Amazing scent, but this shampoo made my hair greasy and scalp itchy.

2026-08-24 Shampoo reviews Categroy：Women's Views：13

I loved the scent, but it left my hair greasy, caused dandruff, and made my scalp itchy. Not for me.Product Detail

I Tried Moroccanoil Shampoo: My Hair Got Greasy and Itchy

This is a review from Amazon.com about product:

Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo

I Tried Moroccanoil Shampoo: My Hair Got Greasy and Itchy

I really wanted to love this product. While the scent is AMAZING I feel that this is not suitable for my hair type.

First application in the shower doesn’t do anything on my hair, I have to give it like 3 washes in order to create foam and actually feel my scalp and hair clean.

My hair looks SO greasy by the 2nd day and I have started to have dandruff 😭 and my scalp is itchy.

This never happened with my previous hair product which was the Ouai Detoxing Shampoo and now I can’t wait to come back to it 😭

I have no doubt that this can be a great product for someone else but not for me unfortunately. I don’t think I would ever try this again.

I Tried Moroccanoil Shampoo: My Hair Got Greasy and Itchy

Some shampoos work miracles for one person and cause disappointment for another. A recent Moroccanoil Shampoo review shared a frustrating experience with the popular Moroccanoil shampoo: the scent was amazing, but the results included greasy hair, dandruff, and an itchy scalp. This article explores why that can happen, what the product promises, and how to decide if it is right for your hair type.

What Is Moroccanoil Shampoo?

Moroccanoil shampoo is a liquid hair cleanser made by Moroccanoil Israel Ltd. It is often recommended for dry hair and has the brand's signature Fragrance Originale. The formula includes argan oil-derived ingredients, which help hydrate, soften, and smooth the hair. According to the official product information, Moroccanoil shampoo is designed to cleanse the scalp while moisturizing dry strands. It has a high customer rating of 4.5 stars from more than 26,000 ratings and is one of the best-selling shampoos in the Beauty & Personal Care category.

The same product listing notes that many customers find the Moroccanoil shampoo to be high quality, with a lovely scent, leaving hair soft, silky, and smooth. It is also praised for excellent hydration, particularly for dry and itchy scalps, and some customers use it for hair loss concerns. However, no shampoo is universal. This negative review shows that this particular Moroccanoil shampoo did not work for one person's hair type.

Why Did the Shampoo Leave Hair Greasy by Day Two?

One of the main complaints in the review was that hair looked greasy by the second day. There are several possible reasons. First, the Moroccanoil shampoo might be too moisturizing for someone with fine or oily hair. The argan oil and conditioning agents in the formula can leave a light film that weighs down fine hair, making it look unclean quickly. Products designed for dry hair often contain more oils and emollients. If your scalp already produces enough oil, that extra moisture can create a greasy appearance.

Another reason can be product buildup. If the shampoo does not create much foam on the first wash, the user may not feel that it is cleaning deeply. In the review, the writer said that the first application did nothing and that she needed three washes to create foam and feel that her scalp and hair were clean. This suggests that the formula may be gentle or low-foaming. Low-foaming shampoos can still clean hair, but they may not remove heavy oils, silicones, or styling products as quickly as a clarifying shampoo. If buildup remains, hair can become heavy and greasy.

What Does "Needs Three Washes" Mean?

When a shampoo does not lather well, it is easy to think it is not working. The reviewer said she had to wash three times before the product created foam and actually felt cleansing. This is common with sulfate-free or very gentle shampoos. Sulfates are strong detergents that produce a rich lather and remove oil thoroughly. Moroccanoil shampoo may use milder surfactants to protect dry hair, which means less foam. Less foam does not always equal less clean, but for some people, especially those with a lot of product buildup or hard water, one wash may not be enough. It can take repeated washing to remove residues, but over-washing can irritate the scalp and disturb its natural barrier.

Dandruff and Itchy Scalp: Could the Shampoo Be the Cause?

The reviewer also developed dandruff and an itchy scalp. This can happen for several reasons. The Moroccanoil shampoo has a strong scent called Fragrance Originale. Fragrance is a common trigger for sensitive scalps. Even if the product is intended to help dry and itchy scalps, individual sensitivities differ. An itchy scalp after using a new shampoo may be a sign of irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, or simply a reaction to one of the fragrance ingredients. Dandruff can appear when the scalp is irritated, dry, or experiencing a change in the skin microbiome. Some clarifying shampoos can cause flaking if they strip too much oil; conversely, a rich shampoo can cause flaking if it leaves residue and triggers yeast overgrowth like Malassezia.

It is also possible that the three-wash routine was too harsh. Washing the scalp three times in one shower can strip the skin's moisture barrier. The scalp may produce extra oil to compensate, which leads to greasy hair and flaking. This can create a cycle: more washing, more irritation, more dryness, and eventually dandruff-like flakes.

Why Did It Work Differently From Ouai Detoxing Shampoo?

The reviewer mentioned that she never had these problems with Ouai Detoxing Shampoo. That shampoo is a clarifying type, designed to remove buildup, excess oil, and impurities with strong chelating agents. It lathers more and gives a deep-cleaned feeling. Moroccanoil shampoo is not a clarifying shampoo; it is a moisturizing shampoo for dry hair. If someone has oily roots, fine hair, or product buildup, switching from a detox shampoo to a rich moisturizing shampoo can feel very different. The hair may have been used to a more stripped, "squeaky clean" feeling. With a gentler, hydrating formula, the scalp may not feel as clean immediately, and hair may look oilier sooner.

How to Know if Moroccanoil Shampoo Is Right for Your Hair Type

Hair type matters more than popularity. Moroccanoil shampoo is heavily marketed for dry, thick, curly, or damaged hair. For fine, oily, or sensitive scalps, it may be too heavy. Before buying, consider your scalp oiliness, hair porosity, sensitivity to fragrance, and how much styling product you use. If you have dry hair and a normal scalp, the Moroccanoil shampoo may be a great choice. The product description highlights hydration and softness, and thousands of positive reviews agree. If you have a greasy scalp or hair that gets oily quickly, you may need a lighter or clarifying shampoo, or alternate with a clarifying product once a week.

If you still want to try the Moroccanoil shampoo, there are ways to reduce the risk. Start with one wash, massage the scalp well, and rinse completely. Do not apply a heavy conditioner to the roots. Use cool water to rinse. If the first wash does not foam, you can try a small amount of a different shampoo to remove buildup, then follow with Moroccanoil. You can also stop using the product if you notice dandruff, itching, or a rash. The original reviewer chose not to try it again, and that is a valid decision.

Balancing the Positive and Negative Reviews

It is important not to ignore the positive experiences. The Moroccanoil shampoo has a high rating of 4.5 stars. Thousands of customers say the scent is amazing, the product cleans the scalp, and the hair feels soft and smooth. Some also say it helps with hair loss and extremely dry, itchy scalps. But the same product can cause greasy hair and itching in another person. This is why reading individual Moroccanoil shampoo reviews helps you understand how hair type, scalp condition, and expectations affect results. A review is one data point, not the whole truth.

Final Thoughts on This Moroccanoil Shampoo Review

The negative review we discussed highlights an important lesson. A high-end shampoo like Moroccanoil shampoo can still be wrong for certain hair types. The scent may be incredible, but fragrance can irritate a sensitive scalp. A moisturizing shampoo can be too heavy for fine or oily hair. A low-foaming formula may require multiple washes and leave a heavy feeling. The original reviewer did not find any benefit for her hair, and she decided to return to her detox shampoo.

If you have tried Moroccanoil shampoo and experienced greasy hair or itchy scalp, you are not alone. It may not be the product for you. On the other hand, if you have dry, damaged hair that needs hydration, this Moroccanoil shampoo might be exactly what you need. The best approach is to know your hair type, read a range of reviews, and listen to your scalp. If your hair feels greasy, itchy, or flaky after using any shampoo, stop and switch to a formula that works with your natural scalp balance.

Tags： moroccanoil shampoo greasy hair itchy scalp dandruff hair type

People who viewed this article also viewed

Great for sensitive scalps, fragrance-free, strengthens damaged hair.

This Aveda shampoo soothes my scalp and leaves fine hair soft and shiny.

Wella treatment makes my hair silky, smooth, and fuller, but curls won't hold.

Great suds, pleasant scent, leaves gray hair smooth and soft without conditioner.

Oribe erased my brassy tones, leaving hair soft, shiny, and violet-free.

I got great lather, small amount, soft clean hair; strong lingering scent.

This shampoo gives my fine hair amazing thickness and volume. Love it!

Moroccan shampoo's amber rose and orange blossom scent combined with argan oil leaves my hair silky and fragrant.

My hair feels incredibly soft and shiny after using Davines OI shampoo.

Best value purple shampoo tones my hair weekly, saving from bleach.