The Best Shampoo Bars for Oily Hair in 2023
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Hair oils can be confusing to wrangle. If you find yourself with greasy hair less than 24 hours after washing - you aren’t alone. But with the best shampoo bars for oily hair, and the right daily habits, you can absolutely get that oil under control.
You may be wondering: “Why is my hair so oily in the first place? And does a shampoo bar for oily hair really work? If so, how?”
Today I will answer all those questions and more. I’ll help you understand why some people have oily hair, provide some tips for oil control, and give you the scoop on the best shampoo bars for oily hair in 2023 - so you can enjoy fresh, bouncy locks in the year ahead.
Why does hair get oily?
Your body naturally produces hair oils, and these oils are a GOOD thing. They protect your hair against damage and frizz. Your oils are produced in the sebaceous glands on your scalp, which is why you will sometimes hear hair oils referred to as “sebum.”
Sebum is important for healthy hair growth - but sometimes your body can go a little overboard with oil production.
Why?
Well, there are so many causes of oily hair. Whether it’s your choice of hair products, a hormone imbalance, or a habit of playing with your tresses, there are a lot of factors that could be at play when it comes to excess oil production.
For example, did you know stress can cause oily hair? When you are stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. And, when your cortisol levels rise, it can send your sebaceous glands into overdrive.
You can also increase your oil production by overwashing your hair. While that may seem counterintuitive, washing your hair too frequently can train your scalp into producing more and more oil to make up for the use of drying and stripping hair products.
So how can you break the oily hair cycle if frequent washing isn’t the answer? Let’s look into some tips for managing hair oils.
How can you fix oily hair?
Instead of religiously washing your hair, try to schedule your showers around workouts and social events - giving your strands a much-needed rest day. When you DO wash your hair, you want to steer clear of clarifying shampoos.
While you may have heard that clarifying shampoo is the holy grail for oily hair, I’m afraid that profit is a false one. The average deep-cleaning shampoo will actually strip so much of your natural oil that it will cause your sebaceous glands to overcompensate.
And don’t just reach for the dry shampoo either. While dry shampoo is great in a pinch, it can clog your pores and lead to even more build-up - and even hair loss in some cases!
So what SHOULD you do?
Look for natural purifying and detox shampoos that are specifically made for oily hair. Aka - stay away from heavily moisturizing products as well as clarifying ones.
In particular, I recommend a shampoo bar for oily hair. Most shampoo bars are made from natural ingredients, and don’t contain harsh chemicals that can spike your oil production. These natural shampoo bars are just as effective at cleaning dirt and impurities from your strands.
The best shampoo bars for oily hair use a gentle surfactant like Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, which is derived from coconut oil, so it won’t strip your hair.
And, after you get rid of excess dirt and sebum with the best shampoo bars for oily hair, you’ll find that your hair feels fresh and clean for longer than with a clarifying shampoo.
Of course, you’ll want to give your scalp a little time to adjust to any new routine you try. But the transition to natural shampoo bars will absolutely be worth it.
So what shampoo bars should you try? Let’s talk about the best shampoo bars for oily hair.
The best shampoo bars for oily hair in 2023
Tracking down the best shampoo bars for oily hair can be overwhelming, but I have the answer right here for you! I have two of the best shampoo bars for oily hair ready and waiting for you to try.
One shampoo bar for oily hair will be your favorite for regular use, and the other will swoop in to the rescue whenever you’re having an off hair day. Are you ready to meet them?
Here are my top recommendations for oil control:
The Purifying Shampoo Bar
The first shampoo bar I always recommend for oil control is my Purifying Shampoo Bar. It will cleanse your hair and control oil production with these natural ingredients:
Green clay
The best shampoo bars for oily hair contain clay. Why? Because clay naturally removes impurities and excess oil from your scalp - providing you with a deep (but not stripping) clean.
My Purifying Shampoo Bar uses Brazilian green kaolin clay. This clay has slightly more absorbent qualities than other types of kaolin, but is more gentle than other varieties of clay - making it excellent for people with sensitive skin.
Kaolin clay has been shown to:
- Absorb excess oil without affecting your skin’s natural oil level
- Unclog pores
- Remove dirt and impurities
- Soothe irritated skin
- Help you maintain a balanced pH level
- & stimulate blood circulation in your scalp
Rosemary, mint & lemongrass essential oils
My Purifying Shampoo Bar is scented with an invigorating mix of rosemary, mint, and lemongrass essential oils. But this isn’t just for the refreshing aroma - I chose them specifically for their hair benefits.
Rosemary oil and peppermint oil both encourage hair growth because they improve circulation, help strengthen hair follicles, and have anti-inflammatory properties. Rosemary oil has also been shown to prevent dandruff and premature graying.
Last, but not least, lemongrass helps to reduce your oil production and has antimicrobial properties that fight off dandruff, just like rosemary. This means my Purifying Shampoo Bar is the perfect shampoo for people with oily hair and dandruff.
Kernel oil
The final ingredient I want to highlight from my Purifying Shampoo Bar is kernel oil. Kernel oil is full of palmitic acid, vitamin E, vitamin K, and vitamin A. These vitamins and antioxidants are deeply moisturizing without being greasy, and can strengthen your hair follicles to help prevent hair loss and fallout.
With all these incredible ingredients, you can see why the Purifying Shampoo Bar is my top recommendation - but every once in a while, everyone needs a little extra help. That’s where my hair detox shampoo comes in.
The Detox Shampoo Bar
Next on my list of the best shampoo bars for oily hair is my Detox Shampoo Bar. A detox shampoo goes above and beyond the cleaning of a regular shampoo. Product and pollution can build up on your hair and scalp over time, and a detox can rid you of those issues.
Here is how it works:
Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is powerfully detoxifying, and will help reset your skin and strands by removing any built-up impurities from pollution, chemicals, and hair products.
Black clay
Just like the green clay I talked about above, the black clay in my Detox Shampoo bar controls scalp oils and improves blood circulation, helping keep your hair fresh, healthy, and strong.
Eucalyptus essential oil
Eucalyptus oil is incredibly refreshing, and it also contains antiseptic properties! This means it will help to control dandruff and scalp flaking.
I recommend using my Detox Shampoo Bar for a little pick-me-up whenever you’re having an especially flaky, oily, or limp hair day.
FAQs about shampoo bars for oily hair
Have more questions about the best shampoo bars for oily hair? I’ve got the answers for you!
Which shampoo bar is best for oily scalp?
The best shampoo bars for oily hair will also work well for an oily scalp. After all - hair oils start from the scalp! Either of the shampoo bars listed above will be extremely beneficial for scalp oil control.
Do shampoo bars make hair greasy?
No, a shampoo bar shouldn’t make your hair greasy - quite the opposite! If you’re using a high-quality shampoo bar correctly, it should gently clean and purify your hair and scalp.
Why do shampoo bars leave my hair greasy?
If you are experiencing greasy hair after using shampoo bars, it could be that you’re using the product improperly, or are using a shampoo bar for dry hair by mistake. If you’re not sure how to use shampoo bars, you can brush up with tips from my guide on shampoo bars.
What is the best shampoo to stop oily hair?
The best shampoo to stop oily hair is a natural shampoo bar with lightweight ingredients that target oil production and scalp health. You want to stay away from anything that is overly moisturizing, as well as any shampoo with “clarifying” written on the label.
I always recommend my plastic-free shampoo bars to people struggling with oil control. Particularly, the Purifying and Detox shampoo bars from my collection. These are the best shampoo bars for oily hair.
Of course, you can find both shampoo and conditioner for oily hair in my collection - so if you’re looking to revamp your whole hair routine, I have you covered! With the right hair products, and a little know-how, you can make greasy hair days a thing of the past.
