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8 Nourishing Shampoos for Black Hair

by Del Sandeen
Del Sandeen is a contributing writer with over 20 years of experience in editorial. She has an expertise in natural hair and Black women's issues.
Updated 03/05/20

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Black hair is unique, so finding the perfect shampoo that cleanses, provides ample moisture, and honors your curls or waves can be a long, arduous journey. The issue with many conventional shampoos is that they often contain unnecessary chemicals that can strip natural moisture from your tresses. For black hair, this is particularly problematic, since it's naturally drier, more brittle, and more fragile than other hair textures. A great shampoo can make all the difference.

Here are the best shampoos that'll give black hair the love it needs.

Best Overall: Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo

Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo
Courtesy Amazon

Great curls start with clean hair. The entire Kinky-Curly line is dedicated to giving you the most wonderful frizz-free curls imaginable. Reach for this cleanser to remove buildup that can weigh your curls down.

Best Clarifying: CURLS Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo

Curls Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo
Courtesy Amazon

Mousse, hair spray, oil sheen, setting lotion, and other styling products can really add up. More product equals more buildup, which means you need to wash your hair frequently. Over time, your tresses might appear less shiny and feel limp.

Enter: clarifying shampoo. This type of shampoo is made for cleansing hair in one fell swoop—just lather and rinse, no need to repeat. However, traditional clarifiers strip the hair's natural oils—not good for black hair. This one from CURLS is incredibly gentle, but you should still use it sporadically.

Best Bar: Oyin Handmade Grand Poo Bar Succulent Solid Shampoo

Oyin Grand Poo Bar
Photo courtesy Oyin Handmade

Lightly scented with a delectable herbal/citrus blend, this cleanser is full of moisturizing goodness in the form of oils and butters—perfect for combating dry locks. Don't expect a lot of lather; instead, this glycerine-based bar gently cleans the hair without stripping it of its natural oils.

Best Organic: JASON Super Shine Apricot Shampoo

Apricot shampoo

Jason

You don't have to be an organic beauty enthusiast to love this natural, plant-based shampoo. It's sulfate-free, so it's gentle enough even for those with color-treated and chemically processed locks. It leaves hair soft and shiny.

Best for Frizz: Uncle Funky's Daughter Rich and Funky Moisturizing Cleanser

This luxurious shampoo is sulfate-free but lathers up with all the foam to make you feel like your hair is getting super clean. It's very kind to frizzy, curly, kinky, and color-treated hair.

Best for Fragile Strands: Aubrey Organics GPB Shampoo

Aubrey Organics Shampoo
Courtesy Amazon

If your tresses are weak or break easily, you may need to restore some protein. Milk and soy proteins make this shampoo an excellent choice. It's designed to be gentle on your hair, while offering a strengthening boost.

Best for All Hair Types: Motions Natural Textures Moisturizing Cleanser

Motions Natural Textures Moisturizing Cleanser

Courtesy of Walmart

Whether you have natural or relaxed hair, your locks will drink up the shea butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil in this rich and creamy cleanser.

Best for Chemically Treated Hair: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

This is really a classic that could take a regular spot in your shampoo rotation. Sea kelp and argan oil combine with shea butter to restore dry, damaged hair to its former glory. It's ideal if you're transitioning from chemically treated to natural hair.

Healthy Hair

You don't need to wash your hair every day. In fact, doing so is one of the things that can suck the life and the moisture out of your locks. But if you do need to wash regularly, these shampoos will be your best friend. Feel free to choose a couple of these and switch it up.

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