Collection: Shampoo for Oily Hair

Fine or thin oily hair: Fine hair shows grease fastest because there's less surface area to absorb sebum. Look for volumising, lightweight shampoos with ingredients like tea tree and peppermint that cleanse thoroughly without adding weight. Avoid anything with heavy oils or butters.

Thick or coarse oily hair: Thick hair can handle slightly richer cleansers but still needs effective oil control at the roots. Focus on shampoos that balance the scalp without over-drying your lengths. Charcoal and clay-based formulas work well here.

Oily roots, dry ends: This is one of the most common hair types in Australia. You need a gentle balancing shampoo that controls scalp oil without stripping moisture from your mid-lengths and ends. Apply shampoo to roots only and condition ends only.

Colour-treated oily hair: Colour processing can make ends porous and dry while your scalp stays oily. Choose a sulphate-free, colour-safe formula that manages oil production without fading your colour. Look for gentle surfactants like coco-glucoside.

Curly or wavy hair: If you have curly or wavy hair, look for shampoos specifically formulated for your curl type. These shampoos are designed to provide the right balance of moisture and definition, helping to enhance your natural curl pattern without weighing hair down.

Greasy by midday: If your hair looks oily just hours after washing, your scalp is overproducing sebum. This is often caused by harsh shampoos that strip too much oil, triggering your scalp to compensate. Switch to a gentle, balancing formula and resist the urge to wash more often.

Flat, limp hair with no volume: Oil weighs hair down at the roots, killing lift and bounce. Look for shampoos with volumising ingredients like biotin and niacinamide that cleanse the scalp while giving body to your roots.

Product buildup and dullness: Styling products, dry shampoo residue, and silicone buildup can make oily hair worse. A clarifying shampoo with charcoal or salicylic acid removes buildup and lets your hair breathe. Use it once a week alongside your regular shampoo.

Oily, itchy, or flaky scalp: An oily scalp paired with flaking may point to seborrhoeic dermatitis, not just excess oil. Look for shampoos with zinc pyrithione, tea tree oil, or salicylic acid that address both oil and irritation.

Sulphate-free: Contrary to popular belief, you don't need harsh sulphates to clean oily hair. Gentle surfactants like coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside remove excess oil effectively without triggering rebound oil production. The transition takes about two weeks.

Natural and botanical: Plant-based ingredients like tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, and witch hazel naturally regulate sebum production. Look for shampoos built around botanical extracts rather than synthetic actives.

Vegan and cruelty-free: Choose brands certified cruelty-free with no animal-derived ingredients. Plant-based alternatives like bamboo extract and rice protein provide strength and volume without animal byproducts.

Silicone-free: Silicones are a major cause of buildup on oily hair. They coat the shaft, trapping oil and residue underneath. Silicone-free formulas keep your hair lighter and let your scalp regulate oil naturally.

This is the hardest step but the most important. Daily washing strips your scalp of natural oils, triggering it to produce even more sebum to compensate. Training your scalp to go 2 to 3 days between washes is the single biggest thing you can do to reduce oiliness long term.

Use a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo for oily hair and focus it on your scalp and roots only. Massage with your fingertips (not nails) for 60 seconds to dissolve oil and buildup thoroughly. Rinse with lukewarm water as hot water stimulates oil production.

Apply conditioner only to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair to avoid weighing down the roots. If you have curly or dry hair, opt for a rich conditioner to provide extra moisture and help with detangling.

Choose a lightweight conditioner without heavy silicones or thick oils. Rinse thoroughly as leftover conditioner residue is one of the biggest causes of next-day greasiness.

Once a week, use clarifying shampoos to remove product buildup, excess oil, and impurities from your scalp and hair. This deep cleansing step helps keep your scalp fresh without causing excessive dryness.

Don't overdo it though. Clarifying more than once a week can strip too much oil and restart the overproduction cycle. Follow your clarifying wash with a lightweight conditioner on ends only.

On non-wash days, a targeted scalp essence or tonic keeps oil under control without rewashing. Look for formulas with niacinamide, zinc, or tea tree that regulate sebum at the follicle level. Apply directly to your part line and massage in.

If you need a quick refresh, a clean dry shampoo (starch-based, not aerosol) at the roots absorbs oil and adds volume. But don't rely on it daily as buildup from dry shampoo can clog follicles and make the problem worse over time.

Avoid heavy styling creams, waxes, and oil-based serums that sit on your hair and attract more grease. Instead, opt for lightweight mousses, volumising sprays, and water-based products that add texture and hold without the heaviness.

If you heat style, use a lightweight heat protectant spray rather than a cream or oil. And try to keep your hands out of your hair throughout the day. The oils from your fingers transfer directly to your strands and contribute to that greasy look.

For curly hair types, consider co-washing (using conditioner to cleanse instead of shampoo) as an alternative method to maintain moisture and reduce frizz.

The truth: Over-washing is one of the biggest causes of persistent oiliness. When you wash daily with a harsh shampoo, you strip your scalp of its natural protective oils. Your sebaceous glands respond by producing even more sebum to compensate, creating a vicious cycle of grease, washing, and more grease.

For most oily hair types, washing every 2 to 3 days with a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo is far more effective than daily washing with a harsh one. It takes about two weeks for your scalp to adjust, but the long-term results are worth the transition.

The truth: Skipping conditioner does nothing to reduce oil at your roots (that's a scalp issue), but it does leave your mid-lengths and ends dry, tangled, and prone to breakage. You end up with the worst of both worlds: greasy roots and straw-like ends.

The fix is simple: apply a lightweight conditioner from mid-lengths to ends only, well away from your scalp. Rinse thoroughly. This protects your hair without contributing to greasiness.

The truth: Sebum production is controlled by hormones and genetics, not washing habits. You cannot "retrain" your sebaceous glands by forcing yourself to wash less. What you can do is stop making the problem worse by using the wrong products.

Harsh sulphates, heavy silicones, and over-washing all trigger increased oil production. Switching to a gentle, balancing shampoo with botanical actives like tea tree and niacinamide helps regulate your scalp's oil output without the rebound effect.

The truth: Oily hair is a biological condition, not a hygiene problem. Some people simply have more active sebaceous glands due to genetics, hormonal fluctuations, or environmental factors. You could wash your hair an hour ago and still have visible oil at the roots.

The goal is not to eliminate oil entirely (your scalp needs some sebum to stay healthy) but to balance production so your hair stays fresh longer between washes.

The truth: Hot water strips your scalp's protective barrier, which triggers your glands to produce more oil to compensate. It also opens the hair cuticle, making strands look dull and frizzy.

Wash with lukewarm water instead. It dissolves oil and product buildup effectively without overstimulating your scalp. Finish with a cool rinse to close the cuticle, add shine, and help your hair stay cleaner for longer.

Oily hair is caused by overactive sebaceous glands on the scalp producing too much sebum. Genetics, hormones, stress, humidity, and using the wrong hair products are the most common triggers. In Australia, coastal humidity and the temptation to wash daily with harsh shampoos make the problem worse.

A good shampoo for oily hair breaks the cycle by cleansing effectively without stripping. When your scalp isn't over-stripped, it stops overproducing oil to compensate. Gentle, balancing formulas with botanical actives like tea tree, niacinamide, and charcoal regulate oil at the source rather than just removing it temporarily.

No. Daily washing is one of the biggest mistakes people with oily hair make. Washing too frequently strips your scalp of its natural oils, which triggers a rebound effect where your glands produce even more sebum to compensate.

The ideal frequency for most oily hair types is every 2 to 3 days. It takes about two weeks for your scalp to adjust, and the first week can feel uncomfortable. Use a gentle dry shampoo at the roots on non-wash days to absorb excess oil while your scalp recalibrates. Most people notice a significant reduction in oiliness within 3 to 4 weeks of this routine.

Look for lightweight, clarifying ingredients like tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and charcoal to help remove excess oil and buildup. At the same time, hydrating ingredients found in moisturising shampoos and nourishing formulas can help maintain hair health and prevent dryness, especially if your hair is prone to dryness or damage.

The best shampoos for oily hair contain ingredients that regulate oil production rather than just strip it away:

• Tea tree oil for natural antibacterial and sebum-regulating properties
• Salicylic acid to exfoliate and unclog follicles
• Activated charcoal to absorb excess oil and impurities
• Kaolin clay for gentle oil absorption without over-drying
• Niacinamide to regulate sebum production long-term
• Zinc pyrithione to balance oily, flaky scalps

Avoid heavy silicones, thick oils (coconut, castor), shea butter, mineral oil, and petroleum-based ingredients that coat the scalp and trap sebum.

Yes, and this surprises many people. While sulphates do create a deep clean feeling, they strip too aggressively and cause your scalp to rebound with even more oil production. Sulphate-free shampoos are actually better for managing oily hair long term.

Gentle surfactants like coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside effectively remove excess oil, dirt, and product buildup without disrupting your scalp's natural balance. The first two weeks of switching may feel like your hair is oilier than usual as your scalp adjusts, but after that transition period, most people find their hair stays fresher for longer between washes.

No, you shouldn't skip conditioner, even if your hair is oily. Apply conditioner only to the mid-lengths and ends to avoid weighing down the roots. If you have dry or curly ends, a rich conditioner can provide the extra moisture and nourishment needed for healthy, defined curls.

Choose a lightweight, silicone-free formula and rinse it out thoroughly. Leftover conditioner residue is a common hidden cause of next-day greasiness.

Oily hair refers to strands that look greasy, while oily scalp means the skin on your head is producing excess oil. You can have an oily scalp with dry hair, or vice versa. Note that colour-treated hair and damaged hair may require special care and gentle, colour-safe formulas to maintain health and vibrancy.

This distinction matters for treatment. You need to treat the scalp, not just cleanse the hair. Look for shampoos with scalp-targeting ingredients like tea tree, niacinamide, and zinc that regulate oil production at the follicle level. Simply washing the oil off your hair without addressing the scalp means it will come right back within hours.

Yes. Humid conditions stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, which is why oily hair can be especially challenging along Australia's eastern coastline and in tropical regions like Queensland and the Northern Territory.

During humid months, consider washing with a slightly more clarifying formula and using a lightweight, water-based styling product that won't add extra weight. A leave-in scalp tonic with tea tree or peppermint can also help keep oil under control between washes during summer.

Yes. Research shows that high-glycaemic foods (white bread, sugary snacks, processed carbohydrates) and dairy can increase sebum production. These foods spike insulin, which triggers androgen hormones that stimulate your sebaceous glands.

While diet alone won't fix oily hair, reducing processed sugars and increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts, flaxseed), zinc-rich foods (pumpkin seeds, chickpeas), and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can help your scalp produce less excess oil over time.