When it comes to giving greasy hair a good scrub, the struggle is real. Some shampoos and hair products work wonders—for like 24 hours—but by the next day, they leave your hair feeling like an oil slick. Other hair products can just leave you greasier than before. When you’re lathering up, the wrong shampoos won’t cut it against built-up dirt and grime, and don’t even think about using anything “hydrating” or “ultra-moisturizing” unless you want your lengths to be weighed down by extra gunk.

Best shampoos and conditioner for oily hair at a glance

• Best exfoliating: Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner, $19
• Best clarifying: Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo, $44
• Best detox: OUAI Detox Shampoo, $30
• Best rejuvenating: OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp & Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner, $26
• Best purifying: Christophe Robin Purifying Gelée with Sea Minerals, $39
• Best lightweight: Verb Ghost Shampoo & Conditioner, $70
• Best for thin hair: Foligain Triple Action Shampoo & Conditioner for Thinning Hair, $37
• Best dry shampoo: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo, $25
• Best conditioner bar: Superzero Normal/Oily Hair Conditioner Bar, $20

Why is my hair so oily?

It’s normal to have some oil on your scalp, but if your hair is feeling greasy, it may be due to a number of different reasons. Over-washing your hair or using products that strip your scalp of natural oils may dry out your scalp and trigger an overproduction of oil. Hormonal fluctuations, aging, stress, and diet may also contribute to an oily scalp.

Why you need a shampoo or conditioner made for oily hair

For those trying to tame oily hair, it’s time to get selective about how you wash. As celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko previously told us, shampoo and conditioner can make or break grease-prone hair. If there’s oil or extra hydrating ingredients lurking in the formulas, it doesn’t matter how many times you wash it—once it’s dry, hair will eventually just get weighed down again and again.

“When a product isn’t the right fit, this can cause your hair to become extra oily throughout the day and damage the style you spent all morning perfecting,” said Polko. It’s time to treat your scalp and hair to the right fit.

Other tips to try for oily hair

Beyond switching up your shampoo or conditioner, there some home remedies you could try — using an apple cider vinegar can help restore the pH balance of your scalp and manage oil production, try to touch your hair less, and manage your stress levels/diet.

Below, the best shampoo and conditioners for oily hair that will keep you fresh and clean with every wash.

What shampoos and conditioners should you use for oily hair?

Best exfoliating: Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner — $19.00

Neutrogena’s pink grapefruit shampoo and conditioner is a surefire bet for squeaky clean hair on a budget. The price-tag is wallet-friendly but doesn’t skimp on quality, as it gently breaks through the gunk and build-up that leaves you greasy. It’s dermatologist-approved, sulfate-free, and pH-balanced to keep hair healthy and happy.

Best clarifying: Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo — $44.00

Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week can help your scalp press reset. If you’re on the hunt for a heavy duty cleanser, look no further than Oribe’s clarifying shampoo. It’s made with volcanic ash (seriously), green tea extract, and Oribe’s signature complex for a hardcore scrub that won’t strip away your natural oils.

Best detox: OUAI Detox Shampoo — $30.00

OUAI’s Detox Shampoo takes clean to a whole different level. The formula uses an apple cider vinegar-keratin infusion to cleanse away dirt, oil, and build-up while leaving hair shiny and strong. It’s safe for all hair types, and smells unbelievable—a blend of roses, champagne, and sweet lychee.

Best rejuvenating: OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp & Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner — $26.00

OGX’s minty fresh fusion of tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and milk proteins gets oily strands super clean without drying them out. Lather this shampoo and conditioner and literally feel your hair get refreshed as the tea tree oil tingles and rejuvenates your scalp.

Best purifying: Christophe Robin Purifying Gelée with Sea Minerals — $39.00

This conditioner gives your scalp some serious TLC. It’s infused with sea minerals, like zinc, calcium, and potassium, so it strengthens strands as you wash. And while other purifying cleansers can be harsh, Christophe Robin’s blend is soothing on even the most sensitive scalps. Pro tip: Pair it with Christophe Robin’s Cleansing Purifying Scrub ($53) to give a tired, oily scalp a total reboot.

Best lightweight: Verb Ghost Shampoo & Conditioner — $70.00

There’s a reason Verb’s light-but-powerful hair care set is called Ghost—it feels like nothing’s there. Infused with hydrating moringa oil, Verb’s shampoo and conditioner leave your hair weightless and clean, without a streak of grease in sight. It’s suitable for all hair types.

Best for thin hair: Foligain Triple Action Shampoo & Conditioner for Thinning Hair — $37.00

Foligain’s shampoo is great for cleansing and adding volume to ultra-fine, thinning hair. The science-backed products contain natural ingredients that nourish the scalp while making lengths look shinier.

Best dry shampoo: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo — $25.00

Skipping a wash can be a big no-no for those with oily hair, however, Briogeo’s all-natural dry shampoo makes for an excellent workaround. Using charcoal, this powerful dry shampoo draws impurities straight from the scalp, while clay and rice starches absorb leftover oil in your strands. That way, you can skip a wash (or two) and still feel fresh.

Best conditioner bar: Superzero Normal/Oily Hair Conditioner Bar — $20.00

Superzero makes clean hair products that are all plant-based and plastic-free. This conditioner bar features a nourishing blend of avocado and coconut oils to detangle knots without leaving your tresses slick or heavy. Pair it with its matching shampoo bar for months of better washes (each bar is the equivalent to two shampoo bottles, so it’ll last a while).

Want to be the first to hear about the latest (and greatest) SHOP product drops, custom collections, discounts, and more? Sign up to have the intel delivered straight to your inbox.