10 Best Drugstore Shampoos for Every Hair Type
From frizz fighters to damage soothers, there’s a top drugstore shampoo for you.
Expert consulted: Chiara ButlerBeauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst
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Mega influencer Alix Earle has sparked countless beauty trends, but an unexpected one is the drugstore shampoo craze. Since her TikTok on Pantene went viral a few months ago, people can’t get enough of the best drugstore shampoos. After all, who wouldn't want to suds up with an affordable shampoo that gets the job done?
“Drugstores offer a large selection of shampoos at accessible price points, making it easy to find effective formulas for various hair types and concerns,” says Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology. “Many brands now include high-quality ingredients to address many hair and scalp needs so you don’t have to spend a lot of money for great results.”
In addition to being more affordable than salon brand shampoos, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler says, “Drugstore shampoo brands belong to large companies that can afford to spend money on research and development for their formulas and test their claims. They also benefit from economies of scale, so they can offer these formulas at lower prices.”
These are the best drugstore shampoos for every hair type, approved by our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts and editor picks.
Pros
- Softens hair
- Deeply cleans
- Leaves hair easy to style
Cons
- May not be rich enough for thick, textured or very damaged hair
Thirsty hair will drink this moisturizing shampoo right up. In fact, it was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s hydrating shampoos test. It also was the top pick for leaving hair clean and easy to style, plus it both purified hair and left it soft. “My hair was fantastic — brushable, silky and flowing," a tester reported.
Keep in mind that those with very damaged, thick or textured hair might not find it nourishing enough.
Pros
- Lightweight formula
- Deeply cleanses hair and scalp to remove buildup
- Low price
Cons
- Can be drying
Ringing in at less than $2 a bottle, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better bargain. This clarifying shampoo is also our top pick for the best shampoo for oily hair. In fact, it's so effective that it’s the go-to for our Beauty Lab for cleaning hair samples in their studies. The lightweight formula works to remove dirt and oil, but on the flip side that means it can leave hair a little dry.
“I love this shampoo,” one customer reviewer shared. “I'm a [hair] professional, so have access to and have used just about every brand on the market. This is my go-to. My hair feels clean, yet not stripped. The smell is a very clean, refreshing scent and all of that in the least expensive shampoo you can buy.”
RELATED: Best Shampoos for Oily Hair
Pros
- Great lather
- Rinses easily
- Nice scent
Cons
- Bottle is large and heavy, and lacks a pump
Despite its bargain price, this shampoo delivers a luxe lather. Earning a perfect score for easily creating and providing sufficient lather, it also had top marks for conditioning hair, rinsing easily, making hair feel clean and ease of use. Testers also appreciated that it helps hair color last longer and has a pleasant scent.
“I loved how this smelled,” a tester said. “The lather was very foamy and satisfying. Rinsed out easily and left my hair squeaky clean. My hair was so soft and shiny using these products. [My hair] felt very soft and healthy.” However, two testers noted that the bottles felt thin and cheap. Testers also remarked that the larger-sized bottles were too big and heavy, and they should have pumps rather than flip-top caps to dispense the product more easily.
Pros
- Makes hair feel soft
- Adds volume
- Leaves hair feeling clean
Cons
- May not rinse easily from hair
- Scored low for fade resistance
When coloring your hair has left it needing some love, this will do the trick. Testers appreciated that this made hair feel soft, didn’t weigh it down and added volume. It was easy to comb through hair in our tests.
“There was so much I liked about this shampoo!” a tester said. “It felt like it was really cleaning my hair and rinsed out completely without leaving a residue. I felt like my color remained vibrant throughout using this product, and that my hair was actually shinier than it was when using my regular products. I especially love how my hair smelled afterwards and how it just felt clean and bouncy without being weighed down." Note that this shampoo earned a low testing score for fade resistance and for not lathering easily.
RELATED: Best Shampoos for Colored Hair
Pros
- Made with only nine ingredients
- Contains zinc pyrithione to prevent dandruff
- Eco-friendly bottle
Cons
- Some feel it leaves hair feeling dry
Made with only nine ingredients, this new shampoo still contains zinc pyrithione, which has been clinically proven to prevent dandruff by working deep into the scalp to protect against flakes and oil. Designed for oily hair and scalps, it clarifies to fight flakes and excess oil. Its eco-friendly bottle is made with 45% less plastic and is lightweight and easy to squeeze.
“Bare Pure Clean is the best shampoo I have ever used,” a Target reviewer shared. “No dandruff, scalp feels clean and this shampoo adds body to my fine thin hair.” One caveat: Some shoppers found it left hair feeling dry.
Pros
- Lathers well
- Highest score for pleasant scent
- Adds volume and fullness
- Makes hair look and feel clean
Cons
- Hair may be harder to style
Grapeseed extract and camellia flower oil are the hero ingredients in this shampoo, which makes hair soft and flexible courtesy of essential lipids. It earned a perfect score for creating satisfying lather and top marks for its scent and adding volume and fullness. It also made hair look and feel clean.
“Smelled clean and fresh,” a tester said. “The fragrance was not overpowering. It reminds me of wildflowers without the 'old lady floral scent.' My hair never felt greasy. I received many compliments on the scent of my hair.” However, some testers felt this shampoo was a bit drying, making it harder to manage and style hair.
RELATED: Best Shampoos for Every Hair Type
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Shampoo
Pros
- Provides lasting hydration
- Doesn’t weigh hair down
- Makes hair appear less damaged
Cons
- One tester found shampoo's texture to be sticky
Hyaluronic acid takes center stage here for its hydrating powers, re-plumping dry, dehydrated hair for up to 72 hours without weighing it down, according to the brand. The Beauty Lab agrees that it makes hair look less damaged, plus it received perfect scores for its scent and for leaving hair and scalp clean. This pick is best for thicker and denser hair that needs conditioning without minimizing hair’s natural volume.
“I was very impressed by this shampoo and conditioner combo,” Butler says. “My hair felt very silky and soft but not over-conditioned or weighed down at all. I also felt like I could see the natural waves in my hair a little more, because my hair felt so light.” However, one tester didn’t like the shampoo's texture, noting that it felt sticky and tacky.
John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Shampoo
Pros
- Fights frizz
- Leaves hair soft
- Makes hair more manageable
Cons
- Scent is polarizing
If fighting frizz is a constant battle, then you’ll want to reach for this shampoo that leaves strands soft, smooth and hydrated. GH Beauty Lab testers ranked it tops for leaving hair more manageable and easy to comb, as well as for boosting softness. One said, “This really works — it's helped greatly with my frizz issue in 99% humidity." Another agreed her hair was "much less frizzy."
One sticking point was the scent, though. While some enjoyed it and described it as “pleasant,” a few found it too “perfume-y.”
Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Repairing Shampoo
Pros
- Softens dry hair
- Sweet scent
- Reduces breakage
Cons
- Can be too heavy for some hair types
Maximize results by pairing this with its matching conditioner. The GH Beauty Lab found that the duo significantly minimized breakage of super dry strands and nourished dehydrated hair.
"This makes my frayed ends feel much softer and I love the sweet scent," says GH Senior Style & Beauty Director April Franzino. One thing to keep in mind is that the rich formula may be too heavy for fine hair.
Pros
- Provides lasting frizz prevention
- Smooths hair
Cons
- Can leave some types of hair looking flat
Infused with protein, this GH Beauty Award winner leaves hair more manageable and less frizzy. “The amount of smoothness and shine was noticeable from the first use,” one tester said. A study on hair samples in 98% humidity found that locks had significantly less frizz up to 72 hours after the shampoo and its matching conditioner were used.
On the flip side, those potent smoothing effects could leave some hair types flat, like one tester experienced.
RELATED: Best Anti-Frizz Hair Products
How we test shampoos
The GH Beauty Lab uses high-tech instruments to evaluate shampoos and their matching conditioners in the Lab. The swatch-wash station is used to regulate water temperature and flow rate, then a precise amount of shampoo is applied to human hair samples. After the paired shampoos and conditioners are applied and rinsed, the Instron machine measures their conditioning ability in a test of combing force through wet hair.
Additionally, shampoos are assessed by consumer testers across the country with a range of hair types. They are first label-masked to remove brand bias before being used in testers' at-home hair routine. Consumers evaluate shampoos based on their performance, including how well they cleanse hair, how they make hair look and feel, and ease of use, including how they dispense, lather, and rinse, as well as irritation level and other factors.
Both sets of data are collated to decide the best shampoo formulas, collecting thousands of data points in total.
What to look for when shopping for a drugstore shampoo
“Look for a shampoo and conditioner set that is marketed for your hair type,” Butler says.
✔️ For dry/damaged hair: “Look for hydrating ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, argan oil and hyaluronic acid,” Dr. Garshick says.
✔️ For oily hair: “Opt for lightweight formulas with clarifying ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil,” according to Dr. Garshick.
✔️ For color-treated hair: “Look for specific color-protecting claims such as ‘helps color stay vibrant for up to eight weeks,'” Butler says.
✔️ For thin hair: “Volumizing shampoos with proteins and strengthening ingredients help add body without weighing hair down,” suggests Dr. Garshick.
What is the best way to use shampoo?
“Wet your hair first in the shower, then dispense a quarter-sized amount of shampoo into your hand and lather it into your scalp, focusing on cleansing your scalp and roots,” Butler says. “Then rinse it out and follow with conditioner, focusing the conditioner on the lengths and ends of your hair. We recommend buying a matching shampoo and conditioner set, because the claims on the packaging usually apply to using both the shampoo and conditioner together, and they are formulated to work the best together.”
Dr. Garshick recommends avoiding hot water because it can be drying on the scalp and hair.
How often should you wash your hair?
“It depends on your hair type and lifestyle as it may be recommended daily or every other day for those with oily scalps, while for those with a dry scalp and hair, two to three times per week or even less often may be considered optimal,” Dr. Garshick says.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The GH Beauty Lab has decades of experience testing the best shampoos and hair products. Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler has researched, tested and evaluated thousands of beauty products, and reviewed this story for accuracy.
Celia Shatzman has two decades of experience researching, writing and editing hair-related content. We also consulted Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, for her expertise on the best drugstore shampoos.
Celia Shatzman (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who has penned stories on topics ranging from beauty to fashion, travel, celebrities, health, entertainment, finance and more. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, she is a beauty and style contributor at Forbes and her work has appeared in New York, Cosmopolitan, WWD, ELLE, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar, Travel + Leisure, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Byrdie, Refinery29 and NYLON, among others.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
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