Best Color-Safe Shampoo for Oily Hair

Imagine this—you’ve got a new, electric hair color, and you can feel everyone’s eyes on you as you walk past them. But then you see your reflection on a glass window and realize why you’re getting so many double-takes. It’s not because of your vibrant hair shade, but because your greasy scalp is starting to look like an oil spill!

The best way to showcase your beautiful hair color is by keeping your oily scalp at bay. And the easiest way to do that is with a high-quality shampoo. But what is the best color-safe shampoo for oily hair out there? Here are our top picks.

Finding the Best Color-Safe Shampoo for Oily Hair Can Be Tricky

There are many reasons why hair gets oily. For some, it’s because they don’t wash their hair often, causing a buildup of sebum and hair products. For others, it might be because they wash their locks too much, forcing their follicles to overcompensate and create more oil.

And when you start noticing that your hair looks like a greasy hotdog, your kneejerk reaction might be to use a clarifying shampoo. And that’s totally fine, except that most of these shampoos aren’t designed to be color-safe.

See, many clarifying shampoos rely on sulfates to give your hair the deepest cleanse possible. The problem is, these harsh surfactants strip your gorgeous color off your locks, leaving them looking dull, faded, and lifeless. That’s why it can be tricky to find the right shampoo if you have hair that is both dyed and oily. Sigh.

So, when looking for the best color-safe shampoo for oily hair, find one that is sulfate-free but can still thoroughly cleanse your hair and zap away all that dreadful grease.

1.  Best Overall: COLORLOMO Ultra Color Safe Shampoo

If your main concern is maintaining your hair color, then your best bet is to use something like the COLORLOMO Ultra Color Safe Shampoo.

This gentle, sulfate-free shampoo thoroughly cleanses your hair, getting rid of the impurities and grime that make it look greasy. At the same time, it works hard to keep your gorgeous color intact, allowing you to show off that vibrant hue up to 50 washes later.

And don’t worry; this isn’t a color-depositing shampoo, so you don’t have to worry about it building up on your locks and making your hair look oily. Instead, it’s formulated with Chroma Balance Tech, which preserves your color without disrupting your hair health.

Pros:

• Chroma Balance Tech preserves your vivid hair color.

• Gently but thoroughly washes the scalp.

• Sweet almond oil adds shine and hydration.

• It comes in many different colors, like red, purple, pink, blue, and more.

• Creates a satisfying, foamy lather.

Cons:

• None.

2.  Best for a Deep Cleanse: AG Care Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

Apple cider vinegar is a cult favorite among oily gals who want to zap away their greasy-looking scalps. That’s why it’s the star ingredient of the AG Care Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo.

This plant-based, sulfate-free shampoo leaves your scalp feeling incredibly fresh and clean, thanks to a thorough cleanse by ingredients like ACV and botanical fruit extracts. At the same time, it has ingredients like argan oil and sunflower seed extracts that leave a bit of shine to your locks. It cleanses deeply but still makes your colored hair look healthy and full of life.

Pros:

• Contains apple cider vinegar to deeply cleanse the hair.

• Made with 98% natural ingredients.

• Creates a bubbly lather.

• Vibrant apple scent.

Cons:

• Has a watery texture, making it prone to spills.

3.  Best for Volume: Living Proof Full Shampoo

Oiliness can really weigh your hair down and make it look flat and unflattering. To turn up the volume and wash the oil away, check out the Living Proof Full Shampoo.

This shampoo is formulated without all the bad things colored hair hates, like sulfates, parabens, and formaldehyde. Instead, it’s made with Sili-CLONE™ HairTech, which volumizes the hair to make it extra full and bouncy. It claims to make your hair two times more voluminous with each wash! Awesome, right?

Pros:

• Adds volume back to flat, oily hair.

• Doesn’t have sulfates, parabens, and other harsh ingredients.

Cons:

• Might feel waxy and heavy on very fine hair.

4.  Best for Healthy Shine: L’Oreal EverPure Shampoo

Don’t settle for the greasy shine you get whenever your hair gets oily. Wash your locks instead with a shampoo that makes your scalp squeaky clean but still hydrates your hair enough to give it a nice, healthy shine.

One such shampoo is the L’Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo. This vegan formula is infused with rosemary extracts. This antibacterial botanical extract helps thoroughly wash the hair and get rid of all the gunk that makes it heavy and oily. Then, it replenishes your hair with moisture, adding a glossy, healthy shine to your locks.

Of course, it’s sulfate-free, so it’s perfect for your colored tresses. It doesn’t have dye, formaldehyde, or salt either. It’s so gentle that it can help keep your color intact for a month.

Pros:

• Cleanses scalp while adding shine and moisture.

• Free of sulfates, salts, and formaldehyde.

• Can keep color vivid for up to four weeks.

Cons:

• Contains harsh alcohols—be warned!

• Doesn’t create a bubbly lather.

Eliminate Grease and Keep Your Color Fresh!

Fresh, voluminous hair and brilliantly colored locks aren’t mutually exclusive. If you use the right shampoo, you can rock both! Pick the best color-safe shampoo for oily hair from the cult favorites above, and you’re set to maintain your bold and fiery hair color with a healthy (not greasy!) shine.

Curious as to what other products can help keep your hair color fresh and intense for longer? Shop the COLORLOMO collection and find your new BFFs for maintaining your rich and luminous color!