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Great hair starts in the shower, with the perfect shampoo for your hair type and needs to fully cleanse and prep it for styling. But why is shampoo important and how does it work?
"Shampoo contains surfactants, which are ingredients (like sulfates) that cleanse your hair and scalp," explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D. "They attach to oils and dirt in hair and remove them when rinsed with water." Shampoos can also be made with conditioning ingredients, fragrances and preservatives, she says.
Regularly cleansing hair with an effective shampoo is crucial for keeping the hair and scalp healthy and free of oil and product buildup so it looks and feels its best. But not all shampoo brands work the same (or as well as each other), which is why we test all kinds of shampoos, from drugstore buys to luxury picks, for all hair types and concerns to find the top formulas on the market, including shampoos for dry hair, shampoos for colored hair, thickening shampoos and shampoos for oily hair.
Our top picks:
In our Lab, shampoos are evaluated with their corresponding conditioners using technical instruments that gauge conditioning ability, and on consumer testers, who provide feedback on their ease of use, cleansing performance and effects on hair. Thousands of data points are then tallied (over 16,000 in the most recent tests) to identify the best shampoos in each category.
Here, read all about the rigorous evaluation and results behind our top picks tested and recommended by GH Beauty Lab scientists and beauty experts to guarantee gorgeous, healthy hair (and good hair days!) whether yours is thin, thick, curly, straight or somewhere in between.
Pros
- Both deep cleans and softens hair
- Leaves hair easy to style
- Bargain price
Cons
- May not be nourishing enough for thick, very damaged or textured hair
The refreshing Dove formula (and its corresponding conditioner) was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s hydrating shampoos test thanks to a perfect balance of both purifying and lightly softening. The drugstore value-priced formulas rated best for leaving hair clean and easy to style. “My hair was fantastic — brushable, silky and flowing," a tester reported. Note that it may not be rich enough for thick, very damaged or textured hair.
Pros
- Deeply cleans buildup and removes oil
- Very lightweight
- Bargain price
Cons
- Could be drying
At less than $2 (!) per bottle, you can’t find a better drugstore bargain that really works than this classic clarifying shampoo from Suave, which is why it also earned a spot as the best shampoo for oily hair. Clarifying formulas are powerhouse cleansers, delivering the most purification and easily removing oil and dirt (because of this, they can be drying). This super lightweight formula is the GH Beauty Lab scientists’ go-to for deeply cleaning hair samples in all of their studies.
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Pros
- Leaves strands feeling soft
- Makes hair more manageable
- Smooths frizz
Cons
- Scent can be polarizing
Hydration is key for healthy, lush curls and this John Frieda shampoo softened and smoothed strands so well in GH Beauty Lab testing that testers were tempted to skip conditioner. They gave it top ratings for leaving hair more manageable and easy to comb and feeling soft.
The formula was also easy to dispense and rinse and while some testers loved the "pleasant" scent, a few found it too "perfumey." Of the results on hair, one user marveled: "This really works — it's helped greatly with my frizz issue in 99% humidity." Another agreed her hair was "much less frizzy."
Pros
- Smooths and softens hair
- Improves manageability
- Easy to use
- Bargain price
Cons
- May be too heavy for fine hair
Get strong smoothing and conditioning effects with this protein- and coconut oil-laced Dove shampoo and corresponding conditioner, both GH Beauty Award winners. In Beauty Lab assessment, they received perfect scores for making hair manageable, smooth and supple and rated well for ease of use. Two testers said hair wasn’t frizzy after application. “It was easier to style,” one noted. Another found it left hair feeling "soft and hydrated." Since the formula is rich and nourishing, it may be best for those with coarse or thicker hair.
Pros
- Highly conditioning
- Easy to use
- Deeply cleanses and lathers well
- Good value
Cons
- Doesn't leave hair as manageable as other formulas
As one of the most conditioning formulas in the GH Beauty Lab's test, this classic Pantene shampoo is perfect for those with thick or coarse hair.
In Beauty Lab testing with the Instron machine, which measures combing force through wet hair, it tied for the highest level of conditioning (used with its conditioner). Testers gave the formula top marks for being easy to use, having a lush lather and making hair feel clean, but it didn't rate it as well at leaving hair manageable.
A GH beauty editor favorite, users also loved its deeply nourishing properties: "The shampoo is so great, I don't need to condition my hair every time I wash it!" one marveled. Another commented: "My hair is very long and thick; using these products helped smooth it."
Pros
- Thoroughly cleanses
- Makes hair look less damaged
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- A tester thought formula was sticky
The skin-hydrating ingredient hyaluronic acid, used to draw in moisture, is infused into this GH Beauty Award winner L’Oréal Paris formula with matching conditioner. The pair earned top marks for fully cleansing strands and making hair look less damaged. They also ranked highest for their lasting “sophisticated” scent; one user thought the texture was "sticky," however. “Works wonders: My strands feel super soft and bouncy and look shiny,” a tester raved.
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Pros
- Smooths unruly hair
- Lasting frizz reduction
Cons
- Could make some hair types flat
This protein-infused Nexxus shampoo, a GH Beauty Award winner, tames unruly hair and fends off frizz as you suds up. In a study on hair samples in 98% humidity, strands had significantly less frizz up to 72 hours after application of the shampoo and its conditioner match. (Be aware that the strong smoothing effects could make some hair types flat, as one tester found.) “The amount of smoothness and shine was noticeable from the first use,” a tester reported.
Pros
- Strengthens hair and protects against damage
- Reduces visible split ends
- Makes hair feel hydrated
Cons
- Scent can be polarizing
The creamy GH Beauty Award-winning Redken shampoo (along with its conditioner and leave-in conditioner) works to protect and strengthen bonds in hair, shielding against damage. In a study, the set reduced visible split ends by 82%, and 93% of testers said their hair felt moisturized immediately, according to GH Beauty Lab data analysis. “My hair was absolutely gorgeous,” “results were transforming and long-lasting,” and “I can’t live without these,” several testers enthused. (Note that one was put off by the "artificial" citrus scent.)
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Pros
- Reduces breakage
- Softens dry hair
- Good value
Cons
- May be too rich for some hair types
Blended with honey and plant oils, Garnier’s GH Beauty Award-winning shampoo is proven to nourish dehydrated, breakage-prone hair when used with its corresponding conditioner. They significantly reduced breakage of very dry, damaged strands, GH Beauty Lab data analysis confirmed. "This makes my frayed ends feel much softer and I love the sweet scent," GH's beauty director says, though some users thought it was too heavy for their hair.
Pros
- Protects hair color against fading
- Boosts shines
Cons
- Scent was polarizing
Keep your salon color vivid with this Alterna shampoo; it scored high for preventing hair color from fading in GH Beauty Lab testing. Some users didn't love the "chemical"-like scent, but raved about how it left hair color looking "deep, rich and shiny." "It is so luxurious that you only need to use a little," one commented. "My color still looks vibrant after many washings."
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Pros
- Boosts body and volume
- Deeply cleansing
- Great value
Cons
- A few testers thought it was difficult to rinse out
Plump up thinning, sparse or fine strands by sudsing with this Pantene shampoo: Used with its conditioner, it was top-rated in GH Beauty Lab volumizing shampoo testing for adding body and volume and leaving hair feeling clean, easy to comb and soft. It also earned high marks with users for being simple to apply, lathering well and having a pleasant scent, though two noted that it was difficult to rinse out.
"My hair is getting limp from age and this definitely restored volume," a tester remarked. Two said: "It made my hair full and soft," and "my hair stayed looking freshly-styled for a great deal longer than usual."
Pros
- Doesn't weigh hair down
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not as softening as other formulas
For the most featherlight feel from a shampoo, look no further than Paul Mitchell. In the GH Beauty Lab's volumizing shampoo and conditioner test, it earned the top score for not weighing hair down and testers gave it high marks for being easy to use. (Because it's so lightweight, though, it wasn't as conditioning as other formulas, so may not be best for those with dry or damaged hair.)
"I'm used to having a residue from other products, but this felt very light — I wasn't expecting my hair to feel so clean," a tester marveled. Multiple users commented that they would buy the product.
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Pros
- Effectively cleanses hair
- Highly conditioning
- Richest lather
Cons
- Didn't make hair as manageable as other formulas
Herbal Essences’ intensely nourishing coconut and aloe shampoo (plus its matching conditioner) won for being the most moisturizing in the GH Beauty Lab’s test of hydrating shampoos and conditioners. The shampoo was the easiest to apply and rinse, lathered most and effectively cleansed. It was also the most conditioning formula in Lab measurements with the Instron machine, which gauges combing force in wet hair, though it didn't score as well for leaving hair manageable. “Made my dry hair much more moisturized,” a tester said. Another raved: "My hair was soft as silk."
Pros
- Adds noticeable volume
- Simple to dispense
- Good value
Cons
- Scent could be too strong for some
Make thin or fine strands big and bouncy with this Garnier shampoo, which tied with its matching conditioner for best in the GH Beauty Lab’s volumizing shampoo and conditioner test. The formula came out on top for visibly increasing hair’s volume in Lab evaluations.
It also scored highly for its "wonderful" fruity-floral scent (though one tester called it "a little overpowering") and easy-to-dispense bottle. “My hair instantly felt fuller after just one use — I was shocked,” a user marveled. It "gave that oomph I don’t have naturally," another agreed.
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Pros
- Prevents hair color from fading
- Effectively cleanses and softens hair
- Bargain price
Cons
- Users said the bottle was difficult to use
This Tresemmé shampoo and its conditioner match won the GH Beauty Lab’s test of color-preserving formulas with, well, flying colors. Post-use, the color of hair samples faded least after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV exposure in Lab evaluations. They scored well for conditioning hair in Lab assessment and with testers for leaving hair clean, shiny and soft.
“My color did not fade, and my hair is soft and shiny," a fan said. The bottle was a drawback, through, as testers found it heavy and difficult to pick up and open in the shower.
Pros
- Makes hair look and feel thicker
- Easy to apply and rinse
- Doesn't weigh hair down
Cons
- Users said the twist-off caps were difficult to use
Luxurious salon brand Kérastase’s shampoo infused with skincare ingredients like peptides topped the GH Beauty Lab’s volumizing shampoo and conditioner test. Used with its matching conditioner, it ranked best for making hair feel thicker and look fuller.
It also ranked highly among testers for being easy to apply and rinse, however they didn't like the twist-off caps for dispensing. Tester called it the “holy grail” that "truly worked" for “all-day body." Another agreed: “My hair never felt weighed down and didn’t go limp midday."
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Pros
- Deeply cleans hair and scalp
- Leaves strands soft and full
- Reduces flaking
Cons
- A few users though it faded their hair color
It’s made with the flake-fighting active ingredient pyrithione zinc, but this GH Beauty Award-winning Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo is the gold standard for keeping any hair type and scalp healthy. "I don't have dandruff, but I swear my strands have never looked or felt better — bouncier, softer, shinier — than when I've used this shampoo," GH's beauty director says. (A caveat: A few users commented they felt it faded their hair color.) GH Beauty Lab evaluations have also confirmed its flake-fighting and strand-smoothing abilities.
Pros
- Brightens hair color
- Neutralizes brassy tones
Cons
- Purple hue could stain very light hair
This violet-tinted Kristin Ess shampoo is a go-to of GH's blonde editors for toning their strands. The pigments in the sulfate-free formula help neutralize yellowing and brighten all shades of blonde. (Take note, though, that some users with very light hair said it can stain strands.) Use it every other shampoo as needed; to give your blonde a cooler, more ashy cast, apply it every time you wash.
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How we test shampoos
GH Beauty Lab scientists evaluate shampoos along with their matching conditioner both in the Lab with high-tech instruments and on consumer testers. Shampoos are first label-masked to eliminate brand bias and distributed to testers of various hair types across the country to use in their hair routine at home.
Consumers then assess the products on their performance, including how well they cleanse hair, how they make hair look and feel, and ease of use, from dispensing to lather, scent, how well they rinse, irritation level and more.
In the Lab, the swatch-wash station is used to regulate water temperature and flow rate, then dispense exact doses of shampoo onto human hair samples of different textures and types. After the shampoo and conditioner pair are applied and rinsed, the Instron machine (left) is used to determine their conditioning ability in a test of combing force through wet hair.
Color-protecting shampoos and conditioners are also tested on dyed hair samples for their ability to prevent hair color fading after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV exposure using a Spectrophotometer. Finally, both sets of data are collated to determine the winning formulas. In the GH Beauty Lab most recent three shampoo and conditioner tests, 16,063 data points were tallied in total.
April Franzino
Beauty Director
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Expert consulted:Birnur K. Aral, Ph.D.
Birnur (she/her) led the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute from 2007 to 2023. In addition to overseeing product testing and GH Seal applications, she conducted our annual Beauty Awards selection process and was an active leader in GH’s green initiatives, including the Sustainable Innovation Awards and Raise the Green Bar Summit. In addition to earning M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she also has a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University.