Sulfate-free shampoo for oily hair
Roots that get greasy again in 24 hours, increasingly frequent washes: a scalp that overproduces sebum is often an irritated scalp. Our treatments rebalance it without sulfates or silicones, with organic floral hydrosols and prebiotics and probiotics that restore the microbiome.
The routine consists of three steps: The Scrub once a week to purify, The Shampoo to wash gently and space out washes, The Night Serum to soothe the roots.
- 97 to 99% natural ingredients
- Sulfate-, silicone- and paraben-free
- Made in France
4 products
Oily Hair Routine: Scrub, Shampoo & Night Serum with Organic Hydrosols
99,00€Original price: 109,00€
The daily grind
Purify, rebalance and lighten without irritation
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Étape 1 : Purifier
Le Scrub39,00€Once a week, apply the Scrub to the scalp to remove excess sebum, stimulate circulation, and rebalance the skin.
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Étape 2 : Clean
Le Shampoing35,00€Additionally, the Shampoo cleanses without sulfates and soothes without drying out, ideal for spacing out washes.
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Étape 3 : Strengthen
Le Sérum Nuit35,00€In the evening, the Night Serum strengthens the scalp, soothes irritation, and restores a healthy environment at the roots. The result: fresher, lighter hair and long-lasting balance at the roots.
Purify, regulate and wash less often
Roots that become greasy again within twenty-four hours don't necessarily produce too much sebum: more often than not, they are reacting to what is applied to them. A shampoo that is too harsh removes the protective film, causing the scalp to urgently replace it, and the cycle spirals out of control. You wash more often, and it gets greasy again faster.
Breaking out of this cycle requires the opposite of what you think: cleaning more gently and occasionally purifying in depth. Our formulas replace inert water with active organic floral hydrosols, without sulfates or silicones, and rebalance the scalp's microbiome with pre- and probiotics.
Less rebound effectA gentle cleansing agent that does not push the scalp to overproduce.
Lightened rootsOccasional exfoliation that removes residue, pollution and accumulated sebum.
Lasting balanceProbiotics that help the scalp regain its rhythm.
The Madame d'Alexis routine for oily hair
Three steps in this order: unclog, wash without stripping, rebalance overnight.
The Scrub: unclogging the scalp
Exfoliating shampoo · Fleur de sel
★★★★★ 4.85/5 · 60 reviews
- Removes accumulated sebum and residue
- Replaces shampoo that day
- Once every 10 to 15 days
The Shampoo: washing without triggering sebum
Sulfate-free · 98% natural
★★★★★ 4.81/5 · 180 reviews
- Cleanses without triggering the rebound effect
- Organic hydrosols and prebiotics
- 2 to 3 times a week
The Night Serum: rebalancing the scalp
Probiotics · Leave-on
★★★★★ 4.8/5 · 76 reviews
- Targets the scalp and its microbiome
- Organic hydrosols and botanical extracts
- In the evening, on the scalp
The complete routine: the three steps combined
Scrub + Shampoo + Night Serum
€10 savings on the ritual
- The entire protocol, in the right order
- Enough to last a full cycle
- The recommended size for a first try
Why hair gets greasy again so quickly
Sebum production is almost never the real problem. The real problem is what disrupts it.
The stripping cycle
A sulfate-based shampoo effectively removes sebum, but it also removes the hydrolipidic film that protects the scalp. Deprived of its barrier, the scalp reacts by producing more to compensate, and faster than before. Twenty-four hours later, the roots are greasy again, you wash again, and overproduction becomes a reflex. This is what we call the rebound effect, and it explains the majority of so-called "oily-prone" scalps.
An unbalanced microbiome
The scalp has its own flora, like the skin on your face. When it is unbalanced (by washing too frequently, harsh products, or an accumulation of residue), certain yeasts grow by feeding on sebum, which perpetuates discomfort and sometimes itching. Rebalancing this flora is more effective, and above all more lasting, than trying to dry it out.
Clogged roots
Oxidized sebum, pollution particles, silicones and styling product residue form a buildup over time that daily shampoo does not completely remove. This buildup suffocates the scalp, flattens the roots and makes subsequent treatments less effective. This is where occasional exfoliation comes in: not to clean more thoroughly, but to start from a clean base.
What shampoo for oily hair?
The natural reflex is to look for the most effective shampoo possible. That is exactly the mistake: the harsher it strips, the more it perpetuates the problem.
The deciding factor is therefore the cleansing agent. A sulfate-free shampoo cleanses enough to remove the day's sebum, but not to the point of triggering compensatory overproduction. The change is not immediate: allow two to three weeks for the scalp to understand that it no longer needs to defend itself. After this point, you can gradually space out washes.
The second criterion is the presence of prebiotics. They are what support the scalp's flora instead of depleting it, and what make the difference between a shampoo that merely washes and a treatment that addresses the cause. Our formulas combine them with a base of organic floral hydrosols (Damask rose, chamomile, orange blossom), without added water, instead of the aqueous base of a classic shampoo.
For details on the active ingredients to look for and the ingredients to avoid, see our guide what shampoo for oily hair; to understand the origin of the problem, read our article on the causes of oily hair.
Why a sulfate-free shampoo changes everything for oily hair
This is the point where almost everyone gets it wrong, because intuition says exactly the opposite. A sulfate-free shampoo for oily hair washes less thoroughly, and that is precisely what is needed. Sulfates, by removing the hydrolipidic film, send the scalp a signal that it must urgently rebuild a protective barrier. It then produces more sebum, faster, and you end up washing daily.
By switching to a gentle cleansing agent, this signal disappears. The scalp stops compensating, production returns to its real level, and the roots last longer. The trade-off is that you have to accept a transition phase, during which the hair appears to get greasy again as much as before: it is the time it takes for the scalp to understand that it is no longer under attack.
How often to wash oily hair?
Two to three times a week, and no more. This is the figure that surprises people the most, because an oily scalp makes you want to wash every day, but each wash restarts the cycle we are trying to break.
The transition is gradual: if you wash daily, try every other day for two weeks, then space it out even more. Allow two to three weeks of real discomfort before regulation sets in; this is the normal timeframe and there are no shortcuts. A ponytail or a bun helps you get through these few days. The Scrub, used every ten to fifteen days, also makes this milestone easier: it keeps the roots clean for longer without irritating the scalp.
What product for oily hair?
Three treatments, three levels of action: accumulated buildup, daily washing, and underlying balance.
The Scrub, the root reset
It is an exfoliating shampoo, not just a scrub: it washes and exfoliates in the same step, and replaces shampoo on the day it is used. Sea salt mechanically removes oxidized sebum, dead cells and styling product residue that regular washing leaves behind. Its base of organic floral hydrosols avoids the usual pitfall of hair exfoliants: stripping so harshly that the scalp starts over with even more vigor. Once every ten to fifteen days is enough. View The Scrub.
The Shampoo, the step that breaks the cycle
This is the most important treatment on this page, because it is the most frequent. Without sulfates or silicones, it cleanses the roots without removing the protective film, and its prebiotics support the flora instead of depleting it. Plant-based keratin and cationic hyaluronic acid take care of the lengths, which on an oily scalp are often dry: the famous mixed hair. This is the product to change first if you only have to change one. View The Shampoo.
The Night Serum, the deep work
This one does not act on the day's sebum but on what regulates it. Applied in the evening directly to the scalp, it combines fermented probiotics, organic hydrosols and nettle, licorice and oak bark extracts to support the balance of the microbiome and strengthen the follicles. Its effect is not judged by washes but over several weeks of regular use. View The Night Serum.
Hair scrub or exfoliating shampoo: which one to choose?
The distinction comes up often, and it is less clear than it seems. A hair scrub is an occasional and powerful treatment: it is applied before shampooing, mechanically exfoliates, and is rinsed out before the actual wash. An exfoliating shampoo, on the other hand, combines both functions: it washes while exfoliating, and therefore replaces the shampoo of the day.
The first is more intensive but adds a step to the routine. The second is gentler, more regular, and integrates without changing your habits. On an oily scalp, the second generally gives the best results over time, precisely because you stick with it for several months.
The Madame d'Alexis Scrub belongs to this second category, with one nuance: its base of organic hydrosols gives it a treatment dimension that classic exfoliating formulas do not have. It exfoliates without altering the skin barrier or disrupting the microbiome, which, on a scalp that is already overproducing, avoids making the situation worse by believing it is treating it.
| Your situation | The priority treatment | Frequency | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roots greasy in 24 hours, daily washes | The Shampoo without sulfates | 2 to 3 times a week | The rebound effect fades, washes are spaced out |
| Clogged scalp, flat roots | The Scrub, as a replacement for shampoo | Every 10 to 15 days | Roots freed, subsequent treatments more effective |
| Discomfort, itching, imbalance | The Night Serum | In the evening, 3 to 5 times a week as a course, then 1 to 2 for maintenance | Rebalanced microbiome, comfort restored |
| Greasy roots and dry lengths | The complete routine | Continuously | Two problems treated without one worsening the other |
Are you hesitating between several situations? The free hair diagnosis tells you the appropriate treatments, in what order and at what pace, in two minutes. If your oily scalp itches or feels tight, also discover our treatments for irritated scalp.
The mistakes that make hair get greasy again faster
Washing every day
Each wash removes a film that the scalp urgently replaces. Spacing out is uncomfortable for two weeks, then the cycle breaks.
Each wash removes a film that the scalp urgently replaces. Spacing out is uncomfortable for two weeks, then the cycle breaks.
Rinsing with very hot water
Heat stimulates the sebaceous glands. A lukewarm rinse, finished with cool water, significantly limits the return.
Heat stimulates the sebaceous glands. A lukewarm rinse, finished with cool water, significantly limits the return.
Scrubbing the scalp with your nails
The massage should be done with the pads of your fingers. Scratching irritates, and an irritated scalp produces more.
The massage should be done with the pads of your fingers. Scratching irritates, and an irritated scalp produces more.
A fourth mistake goes unnoticed: removing all treatment from the lengths for fear of making them greasy. An oily scalp is very often accompanied by dry lengths, and depriving them of treatment solves nothing at the root: it simply damages the ends. The mask is not in the oily hair routine, but if your lengths feel tight, apply it only to the last ten centimeters.
Madame d'Alexis's advice: on the day you use the Scrub, do two applications. The first removes the surface buildup, the second really works the scalp. It is this double pass that replaces shampoo, and that is where the treatment's effectiveness lies.
The markers of a regular routine
The day of the first ScrubFeeling of a clean and fresh scalp after the shower.
The first two to three weeksAdaptation phase: keep washes spaced out, even if the roots appear to get greasy again as much as before.
After one monthAssess your washing rhythm and space it out if your roots allow it.
ThenThe Scrub every 10 to 15 days, The Night Serum for maintenance 1 to 2 evenings a week.
Frequently asked questions about oily hair
What shampoo to choose for oily hair?
A sulfate-free shampoo, against all intuition. Very cleansing formulas remove the protective film of the scalp, which compensates by producing more: this is the rebound effect, and it is the main cause of roots that get greasy again in one day. Also look for prebiotics, which support the flora instead of depleting it. Allow two to three weeks of adaptation before judging the result.
Does the Scrub really replace shampoo?
Yes, on the day you use it. It is an exfoliating shampoo: it washes and exfoliates in the same step. Do two applications (the first removes the surface buildup, the second works the scalp), then rinse thoroughly. There is no need to follow with a classic shampoo, that would be stripping twice.
What to do when the roots are greasy and the lengths are dry?
This is the most frequent case, and it requires treating the two areas separately. The shampoo focuses on the scalp, letting the foam rinse the lengths without rubbing them. The Night Serum works the balance at the root. For the lengths, which fall under another need, everything is detailed on our treatments for dry hair page: a nourishing treatment on the last ten centimeters only, never higher.
Can a scalp scrub make oily hair worse?
A scrub that is too abrasive or too frequent, yes: it irritates the skin barrier, and an irritated scalp produces more sebum. The frequency is therefore the key point: every ten to fifteen days, no more, even when the feeling of cleanliness makes you want to start again. A formula that respects the microbiome, like a base of organic hydrosols, strongly limits this risk.
How long before you see a real change?
The feeling of cleanliness changes from the very first Scrub. Regulation, however, requires consistency: allow for an adjustment period of two to three weeks, then judge based on several weeks of routine. You don't speed it up by washing more.