13 best shampoos for greasy hair that will keep your roots fresh for longer — tried and tested

What causes oily hair?

To get the low-down on what actually causes greasy hair and what you can do to combat it, we spoke to Anabel Kingsley, brand president and consultant trichologist at Philip Kingsley, who shared some insights...

Simply, the most common cause of greasy hair is not shampooing often enough or not taking your time when you cleanse your scalp. "If you don’t wash your hair properly (or enough), this build-up of shampoo residue, dirt, oils and dead skin can cause your hair to become greasier," says Anabel.

Mark Blake, leading trichologist and Nioxin ambassador, also notes that someone’s scalp and hair type will make a big difference. “The most common cause is overactive sebaceous glands on the scalp as this produces too much sebum. And people with fine or thinning hair often notice greasiness more quickly because there simply isn’t as much hair to absorb and distribute that oil. This causes it to sit on the scalp and becomes visible much faster,” he explains.

What ingredients should I look for in a shampoo and/or avoid in shampoo?

When shopping for the best shampoo for greasy hair, it’s worth looking at the ingredients list to ensure you’re using the right oil-busters, designed to rid your scalp of build-up but without causing dryness. “Salicylic acid is one of the best ingredients for oily scalps,” says Mark. “It’s brilliant at dissolving dead skin cells, excess sebum and product build-up, and it can get right into the follicle opening to properly clean things out. It’s essentially giving the scalp a really good clear-out,” he explains.

It’s also worth looking out for ingredients like tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar. These are often found in detox shampoos for greasy hair as they help to break down excess oil without irritating the scalp.

Speaking about her favourite shampoo, Anabel recommends the Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Shampoo. “It is an effective but gentle daily shampoo with exceptional ingredients including anti-microbial Piroctone Olamine and Lauryl Betaine to deeply cleanse without causing redness or irritation.”

Are sulphates good for oily hair?

There are many types of sulphates, and they are a cleansing agent that will often only be found in products that foam, i.e. shampoos. Anabel says to "look for a shampoo with a gentle cleansing agent, such as SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate)." Generally, people may be afraid of SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) in products because it can be irritating, so, as Anabel suggests, "if you have a sensitive scalp, then use a sulphate-free shampoo."Above all, make sure you shampoo frequently and properly to cleanse your scalp.

Does washing your hair more often cause your hair to get greasier more often?

Myth-busting 101: Not at all!

"You take your hair and scalp to the same places you take your face, and it gets just as dirty," Anabel explains. "Your scalp is also a living tissue; it sweats, produces oils and sheds skin cells. You wouldn’t leave three days between washing your face, and you likely wouldn’t wear the same outfit more than a few times before washing it – apply the same thinking to your hair."

“I recommend people with fine-textured hair shampoo daily. This is because people with finer hair have more oil glands on their scalp and their hair, therefore, becomes greasy faster. If you have medium-textured hair, try to shampoo daily to every other day. Ideally, coarser and curly hair textures should leave no more than three days between shampoos,” says Anabel.

How should you wash greasy hair?

Turns out, if you have greasy hair there is a method to the madness when it comes to washing. As properly shampooing it can actually prolong your wash day and how quickly it turns greasy. “If the hair is very greasy, start by applying shampoo to dry hair first to break down the oil,” says Mark. “Wetting it first can actually make things harder because oil and water don’t mix particularly well. Then rinse and shampoo again. I always recommend two shampoos,” he adds.

And further shutting down misconceptions that washing your hair regularly is bad, Mark says: “If your hair is greasy, wash it daily if you need to. You can’t ‘train’ your hair to be less greasy, it’s not a puppy.”

When should you wash greasy hair – morning or evening?

“If the scalp is very oily, you can wash it both morning and evening without causing harm,” says Mark. But of course, that totally depends on whether or not you have time to. We’re all busy people here! So if you only have the time to wash it once, Mark advises doing it in the morning.

How we test shampoo for greasy hair:

At Cosmopolitan, we rigorously test every shampoo over several weeks to evaluate its effectiveness on greasy, oily hair.

When trialling the best shampoos for greasy hair, we wanted to see how they performed in real-life conditions, allowing us to assess performance, texture, scent, and oil-control results. The top performers left our strands feeling cleansed, but not stripped, and prolonged wash day sp oily roots were kept at bay.

We don't just rely on claims – we ensure every recommendation is backed by hands-on experience and visible results you can trust.

Meet the experts:

Annabel Kingsley is a Consultant Trichologist and Brand President of Philip Kingsley Clinics and product ranges, based in London and New York. Trained at The Institute of Trichologists (Distinction and Excellence Award, 2013), she also holds a First‑Class BA in History of Medicine from the University of Kent.

Growing up under the mentorship of her father, pioneering trichologist Philip Kingsley, she developed expertise in scalp science, nutrition, postpartum hair loss, and the psychology of hair. Anabel blends medical insight with real-world empathy –having experienced hair loss herself – to guide clients toward healthier hair and scalp wellness.

Mark Blake is a globally recognised, leading trichologist and Nioxin ambassador. The Harley Street trichologist specialises in hair loss and has more than 40 years’ experience in the hair industry. He is a member of the Institute of Trichologists and the World Trichology Society, running clinics across the UK where is is regularly called on by media and haircare brands for his expertise.

Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?

Lia Mappoura is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. With over three years under her belt, over three different roles at Cosmo (intern, assistant and now, writer), as well as a year prior interning at magazines including Grazia, Dazed Beauty and Glamour, she has learnt a lot about what makes for a good great beauty product. I mean, she has been a judge in over seven seasonal beauty awards... which includes having to test over 100 skin, makeup, hair and body products for each. Someone's gotta do it!