If you have fine hair, then you'll know firsthand how tricky it can be to style and maintain, especially when it comes to shampooing. It's a little like Goldilocks—one shampoo might be too rich or heavy, making hair feel oily and greasy, and one might not offer enough hydration, leaving hair feeling like straw. But, when you find the right shampoo, it can help lift your roots and add volume, thickening the hair shaft in the process. So, how do you select the right shampoo for fine hair? To find out the answer, we tapped two dermatologists for their expert insight on the best shampoos for oily, thin, and fine hair, plus how to use them correctly.

Meet the Experts

• Iris Rubin, MD, is a dermatologist and the founder of SEEN Skin & Hair Care.

• Mona Mofid, MD, FAAD is a dermatologist at Sharp Community Medical Group and the medical director at the American Melanoma Foundation.

How Do You Make Fine Hair Less Greasy?

While some might swear by the once-per-week hair wash, dermatologist, Iris Rubin, MD, disagrees, saying that those with fine hair should wash more frequently. "A mistake people with fine or thinning hair make is to avoid washing, which can potentially have a negative impact on follicle health, which is the manufacturing plant for the hair," Dr. Rubin says. This can lead to the "greasy" look.

How Do Shampoos Help Fine Hair?

Dermatologist, Mona Mofid, MD, notes that most shampoos have the same goal: "Shampoos are hair care products comprised of agents meant to cleanse the scalp and hair of sebum (oil) and sweat as well as hair care products (such as gels, oils, hairspray) and environmental pollutants such as dirt and pollen." That being said, the kind of product you use and how often you use it is down to trial and error and what works best for your hair and skin type.

Can You Wash Fine Hair Everyday?

Most of our experts agree that it's safe to wash hair daily with a mild shampoo (if you have dry hair, you can go as long as a week without washing). As a rule of thumb—if you can wait a day between shampoos, do it. Dry shampoo sprayed at the crown and roots and brushed through should buy you a day and help camouflage the visible oils.

How to Shampoo Fine Hair

It's easy to forget to wet your hair before applying shampoo thoroughly. But every strand needs to be soaking wet in order to cleanse properly. Another thing to remember is that most of us don't spend enough time scrubbing our scalps. Give yourself a little head massage each time you shampoo—it'll help clean your hair and stimulate blood flow in your scalp (which can even lead to thicker hair).1 Dr. Mofid says a massage can help "replenish the scalp," particularly if it's dry.

Here's the proper way to shampoo your hair:

1. Wet your hair thoroughly.

2. Apply a quarter-size dollop of shampoo. Shampoo may cause build-up on hair, so a quarter-size will do you. Use less if you have short hair and more if you have long or thick hair.

3. Scrub your scalp for three minutes. Spending time on the scalp is important, as it's where most oils accumulate. And if you spend those three minutes now, you can skip the "repeat" part of your shampoo. But don't be too rough. "When lathering, be gentle—don't rough your hair up too much," says Dr. Rubin.

4. Move your hands down the lengths and massage the shampoo into your hair.

5. Rinse hair thoroughly. Make sure the scalp and the strands are shampoo-free.

6. Apply a dime-size amount of conditioner to the lower half of the hair only. Avoid letting the conditioner touch your scalp.

7. "Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair before rinsing conditioner to get the knots out without extra tugging or pulling on the hair," Dr. Rubin says.

8. Rinse out the conditioner.

Which Is The Best Shampoo For Fine Hair That Gets Greasy Quickly?

"If you have fine or thinning hair, use a gentle shampoo and lightweight conditioner that promotes scalp health," says Dr.Rubin. Her top recommended choice is SEEN's non-medicated Fragrance-Free Shampoo and Conditioner, which she notes were found in a Harvard randomized controlled clinical study2 "to reduce shedding by 44% after six months in female pattern hair loss." She adds that the products "are safe for sensitive and eczema-prone skin."

We also recommend Kérastase's Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo. The formula pumps up the volume of fine hair and works for all hair types and textures, from coily to straight. Hyaluronic acid promises to flood your hair with moisture and provide a plumping effect, while intra-cylane is meant to improve the thickness of your strands. The ceramide found in this volumizing shampoo promises to prevent your hair from breakage, which is always a win. 

Garnier Fructis' Pure Clean Shampoo is also a winner as it contains vitamins B3 and B6, citrus protein, and aloe vera extract meant to keep your hair clean and healthy. Virtue Labs' lightweight Full Conditioner is another great pick for fine hair. It has Alpha Keratin 60ku, a proprietary human keratin protein, which helps repair damaged strands, according to the brand. The formula is gentle enough for color-treated hair and is free from ingredients like parabens, sulfates, gluten, phthalates, and dyes. You'll want to follow up your shampoo with a conditioner that has equally promising hydration and volume claims– most of these have a conditioner counterpart.

Byrdie Tip

Fine hair is susceptible to tangles, so using conditioner after shampooing is essential. The trick is to use conditioner only from the mid-length of your hair to the ends. Conditioner near your scalp can get dicey if your hair is susceptible to oiliness. Dr. Rubin says those with thin hair should avoid "heavy oils and waxes that can build up on the scalp and hair—and weigh hair down."

The Final Takeaway

When it comes to shampoo, fine hair can be finicky. It can easily be weighed down by formulas that are chock-full of heavy ingredients like oils and butters, leading to a greasy look. Those with fine hair should instead search for shampoos that are made with lightweight ingredients like aloe vera or hyaluronic acid, promote scalp health, and provide volumizing benefits. Washing your hair a few times per week with fine hair-friendly shampoos will ensure your strands remain refreshed and as healthy as possible.