Shampoo for Oily Hair: What the Research Shows About Ingredients

Shampoo for oily hair is mostly about washing the scalp well and keeping it balanced. There's no proof that any single ingredient fixes oil permanently, but research shows how shampooing changes the scalp, that some cosmetic extracts reduced sebum in studies, and that washing less because you fear hair loss doesn't help.

Here's what the research says about shampoo and oily hair, and what to look for on a label.

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Key Takeaways

• In a 28-day shampoo study, regular use increased scalp moisture without significantly changing sebum secretion, and shifted the scalp microbiome from an oily to a more moisturized profile.
• In a study of dandruff sufferers with oily hair, a plant extract reduced sebaceous gland volume and sebum production and improved scalp barrier measures.
• People who wash less because they fear losing hair see more hair in later washes, which feeds the fear.
• No single shampoo ingredient has been shown to keep hair from getting oily.

Is It OK To Shampoo Oily Hair Often?

Yes, regular washing is part of managing oily hair, and there is no evidence that shampooing causes hair loss. See below for what a review notes about reduced shampooing.

What To Look For

• A gentle formula you can use regularly.
• Ingredients with some evidence, such as the extract studied below, but remember those results were for a specific product.
• A scalp-treatment shampoo if you have dandruff or itchy flaking. A dermatologist can advise.

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What To Avoid

• Skipping washes out of fear of hair loss.
• Assuming an ingredient is proven because it's on a label.

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What The Research Shows

What Shampoo Does To The Scalp

In a 28-day study, regular shampoo use significantly increased scalp moisture (P = 0.04) without significantly affecting sebum secretion (P = 0.23). The scalp bacterial and fungal communities changed, with Cutibacterium increasing from 11.58% to 28.66% of bacteria, while the core fungal group (Malassezia) was retained. The communities shifted from an oily environment to a more moisturized one (Xu et al., 2025).

A Cosmetic Extract For Oily Hair

A study of an Anetholea anisita extract found it reduced inflammatory signals in hair follicle papilla cells, decreased the volume of scalp sebaceous glands ex vivo, and in volunteers with dandruff and oily hair reduced sebum production and dandruff while improving scalp barrier measures (Duroux et al., 2022). This tested one extract, not shampoo ingredients in general.

Washing Less

A review of nutritional factors and hair loss notes that many people reduce their shampooing frequency for fear of losing more hair, but this increases the amount of hair seen in subsequent shampoos, which fuels the fear (Rushton, 2002).

For the causes behind oily hair, see what causes greasy hair.

See also: Clogged Hair Follicles: What the Research Really Says About Your Scalp · Scalp Detox: What the Research Shows

If your hair is thinning, see our guide to shampoo for thinning hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients should I look for in a shampoo for oily hair?

No single ingredient is proven. One cosmetic extract reduced sebum in a study, and a gentle formula you can use regularly is a sensible start.

Can I wash oily hair every day?

There's no evidence that shampooing causes hair loss. Talk to a dermatologist if you have flaking, redness or itch.

Does shampoo stop oily hair?

In a 28-day study, shampoo use increased scalp moisture but did not significantly change sebum secretion.

References

1. Xu C, Li W, Lin L, et al. High-throughput sequencing to analyze changes in the human scalp microbiome during the use of a shampoo. BMC Microbiol. 2025. PubMed
2. Duroux R, Baillif V, Havas F, et al. Targeting inflammation and pro-resolving mediators with Anetholea anisita extract to improve scalp condition. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2022. PubMed
3. Rushton DH. Nutritional factors and hair loss. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002. PubMed