18 Best Shampoos for Every Hair Type

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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."

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.