Skip to contentSkip to search
Head & Shoulders LogoHome page

Clarifying shampoo: how to choose one for oily hair?

Many people use a clarifying shampoo every couple of weeks to get rid of the build-up of oils. How do you choose a clarifying shampoo for oily hair? 

A man in his 40-ties with grey, styled hair looking at the camera and smiling.

What does a clarifying shampoo do? 

Clarifying shampoos are very deep cleaning – they help get rid of build-up on the scalp. This means dirt, styling product, grease, sweat and flakes. 

So, if you have a particularly oily scalp you might find that you need to use a clarifying shampoo every now and then to eliminate the build-up – particularly if your regular shampoo doesn’t clean well enough. 

One downside of clarifying shampoos is that they don’t normally contain many moisturizing ingredients; in fact, some don’t have any at all. This can leave your hair feeling dry and rough, and also leaves it more vulnerable to damage. 

But by using the right shampoo every time you wash your hair, you can keep oily hair under control and still get great conditioning and shine. 

A young woman with very curly brown hair pinned up standing sideways to the camera.

Our Instant Oil Control Shampoo has an enhanced cleaning effect, removing oils and leaving your hair and scalp free from heavy build-up. 

Using the shampoo regularly also keeps your hair moisturized and gives you long-lasting protection against dandruff. 

It’s our deepest cleaning formula, helping to eliminate grease, gunk and flakes from the first wash. 

Plus, it contains light conditioners so you can use it every time you shampoo, leaving you with beautifully clean and healthy hair. 

More about oily or greasy hair