# Conditioner for oily scalp

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/conditioner/for-oily-scalp/
Category: Beauty > Conditioner. Updated 2026-10-09. Based on 179 counted first-hand reports from Ulta and Sephora shopper reviews, Aug 2012 to May 2026.

**Question:** Which conditioner is good for an oily scalp?

**Short answer:** Verb Ghost Conditioner has the best record for an oily scalp: 19 of 20 shoppers said it softened their hair without making their roots greasy sooner, though that rests on a modest group. Each record counts just shoppers who said they have an oily scalp or hair that gets greasy fast. Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner follows at 11 of 12 from an even smaller group, and Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner has the weakest record here at 30 of 39.

**What stands out:** All six records sit at 77% or better. The bottom two, Pureology Hydrate Conditioner and Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, each have more shoppers behind their records than any conditioner ranked above them, so the shares higher up rest on smaller groups.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Soft, not greasy | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verb Ghost Conditioner | 19 of 20 | 95% | yes |
| 2 | Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner | 11 of 12 | 92% | yes |
| 3 | Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner | 14 of 16 | 88% | yes |
| 4 | Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner | 14 of 16 | 88% | yes |
| 5 | Pureology Hydrate Conditioner | 18 of 22 | 82% | yes |
| 6 | Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner | 30 of 39 | 77% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Verb Ghost Conditioner

Nearly every shopper with an oily scalp who stated a result said it worked, and reviews first posted on Verb's own site agree at 21 of 21, which we show but don't count. Across all 29 of its reviews, 17% say it detangles and 14% call it good value.

- Praised for: Detangles (17%), Nice scent (17%), Good value (14%)
- Reports counted: 29

### 2. Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner

This record rests on a small group, with 11 of 12 shoppers saying it worked. Of its reviews, 45% like the scent and 30% say it adds shine, though 20% call it too expensive.

- Praised for: Nice scent (45%), Adds shine (30%), Detangles (20%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (20%), Bad or strong scent (10%)
- Reports counted: 20

### 3. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner

14 of 16 shoppers with an oily scalp said it worked, though 10% of its 21 reviews call it too expensive. On the plus side, 33% praise the scent and 24% say it adds shine.

- Praised for: Nice scent (33%), Adds shine (24%), Detangles (19%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (10%)
- Reports counted: 21

### 4. Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner

It ties Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner on record, with 14 of 16 shoppers saying it worked. Of its 26 reviews, 38% praise the scent and 19% say it detangles.

- Praised for: Nice scent (38%), Detangles (19%), Adds shine (12%)
- Reports counted: 26

### 5. Pureology Hydrate Conditioner

The smell divides shoppers: 25% of its 32 reviews like it, while others find it too strong. 18 of 22 shoppers with an oily scalp said it worked, and 12% of its reviews say it detangles.

- Praised for: Nice scent (25%), Detangles (12%), Adds shine (9%)
- Complaints: Bad or strong scent (19%)
- Reports counted: 32

### 6. Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

More shoppers weighed in on this one than on any other conditioner on the page, so its record of 30 of 39 rests on a larger group than the rest. Across all 51 of its reviews, 20% like the scent and 14% say it adds shine, though 6% call it too expensive.

- Praised for: Nice scent (20%), Adds shine (14%), Detangles (10%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (6%)
- Reports counted: 51

## Questions

**Which conditioner works for an oily scalp?**

Verb Ghost Conditioner has the best record (19 of 20), followed by Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner (11 of 12) and Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner (14 of 16). The Nanoworks Gold record rests on just 12 shoppers, so small gaps between neighbors mean little.

**Where should I put conditioner if my scalp is oily?**

Shoppers with an oily scalp often described applying conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of their hair. That is a tip from their reviews, not something we tested, so follow the directions on the label too.

**Can conditioner make roots greasy sooner?**

For some shoppers it did. Among those with an oily scalp, 9 of 39 said Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner made their roots greasy, flat or oily sooner, and 4 of 22 said the same of Pureology Hydrate Conditioner. Just 1 of 20 said so of Verb Ghost Conditioner.

**Which of these conditioners are sold on Amazon?**

All 6 are sold on Amazon by the brand or Amazon itself. Verb Ghost Conditioner, the leader, is also the best pick sold on Amazon.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/