marks in our lab test for removing sebum, while our panel rated it for its gentle approach to lifting dirt and sweat.
Key specifications Volume: Shampoo, 400ml; conditioner, 250ml Price: Shampoo, £12; conditioner, £8.50 Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes
Emmy-nominated actress, Tracee Ellis Ross, is the brain behind this curl-friendly brand. Specifically designed to cater to type 3 and 4 curls, its lightweight texture lathered up impressively to give many testers a gentle yet thorough cleanse.
It banished excess oil like a champ and left most of our panel delighted with their freshened up hair.
Key specifications Volume: 230.7ml Paraben free: Yes Silicone free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes