The Best Shampoo for Fine Oily Hair: Top Picks for Volume and Control
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Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner
Cleansing + Conditioning Hair Wash
Best Shampoo for Fine Oily Hair: Addressing Hair-Loss Roots and the Thin-Strand Struggle
I’ve had fine, thin, and oily hair my whole life. My genetic hand wasn’t exactly generous: my dad experienced male-pattern baldness starting at a young age, and my mom’s hair was always baby-fine. I inherited the whole combo. As a teen, I dealt with hair that looked greasy by noon, clung to my scalp, and offered zero volume—making it hard to achieve any added volume, no matter what I tried. Most products promised thicker hair but failed to deliver noticeable added volume. Styling was a challenge, and the lack of body made hair styling even harder and harder to feel confident about.
I’ve spent years trialing shampoos, conditioners, and scalp treatments—some of which left my hair brittle and prone to breakage—and I’ve finally landed on what really works for my thin, oily hair without flattening it or making it feel worse. If you’ve got similar hair issues, this is your no-nonsense, tested guide to products and techniques that deliver real results.
The Sulfate Trap: What I Did Wrong Early On
Back in high school, I made the classic oily-hair mistake: I reached for the harshest, bubbliest shampoos I could find. These shampoos not only tricked me with their branding but also led to dry hair and dry scalp as a result of their harsh formulas. I was always aggressive when shampooing because the cleaner and dryer my hair was, the fuller it looked, now looking back, it wasn’t the right volume—it created fluffy, frizzy, damaged looking hair, and the kicker is my hair would overproduce oil to combat the dramatic loss of the natural oils from frantically scrubbing my hair. So I would end up looking like a thin hair greasy rat by noon. And of course I would never use conditioner because conditioning oils would add weight and oil which would put me back at square one looking thin and oily.
The Trader Joe’s Discovery That Changed My Hair
About six years ago, I found something that changed everything: Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner and their Cleansing + Conditioning Hair Wash. The products featured in this guide include these standout Trader Joe’s options, that have changed not just my hair health but my overall confidence.
I was initially skeptical—how could a price friendly shampoo compete with high-end salon products that are branded and told that they will solve all my issues? But these shampoos and conditioners had something I hadn’t seen before: ingredient transparency and real performance, with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil that help hydrate, strengthen, and improve hair texture.
When I started using the Trader Joes line of shampoos and conditioners, I low key didn’t want to announce it cause the few people that discovered I was using trader’s joes haircare products would roast me, lol. I would get all sorts of snarky comments and jabs cause in the beauty culture we live in today, Trader Joes isn’t considered popular and cute, but one day I found out from an industry insider (R&D for a major haircare formulation brand) a big secret that would blow the lid on how amazing Trader Joes haircare product ingredient formulations actually are (more on that below) and their pleasant scents, which truly enhances the user experience.
Trader Joe’s is the industry secret no big brands want you to know about.
Here’s the real scoop: Trader Joe’s haircare isn’t just a budget-friendly pick—it’s a behind-the-scenes favorite among haircare pros and product formulators. While big brands spend millions on marketing and fancy packaging, Trader Joe’s quietly focuses on what actually matters: the formula. Their shampoos and conditioners are packed with key ingredients like tea tree oil, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender, which are known for supporting scalp health and giving that fresh, clean feeling without harsh sulfates or heavy residues.
The Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo and Conditioner cleanses without stripping, leaving your scalp refreshed and your strands lightweight and airy. As a full shampoo for fine hair, the Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo adds volume and body, making hair appear thicker and fuller.
What sets Trader Joe’s apart is their commitment to sulfate-free, gentle cleansing that works for all hair types—especially fine hair, very fine hair, and thinning hair. The formulas are designed to add body and deliver weightless volume, so your hair feels soft, airy, and never flat. Plus, they’re loaded with natural oils and plant-based proteins that help support healthy growth and keep your hair shaft strong and shiny.
And let’s talk about the Cleansing + Conditioning Hair Wash. This is Trader Joe’s version of a one-step 2-in-1 product free from sulfates, parabens, and silicones that gently cleans and conditions. With aloe vera, coconut-derived surfactants, plant proteins, and amino acids, it hydrates with a moisturizing effect without heaviness and detangles without buildup. For those of us with fine strands, it’s a revelation.
If you’re tired of limp hair or products that leave your hair feeling greasy by noon, both the shampoo and conditioner from Trader Joe’s are a total game changer. They’re the go-to for anyone who wants their hair to look and feel its best—without the buildup or the price tag. And yes, they smell amazing, too. It’s no wonder so many industry insiders use Trader Joe’s as the gold standard when developing new shampoo and conditioner formulas. The good stuff really is hiding in plain sight.
Story Time:
One day when I was working as a personal assistant in New York, I worked for a lady who worked in the R&D product formulation and creation for different top haircare brands and I shared with her my secret that I’m using Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner & Trader Joe’s Cleansing + Conditioning Hair Wash. she told me that Trader Joes is known in the industry for having the best proven haircare formulations that truly benefit the hair and whenever her company is contracted to create a formulation for top haircare brands, they always start with one of the Trader Joes formulas and then add to it. So at it’s base the product formulations that you see packaged up and on the shelf at Trader Joes are actually very good for your hair and the inspiration and jumping off point for many of the top haircare shampoos and conditioners you see today. WOW!! I was blown away and vindicated for my love of Trader Joes shampoos and conditioners.
Why These Products Work for Fine, Oily Hair and Scalp Health: The Overlooked Foundation of Fuller Hair
These formulas strike the perfect balance that thin, fine, and oily hair needs. They cleanse effectively without harsh detergents that overstimulate your scalp’s oil glands, helping to prevent greasy hair and buildup. At the same time, they moisturize without weighing strands down or leaving residue, so your hair feels light, soft, and manageable.
If you’ve ever used a shampoo or conditioner and found yourself oilier by day two—or even by noon—it’s likely due to ingredients like dimethicone or heavy waxes that cling to your scalp. These formulas skip all that, resetting your scalp to create a neutral, healthy environment where your hair can thrive. This is especially important for natural hair textures, making these products versatile for a variety of hair care routines.
Scalp health is the foundation for every hair type but is especially crucial for fine, oily, or thinning hair. When your scalp is balanced and clean, hair follicles function optimally, leading to better hair growth, less breakage, and increased volume. Maintaining this balance means cleansing without stripping your natural oils, which is why gentle, sulfate-free, and clarifying shampoos are essential.
Key ingredients like tea tree oil and argan oil soothe sensitive scalps, fight dandruff, and invigorate the scalp, while hyaluronic acid and chia seed oil provide moisture without greasiness or heaviness—perfect for fine or color-treated hair needing extra care. Exfoliants like glycolic acid can help to gently cleanse the scalp and promote volume.
Regular cleansing with the right shampoo removes residue and buildup that can clog follicles and weigh hair down. When your scalp is healthy, your hair feels lighter, looks shinier, and gains the weightless volume you’ve been chasing. So remember: healthy growth starts with scalp health. Treat your scalp well, and your hair will thank you with every wash.
What to Avoid If You Have Fine, Oily Hair
Let’s talk about what to skip entirely:
Heavy oils and butters (like shea or castor oil) because they can sit on the scalp and weigh everything down.
Silicones (like dimethicone) might make your hair feel smooth at first, but over time they create buildup and dullness.
Dry shampoos with talc or starch are great in a pinch but can clog follicles with repeated use.
My Hair Wash Routine
Here’s the winning wash routine I’ve created from years of washing thin hair:
Wet your hair thoroughly. Don’t skimp here—it matters.
Use a quarter size or quarter size amount of shampoo (or a healthy amount of the 2-in-1 hair wash). Focus on massaging the roots and strands gently with my palms and finger tips.
Massage the shampoo well and create a satisfying lather, this helps distribute the product evenly and ensures effective cleansing. I massage gently to avoid irritating my scalp and I never drag my fingers across my scalp, dragging creates heavy friction, and heavy friction can cause hair breakage.
Then create a claw like position with your hands and use your finger tips to press into the scalp and apply pressure and slight movement without dragging your finger tips across your scalp. This pressure helps to bring blood flow to the hair follicle while the product cleanses.
Rinse really well. Like, really well.
Then apply conditioner in the same method above.
Rinse really well and done.
Styling Thin Hair Without Killing Volume
Volume doesn’t have to mean stiff or crunchy. Here’s what works:
Blow-dry while lifting the hair and root for natural volume and body, which is especially effective for adding volume to thin hair.
Skip gels and pomades—opt for lightweight mousse or texture hair sprays.
Secret Pro Tip: The direction in which the hair follicle is in when drying (after showering) will greatly impact how easy it is to find and hold your desired style. If your wet hair is combed forward after showering and it drys like that, it will very hard to get the perfect combed back style when styling when the hair is dry.
Same goes if you have a favorite position for your part to be in your hair. Styling is made super easy when you position the wet hair and follicles in the direction you know you like them in, then let the hair dry like that, then style away.
When your base is clean and balanced, you’ll find you don’t need nearly as many styling products. Good shampoo is the ultimate styling prep, enhancing shine and leaving hair soft and manageable.
Supporting Growth: It’s Not Just About Shampoo
If you’re noticing thinning or shedding, it’s worth looking at what’s going on beyond the shower.
Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) is FDA-approved and effective for many to stimulate and help with hair growth and the strengthening of thin fragile hair.
Supplements like collagen peptides and saw palmetto found in Nutrafol can support healthy hair growth, luster, and hair health from within.
For men, Finasteride is the only doctor prescribed hair loss medication that is proven to work, I’ve been on it for almost 20 years. Finasteride blocks the hair killing hormone DHT and helps hair grow stronger, thicker, and dramatically stops hair from shedding and falling out.
Keeping your scalp healthy and clean is key. Using the best shampoos ensures your hair is thoroughly washed and your follicles are clear, which is essential for optimal hair growth. Even the best growth treatments won’t work if your follicles are blocked.
Check out my Top 4 Best Products for Losing Hair: Effective Solutions That Work blog post if you want to dive deeper into this side of the equation.
Final Thoughts: Hair Wins Start in the Shower
If you have fine, oily hair, the right shampoo can do more than clean—it can transform your scalp, shift your confidence, and make you enjoy styling again. Trader Joe’s formulas changed the game for me, and they’re affordable enough to try without guilt.
Healthy hair begins in the shower. Even if you’ve got less density or a higher hairline, the right cleanse can still bring out your best.
Hair Happiness Ahead.
—Brian
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