For many people, oily hair is more about the scalp than the hair itself. The scalp naturally produces an oily substance called sebum. It plays a vital role in keeping skin and hair moisturised, but sometimes it goes into overdrive. Hormones, stress, overwashing, and even using the wrong shampoo can all lead to excess oil. When this happens, hair can look greasy, flat, or heavy, even shortly after washing.
That said, not all oil is bad. The goal is to find a healthy balance. Stripping away too much oil can signal the scalp to produce even more, which can continue the cycle. Understanding the cause is a good first step, but knowing what can help is just as important.
What can help regulate oil production?
A few small changes in your routine can make a noticeable difference over time. Consistency and choosing the right products both matter:
- Use a gentle, non-stripping shampoo that won’t disrupt the scalp’s natural balance
- Avoid daily overwashing, as it can cause the scalp to produce more oil to compensate
- Rinse thoroughly to remove any residue or build-up that can make hair appear oily faster
- Keep your hands out of your hair to avoid transferring oil from your fingers
- Look for natural ingredients like Milk Protein and Coconut- and Glucose-based Cleansers that help clean without harsh effects
Choosing the Best Shampoo for Oily Hair Without Harsh Detergents
It’s easy to think that oily hair needs a strong shampoo to cut through the grease, but those harsher options can end up doing more harm than good. Many mainstream shampoos use Sulfates or potent cleansing agents that strip away not just oil, but also the scalp’s natural protective barrier. While this might make hair feel clean at first, it can leave the scalp dry and irritated underneath, which may trigger even more oil production to make up for what was lost.
Choosing the best shampoo for oily hair means looking for something that cleans effectively but still respects the skin it’s working with. Gentle cleansing agents derived from Coconut or Glucose are often better suited to this balance. They lift away excess oil without throwing everything out of sync.
Why harsh detergents don’t help oily hair
Harsh detergents may feel satisfying in the short term, but they can send the scalp into panic mode. When that protective layer is stripped away, the skin often reacts by creating more oil to compensate. That can lead to a frustrating loop of overwashing and increased oiliness.
Why gentle formulas make a difference
A well-balanced shampoo can help support the scalp’s natural function rather than fighting against it. Ingredients that clean without drying, like decyl glucoside or coco glucoside, can remove excess oil while leaving the skin barrier intact. This can be especially helpful if you’re washing your hair more frequently or have a sensitive scalp that reacts to harsher products.
If your routine includes styles that involve product layering or tension, such as a slicked-back bun, you might find this guide on how to slick back a bun without the damage helpful.
How MooGoo’s Shampoo for Oily Hair Keeps Things Balanced
Finding a shampoo that suits oily hair without drying it out is already a challenge. Add a sensitive scalp into the mix, and it gets even harder. That's where MooGoo's approach stands apart. Our shampoos were initially developed for people with skin concerns like Eczema and Dermatitis, so the starting point was always gentleness. But it also needed to truly clean hair and scalp, especially for those dealing with oiliness and build-up.
We use natural cleansers that are milder on the scalp, like glucose-based ingredients, and we leave out sulfates completely. Both formulas are pH-balanced and designed to match the skin's natural barrier, helping the scalp stay calm while still removing excess oil. The result is a shampoo that does not overcorrect, which may help break the cycle of overproduction in the first place.
Answers for the naturally curious
We often get questions about how our shampoo works for different hair types, and oily hair is one of the most common concerns. If you’d like more details about our hair care range and what makes it different, we’ve put together a guide that shares answers to your questions about our hair range in one spot.
What’s Not in It Matters Just as Much
Sometimes, what you leave out of a formula is just as important as what goes in. For oily hair, this matters even more. Some common shampoo ingredients may seem helpful at first but can end up contributing to the problem. Ingredients like silicones, artificial fragrances or foaming agents may give a polished finish or satisfying lather, but they can cause irritation, product build-up or even trigger more oil production in the long run.
MooGoo's shampoos are made without ingredients that could disrupt the natural function of your scalp. We focus on keeping the formula simple and skin-friendly, avoiding anything that adds unnecessary stress to the skin. This is especially important for those who are not only managing oil but also have sensitive or reactive skin.
Common additives we leave out
- Sulfates that can disrupt the skin’s natural balance
- Silicones that coat the hair and may lead to build-up
- Artificial fragrances that are known to trigger sensitivity for some people
- Harsh preservatives and Parabens that are not essential in our formulas
- Extra foaming agents that look good in the shower but do not clean better
If you are considering switching to a gentler routine, you might find it helpful to read more about the reasons to switch to natural shampoo, especially if this is your first time making the change.
A Closer Look at the Natural Ingredients Your Scalp Will Love
When choosing a shampoo for oily hair, it helps to know what each ingredient is doing and why it’s there. MooGoo formulas are built around natural, edible-grade ingredients that the skin can recognise and work with. That means we prioritise things like Milk Protein, gentle cleansers and natural preservatives, all chosen for how they support scalp and hair health.
Instead of harsh surfactants, we use gentle cleansers derived from coconut and glucose. These ingredients help remove excess oil without stripping the skin. Hydrolysed milk protein, a signature ingredient in many of our products, works to protect and condition the hair shaft, which can be especially helpful when hair feels limp or weighed down.
Why natural ingredients matter
- The scalp is skin, too, and deserves the same kind of care
- Natural cleansers clean without disrupting the skin barrier
- Ingredients like milk protein and Allantoin help support healthy hair structure
- Every ingredient is listed and explained on our website for full transparency
This kind of ingredient clarity is part of why we’ve built trust with people who are looking for something a little more thoughtful in their routine.
Washing Tips for Oily Hair and What to Avoid
When it comes to managing oily hair, how you wash matters just as much as what you use. Some habits that seem harmless can actually make oiliness worse over time. For example, washing too frequently might feel like the solution, but it can sometimes push the scalp to produce more oil. On the other hand, not washing thoroughly enough may leave behind residue that weighs the hair down.
The trick is finding a rhythm that keeps the scalp clean without overdoing it. And it’s not only about frequency. How you apply shampoo, how long you rinse, and how you treat your scalp in between washes all play a role.
Simple tips to improve your wash routine
- Use a small amount of shampoo and focus it on the scalp, not just the hair
- Consider double shampooing: the first wash removes surface-level dirt, oil, and product buildup, while the second shampoo penetrates deeper, thoroughly cleansing your scalp and hair
- Rinse thoroughly to avoid leftover product or build-up
- Avoid washing with hot water, which can dry the scalp and cause oil overproduction
- Don't skip conditioner, just keep it to the ends of your hair
- Clean your hairbrush regularly, as it can hold onto oil and product
Building a solid routine takes a little time, but it doesn't have to be complicated. If you're not sure where to start, here's a helpful guide on how to build a healthy hair and scalp routine using simple steps and gentle products that work for both our Milk Shampoo and Flake Free Shampoo.
Still Unsure? Here’s How to Find Your Perfect Shampoo Match
If you’ve tried different shampoos and still feel like your hair is out of balance, you’re not alone. Oily hair can be affected by everything from hormones to water quality, and sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to find what truly works for you.
That’s why we’ve put together a guide to help you compare our different shampoo options based on your hair type, scalp needs and personal preferences. Whether your scalp is oily and sensitive, or your hair needs a little extra support from root to tip, you can find the match that fits best.
You can explore the full breakdown here to find your perfect shampoo match. We walk through the different formulas, what they’re made for, and how they might fit into your routine.
Sources:
- Xu, C., Li, W., Lin, L., Zhang, D., Lei, J., Pan, D., Liang, S., Chen, Y., Wan, Y., & He, J. (2025). High-throughput sequencing to analyze changes in the human scalp microbiome during the use of a shampoo. BMC Microbiology, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04260-5
- Yu, H., Li, J., Wang, Y., Zhang, T., Mehmood, T., Habimana, O., & Jiayi, L. (2025). Dysbiosis and genomic plasticity in the oily scalp microbiome: A multi‑omics analysis of dandruff pathogenesis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1595030
- Paul, J. K., Azmal, M., Talukder, O. F., Been Haque, A. N. S., Meem, M., & Ghosh, A. (2025). Unlocking the secrets of the hair microbiome: From scalp health to therapeutic advances. Microbiome, 100353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2025.100353
