The Best Shampoos for Oily Thin Hair
It can be challenging to find a shampoo if you have oily, thin hair. You’re looking for something that adds that extra volume and promotes hair growth while also reducing oil and thoroughly cleansing.
If you’re struggling to control your oily scalp or you’re fighting thin hair, you’ve come to the right place. There are plenty of options on the market that can tick all of your boxes.
Here is our list of the best shampoos for oily, thin hair.
1. Blu Atlas Shampoo
This product is the premium choice for oily, thin hair. Designed for men, the Blu Atlas Shampoo is a five-star rated product that gently yet thoroughly cleanses the hair. First, on our list of the best shampoos for oily, thin hair, look no further than this product for a luxurious experience with real results. You will notice thicker, healthier-looking hair without that heavy, oily look.
With 99% natural ingredients, this quality formulation features jojoba oil, aloe vera, and saw palmetto. Jojoba oil, with potent antioxidants and vitamins, deeply cleans and nourishes the scalp, while aloe vera hydrates to avoid drying the scalp. Saw palmetto is the key ingredient aimed at fighting hair loss and reducing the effects of thinning hair. Biotin reinforces this effect by strengthening the hair strand.
This formulation is both vegan and cruelty-free, without any harmful ingredients. For instance, there is no synthetic fragrance in this shampoo. It actually features a pleasant natural scent. You can be assured that this product has a quality formulation as it is backed by a medical advisory board featuring dermatologists. There is also stringent dermatologist testing.
Best of all, this product has a money-back guarantee; that’s how confident Blu Atlas is that you’ll love this shampoo.
2. Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Pink Grapefruit Shampoo
This pink grapefruit shampoo cleanses and exfoliates the scalp, leaving your hair clean and hydrated. You can depend on this product to break through tough buildup and grease, perfect for those with a fine, oily hair type.
Dermatologists recommend Neutrogena because its products, including shampoos, are clinically proven. It does not contain parabens or sulfates, which can damage or strip the hair. This formulation is pH balanced and designed to reduce oil without drying the hair.
This product utilizes a surfactant that does not contain parabens to help properly distribute the product to every inch of your hair. This way, you can get the deep clean you need to manage your oily hair. Fans describe the power of this product in clarifying the hair, saying that it makes the hair “squeaky clean.”
3. Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
When you hear Olaplex, you probably think of treatments for very dry and damaged hair. However, this Clarifying Shampoo has been designed with oily hair in mind. It removes impurities and buildup to leave hair feeling fresh. The Broad-Spectrum Clarifying System is the secret to its advanced cleaning powers.
This is an excellent choice for that weekly reset you need to keep hair fresh, bouncy, and full of volume. It is recommended that you use this product once a week instead of your regular shampoo. It will not only give you the volume results you are looking for, but it will also undo damage or breakage.
The product is sulfate and paraben free. It also contains AHAs to help refresh the scalp and is pH balanced to prevent the hair from becoming stripped or dry.
4. Forte Clarifying Shampoo in Cooling Peppermint
Here’s one for the men—although it could benefit anyone with oily, thin hair. This clarifying shampoo is designed to remove excess oil and product buildup to prevent you from feeling weighed down. Therefore, hair will appear lighter and fuller.
It’s an especially good choice for those who use hair gels or waxes. It removes leftover product but also prepares the hair for styling. It does all of this without stripping or drying out the hair.
With various calming ingredients, including aloe vera, shea butter, and of course, peppermint, this shampoo will leave you feeling fresh. Those who are ingredient-conscious will be relieved to know that this shampoo is free of harmful sulfates and parabens.
This shampoo is an ideal choice if you suffer from a sensitive scalp. It is free of irritating ingredients and packed with aloe vera, which has potent soothing qualities.
5. OUAI Fine Hair Shampoo
This state-of-the-art shampoo by OUAI is perfect for managing fine, oily hair. It not only adds volume and texture but also strengthens the hair to ensure it stays this way in the long run.
The shampoo contains some key ingredients to enhance hair health, such as keratin, biotin, and more natural compounds like chia seed.
This product is as much skincare for the scalp as it is shampoo. It contains potent exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs. These ingredients help to ensure the scalp is nourished, reducing oil buildup.
As an added bonus, the OUAI Fine Hair Shampoo is paraben and sulfate free. It’s also a color-safe shampoo, so you don’t have to worry about fading. It has a pleasant fragrance with floral and citrus notes to leave you feeling fresh.
6. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Shampoo
Do you suffer from oil build-up on the scalp but dry and damaged ends? It can be hard to find a solution that hydrates your hair but doesn’t leave your scalp weighed down or oily. Luckily, the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Shampoo is the perfect solution.
The product features three different forms of clay. This clarifying shampoo is designed to keep you feeling fresh for at least 48 hours. This could be a saving grace for people with oily hair who find that they must constantly shampoo to keep their hair looking good.
Because this product thoroughly cleanses the scalp, it provides volume and lightness at the root. It will leave your hair looking healthy and bouncy, and it’s ideal for those with long, damaged hair.
7. Davines VOLU Shampoo
This gentle, foaming shampoo is designed with thin hair in mind. If you need a volume injection, look no further. It lightens the hair to really lift it from the root.
If these benefits weren’t enough, this product is also environmentally conscious. It is produced using renewable energy with easily recycled packaging. You can also be assured about the source of the ingredients, as Davines even lists the exact farm they sourced the turnips in the product from.
Surprisingly, turnips provide some critical ingredients for hair health, including vitamins, phosphorus, and calcium.
If you’re looking for an even more environmentally friendly product, this shampoo even comes in a bar form—no plastic needed. Or, you can opt for a travel size of the regular product for use on the go.
8. Redken Volume Injection Shampoo
Redken’s Volume Injection Shampoo is ideal for those with thin hair who want a bit more oomph. This choice is perfect for those with fine greasy hair that can be dull and flat. It also may be helpful to those with damaged or dyed hair. It gives the hair a springy, bouncy look without leaving leftover product residue.
This product cleanses the hair to remove grease while soothing and protecting the scalp. It also contains Filloxane, hailed as a magic ingredient for boosting hair volume and even thickness.
In addition to these benefits, the product leaves the hair looking shiny and healthy. This is a salon-quality product that provides that fresh-from-the-chair look.
9. V76 by Vaughn Energizing Shampoo
Another top pick for men with oily, thin hair, the V76 by Vaughn Energizing Shampoo is ideal for daily use. It thoroughly cleanses the hair and removes buildup without leaving the hair dull. It’s lightweight, preventing that heavy look that people with oily hair want to avoid.
It’s jam-packed with beneficial ingredients. Saw palmetto is a plant-based ingredient known for its soothing and healing qualities. The shampoo also contains energizing green tea and peppermint with a gentle and pleasant desert lime fragrance. This makes for a relaxing in-shower experience.
This product is a great conscious choice as it is vegan and cruelty-free. It is also free of ingredients that could damage or strip the hair, such as parabens, sulfates, and mineral oils. Many reviewers note that a small amount goes a long way, so this is also an economical choice.
10. Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo
This gentle shampoo is the perfect choice for those with fine hair. As a clarifying shampoo, the Pureology Pure Volume removes product buildup. This makes your hair feel lighter and lifted at the root to enhance volume and texture.
The key to this volume-boosting formula is the surprising addition of wheat protein. The product also enhances growth and thickness with eucalyptus. Scent-wise, the unique blend of citrus and woodland aromas creates a luxurious shower experience.
For those with colored hair, this is an excellent choice. The formula has been specially designed to prevent fading. Additionally, the product is also vegan and 100% sulfate free. Another bonus of this product is that it adds an extra layer of heat protection.
11. Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
Aveeno is a skin and hair care brand that focuses on using the best natural ingredients. Therefore, you can be assured that the Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo is gentle and avoids harsh or stripping compounds. In fact, it is free of sulfates, dyes, and parabens.
This product is a clarifying shampoo, meaning it removes residue and oil buildup from the hair to enhance lightness and volume. It features colloidal oatmeal, a soothing ingredient, and apple cider vinegar for that thorough, salon-fresh clean feeling.
This multi-purpose shampoo is great for everyday use but can also be used as a once-in-a-while solution to renew and refresh the hair. This is especially effective if you sometimes use gels, waxes, or heavier products.
12. Kérastase Balancing Shampoo for Oily Hair (Specifique Bain Divalent)
Are you looking to restore your hair’s natural balance? Then look no further than the Kérastase Balancing Shampoo for Oily Hair. This product is part of the Kérastase anti-oiliness range, specifically designed to gently cleanse the scalp and reduce oil secretion and buildup.
As well as reducing grease and associated odors, the formula provides a significant volume boost at the roots and helps the hair to appear more healthy and shiny.
Its key active ingredient is amino acid, which targets oil production and helps gently clean the scalp. It also softens and conditions the hair strand. Glycerin and vitamin B6 are other beneficial cleansing ingredients.
This product is fantastic for those concerned about irritation. It has a uniquely gentle formula and skips harsh or stripping ingredients. It is also free of parabens and phthalates.
13. OUAI Detox Shampoo
This is the product for you if you’re looking for a total hair reset. Maybe you’ve been using heavy products or silicon-filled shampoo for a long time, or perhaps you have a lot of damage. Whatever the case, the OUAI Detox Shampoo will revitalize your thin, oily hair and really bring it to life.
This product will thoroughly clean and completely remove product and harmful oils. One of the key ingredients is apple cider vinegar, known for its deep cleansing properties. The OUAI Detox Shampoo also contains keratin to strengthen your hair, helping boost its volume.
This product has a luxurious scent, richly floral with notes of champagne. It is the perfect shampoo for a treat-yourself spa day in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re a conscious shopper, you’ll be glad to know that this formula is cruelty-free. It is also free of harmful compounds like parabens and phthalates.
14. MONDAY Haircare Volume Shampoo
MONDAY Haircare has a range of Volume products designed with fine, oil-prone hair in mind. This award-winning shampoo focuses on providing a deep clean while only lightly hydrating the hair to prevent any excess weight. You’ll notice a real boost in volume and body.
This cruelty-free product lacks harmful ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate and parabens. Additionally, it has numerous certifications, including from Cruelty-Free International and PETA, so you can be assured that it is an ethical product. The shampoo utilizes a list of natural active ingredients, including artichoke, coconut, and jojoba oil. Additionally, it has a pleasant flora gardenia scent.
Here’s a win for the environment—the whole MONDAY Haircare bottle range is 100% recyclable, including the pump.
15. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Scalp Scrub Shampoo
This once-weekly scrub shampoo is the ideal choice to exfoliate your scalp and reduce oil buildup. This product not only removes grease and impurities but also helps your scalp to absorb healthy compounds and vitamins. You will be left feeling clean and balanced.
This product uses a specific form of charcoal to cleanse and refresh the hair deeply. Charcoal is especially effective at removing impurities. Coconut oil maintains the moisture balance of the scalp to prevent the hair from becoming stripped and dry. It also contains panthenol, a strengthening ingredient, great for thin or damaged hair.
This vegan formulation is made without phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, and other additives. If you are particularly sensitive to fragrance, this is an excellent choice as it contains effectively no synthetic fragrance.
16. Ethique St Clements Shampoo Bar
As the only shampoo bar on the list, the Ethique St Clements Shampoo Bar is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional shampoos. Highly concentrated, this shampoo lasts around 80 washes.
With some shampoo bars, it’s a bit of a struggle to work up a rich lather. This issue is especially problematic for those with oily scalps who need that deep cleanse. However, the Ethique St Clements Shampoo Bar has been designed to create lots of suds without leaving any residue.
This is a clarifying option, meaning it is designed for people with oily scalps to remove grease, product, or dirt. Key ingredients like castor oil are potent cleansers. It is also a fantastic post-swim choice as it protects against chlorine damage.
This is a citrus-based product, specifically featuring orange and lime essential oils for a refreshing scent. It also features glycerin, which moisturizes the hair without leaving it feeling heavy and oily.
17. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Gentle Radiance Deep Cleanser
This luxurious oil-based shampoo is great for those with thin, greasy hair who often experience product buildup. It is powerful enough to provide a deep clean yet gentle enough to leave the hair soft and bouncy. This way, the product maximizes the hair’s volume.
There are two great ways to use this product. It is the perfect everyday shampoo for any hair type, but especially for those with oily hair. However, you can also use it once a week as a treatment before shampooing. This is a great way to completely clean and reset your hair.
The shampoo contains a variety of powerful ingredients. Most importantly, it features a ferment inspired by Japanese onsens or hot springs. This is an ingredient filled with minerals and antioxidants for a deep clean. It also has a citrus scent.
This shampoo is excellent for those whose hair needs a lot of TLC. From people who often swim to those who use lots of products, it will give your hair some much-needed love.
18. WOW Color Security Shampoo
If you have dyed or bleached hair, this could be the product for you. The WOW Color Security Shampoo boasts claims of deeply cleaning the hair while leaving zero residue. This means you can increase your time between washes, even if your hair usually gets oily fast. Along with this, it also locks in color.
It is formulated for various hair types, but those with fine, greasy hair have reported that this product works for them. This is an excellent product if you want to boost growth and volume while avoiding frizz. It is also perfect for those with extensions.
The formulation is clean and free of any ingredients you may want to avoid. This includes being sulfate, silicone, gluten, and paraben free. These products are harmful as they can impede hair growth and leave your hair feeling flat. Additionally, the shampoo is cruelty-free.
19. Davines SOLU Shampoo
This shampoo has been designed with a few specific clients in mind, namely those who use hair products frequently, swimmers, and people who use tank water.
If you use gels, waxes, or pomades daily, you may find that this weighs down your hair and leaves a residue, even after washing. The SOLU shampoo deeply cleans and refreshes the hair to remove products, dirt, and grease. It has a rich formulation, allowing for deep lathering and cleansing. Similarly, swimmers or tank water users may find chlorine and hard water cause buildup and damage to the hair. This product is the perfect solution.
It is designed as a weekly reset to completely transform the hair, to get you back to that clean feeling. It uses buckwheat extract, which contains beneficial compounds like amino acids and mineral salts.
This environmentally-conscious product is intentionally sourced and has minimal ecological impacts. For instance, the company is certified plastic neutral.
20. Kérastase Genesis Bain Nutri-Fortifiant Shampoo
This is a rich formulation to clean oily scalps thoroughly. Despite being rich and nourishing, it doesn’t leave a residue. This shampoo is designed with fragile, thin, and breakage-prone hair in mind. In fact, it strengthens the hair to maximize growth and prevent further damage. Therefore, if you find your hair falling out in the shower, this could be an excellent product for you.
It is enriched with several powerful natural ingredients, including Edelweiss and ginger. These ingredients prevent thinning and breakage to give your thin hair a boost and promote volume.
This shampoo is part of the Kérastase Genesis routine. This collection of products targets hair fall and thinning and includes shampoo, conditioner, and a heat protectant spray for blow drying. In-salon services can complement this collection if your salon partners with Kérastase.
21. Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
This refreshing shampoo, designed for daily use, deeply cleanses and renews the scalp. Designed with fine hair in mind, the product focuses on enhancing hair volume and thickness. It does this without leaving the hair feeling oily or heavy.
Aveda is focused on using natural products, specifically floral and plant-based ingredients. Along with organic rosemary, which manages dandruff, the product contains invigorating mint. Another active ingredient is glycerin for hair strength and reinforcement of damaged ends. Micelles and white vinegar provide that deep clean that everyone with oily hair needs.
This formulation is vegan and cruelty-free, without harmful ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and phthalates. It is produced and packaged in a responsible and environmentally-friendly manner. The Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo is a best-selling product for a reason, promoting real results without the need for harsh chemicals and additives.
22. Redken Amino-Mint Scalp Shampoo
This pH-balanced formula is designed with oily scalps in mind. You’ll notice instant results as it removes product and oil buildup. While it deeply cleanses, it also strengthens hair and protects against breakage, perfect for those with thin hair who want some extra volume.
The specially designed Amino Mint Complex deeply penetrates to provide a thorough clean while being light enough to prevent your hair from falling flat. With a pleasant mint aroma, you’ll have an enjoyable and revitalizing shower experience and a feeling of freshness.
This is one of the few shampoos that also has a conditioning effect. It contains betaine and cationic polymers, potent conditioning agents, to leave the hair shiny and smooth even before conditioner has been applied.
23. Klorane Oil Control Shampoo with Nettle
This oil-banishing shampoo helps balance your scalp to maintain a fresh, healthy look. Not only does this product reduce oil after the wash, but many customers have reported it leaves their hair feeling grease-free for longer. This is perfect for those with thin hair who don’t want to weigh down the hair with constant washing.
Its key active ingredient is white nettle, a plant that naturally absorbs and manages oil. This also provides a natural, pleasant fragrance. Along with the beneficial ingredients, it is free of silicones, sulfates, and parabens. All ingredients are organically farmed without using pest control, so you can be assured that this product has a minimal environmental impact.
This shampoo has been designed to be highly concentrated—this means a little goes a long way, and there is less waste. Try this product with the rest of the nettle hair range, which also includes dry shampoo for those days when you don’t feel like washing your hair.
24. Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo
To top off our list of the best shampoos for oily, thin hair, this shampoo is a great choice for your weekly hair reset. The Bumble and bumble Sunday Shampoo rids your hair of oil and impurities. It is also an effective pre-treatment wash if you are looking to use a hair mask or color products.
It features invigorating ingredients like ginseng, which helps to enhance hair growth. This is ideal for those with thin hair that want a boost. Rosemary is another critical ingredient for growth. The addition of sage leaf is the secret to the cleansing power of this shampoo. Sage leaf helps provide that really deep and thorough clean.
This cruelty-free product is made without parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, and formaldehyde. Therefore, you can be assured that the product will be good for your hair in the long run rather than just providing temporary results from harsh cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I wash my hair?
This depends a lot on your individual hair and circumstances. For instance, if you are a swimmer, you will probably need to wash, or at least rinse, your hair every time you swim to ensure you remove the chlorine from your hair. You may find that some of the above shampoos help rid you of oil, so you have to wash your hair less frequently.
What are some of the best ways to avoid oily hair?
If you are struggling with oil buildup, try to reduce the amount of hair products you use, such as waxes and gels. You may also benefit from a weekly deep cleanse or scalp scrub, such as one of the many weekly shampoos listed. Another action that may help is removing harmful products from your routine, such as those with sulfates or parabens.
