Pick of the best shampoos for greasy hair in 2017

Greasy, oily hair might be the result of many different factors, but thankfully intelligent shampoos offer modern solutions to help you carefully restore the balance to your hair.

Whether it’s hormones, age or product build-up, greasy locks can leave you with unmanageable hair that requires constant washing and leaves you feeling less than confident.

What is oily, greasy hair?

Oily and greasy hair isn't because people are dirty, in fact, it's something that natural that can happen to anyone. Like the pores of the skin, the hair has sebaceous glands that secrete sebum. Sebum is essential for healthy hair, as it stops it from drying out and breaking too, keeping it supple and smooth.

Oily hair is caused by too much sebum being produced by the glands. In some extreme cases, it can even lead to dandruff and hair loss. Oily and greasy hair can be attributed to a number of reasons, including unhealthy eating habits, not looking after your hair properly, some medications, and for some people it's heredity.

The change in seasons or climate might also affect sebum production, as well as puberty or pregnancy or periods of stress.

Here are some of our favourite oil-fighting shampoos, from a range of brands, which will take your hair from limp to lovely.

Lee Stafford Oily Roots Dry Ends Shampoo

This shampoo tackles two problems at once, oily roots and dry ends. This detoxifying shampoo treats oily roots with Moringa Seed Extract, this extract is also referred to as the Miracle Tree, and it works to ensure the hair is clean and fresh.

L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Shampoo

One of L’Oreal Paris’ newer launches, this does a similar thing to the Lee Stafford shampoo, targeting oily roots and dry ends. The shampoo is formulated with a combination of three refined clays, to help ensure the hair is balanced throughout the length.

It leaves your scalp feeling purified, with a fresh and lifted root, and hair feels smooth and hydrated to the top. A gorgeous shampoo that won’t break the bank and leaves hair feeling revitalised with softness, shine, and bounce.

Head & Shoulders Shampoo Citrus Fresh

Head & Shoulders is a classic shampoo that we’ve all most probably used at some point. This combines anti-dandruff properties with a citrus fresh scent that cleanses your scalp and oily hair. Your locks are left feeling clean, fresh and hydrated after using this gentle shampoo.

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo Greasy hair

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo Greasy hair relieves the itching and flaking associated with even the most persistent dandruff whilst caring for your hair and leaving it shiny and manageable. The unique amber, a fresh-smelling formulation that produces a rich lather and is gentle enough to be used as often as you wish.

L'Oreal Paris Elvive Fibrology Air Shampoo

The newest launch from L’Oreal Paris is an upgrade on their beloved Fibrology Thickening shampoo which is designed to add thickness to your locks.

This updated version, enriched with Folloxane, creates thickness in the locks and the clear formula cleanses and lifts roots with weightless volume. Your hair is left feeling lifted, airy and fresher for longer.

Redken Scalp Relief Oil Detox Shampoo

This formula utilises the advanced Lipo-Sponge System technology combining lipacide to rebalance pH level, micro-sponges and lemon extract. Thoroughly cleanses pores it absorbs excess oil and purifies the scalp. It rebalances the scalp to its natural moisture equilibrium while mattifying and controlling oil.

Kérastase Specifique Bain Divalent Balancing Shampoo

This shampoo won the InStyle Best Beauty Buys 2013: Best Shampoo for Oily/Combination Hair. Hair guru Luke Hersheson says that you need to avoid a lot of oily hair shampoos because they leave the rest of the hair feeling brittle and dry. But this Kerastase shampoo has the perfect balance to leave the lengths feeling soft, all the while removing excess oil from the roots of the hair.

L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Pure Resource Shampoo

L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Pure Resource Shampoo helps to rid the hair and scalp of styling product build-up, hard water residue and any excess natural oils. With an aqua crystal formulation, the shampoo is purifying for the roots, removing residue and product build-up. With the ability to deliver a hydro-lipidic film, your hair feels nourished and your scalp feels really clean.

Phyto PhytoPanama+ Shampoo

Phyto PhytoPanama+ Shampoo has a 65% quillaja bark extract which helps to absorb the excess sebum produced by the glands. It's perfect for those with sensitive scalps, and even though it's gentle, it works extremely well.

Cowshed Moody Cow Balancing Shampoo

Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. Cowshed Moody Cow Balancing Shampoo cleans down to your roots and removes excess sebum and build-up, whilst nourishing and balancing your scalp, leaving it beautifully healthy.

Extracts in the shampoo include Cinnamon, Petitgrain and Manuka Honey, all of which leave the hair feeling soft and smooth, and help to regulate the oil production on the scalp.

Melvita Gentle Purifying Shampoo

Concentrated in organic ingredients, this shampoo combines the essential oils of Lemon and Rosemary with their purifying qualities. Sulfate-free, its fresh and light foam helps reduce excess sebum.

Quick fixes for greasy hair

Greasy hair is a pain, whether it's a regular occurrence or something that happens from time to time. Investing in one of the products above can help regulate the sebum production on the scalp. But these are other tips to can try to help fix your greasy hair.

A new technique? 

It might be something as simple as rinsing your hair more thoroughly. You need to clean the hair after shampoo and conditioner for at least 30 seconds to ensure there is no product left behind.

Change the temperature 

Make sure you rinse your hair with either lukewarm or cold water, this is because hot water can help increase sebum production in the glands.

Let your hair air dry

Similar to that of hot water, using hot hair on the scalp can stimulate oil production. So if you can let your hair air dry, or use the coldest setting on your hair dryer instead.

Make dry shampoo your best friend

Try to limit the amount you wash your hair, and for those days when you need freshening use a spritz of dry shampoo. Perfect for those days when you really don’t have time to wash your hair either.

Stop touching

The more you touch, brush and style your hair the more oil you produce.

Clarify

Greasy hair can be caused by product build-up or the use of too much conditioner. Remove all traces of product build up with the use of a clarifying shampoo.

Try different hairstyles

Straight hair can make hair look greasier, so embrace curls and waves. You could also try braids and messy buns to help hide your second day/third-day hair.