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In a Hurry? Check Our Top 3 Picks
If there is anything worse than oily, greasy hair, it is a drugstore shampoo that claims to suit all hair types but ends up making your hair a big (even oilier) mess! And believe me, using just any shampoo can do you so much more harm than good.
You can try washing your hair several times a day. But overwashing can make your hair more prone to damage and breakage.
What you need is a shampoo to zap out the grease from its very source. And that’s why regular shampoos won’t work. What you need is a shampoo specially formulated to address excess grease and oil on your hair. We’re putting down our list of the best drugstore shampoo for oily hair. Have a look!
Here is the List of 10 Best Drugstore Shampoo for Oily Hair:
- Paul Mitchell
- Maple Holistics
- Maple Holistics Shampoo for Oily Hair
- Free & Clear Shampoo (Pharmaceutical Specialties)
- Aveeno ( Pure Renewal)
- AVEDA (Scalp Benefits)
- Neutrogena (Anti- Residue Formula)
- REDKEN
- APIVITA (Propoline)
- Neutrogena T/Gel
10 Best Drugstore Shampoo For Oily hair (A Product Review)
Here’s the best of the bunch! Say goodbye to your oily and greasy hair in a few washes!
1. Paul Mitchell
Removes dirt, grime, and oil build-up and features a citrusy light scent that leaves you feeling fresh and confident!
Specs
- A clarifying shampoo that can get rid of silicone, oil, and any product buildup
- A clear deep cleansing shampoo
- Has a thin liquid formula
If you’ve got greasy hair that’s weighed down by tons of products that you’ve been using, Formula 2 Paul Mitchell shampoo is the brand for you! It can instantly cleanse your hair and scalp without drying it too much.
Even if you don’t have oily hair, if you just want to clean your scalp from all the excess buildup and dirt, Paul Mitchell formula 2 can do the job.
Pros
- Feels light and breezy
- Removes product build-up
- Leaves a refreshingly clean feeling on the scalp
- Safe for colored hair
- Doesn’t dry out the scalp
- Controls flaking
- Has a nice ginger ale scent
- Well worth the money
- Works well on oily hair
- Leaves hair shiny and lustrous
Cons
- Doesn’t lather much
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
It took care of the greasy side of hair even after the first wash. It left a clean, refreshing sensation on your scalp! You know the feeling when you know that you just have clean hair? That’s how it felt every single wash!
And we love the light, citrusy scent. It’s not a tacky scent, not too mild, not too strong. It has notes of ginger ale and it just smells so divine! You’ve got more confidence to flaunt your hair now that it looks, feels, and smells clean!
2. Maple Holistics (Degrease Moisture Control)
An all-natural shampoo that gently cleanses your hair and scalp while keeping it nourished and hydrated. And is an easy pick for our best drugstore shampoo for oily hair list
Specs
- Infused with 10% natural oils
- Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Paraben, SLS and cruelty- free!
- Contains lemon oil, peach kernel, jojoba oil, cypress, and rosemary oil
You can never go wrong with an all-natural product! This shampoo is one of its kind. It can leave your hair lustrous, healthy, and shiny without any buildup of grease or dirt.
Pros
- Teeming with natural ingredients
- Help keep hair fall at bay
- Rebalances the scalp
- Alleviates itchy scalp
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Works well on color-treated hair
- Promotes blood circulation
- Gently cleanses hair
- Hydrates hair well
- Makes hair soft and smooth
- Removes excess oil and grease
- Offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee
Cons
- Doesn’t lather well
- Has a watery consistency
- A bit expensive
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
Teeming with natural botanicals, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this shampoo is the ultimate treat for your oily hair and dry scalp! The unique combination of the organic botanicals makes this bottle of shampoo one of the best shampoos for oily hair that can be bought from the neighborhood drugstore!
We have no qualms about it, except that the consistency is a bit runny. It can be expensive, but it’s well worth the price tag.
And you’ll fall in love with the scent! It’s a nice combination of sage, mint, and lemon. That’s why it’s also felt so refreshing and clean.
3. Maple Holistics Shampoo for Oily Hair
Specs
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Infused with aromatherapy essential oils
- Paraben and cruelty-free
- A detoxifying hair shampoo
- Contains lemon, rosemary, and basil
Pros
- Has a nice subtle scent
- Makes hair soft and shiny
- Effectively decreases the scalp (hence the name!)
- Prevent follicles from being plugged with oil
- Alleviates itchy and flaky scalp
- Works on fine oily hair too
- Keeps split ends at bay
- Leaves a refreshingly clean feeling on the scalp
- Works for those with psoriasis
- Removes product buildup
Cons
- A bit expensive
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
Every Maple Holistic shampoo has a place in our hearts! We love how soft, clean, and smooth our hair became. And the scent smells nice, it’s a subtle combination of rosemary and lemon. It just smells so clean and fresh that you feel like you’re taking a breezy walk amidst the mountains.
4. Free & Clear Shampoo (Pharmaceutical Specialties)
Free & Clear Shampoo may be one of the brands with the least allergens. For people with a sensitive scalp, this is the best pick! Another great drugstore shampoo from our list of best drugstore shampoo for oily hair.
Specs
- Gluten and sulfate-free
- Designed for sensitive skin
- Doesn’t contain phosphate, protein, preservatives, and Cocamidopropyl betaine
- pH balanced
- Fragrance-free
If you’ve been battling with skin issues such as skin asthma, seborrheic dermatitis, or eczema, Free & Clear shampoo is your next shower buddy. It can clean all the excess oil and dirt without harming your already compromised skin.
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
- Safe on sensitive skin
- Doesn’t irritate skin or cause breakouts
- Has a reasonable price
- Has a very mild scent
- Very safe for those with respiratory issues where too much scent is a problem
- Can give volume to limp hair
- Can relieve itchy scalp
Cons
- Can be a bit drying
- Quite challenging to work into the scalp
- You need a good amount to clean the entire scalp
- Hard to lather
- Challenging to rinse out
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
If you strongly hate scented shampoos and the allergies that they can cause, Free and Clear is a breath of fresh air. This fragrance-free and preservative-free shampoo is your sensitive scalp’s new best friend! We love how clean our scalp felt. And when used with a proper conditioner, expect your hair to be lustrous and soft!
5. Aveeno (Pure Renewal)
A sulfate-free shampoo that won’t dry your scalp and hair. It’s enriched with seaweed extracts that naturally hydrates the scalp.
Specs
- Infused with balancing seaweed extracts
- Sulfate-free shampoo
This shampoo may not be all-natural, but it contains a handful of natural ingredients that can nourish and clean your hair and scalp at the same time. Moreover, it doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients that can put your health at risk in the long run.
Pros
- Safe for colored hair
- It is sulphate free!
- A little goes a long way
- Rebalances your hair and scalp’s natural moisture
- The seaweed extract is teeming with nourishing nutrients
- Suitable for all hair types
- Relieves itchy scalp
- Feels so light
- Has a nice subtle scent
- Leaves air squeaky clean without drying it
- Suds nicely
- Works on thick hair
- Softens the hair
- Rejuvenates the scalp
- Has an affordable price
- Can make hair more manageable
Cons
- The formula is a bit runny
- A bit expensive
- Doesn’t make hair shiny
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
You don’t need to wash your hair as often, Aveeno Pure Renewal can clean your scalp without stripping its natural moisture. We love how nice it suds up and it’s quite easy to work into the scalp. And if ever you need to curl or straighten your locks, Aveeno Pure Renewal can make your hair more cooperative with your styling tools.
Enriched with Seaweed extract, this shampoo ensures that your hair’s moisture content is restored to its optimum level without weighing them down.
6. AVEDA (Scalp Benefits)
Aveda is a shampoo suited for fine oily hair. It can remove excess grease while keeping your fine hair clean and volumized.
Specs
- Infused with plant and flower essences
It’s your go-to drugstore shampoo for your fine oily hair. While other products may weigh your hair down, Aveda can make it look lustrous and volumized. You’ll surely fall in love with your fine hair again. It’s hard to find a shampoo that can address both the excess oil and limp hair.
It’s so gentle that it can be used by those with skin conditions such as eczema, dandruff, and psoriasis. Surely a great addition into our best drugstore shampoo for oily hair list
Pros
- Safe for colored hair
- Contains natural botanicals
- Has a light nice scent
- Doesn’t need a conditioner
- Relieves itchy scalp
- Hypoallergenic
- Doesn’t contain harsh ingredients
- Leaves hair and scalp feeling clean
- Treats dry scalp
- Help keep hair loss at bay
- Makes hair soft and shiny
- Helps with folliculitis
- Removes excess grease and oil
- Balances your scalp
- Doesn’t weigh fine hair
- Removes signs of dandruff
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Difficult to lather
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
If you’re looking for a shampoo that can address your greasy fine hair, this is it! Aveda is one of the best shampoos for fine oily hair on our list. It won’t weigh your fine hair down. We love how this shampoo can balance out your scalp, resulting in well-nourished hair that’s not oily nor too dry. It can remove excess sebum and can address your dry scalp too. So no more limp hair for you!
7. Neutrogena (Anti- Residue Formula)
An anti residue shampoo that can remove up to 90 percent of product build-up!
Specs
- Free from artificial dyes
- Formulated for once a week use only
You might have gone overboard with hair products that left a ton of buildup on your hair. This can clog your hair follicles and encourage your oil glands to produce more oil resulting in greasy tresses. This once-a-week shampoo can get rid of almost all that product buildup with just one wash.
Pros
- Suitable for all hair types
- Gentle on colored hair
- Works for long and thick hair
- Removes product buildup up to 90 percent
- Can remove excess protein from hair
- Has an affordable price
- Adds volume to limp hair
- Has a nice subtle scent
Cons
- Can be a bit drying
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
If you can’t help yourself with the products that you’re applying on your hair, you need this shampoo bottle! This once a week treatment left our hair cleansed and allowed our scalp to breathe! Otherwise, that clogged pores can mess up with your oil glands.
If you’ve been using dry shampoo for a couple of days, this is the best deep cleansing treatment that you can give your hair. We’ll be honest, we love a good Neutrogena product! You can surely pick this as one of the best drugstore shampoos for oily hair.
8. REDKEN
A deeply nourishing shampoo that can get rid of excess grease and soften dry & damaged hair at the same time!
Specs
- Infused with avocado oil, gold camellia, and olive oil
- Designed for dry and damaged hair
REDKEN is designed to treat severely dry and damaged hair. It’s a deep treatment that can bring life back to damaged tresses.
Pros
- Makes dry hair soft and smooth
- Eliminates grease
- Has a pleasant scent
- Leaves hair and scalp clean
- Can remove mineral deposit and heavy metals form hai
- Prevents product buildup
- Keeps frizz at bay
- Eliminates tangles and knots
- Can moisturize hair without making the roots too greasy
- Works great on thick curly hair
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Can be a bit oily for thin hair
- Difficult to lather
- The consistency is too runny and oily
- Quite challenging to rinse out
- May contain silicone
- Not for those sensitive to SLS
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
Since it’s infused with olive oil and avocado oil, this shampoo is a deep treatment for your dry and damaged locks! It instantly made our hair lustrous, soft and shiny. And oh, the scent is divinely blissful. We wouldn’t mind washing our hair every day if it would smell like this.
We only washed our hair 2-3 times a week and the greasiness was kept at bay. So if you have some serious dryness and damaged hair, we recommend this shampoo bottle.
As a sign of warning though, it’s best to use this shampoo in small amounts if you have very thin hair.
9. APIVITA (Propoline)
A concentrated propylene and peppermint rich shampoo specifically designed for very oily hair.
Specs
- Contains nettle, thyme, peppermint, and lipo amino acids
This shampoo can balance your scalp rather well. It gently cleanses excess grime while making sure that your scalp is still moisturized. The best drugstore shampoo for fine oily hair should be able to do this delicate balancing act. Otherwise, you’ll be left with a dry, lifeless hair that’s stripped of its natural moisture.
Pros
- A little goes a long way
- Works for very oily hair
- Has a simple subtle scent
- Can make hair manageable and soft
- Cleans even thick hair
- Can volumize limp hair
- Safe for color-treated hair
- You may skip your conditioner and still get soft hair
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Can make hair a bit frizzy
- Can sting the eyes if the product gets in contact with it.
- May contain paraben and silicone
- Not for those allergic to SLS
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
If you have a limp and oily hair, this shampoo could be your lifesaver, hair saver that is! It also has a mild peppermint scent that feels just refreshing and cool, and leaves you feeling fresh for the rest of the day.
10. Neutrogena T/Gel
An anti-dandruff shampoo that’s specially formulated to get rid of flakes and itch caused by severe dandruff or psoriasis. An easy entry into our best drugstore shampoo for oily hair list.
Specs
- An anti-dandruff shampoo
Pros
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Lathers well
- Can also treat lice
- Gets rid of excess grease
- Gives hair a healthy shine
- Feels light on the scalp
- Good for psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis
- Cleanses the scalp and gets rid of the flakes
- Cleanses even thick and curly hair
Cons
- The scent is not for everyone.
Why love this drugstore shampoo?
If you’ve got dandruff, chances are your scalp gets too oily too. This anti-dandruff shampoo is your one-stop solution for severe flaking, itchiness, and excess grease. We had remarkable results after four washes, the oil is controlled and helps deal with the itch too.
While it tends to have a very overpowering scent, we feel like it’s still worth a try!
Buying Guide: How To Choose The Best Shampoo For Oily Hair!
Sure, you now have a list of the best drugstore shampoos for oily hair. But how do you decide which one’s the best for you? We’re here to help with that too!
Keep reading to find out what you should look for in your shampoo!
1. Free from chemicals
A natural shampoo or one mostly made from natural ingredients is your best bet. And if you have sensitive hair and scalp, you should stay away from chemicals or synthetic compounds. These can irritate your scalp. And we all know that an irritated scalp is a big no when it comes to controlling excess sebum production!
2. Soothing ingredients
Aside from choosing a shampoo with more natural ingredients, you should buy one that has soothing botanicals. Natural botanicals such as aloe vera, tea tree oil, and vitamin C can do wonders to an oily scalp.
3. Color protection
Most often than not, hair color further ruins the texture of your hair. And in this case, your shampoo should have a dual purpose.
If you have colored hair, you don’t need to compromise. You can still maintain those vibrant red locks and remove excess oil from your scalp at the same time!
Some of the best drugstore shampoos for oily hair on our list that are also proven to be gentle on color-treated hair.
4. pH balance
A shampoo that isn’t well balanced can do this- it can strip your hair of the natural oils. And when your hair is robbed of its natural oils, its normal reaction will be to produce more sebum. And this can lead to excess grease on the scalp. This is why the pH level of your shampoo is very important. Look for one with a marking of 5.5 pH level.
Home Remedies for Greasy Hair
Scour your pantry and cupboard, you might find something that can tame your overactive sebum glands!
1. Lemon juice
Lemon juice can benefit your scalp in two ways. One, it can help alleviate dandruff. And two, it’s acidic so it can combat excess oil production.
How to use lemon on your scalp? Mix a cup of water with 2 tbsp pure lemon juice. Lather this mixture on your hair and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is infamously known for being a great home remedy to remove excess buildup on scalp and treat dandruff! Hence, it’s quite effective in keeping grease at bay. Mix a cup of ACV with a liter of water. Use this concoction to wash your hair.
ACV also has astringent properties that can benefit your scalp.
3. Aloe vera
As mentioned above, aloe vera is a soothing botanical. It can help remove excess grease from your scalp. It can also keep dandruff at bay.
Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with 2 tbsp of aloe vera gel. Lather and massage this mixture onto your scalp. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing.
4. Tomato hair mask
Tomatoes are good for the skin. So it’s no surprise that it can benefit your oily scalp too. It’s also acidic so it helps prevent excess sebum production.
Make a tomato mask by blending in a ripe tomato with 1 tsp of fuller’s earth. Apply this to your hair, cover, and let sit for 30 minutes. Rinse well with cold water.
5. Green or black tea rinse
The caffeine in tea is acidic and can help keep grease under control. Just steep 1-2 bags of tea. Let the mixture cool a bit and use this to rinse your hair. But let it sit for 15 minutes before washing.
6. Baking soda
Apart from removing excess oil, baking soda can also remove grime and dirt buildup on your scalp. It’s a natural exfoliator.
Add 2-3 tbsp of baking soda to water until it forms a paste. Rub this paste mixture on your scalp and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse well.
7. Fuller’s earth hair mask
Fuller’s earth, also known as Multani Mitti, has oil absorbing properties and that can clarify your scalp. That’s why it’s also used in a lot of beauty and skincare products.
To make a mask, mix 1/2 cup of fuller’s earth with water. Then add a few drops of fresh lemon juice. Mix until it forms into a smooth paste and rub it over your scalp and hair. Let sit until it dries then thoroughly rinse.
What Causes Oily Hair?
Let’s be honest, no one likes oily hair. While I avoided ever going out with oil in my head as a kid, I still had a pretty oily scalp thanks to my hair type. But hear this, understanding what was behind my oily scalp and choosing the right products has made all the difference!
While several factors can contribute to oily hair, most of it lies in how well you take care of your locks.
Some factors such as the type of shampoo you’re using can be easily controlled. While some can’t be changed in a blink of an eye.
Let’s dive deeper into the real causes of your oily hair.
1. Your daily hairstyle
How do you style your hair?
If you always have it up, you’re bound to get greasy hair. When you always have your hair up in a ponytail, all the oil will be concentrated on the roots. And the oil won’t have a chance to travel down the tips.
2. Your genes
If you have forefathers and close relatives that have an oily scalp, you may have it too. It runs in the blood and there’s nothing you can do to reverse this one.
There are those endowed with more active sebaceous glands. If you’re one of them, you’re bound to suffer from greasy hair. While these glands are important to keep your scalp hydrated, if it’s producing too much oil, it now becomes a liability.
3. Your skin type
If you have oily skin, chances are, your scalp will also be oily. That’s just the way things are!
4. The weather
Extreme temperatures can cause your oil glands to go berserk! On a hot summer day, your oil glands work overtime.
5. Existing skin conditions
A healthy scalp will produce normal amounts of oil. But if you have an untreated scalp condition, this can aggravate oily hair.
Related read: Best Purple Hair Dye for Dark Hair
The two common scalp conditions that can increase the grease in your scalp are seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis. While these two are entirely different symptoms, they have one denominator- it can cause oily hair.
6. Your diet
You might want to skip on that cookie! A diet rich in sugar, simple carbohydrates, and too much red meat and dairy can contribute to greasy hair.
How? These foods seem to affect your scalp. These foods, especially dairy, have an indirect influence on how much sebum your scalp produces. The breakdown of these foods in the body results in the overproduction of sebum on your scalp.
7. You use too many hair products
This one is pretty obvious. If you’re using too many hair products in hopes of getting rid of the excess sebum, you’re probably doing more harm than good.
Use one product at a time and check to see if it actually suits you!
8. You’re a super sweater
When you sweat, your scalp automatically gets oilier.
9. Too much stress
We’ve said it before, stress messes up everything! And it also wreaks havoc on your once smooth and flawless skin.
10. Using hot water on your hair.
This is sweet and simple- hot water stimulates your oil glands to produce more sebum.
11. Too much styling
Styling tools can aggravate the oiliness of your hair. Once your hair and scalp are subjected to heat, your body responds by creating more sebum to prevent it from drying out. We all know how excess heat from styling can strip the life off of your hair.
So if you have already oily hair, park your styling tools once in a while. You’re going to save on electricity bills too!
12. You’re lacking in vitamin B
If there’s a vitamin that can influence the production of oil in your scalp, it has got to be Vitamin B. This B Vitamin regulates sebum production, making sure that you’re body is making just enough- not too little, not too much.
FAQs:
Does oily hair grow faster?
While sebum helps keep your scalp healthy and nourished, excess oil and grease have the opposite effect. It would not be beneficial for hair growth, and the buildup of grease and dirt can clog the hair follicles and just downright kill it.
Is oily hair bad?
Though oily hair makes you look unkempt and unpresentable, it’s not detrimental to your health. But it will be to your confidence!
However, sometimes oily hair is a sign of other skin disorders that you might not be aware of. So if you’ve been experiencing oiliness that’s quite hard to manage, it wouldn’t hurt to visit your dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis.
How often should you wash oily hair?
You may begin to wash your hair 4 times a week, gradually decreasing to thrice a week. But this time, your oil glands would have balanced themselves out and not produce too much oil, provided you use the right shampoo.
But if you’re using a deep cleansing treatment, it’s recommended to wash your hair 1-2 times a week.
Are moisturizing shampoos good for oily hair?
Though moisturizing shampoos help to nourish the dry or normal scalp and hair, it might be too much for your oily hair. What you need is a clarifying shampoo to remove grime and oil buildup.
Is charcoal good for oily hair?
Yes, charcoal is naturally occurring and can help remove excess oil from your hair and scalp.
Conclusion
You don’t have to wear caps and bandanas to hide the extra grease under your hair anymore!Regain your hair’s natural shine, bounce, and beauty with the best drugstore shampoos for oily hair. These brands are very easy to find. Just head out to your local supermarket or drugstore and you’re ready to rock those gorgeous locks!