7 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Greasy Hair – 2024

Clarify your oily scalp and remove buildup with these mild, irritant-free shampoos.

Reviewed by Laura Dale, Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Dale Laura DaleLicensed Cosmetologist linkedin_iconinsta_icon
Written by Shiboli Chakraborti, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach Shiboli Chakraborti MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach linkedin_icon Experience: 4 years
Edited by Aditi Naskar, MA (English Literature), Diploma In Health & Wellness Aditi Naskar MA (English Literature), Diploma In Health & Wellness linkedin_icon Experience: 5 years
Fact-checked by Arshiya Syeda, BA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma Arshiya Syeda BA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma linkedin_icon Experience: 8 years
Last Updated on

The best sulfate-free shampoos for greasy hair aid in deep cleansing without leaving any residue or stripping away the natural oils on your hair and scalp. While regular shampoos tend to irritate greasy hair more because of accumulation of residues, these are different. So, to help you decide better, we have put together the 7 best shampoos without sulfate that can work wonders for individuals with greasy and breakage-prone hair. Read on to know more and pick one out for your tresses.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best For Dry And Unruly Hair:Honeydew Argan Oil Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Scalp Clarifying:Honeydew Shampoo For Oily Hair
Price on Amazon
Best For Damaged Hair:Saragan Activated Charcoal Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Anti-Dandruff:Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Volumizing:MAPLE HOLISTICS Natural Shampoo For Oily Hair
Price on Amazon
Best Vegan:Planative Charcoal Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best For Flaky Scalp:Pure By Rachelle Parker Oily Hair Shampoo
Price on Amazon

7 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Greasy Hair

1. Best For Dry And Unruly Hair:Honeydew Argan Oil Shampoo

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3.8
Honeydew Argan Oil Shampoo Image: Honeydew

The Honeydew Argan Oil Shampoo is a clarifying formula ideal for greasy hair. This volumizing shampoo combines the benefits of Moroccan argan oil, jojoba oil, and keratin to wash away excess oils and impurities gently. Keratin in the shampoo gives soft, shiny, and healthy hair, while argan oil nourishes dry, dull, and unruly hair. In addition, its hydrating ingredients alleviate common issues like hair loss by promoting hair growth.

 Key Ingredients: Argan oil, Jojoba oil, and Botanical keratin.

Hair Type: Oily, Color Treated, Curly, Normal | Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.5 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 8 Ounces

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Pros
  • Anti-frizz
  • Paraben-free
  • Eco-friendly
  • Smells good
  • Value for money

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Cons

None

protip_icon Quick Tip

Do not shampoo the entire hair. Instead, gently scrub the roots and scalp, and cleanse the length while rinsing the shampoo.

2. Best Scalp Clarifying:Honeydew Shampoo For Oily Hair

HONEYDEW Shampoo For Oily Hair is a 100% pure therapeutic grade oil formula to cleanse oily and greasy hair. It is enriched with lavender, rosemary, jojoba, evening primrose,red thyme, and yarrow.Lemon, peach, basil, and cypress essential oils in the formula gently clarify the scalp giving lustrous and healthy hair. Additionally, the shampoo also contains keratin and jojoba oil to hydrate your hair and add volume.

Key Ingredients: Organic lavender, Rosemary, Red thyme, Yarrow, Evening primrose.

Hair Type: Oily hair, Normal hair, Thinning hair, Damaged hair, Color treated hair | Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 2.7 x 8 inches | Weight: 15.84 Ounces

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Pros
  • Anti-frizz
  • Anti-residue formula
  • Paraben-free
  • Sodium Chloride-free
  • Vegan
  • Artificial fragrance-free
  • Artificial color-free
  • Value for money
  • Sebum control

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Cons
  • May cause irritation

3. Best For Damaged Hair:Saragan Activated Charcoal Shampoo

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4.4

The Saragan Activated Charcoal Shampoo is infused with premium natural oils likeargan, avocado, jojoba, camellia, almond, and coconut combined with botanical keratin for healthy hair. This unique blend of oils with activated charcoal works on a 2-pronged scalp and hair care approach. The activated charcoal in the formula deep cleans your hair and scalp to remove dirt and product build-up, while the oils act as a natural conditioner to nourish, soften, and strengthen hair. This gentle daily shampoo strengthens damaged hair and leaves your scalp fresh, clean, and moisturized.

Key Ingredients: Argan (Moroccan) oil, Avocado oil, Jojoba oil, Camellia seed, Botanical keratin, Almond oil, Organic castor oil, and Coconut oil.

Hair Type: Oily, Color Treated, Curly, Damaged, Straight | Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.67 x 3.14 x 3.03 inches | Weight: 1 Pounds

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Pros
  • Gentle
  • Paraben-free
  • For daily use
  • Value for money

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Cons
  • May cause dryness

4. Best Anti-Dandruff:Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo

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Maple Holistics Clarifying Shampoo for Oily Hair and Oily Scalp Image: Maple Holistics

The Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo has a clarifying formula for build-up on greasy hair and itchy scalp. This reviewer-tested anti-dandruff shampoo removes excess oil, flakes, and dead skin to leave hair clean and fresh. It contains nourishing ingredients like basil, jojoba,peach, kernel, and lemon essential oils to nourish and detox your hair and scalp. The product has gained positive reviews for being a all-in-one solution for several hair issues like itchy, dry, and flaking scalp. It also promotes overall hair and scalp health.

Key Ingredients: Jojobaoil, Botanical keratin, Lemon oil, Cypressoil, Peach kernel oil, Rosemary oil, and Basiloil. 

Hair Type: Oily, Color Treated, Dry, Curly, Normal | Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 2.2 x 6.2 inches | Weight: 10 Ounces

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Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Detoxifying formula
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • GMO-free
  • BPA-free
  • Synthetic color-free
  • Synthetic fragrance-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • A little goes a long way
  • For daily use

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Cons

None

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Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has received 1,914 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.

5. Best Volumizing:MAPLE HOLISTICS Amaze Special Edition Amazing Natural Shampoo For Oily Hair

The Amaze Natural Shampoo for Oily Hair is enriched with natural oils to remove build-up, infuse moisture, and strengthen roots.Its vitalizing combination of lemon, rosemary, basil, and cypress rejuvenate your scalp. Jojoba, argan, and peach kernel in the shampoo infuse hydration and nutrients to hair follicles for stronger, softer, fuller, and refreshed hair. This balancing shampoo removes impurities and soothes your scalp. It promotes hair growth and adds volume to thinning hair.

Key Ingredients: Lemon oil,Peach kernel oil, Rosemary oil, Argan oil,Cypress,Basil oil, and Jojoba oil

Hair Type: Oily, Color Treated, Dry, Curly, Normal | Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 2.2 x 6.2 inches | Weight: 10 Ounces

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Pros
  • Anti-dandruff
  • Soothing
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Paraben-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Color-safe
  • Value for money

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Cons
  • May cause hair dryness

6. Best Vegan:Planative Charcoal Shampoo

Planative Charcoal Shampoo has a plant-based special formula along with activated charcoal for oily and dull hair and scalp.It has natural ingredients like keratin, jojoba oil, and coconut oil for powerful cleansing, nourishing, and moisturizing. It cleanses your scalp of impurities, excess oil, and grease to leave you with vibrant and bouncy hair. Trusted for its proven efficacy, this refreshing shampoo further unclogs pores to strengthen hair follicles, maintain scalp health, and induce new growth.

Key Ingredients: Activated charcoal, Keratin, Vitamin E, Almond oil, and Jojoba

Hair Type: Dry hair, Thinning hair, Oily hair, Color treated hair | Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 2.3 x 8 inches | Weight: 1 Pounds.

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Pros
  • For daily use
  • Paraben-free
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty free
  • Value for money
  • Sebum control

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Cons
  • May dry out hair-ends.

7. Best For Flaky Scalp:Pure By Rachelle Parker Oily Hair Shampoo

Pure Oily Hair Shampoo is formulated with nourishing ingredients like lemon oil, sweet almond oil, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, and mint leaves. Lemon oil in the formula reduces oily hair and flaky scalp,while almond oil offers soft and shiny hair. Tea tree oil and mint leaves cleanse the scalp and clogged pores to promote hair growth, leaving a cooling sensation on your scalp feeling. Jojoba oil moisturizes the scalp, eliminates dandruff, and nourishes your hair. Tested and trusted by many reviewers, this shampoo is safe for daily use to get volume in your hair and prevent greasiness, irritation, and flakes.

 Key Ingredients: Tea tree leaf oil, Jojobaseed oil, Lemonoil, Coconut oil, Almond oil, and Mint leaves.

Hair Type: Oily | Package Dimensions ‏: ‎8.3 x 4.5 x 2.1 inches | Weight: 1.85 Pounds

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Pros
  • All-natural ingredients
  • Purifying formula
  • Paraben-free
  • Not tested on animals
  • Value for money

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Cons
  • None
protip_icon Pro Tip

Use the Pure By Rachelle Parker Oily Hair Conditioner after shampooing to eliminate dryness.

Laura Dale, a licensed cosmetologist, suggests, “If you have oily scalp, try using a volumizing shampoo or clarifying shampoo with oil-absorbing ingredients like charcoal. These can help rebalance your scalp so it produces less oil to keep your locks looking fresh.”

The Bottom Line

A well-cleaned hair with no greasy residue looks attractive. But the production of natural oils on the scalp makes your hair and scalp oily, giving you a greasy look. You can eliminate such greasiness easily with sulfate-based shampoos. But after a while, your hair gets damaged. So all you need is the best sulfate-free shampoos to cleanse your scalp and hair deeply and keep them grease-free. Try the Honeydew Argan Oil Shampoo for softer, more manageable hair. The formula nourishes your hair and reduces oil production as well. Opt for the Maple Holistics Degrease Shampoo if you are dealing with scalp itchiness, irritation, dryness, and flaking. These tried-and-tested shampoos are loaded with powerful ingredients that promote your hair growth, hydrate your hair, or add volume to the hair. Also, consider sulfate-free shampoos that are free from parabens and other nasty chemicals as they might harm your hair.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is a certified skin care coach and a hair care enthusiast. She understands how different shampoos work on different hair types and finds her passion in helping the users choose what suits best for them. She came up with the above list of the best sulfate-free shampoos for greasy hair based on her product experience, thorough research, and an in-depth analysis of customer feedback. These products have an anti-frizz formula and are value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does sulfate-free shampoo help greasy hair?

Yes, sulfate-free shampoos help get rid of product buildup and residues without stripping the natural oils from your scalp and hair.

Why is my hair greasy after one day of shampoo?

This could be due to excessive oily scalp and sebum production, pollution, product buildup, and environmental factors like humidity and heat.

Why does sulfate-free shampoo make my hair feel like straw?

Sulfate-free shampoos are mostly non-drying but if your hair is still experiencing excessive moisture loss, look for ingredients like argan oil, jojoba oil, keratin, collagen, castor oil, and protein in product formula.

What happens when you switch to sulfate-free shampoo?

Your scalp is less prone to dryness, as the natural oils are not stripped after shampooing. Your hair also feels smoother, less frizzy, and more manageable.

Is it OK to use sulfate-free shampoo every day?

Yes, it is OK to use a mild sulfate-free shampoo every day.


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Laura Dale
Laura DaleLicensed Cosmetologist
Laura Dale is a Hair Expert and licensed Cosmetologist with over 20 years of experience. Laura has worked as a Global Education Director for Beauty Brands specializing in haircare and as a Beauty Editor she is passionate about sharing her love of beauty products and hair tools.

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Shiboli Chakraborti
Shiboli ChakrabortiCommerce Editor
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.

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Aditi Naskar
Aditi NaskarAssociate Commerce Editor
Aditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.

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Arshiya Syeda
Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief
Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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