15 Shampoos That Cut Through Grease, Flakes, and Buildup (2025)

If you've relied on dry shampoos to tackle an oily scalp, you're not alone. But the best shampoos for oily hair work even better to rinse away excess sebum. Here's why: While powder cleansers are a suitable solution for sopping up excess oil and avoiding daily hair washing, their benefits are temporary. Meanwhile, a dedicated rinse-out shampoo can give your scalp and roots the deep cleaning they deserve—and help you avoid other pressing concerns, like dryness and dullness, in the process. (Hey, we love a multitasker.) There are endless cleansing options for your hair, but, in order to find the absolute best shampoos for minimizing oiliness, we tapped several experts to find their top recommendations that'll leave your scalp and hair feeling cleaner than ever.

Our Top Picks:

• Best Overall: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo, $30
• Best for Dandruff: Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Shampoo, $36
• Best for Volume: Kérastase Specifique Shampoo for Oily Scalp, $42
• Best Pre-Shampoo: The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Rinse, $32
• Best Budget: Monday Haircare Clarify Shampoo, $8
• Best Rinse: Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo, $14
• Best for Curly Hair: Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo, $39

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is my hair oily?
• How can I minimize hair oiliness?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo combines tea tree oil, peppermint, and lavender for a zingy, get-your-scalp-right kind of clean. It helps wash away dirt and oil and is made for all hair types, too. Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says it’s one of her favorite shampoos for taking her buildup-ridden scalp “from snow-storm levels to a light dusting of flakes on the usual problem spots.” “This shampoo quickly and efficiently addressed my greasy, itchy scenario, which was all I wanted,” she explained. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD, recommends using the wash with its matching conditioner, which also invigorates the scalp.

Editor's tip: The tingling sensation and herbal scent are especially refreshing in the morning.

Key ingredients: tea tree oil, panthenol, aloe vera | Who it's for: anyone who's prone to scalp buildup and oiliness

Best for Dandruff: Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Oiliness and dandruff can, unfortunately, coexist on the same scalp—but don’t fret, because Maria Nila’s Head & Hair Heal Shampoo will address both in one fell (but gentle) swoop. Anti-fungal piroctone olamine is a key player in this Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning shampoo’s ability to reduce dandruff, but it also replenishes moisture without adding weight to strands, thanks to lightweight aloe vera extract. The addition of aloe also leaves hair feeling shiny and smooth, making its formula especially helpful for those with dry, brittle hair.

Tester Feedback: "My scalp is chronically dry and itchy, but sweet relief comes in the form of this shampoo and conditioner duo," says Hussein. "They wash all the flakes lingering on my head down the drain without drying out my strands in the process."

Key ingredients: piroctone olamine, aloe vera extract | Who it's for: anyone with dandruff

Best for Volume: Kérastase Specifique Bain Divalent Balancing Shampoo

Why it's worth it: New York City-based hairstylist Devin Toth recommends Kérastase’s Specifique Shampoo for Oily Scalp shampoo because it helps treat excessive sebum production—a crucial component of your skin barrier—along with your scalp. The shampoo is also enhanced with glycine, a protein that helps regulate oil production, and according to Toth, "prolongs the amount of time your hair can go without becoming greasy." Its grease-reducing properties remove heavy buildup that might otherwise flatten the roots, making hair look more voluminous and fuller post-shower.

Editor's tip: It has a super-light texture that won't weigh down fine hair.

Key ingredients: amino acids, vitamin B6, glycine | Who it's for: people who need extra volume

Best Pre-Shampoo: The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Rinse

Why it's worth it: The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Rinse is an Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning pre-wash treatment that preps your scalp and roots for a refreshing, deep cleanse. One of its hero ingredients is apple cider vinegar, a multitasker that minimizes buildup while enhancing shine. The rinse also deploys the brand’s 9% alpha hydroxy acid blend of exfoliating glycolic and lactic acids, which dissolve buildup and excess sebum for a cleaner, fresher feel after washing.

Tester feedback: "Unlike a scalp tonic that often drips down my face, or a messy, abrasive scrub, The Rootist AHA+ACV Pre-Shampoo Scalp Clarifying Treatment's gel-like formula and pointed nozzle make for a targeted, easy application," senior beauty editor Paige Stables says. “I squeeze the treatment along parted sections of my head, massage it in with my fingers, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and by the time I rinse it out, my scalp feels super clean.”

Key ingredients: apple cider vinegar, glycolic acid, lactic acid, hibiscus flower extract | Who it's for: anyone who wants to prep their scalp for a deep cleanse

Best Budget: Monday Haircare Clarify Shampoo

Why it's worth it: A 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, Monday Haircare Clarify Shampoo earned major points for its ability to lift away buildup (courtesy of grapefruit extract) as well as smooth frizz and flyaways. It also lightly hydrates with coconut oil and vitamin E, making it a good option for those with dry hair on their mid-lengths and ends. Bonus: Even though it's clarifying, it's gentle enough for daily use.

Editor's tip: It's pH-balanced, which can help minimize scalp irritation and discomfort.

Key ingredients: grapefruit extract, coconut oil, vitamin E | Who it's for: all hair types

Best Rinse: Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo

Why it's worth it: This Best of Beauty Award-winning drugstore pick,gently removes oil and build-up without stripping your scalp of moisture. Instead of sulfates, Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Shampoo uses a combination of micellar water, moisturizing glycerin, exfoliating salicylic acid, and soothing aloe to cleanse the scalp without stripping strands of essential moisture.

Editor's tip: Micelles act like a magnet for dirt and pollution, gently lifting particles away from the scalp.

Key ingredients: micellar water, glycerin, salicylic acid | Who it's for: people with dry or textured hair

Best for Curly Hair: Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Mia Santiago, a hairstylist based in Ohio and New York City, loves Philip B's Peppermint Avocado Shampoo because it provides "the perfect combination of refreshing and cleansing," she says, adding that its peppermint-based formula leaves the scalp feeling tingly and refreshed for days. People with hair types 2A (wavy hair) through 3C (tighter, curly hair) will especially benefit from this rich-lathering, deep-cleansing formula.

Editor's tip: It does have fragrance as well as essential oils, which is worth keeping in mind if you have sensitivities.

Key ingredients: jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, sesame seed oil | Who it's for: people with waves and curls

Best for Fine Hair: Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Drawing inspiration from skin-care products, Oribe’s Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo is a sulfate-free shampoo that targets excess oil production by way of the scalp's microbiome. It pairs prebiotics with amino acids and marine algae to effectively reset and balance the microbiome, thus controlling oil production—and extending the time between washes.

Editor's tip: Instead of dry shampoo, touch up oily spots with Oribe’s matching mist, which mattifies hair at the roots.

Key ingredients: rosebay extract, marine algae, sugar-derived prebiotic | Who it's for: people with an uncomfortable or irritated scalp

Best for Itchy Scalps: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Briogeo's Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo was awarded a Best of Beauty Award back in 2018, and you can still find a tub of this gritty shampoo in many of our editors’ shower routines to this day.. Think of the crowd-favorite product, which is packed with oil-absorbing charcoal, tea tree extract, and moisture-replenishing coconut oil, as step one of your healthy hair journey. It's another top recommendation for those with dry, itchy scalps, but truly, it's a good first step for anyone looking to draw impurities from the hair follicle, stimulate their roots, and jumpstart hair growth.

Editor's tip: Swap this intensive clarifying shampoo for your shampoo once a week.

Key ingredients: charcoal, coconut oil, tea tree oil | Who it's for: people with a dry scalp and flakes

Best for Buildup: Bumble and Bumble Sunday Clarifying Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Board-certified dermatologist James Y. Wang, MD of Metropolis Dermatology in Los Angeles says the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo is one of the best cleansing shampoos for removing product buildup and excess oil. "This shampoo uses ginseng root and sage leaf extract to clean the hair, allowing for a deeper cleanse," he says. “Because it is so effective, it may also have a drying effect on the hair, which can be treated with any conditioner or other post-shampoo hair products of your choosing.”

Editor's tip: As the name implies, it's best used just once a week, or else you risk stripping hair of moisture.

Key ingredients: ginseng root extract, rosemary leaf extract, sage leaf extract | Who it's for: anyone with excessive product and oil buildup

Best for Color-Treated Hair: AG Care Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Want to ditch color-stripping sulfates? Then the AG Care Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is the right pick for you. Dr. Wang says he loves this sulfate-free shampoo for its gentle yet effective formula that cleanses without over-stripping hair of its natural oils or (unnatural) color treatments. "For those that like to decrease oily hair but do not want to use sulfates, this is a nice alternative," he says. “In addition to apple cider vinegar, it has argan oil, which helps enhance the hair's natural shine.” The argan oil can alleviate a dry scalp, too.

Editor's tip: While it's not a dedicated dandruff shampoo, it can address moderate flaking while preserving the scalp's natural oils.

Key ingredients: apple cider vinegar, argan oil, glycerin | Who it's for: anyone with color-treated hair

Best for Damaged Hair: Olaplex No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Another Best of Beauty winner is the beloved hair-care brand Olaplex, which cooked up the No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo to address buildup and damage all at once with the brand's signature bond-building technology. Use this one how you might use a hair mask; work into wet hair and let it sit for up to five minutes before rinsing out for a weekly reset—a.k.a. deeply clean and baby-soft hair.

Editor's tip: Don't use this shampoo within the first two weeks post-color, since it can cause fading.

Key ingredients: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, glycine, panthenol | Who it's for: people with damage from chemicals, color, or heat

Best Shampoo Bar: Ethique St Clements Clarifying Solid Shampoo Bar

Why it's worth it: This hydrating, moisture-attracting Ethique St. Clements Shampoo Bar was designed specifically with oily hair needs in mind. That's because it's formulated with nourishing ingredients like castor oil and cocoa butter—and without harsh foaming agents, which can strip your scalp of natural moisture.

Editor's tip: To use, simply slide the shampoo bar from the roots to the ends of hair. Massage the cleanser into your scalp as it foams up, and then easily rinse away to reveal clean, refreshed hair.

Key ingredients: castor oil, glycerine, cocoa butter | Who it's for: people looking for a solid option

Best Scalp Mask: Klorane Oil Control 2-in-1 Mask Shampoo Powder with Nettle and Clay

Why it's worth it: Add a few drops of water to Klorane's 2-in-1 Mask Shampoo Powder and watch it magically transform into a thick, creamy foam. And, as its name aptly suggests, its nourishing formula is packed with oil-absorbing ingredients like nettle and clay—the latter of which can "minimize the appearance of greasy hair," board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, who is based in New York City, previously told Allure. Plus, it can help control oil for up to 48 hours, extending your time between washes.

Editor's tip: Since it doubles as a scalp mask, it works best if you let it sit on your roots for a minute or two.

Key ingredients: rice starch, kaolin, nettle root extract | Who it's for: people who want a more concentrated, even deeper cleanse

Best Micellar Formula: Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo

Why it's worth it: Aveda's Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo uses buildup-removing micelles and clarifying white vinegar to break down excess grease. You'll also find rosemary and peppermint extract in the formula, which creates a soothing tingle as you lather. What's more, cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure that peppermint extract can help remove excess sebum from your scalp.

Editor's tip: We also love this shampoo’s unique scent of rosemary, peppermint and spearmint that fills our bathrooms everytime we lather it on our scalps.

Key ingredients: micellar water, rosemary leaf extract, glycerin, white vinegar | Who it's for: people who want a squeaky-clean feel

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my hair oily?

This question has a nearly-infinite amount of answers, so it’s hard to tell exactly what’s causing your scalp to become oily. That being said, some of the biggest contributors to chronic grease-prone hair include genetics, hormones, stress, and weather. "Some of us naturally produce more oil than others, which can lead to a greasy scalp," Charlotte Birnbaum, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, previously told Allure. "If you have both an oily face and scalp, it's likely you are naturally oil-prone."

However, suppose oiliness is a new concern for you. In that case, New Haven, CT-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, says the culprit could be: 1) a switch in your usual hair habits, or 2) developing a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. She says this condition is characterized by "greasy, scaly, dandruff from an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia."

In a twist of irony, dry shampoos are another contributor to oily hair. "When dry shampoo particles build up on the scalp over time, they can clog hair follicles, trap oil, and prevent normal skin cell turnover," Nancy Samolitis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles previously shared with Allure. It creates something of a domino effect since Dr. Samolitis explained that "this can lead to overgrowth of bacteria and yeast that normally live on the scalp and cause folliculitis, or the inflammation of hair follicles, and dandruff." Folliculitis can, in turn, lead to red pimples and pustules—sort of like scalp acne.

How can I minimize hair oiliness?

A traditional liquid shampoo for oily hair, which will essentially work the same way a powder does: absorbing oil, without leaving any residue, is one of the best first steps you can take to minimize oiliness. When seeking out the best shampoo for oily hair, King advises against buying formulas formulated with silicones. Some silicones may accumulate on the scalp over time, similarly to the way powder particles do, King explains.

This advice was a common thread among the experts we spoke to. Chicago-based hairstylist Nick Stenson also recommends steering clear of silicones. "Silicone tends to coat the hair, making it heavy, which counteracts the benefits of the volumizing," he explains. What's more, "continued use of silicones over time can weigh down the hair," Dr. Zeichner previously told Allure.

The best shampoos for oily hair are those that are formulated with clarifying and exfoliating ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids, which reduce residue, oil, and build-up on the scalp, says King. Dr. Birnbaum, agrees and noted to look for a clarifying shampoo for a deep hair cleanse, preferably one formulated with salicylic acid.

Now that you know which ingredients to look out for—and which to avoid—the next step is to adjust your washing frequency. "For an oily scalp, I recommend more frequent shampooing, up to once a day," Dr. Birnbaum said.

All of this really depends on your hair type and texture, though. For example, Dr. Birnbaum explained that those with curly hair might be able to get away with less frequent shampooing—once per week—while folks with finer hair may need to shampoo more often. Everyone is different, so do a test run for a few weeks to see how your hair responds to a new regimen.

Meet the experts

• Francesca Fusco, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
• Mia Santiago, a hairstylist based in Ohio and New York City
• Devin Toth, a New York City-based hairstylist
• James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based at Metropolis Dermatology in Los Angeles
• Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist
• Charlotte Birnbaum, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
• Mona Gohara, MD, a New Haven, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist
• Nancy Samolitis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles
• Nick Stenson, a Chicago-based hairstylist

How we test and review products

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?

For our review of the best shampoos for oily hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, dermatologists, and hairstylists—all of whom want a deep cleanse without drying out their hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

More of our favorite hair-care products are coming at you in 3, 2, 1:

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