Best shampoo and conditioner for oily roots and dry ends

There’s a lot to love about winter, but the chilly outdoor temperatures can turn hair frizzy and brittle, while turning on your heating can cause a load of other issues. To combat these seasonal beauty woes, you may wish to swap to one of our best shampoos for greasy hair.

Not only will an oil-battling formula cleanse away dirt, sweat and product build-up, but it will also keep your scalp feeling fresher for longer.

Interested? In the ELLE Lab, our experts have tested the best shampoos for oily hair on the market, so you can keep your hair looking its best for Christmas party season and beyond. Keep scrolling for the products that impressed us the most.

What causes greasy hair?

Just like an oily t-zone, the reason your scalp isn’t feeling so fresh is down to too much sebum being produced. This can be due to a number of reasons, from genetics to hormones, as well as environmental factors such as pollution or excessive sweating caused by home workouts.

This dreaded oily build-up can even start on wash day but rather than grabbing the dry shampoo or washing your hair more frequently (as this can lead to an even greasier situation), you need to break the cycle by using products that are suited to your hair type.

And, depending on your hair type, try limiting your washes to three times a week to retrain your locks. We’ll admit, the first few weeks will be greasy but your hair will thank you in the long-run.

Is greasy hair healthy?

Let's start by saying that greasy hair is natural. Sebum is naturally produced by our scalps and is key in a healthy, hydrated head of hair, but sometimes it can get a bit excessive, which is where you might want to intervene.

Trichologist, Ricardo Vila Nova, explains: ‘​​Like skin, scalp can present in oily type or dry. However, some oily conditions can lead to dermatitis, which can increase sensitivity of the scalp and intolerance to water types or products.’

It also has some unwelcome side effects, too. ‘Excess oil production can lead to scalp inflammation, dermatitis and congestion, which can also promote flakiness and dandruff. An unbalanced scalp or excessive oily scalp can also be a major cause for hair loss,’ says Vila Nova.

Can I stop my hair from getting greasy?

The good news is that you can help rebalance a stressed-out, oil-slick scalp, and it starts with picking the right formula.

‘I try to always advise that the scalp is like the skin, so we have to wash our scalp but should not forget to balance and replenish the scalp’s pH and protective film of hydration. Formulas like salicylic acid or natural clay are efficient in extracting the excess grease,’ says Vila Nova.

You should also avoid dry shampoo (sorry). It might seem like the obvious answer to mattifying unwanted oil, but in the long run, it’s doing more harm than good:

‘Using products like dry shampoo to give a clean look to the hair are nothing more than a quick fix. They can create congestion in the scalp resulting in obstructing the segregation of oils through the follicles that contributes to build up of excess grease on the roots.’

How we test

Our panel of 450 testers – all with hair textures ranging from straight to afro – tried out 33 brands of shampoo that claim to tackle greasiness.

Over the course of a fortnight, they noted how well each product lathered up and cleaned hair, and reported back on any long-lasting benefits. They also judged how hydrated, smooth, shiny and volumised each shampoo left their hair.

Back in the ELLE Lab, our experts set about testing how well each shampoo controlled oil. To do this, they applied artificial sebum to hair switches before using a Sebumeter to measure oil and sebum levels after using each product.

If you wish to know whether a shampoo contains parabens, silicones or sulphates, check its key specifications list, below.

Here are the best shampoos for greasy hair to add to your bathroom shelfie:

1

Best Shampoo For Oily Hair

Redken

Amino-Mint Scalp Shampoo

2

Best Shampoo For Oil Control

OGX

Refreshing Scalp + Tea Tree Mint Shampoo

3

Best Shampoo For Irritated Scalps

Oribe

Serene Scalp Balancing Shampoo

4

Best Detoxing Shampoo

Bumble and bumble

Sunday Shampoo

5

Best Shampoo For Boosting Shine

Kérastase

Specifique Bain Divalent Shampoo

6

Best Shampoo For Curly Hair

Pattern

Cleansing Shampoo

7

Best Value Shampoo For Greasy Hair

TRESemmé

Deep Cleansing Shampoo

8

Best Volumising Shampoo

Christophe Robin

Purifying Shampoo with Thermal Mud

9

Best Shampoo For Added Softness

L'Oréal Professionnel

Serie Expert Pure Resource Shampoo

10

Best Shampoo For A Gentle Cleanse

VIRTUE

Purifying Shampoo

11

Best Shampoo For Sensitive Scalps

VICHY

Dercos Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

12

Best Shampoo For Hydration

Kevin Murphy

Balancing Wash Shampoo

13

Best Shampoo For Fuller Hair

Living Proof

Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Shampoo

14

Best Shampoo For Combination Hair

L'Oréal Paris

Elvive Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Shampoo

15

Best Shampoo Bar For Oily Hair

Lush

Jumping Juniper

16

Best Shampoo For Travel

Earth Kind

Citrus Leaf Shampoo Bar

How do I treat my hair with oily roots and dry ends?

Whats the best shampoo for greasy roots and dry ends?

What type of shampoo should I use for oily scalp and dry ends?

Why are my roots oily and ends dry?