Shampoo is a cleanser that removes dirt, oil, hair product build-up, pollutants, and sweat. Surfactants are present in shampoo, which are surface-acting agents that react with water and help to break down dirt and oil.

What shampoos are bad for hair?

Some shampoos are harmful to hair because they contain ingredients that can strip it of its natural oils and moisture, leaving hair dry and brittle and prone to breakage. Depending on your hair type and needs, some ingredients that may be best avoided include sulfates, parabens, polyethylene glycols, triclosan, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrances and colors, dimethicone, and retinyl palmitate.

Can I use conditioner without shampoo?

Some people prefer to use conditioner without shampoo, at least some of the time. This may work for some, especially if you find shampooing too frequently leaves your hair dry. Some people use an apple cider vinegar or baking soda rinse before conditioning. However, never using shampoo might leave you with too much oil and product build-up in your hair.

The 13 Best Shampoos of 2022

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In the (seemingly neverending) quest for good hair, it’s important not to underestimate the importance of a good shampoo. Forget extensive styling protocols consisting of multiple products or tech-y hot tools: Good—no, great hair starts in the shower.

In fact, choosing the right shampoo can help you address your specific hair woes or needs or can help you avoid potential irritants and hair-damaging ingredients. It’s also essential to choose a shampoo that works with any coloring or treatments you may have.

Maybe you never pay much attention and just grab whatever bottle of shampoo is in front of you at the drugstore, or perhaps, you’ve been devoted to the same salon brand since high school and have never tried many of the new iterations that have launched since then. Either way, we strongly advise you to stock your shower with any of these top picks, which offer a little something for everyone.

Keep reading for the best shampoos on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo at Amazon

Best Budget:

Climaplex Moisture & Repair Shampoo at Target

Best Drugstore:

Pantene Pro-V Blends Micellar Shampoo at Amazon

Best Drugstore, Runner-Up:

Herbal Essences Avocado & Argan Sulfate-Free Shampoo at Amazon

Best for Damaged Hair:

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo at Amazon

Best Volumizing:

Briogeo Biotin Volumizing Shampoo at Amazon

Best for Curly Hair:

GIRL+HAIR CLEANSE+ Moisturizing Shampoo at Amazon

Best for Curly Hair, Runner-Up:

Pattern Beauty Clarifying Shampoo at Sephora

Best for Sensitive Skin:

SEEN Skin-Caring Fragrance-Free Shampoo at Ulta

Best for All Hair Types:

Alterna My Hair My Canvas Me Time Shampoo at Amazon

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
Why Trust Byrdie

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore

What We Like

Soothes the scalp
Boosts shine
Strengthing

What We Don't Like

Strong scent

There’s truly nothing that this all-star sudser, a favorite of Byrdie's former Senior Social Media Manager Kelly Gallagher, can’t do. It helps moisturize both hair and scalp (thanks to ingredients such as babassu seed oil and glycerin) and imparts volume and shine, all while smoothing, softening, and strengthening your hair. In short, it leaves your hair looking commercial-ready after every wash.

Target

View On Target

What We Like

Affordable
Lathers well
Hydrating

What We Don’t Like

Can be heavy for finer hair

Everything from the packaging to the formula of this pick feels much more high-end than its under $10 price tag. It touts a proprietary technology that helps to repair damaged protein bonds and strengthen the cuticle, the outer layer of the hair (and also guards against environmental damage, too). The shampoo lathers beautifully even though it’s sulfate-free, rinses cleanly, and leaves hair feeling more moisturized, even before you reach for conditioner.

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

Affordable
Deeply cleanses
Helps control excess oil

What We Don't Like

Contains sulfates

You’ve seen micellar waters in the skincare aisle; this shampoo works by the same mechanism of action. Tiny micelles act like magnets to attach to and whisk away dirt and oil yet are gentle enough to not over strip your hair. It’s a staple in our showers, leaving our hair feeling and looking completely clean every time. Plus, you can nab a big ol’ bottle of it at the drugstore for cheap.

Herbal Essences Avocado & Argan Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Walmart

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What We Like

Nourishing
Smells good
Affordable

What We Don’t Like

Can be heavy for finer hair

The staple drugstore brand continues to make standout haircare, and this shampoo is no exception. Avocado oil, argan oil, and aloe make it extra hydrating and nourishing. It’s also sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and in true Herbal Essences fashion, it smells absolutely delightful.

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Strengthens
Lathers well
Softens and smooths

What We Don't Like

Can be a little drying

The Olaplex Bond Maintenance System Kit Transformed My Hair

This is a staple for Byrdie Editorial Director Hallie Gould, thanks to its deeply reparative prowess. Like its in-salon treatment counterpart, it contains ingredients that work to repair broken protein bonds in your hair. Translation? Hair becomes softer, smoother, and generally looks and feels better. Another plus: The formula is sulfate-free, so it shouldn't strip much-needed moisture, and Gould points out that it’s the only sulfate-free shampoo she’s found that lathers well.

Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo

Courtesy of Nordstrom

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What We Like

Lightweight
Smells good
Volumizes

What We Don't Like

Watery texture

Got limp hair? Shampoo choice is even more crucial for you than for most. Yes, you need something that’s going to effectively clean—fine hair tends to be naturally oilier—but the last thing you want is a formula that’s going to further weigh down your hair. Enter this pick.

The formula relies on ginseng to help make hair look fuller and boost it long-term. And speaking of instant gratification, it also contains a sugar starch that thickens hair, so it looks more voluminous as soon as you step out of the shower.

Girl + Hair Cleanse+ Water-to-Foam Moisturizing Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Curly Hair

Courtesy of Sally Beauty

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What We Like

Softens and smooths
Soothes the scalp
Female-owned brand

What We Don't Like

Could be more hydrating

Curly hair undoubtedly requires a little extra TLC and calls for carefully chosen products, shampoo included. This is a surefire pick, specially formulated for curly, kinky, coiled, and natural hair. Sulfate-, alcohol-, and paraben-free, this pick helps curls retain moisture with shea butter and even has tea tree oil to help address scalp issues.

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Patternbeauty.com

What We Like

Smells good
Deeply cleanses
Strengthens

What We Don’t Like

Shouldn’t be used daily

This option is especially good for those with curly, kinky, or coily hair who need an extra deep clean. It’s intended for type 3 and 4 curls, helping to remove even the most stubborn product residue from the scalp and hair without stripping the natural moisture that’s oh-so-important for curly hair. It also contains panthenol, for strengthening purposes.

Ulta

View On Ulta View On Dermstore View On Anthropologie

What We Like

Soothes the scalp
Dermatologist-designed
Safe for sensitive skin

What We Don't Like

Could be more hydrating

We know what you’re thinking—this is a shampoo story; why are we talking about skin? Well, not only is your scalp skin, but shampoo can also be the culprit behind all kinds of skin issues, from breakouts to weird rashes. That’s why we think this pick is so excellent; the dermatologist-designed shampoo is non-comedogenic (so it shouldn't clog pores) and is formulated without a long list of possible skin irritants. But don’t worry, it still does a superb job as a shampoo. Filed under: Why didn’t we think of that?

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Smells good
Balances hair and scalp
Strengthens

What We Don't Like

Could be more hydrating

Consider this a foolproof, universal crowd-pleaser. It checks all of our shampoo criteria boxes, effectively cleansing while potentially strengthening hair with a vegan, botanically-derived, protein-rich caviar and delivering protective antioxidants to boot. Happy reviewers note that it tends to work just as well on fine, thin hair as it does kinky curls, and we’d be remiss, not to mention the clean, fresh scent we can’t get enough of.

KÃ©rastase Specifique Divalent Balancing Shampoo for Oily Hair

Sephora

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What We Like

Deeply cleanses
Smells good
Boosts shine

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

This sudser truly strikes the ideal balance between removing excess oil without ever stripping the hair. More specifically, it works to break down oil on your roots and scalp but still imparts plenty of hydration through the mid-lengths and ends. The result? Hair that’s more voluminous, non-greasy, and still totally soft and shiny. The fresh scent is just a bonus.

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Safe for color-treated hair
Smells good
Concentrated formula

What We Don’t Like

Can be heavy for finer hair

If you color your hair, opting for a dedicated, color-safe shampoo is a must when it comes to safeguarding your shade. Not only is this one sulfate-free, but it also contains a unique antifade complex that relies on sunflower seed oil and a UV filter to ward off sun-induced color changes. Per the name, it’s also very thick and creamy, imparting lots of moisture. And while it is a bit more expensive, it is super concentrated; a little goes a long way, and you can get up to 75+ uses from just one bottle.

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Works in just one wash
Safe for color- and chemically-treated hair
Softens and smooths

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Combat errant flyaways with this shampoo. It smooths hair after just one wash, thanks to jojoba esters that work to help block out frizz-inducing humidity. And instead of relying on sulfates to do the cleansing (which can end up stripping out moisture and, ironically, causing more frizz), this uses an amino cleaning complex to effectively remove dirt, oil, and product residue.

Final Verdict

No matter your hair type or concern, there’s a good shampoo out there for you. Two of our top must-haves are the R+ Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo and the Alterna My Hair My Canvas Me Time Everyday Shampoo; the former has the distinction of moisturizing, volumizing, and adding shine, while the latter is a universally foolproof pick for all hair types. There are also plenty of great shampoos to be found at the drugstore—the Pantene Pro-V Blends Micellar Shampoo and CLIMAPLEX Moisture & Repair Shampoo are two amazing options if you’re on a budget. If you have curly hair, keep in mind that it’s best to choose a shampoo specifically made for your curls, like the GIRL+ HAIR CLEANSE+ Water-To-Foam Moisturizing Sulfate Free Shampoo for Curly Hair.

What to Look For in a Shampoo

Targeted Ingredients

Choose a shampoo that targets your specific hair type and concerns. There are varieties for all sorts of issues, whether you need volume, moisture, curl-enhancement, oil, or frizz control. Some shampoos offer strengthening with special botanicals or proteins like keratin.

If you have a condition such as scalp psoriasis or dandruff, choose a shampoo with active ingredients that help prevent it, such as salicylic acid for the former and zinc pyrithione for the latter.

Gentle Formulations

Popular ingredients in shampoo can actually damage your hair, stripping it of its natural oils and leaving it prone to breakage. One of these ingredient types is sulfates, including sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate, which are chemical detergents that can remove too much of your hair's protective oils and moisture.

You may also wish to avoid parabens, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. The FDA has not banned the use of parabens or determined that they lead to cancer but says more research is warranted.

Some people are more sensitive to fragrances than others. Fragrances might lead to irritation and dandruff in some susceptible people. Choosing essential oil-based scents or avoiding perfumed shampoos might be your best bet in that case.

Color and Treatment Safe

If you color or treat your hair, look for a shampoo that won't counteract your results. Some shampoos will fade color-treated hair, and others are too harsh to use with treatments like keratin or relaxing. Avoid sulfates, sarcosines like sodium lauryl sarcosinate, and sulfosuccinates in particular.

FAQ

What is shampoo?

Shampoo is a cleanser that removes dirt, oil, hair product build-up, pollutants, and sweat. Surfactants are present in shampoo, which are surface-acting agents that react with water and help to break down dirt and oil.
What shampoos are bad for hair?

Some shampoos are harmful to hair because they contain ingredients that can strip it of its natural oils and moisture, leaving hair dry and brittle and prone to breakage. Depending on your hair type and needs, some ingredients that may be best avoided include sulfates, parabens, polyethylene glycols, triclosan, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrances and colors, dimethicone, and retinyl palmitate.
Can I use conditioner without shampoo?

Some people prefer to use conditioner without shampoo, at least some of the time. This may work for some, especially if you find shampooing too frequently leaves your hair dry. Some people use an apple cider vinegar or baking soda rinse before conditioning. However, never using shampoo might leave you with too much oil and product build-up in your hair.

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 will try pretty much any shampoo she can get her hands on, which means that there are at least five or six different options in her shower at all times, including many of the ones featured on this list.

The 13 Best Shampoos for a Dry Scalp of 2022, According to Hair Experts

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.