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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
In case you haven’t yet gotten the memo, there’s no need to shell out the big bucks for high-quality haircare. Nothing against the pricier salon brands of the world, of course, but, for those who may be on a tighter budget—or just want to be able to buy and play with many different products—drugstore hair care is the way to go. No matter your natural type or texture, or particular styling goal, we can pretty much guarantee there’s a shampoo, leave-in, mask, spray (you get the picture) that can give you what you need.
The only problem? There are a LOT of goodies to choose from. So to alleviate some of your shopping stress, keep reading. We conducted hours of research on the best drugstore hair products, evaluating them on the ingredients in the formula and also what the formula doesn’t contain, like potentially harmful sulfates and phthalates. After considering dozens of products and consulting with a celebrity hair stylist, we landed on the products in this roundup.Â
Ahead, find the best drugstore hair products for affordable, chic tresses.
Best Shampoo
Climaplex Moisture & Repair Shampoo
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Target
Great for all hair-types
Deeply moisturizing
Has a technology not seen in many drugstore brands
Does need to be rinsed out very well
This sudser may be fairly new to the scene, but it’s occupied prime real estate in our shower since we first got our hands (erm, strands) on it. It touts a bond-building technology—similar to that of many more expensive formulas—to help repair hair damage where it starts, namely broken disulfide bonds at the core of the hair. It also has sunflower extract to help guard against UV pollution, is deeply hydrating, sulfate-free, and comes in a super easy-to-use pump bottle.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Wheat bran extract, arginine, panthenol | Size: 13.52 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Shampoo, Runner-Up
Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo
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Amazon
Great for all hair-types
Fresh scent
Contains sulfates
Not clean or cruelty-free
A true oldie-but-goodie there’s a reason this classic has stood the test of time. It lathers up beautifully and leaves our hair feeling cleaner than ever (and nice and soft, too, even before conditioner). It doesn’t weigh down fine hair, and that clean, fresh scent just can’t be beat.
Price at time of publish: $5
Active Ingredients: Dimethicone, SLSl | Size: 12 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Conditioner
Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner
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Amazon
Massive bottle that lasts forever
Fresh scent
Contains sulfates
Not clean or cruelty-free
Silicones admittedly make your hair look smooth and shiny, but they can also build-up on the hair, leaving an unwanted residue and weighing it down. Enter this silicone-free conditioner formula: “It restores lost nutrients and is a great solution for dry hair,” says celebrity hairstylist Michael Canale, who is a big fan.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Dimethicone, hydrolyzed elastin, hydrolyzed keratin | Size: 33.8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Conditioner, Runner-up
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner
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Walmart
Works very quickly
Super affordable
May be a little too heavy for finer hair types to use dailyÂ
To be fair, this is more of a hybrid between a regular conditioner and a mask—it works as quickly as a conditioner, but delivers the same amount of deep moisture as you’d get from a mask. Credit a combo of jojoba and avocado oils that impart tons of rich hydration. We also appreciate not only that it works in just three minutes, but also that it costs less than three dollars.Â
Price at time of publish: $3
Active Ingredients: Jojoba oil, avocado oil | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Detangler
Odele Leave-In Detangling Tonic
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Odele beauty
Multi-tasking formula
Light, naturally-derived fragrance
Nozzle can be hard to spray
Just a few spritzes of this and even the most stubborn of snarls don’t stand a chance. A hero product from one of team Byrdie’s fave brands, it also goes above and beyond the call of duty, also shielding strands from both heat (great if you’re using it before hot tools) as well as environmental damage. Not to mention that it’s a squeaky clean formula, too; even the scent is naturally-derived.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredient: Amino acids, plant proteins | Size: 8 fl oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Mask
Raw Sugar Healing Power Hair Masque
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Amazon
Smells great
Clean & cruelty-free
Can be a bit too thick for fine hair
Canale lauds this pick for using all natural ingredients to help replenish hair. Namely, things such as avocado oil, banana, coconut milk, agave…yes, the ingredient list reads more like what you’d find in your morning smoothie. There’s also plenty of moisturizing coconut oil and shea butter in the mix, too, meaning even the driest of strands don’t stand a chance against this reparative formula.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Jojoba oil, avocado oil | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Curly Hair
Hair Food Mango & Aloe Curl Refreshing Spray
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Walmart
Can be used on wet or dry curls
Has a pleasant smell
Does contain fragrance
There are plenty of great products for those with kinky, curly, or coily hair to be found at the drugstore, but this is one of our favorites. It works equally well on dry or wet curls, helping to both combat frizz and define the curl pattern, all without weighing your hair down.
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Aloe | Size: 7.6 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Dry Shampoo
Batiste Dry Shampoo
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Amazon
Comes in two sizes
Has a pleasant smell
Can leave a bit of visible residue on darker hair colors
There are now probably a bazillion dry shampoos on the market, but this is a true cult-classic. It’s a favorite of Canale’s as well: “It’s perfect for using for cleansing touch-ups during a busy week,” he says. It absorbs excess oil and dirt extremely well (imparting nice volume and lift in the process), and has a fresh powdery-lavender-musk scent.
Price at time of publish: $9
Active Ingredients: Rice starch | Size: 4.2 fl. oz.; 8.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Hair Ties
Goody Ouchless Elastics
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Amazon
Gentle and comfortable
Sometimes stretch out with continued use
Not only will these super soft ties not cause painful snags on your hair (hence the name), they’re also extremely gentle on your strands. Also noteworthy: The braided design and thick core of the band means it can hold even super thick bunches of hair without snapping, a boon for those with thicker textures.
Price at time of publish: $6
Best Multi-Tasker
Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Argan Aloe Repair Hair Oil Mist
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Amazon
Can be used on wet or dry curls
Multi-tasking formula
Bottle could be bigger
The bottle may be small, but even a few drops of this oil pack a multi-tasking punch. Use it on wet or dry hair to help smooth strands, add shine, detangle, tamp down errant frizzies…you name it. And yes, even though it’s an oil, it’s still lightweight and doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue; plus, the spray format ensures you don’t accidentally use too much.
Price at time of publish: $7
Active Ingredients: Argan oil, aloe | Size: 4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Styling Cream
Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Air Dry Creme
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Target
Great for all hair types
Has a pleasant scent
A little bit on the pricier side for a drugstore product
Giving your hair a break from the blowdryer is a great way to ensure the health of your strands…and it doesn’t mean you have to end up with a total frizz-fest, either. At least, not if you work a bit of this air dry cream through damp hair. It smooths, softens, and add shine, making your locks look remarkably polished, no hot tools required. Also nice: It works on all hair types and is color-safe, too.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredients: Panthenoll | Size: 5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Hairspray
TRESemme Volumizing Hair Spray
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Walmart
Adds volume and holds
Cruelty-free
Nozzle can sometimes clog a bit
This water-free spritz imparts the perfect blend of both plenty of hold—it is a hairspray, after all—as well as root-boosting volume. (For that reason, it’s a great option to use after a blowout.) It’s also extremely lightweight and not in the least bit sticky, one of our biggest hairspray pet peeves.
Price at time of publish: $7
Active Ingredients: Alcohol denat | Size: 11 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Serum
John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum
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Amazon
Multi-tasking formula
Good for all hair types
Small bottle
Apply just a few drops of this serum on damp strands before styling and prepare to be amazed by its transformative effects. As the name suggests, it fights frizz, but it also protects against heat, repels humidity, and adds shine, too, thanks to a trio of oils: argan, coconut, and moringa. FYI, the directions say that it can be used on either wet or dry hair; if you go with the latter, just make sure to use less than usual.
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Argan oil, coconut oil, moringa oil, | Size: 1.69 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
There are plenty (and we mean PLENTY) of great hair products at the drugstore. As far as the basics go, we love both the Climaplex Moisture and Repair Shampoo for all hair types. As far as the stylers go, both the Odele Leave-In Detangling Tonic and the Herbal Essences Argan Oil & Aloe Hair Oil Mist are some of our favorite multi-tasking formulas.
Meet the Expert
Michael Canale is a celebrity hairstylist who works with celebrities such as Jennifer Anniston, Kyra Sedgwick, Carolyn Murphy, and Denise Richards.
What to Look for in Drugstore Hair Products
Ingredients
Ingredients should be at the front of your mind when choosing any beauty product. Keep your eyes peeled for conditioning and strengthening ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and proteins.
Hair Type-Specific Benefits
Depending on your hair type, you’re going to want products that address your specific hair care needs. The more educated you are about your hair type, how damaged your hair is, how oily it is, and if you’re looking for color protection, the less likely you are to get swayed by pretty packaging or all-in-one products that do nothing for your hair.Â
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She loves all drugstore beauty finds, but hair care—and shampoos—in particular are her absolute favorite. You’re guaranteed to find no more than three or four different drugstore shampoos and conditioners in her shower at any given point in time.
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