Should I Still Use Conditioner on Oily Hair?

Before we tackle the topic of conditioner, let's first look at why your hair feels greasy. It's not coming from your strands: It's because your scalp is oily and that oil is trickling down (especially when you brush). It's possible, though, to have dry hair and an oily scalp. If that's the case, apply conditioner just to your ends. But if you feel like your scalp and hair get greasy after just one wash, it might be better to skip the conditioner altogether.

"For my oily hair clients, I don't recommend them using conditioner, instead to only shampoo their hair," says celebrity hairstylist Joseph Michael, whose clients include Debra Messing and Daisy Fuentes Marx. "Once [the hair is] towel-dried, I have them use a leave-in detangler, spraying from the middle to the ends of the hair. This will protect [strands] from heat and help control any dryness or frizziness." It's worth noting that even if you're not conditioning in the shower, you may still need to nourish and protect your hair with a lightweight hydrator — just stay away from your scalp if it's prone to oil.

Joseph Michael's go-to leave-in is Together Beauty's Whatever Wherever, which he says is "perfect for all hair texture types and is 100% vegan with no toxins." We also love LolaVie Glossing Detangler (yes, Jennifer Aniston's brand!) and Virtue Detangling Heat Protectant Purifying Leave-In Conditioner, both hydrating but lightweight enough not to add unwanted heaviness.

If you have an especially greasy scalp, you'll also want to start with a clarifying and detoxifying shampoo to cleanse your scalp of excess oil. Oribe's Serene Scalp Oil Control Shampoo is a splurge-worthy bestseller, and Maria Nila Pure Volume Shampoo and Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo are less-pricey favorites.