I Have Super Oily Hair That Always Looks Weighed Down—Lemme Introduce You to the Only Shampoos I’ll Use

Why we love it: No one needs a weekly reset rinse like someone with oily hair. All the oil buildup on your scalp can make your roots look flat without some intervention. But the key here is choosing a product, like this from OUAI, that helps dissolve all of the dry shampoo, mousse, and styling cream without making your hair feel like straw. OUAI's Detox Shampoo was made with a lot of hair textures in mind, meaning it's not too strong but still gives you a good clean. And it's all thanks to the sulfate-free formula that's empowered by apple cider vinegar and other strong surfactants to clarify.

Cosmo editor review: "As someone who does Corepower 3-4 times a week (aka the sweatiest workout ever) and I don't wash my hair everyday, I need to make sure I use a detox shampoo that can sweep all the built-up grease and oil out of my hair. I like using this once a week during a necessary 'everything shower' for a full scalp reset. It makes my hair feel squeaky clean without overly stripping my strands. This paired with a nice hydrating mask is heaven for my hair."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

Why we love it: If your curls can get limp and stretched out, they might actually need a reset, clarifying wash like this. It uses phytic acid—not sulfates or other harsh cleansers that could be too drying for your hair—to help break down oils and product buildup. A combo of hydrating botanical extracts round it out to give you defined curls, even if you're just using it every few washes.

Cosmo editor review: "The shampoo left my hair feeling clean without feeling stripped, which is something I have noticed is difficult to find with other clarifying shampoos for curly hair. And since I only wash my hair once a week, it’s quite hard to find a shampoo that will actually properly clean my hair without leaving it feeling completely dried out. Also, the smell is very subtle and clean, which is just another bonus. For the price, this is an excellent option!"—CORINNE BICKEL, SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Why we love it: Some of us with oily hair have to wash every day. And while that can be a problem if your shampoo is too stripping, or if you have color-treated hair, it's totally fine with something like this. This hero ingredient in this rinse is apple cider vinegar, a powerful yet gentle clarifier that helps dissolve buildup, sweat, and oils. But unlike sulfates or other strong surfactants, it doesn't strip your hair at all, meaning you get rid of what's making your hair look greasy without the color fading or dryness.

Cosmo editor review: "I’ve never gone through so many bottles of a product as I have this rinse. It’s fantastic for my oily, color-treated hair. I just squeeze it onto my roots in the shower and let it drip down my hair, massaging in a little before rinsing. It takes legit two seconds but completely revives my hair as if I just washed it (but, of course, doesn’t fade my color a quickly)."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

Why we love it: Damaged hair is less porous, not being able to hold onto moisture as easily—hence why it's much more likely to experience greasy hair when your strands are brittle. Miriam Quevedo's line is specifically dedicated to anti-aging, but it's also gold-star for damaged hair as well. This shampoo does exactly what you need to lather up and get rid of excess oils on your scalp and hair. But where it really ~shines~ is nourishment. Formulated with amino acids, niacinamide, argan oil, and even a retinoid, it helps strengthen and boost hair health.

Cosmo editor review: "Yes, this luxe shampoo is pricey, but hear me out! First off all, it's super concentrated, so a bit of product goes a long way in terms of lathering and cleansing—I've been using the same bottle for months. It's also loaded with fancy ingredients that promote hair longevity like a diamond and platinum complex, as well as collagen-boosting amino acids. And while I could go on about the scalp-boosting ingredients, the best part of the entire formula is the scent. I wish I could bottle it up into a perfume and spray it on my entire body."—JH

Why we love it: A conundrum for the ages: Oily roots with dry ends. This shampoo pretty perfectly balances the two by gently cleansing and hydrating with lightweight ingredients. We're talking aloe vera (the MVP of this formula because it actually goes into your hair strands and scalp to hydrate rather than just sitting on top), as well as clarifying witch hazel and soothing cucumber extract.

Cosmo editor review: "This is the perfect everyday shampoo for my oily, frizz-prone hair. It balances my scalp with witch hazel and aloe, but because the formula is creamy it's moisturizing enough to make my hair feel smooth." —LB

Why we love it: Founder James Pecis is one of the most well-known hairstylists in the business, having worked with supermodels and celebrities for decades. When he launched his own brand Blu and Green, he vowed to create effective products that were also clean and sustainable. From there, the idea of a concentrated shampoo was born.

And let me tell you, this formula is a dream for oily hair. It uses a blend of gentle surfactants to cleanse hair, along with lightweight hydrators that help nourish and fortify the scalp. When you squeeze it into your hand, it has a rich texture that might feel like it'd be too heavy to break down your scalp oils. But when you work it together between your hands and some water, it develops a really nice lather that gets rid of grease while soothing and hydrating skin.

Cosmo editor review: "I am constantly telling people I have oily hair like it's a disclaimer. 'Sorry, I'm a bad person to try XYZ hair product, because my scalp is so oily and my hair is so fine that it'll just sit on top!' I told those exact words to hairstylist Pecis, in hopes he could see I understood that when his products didn't work on me, I knew it was a me problem. But he took it as a challenge. And fast-forward a month, and this shampoo is one of my most-used. Every time I lather up with this concentrate, I have a really freakin' good hair day. It somehow deeply cleans but doesn't strip, so my hair has lift in the roots but also looks shiny and feels soft as hell. And it hasn't led to any fading of my hair color, which is a huge feat for me as someone with dyed red hair who unfortunately has to wash fairly often."—BG