The 12 best drugstore shampoos, because basic can be just as effective

Best overall

We named this product our favorite drugstore shampoo because the deeply moisturizing formula consistently works well on a wide variety of hair types, is affordable, and is widely available in many sizes, including a travel-size option. It deeply cleanses hair, so you can easily go up to three days in between washes —unless you want to go back sooner for the berry, apple, and vanilla scent, which is truly delightful. The non-stripping, color-safe formula is free from parabens, colorants, mineral oils, and drying alcohol.

Best budget

Don't let the ultra-low price tag fool you: This shampoo is packed with high-quality, nourishing ingredients such as cucumber water, biotin, vitamin C, and blood orange extract. The vegan product also uses hydrating hyaluronic acid to infuse dry hair and scalps with moisture and softness that is said to last up to 72 hours, so you can go longer in between wash days.

Best for frizz

If your tresses tend to frizz up, Peace says the best drugstore shampoos for you will have oil-based ingredients. "Any botanical oils infused in the list of ingredients will aid in frizz prevention," he says. His favorite pick: This shampoo is packed with keratin, argan oil, and ceramides, which he dubs "an excellent solution for eliminating and preventing frizz on various hair textures." Plus, it contains humidity protection to keep your strands calmer even in the muggiest climates.

Best for volume

Add body to flat hair with this biotin-infused formula, which is one of the best drugstore shampoos. It boosts limp strands with added volume, meanwhile, a combination of glycerin and citric acid work to nourish and condition hair, leaving it looking and feeling healthier. Though there are mixed reviews on the floral scent, some users really enjoy it.

Best sulfate-free

These days, "many people have been refraining from the use of shampoos with sulfate ingredients," notes Peace. "Sulfates are active detergents that help lift unwanted oil and debris from the hair and scalp. However, the sulfate ingredient can be quite harsh on color-treated hair, as it may require more moisture retention."

This sulfate-, paraben-, and silicone-free vegan shampoo is made with only 10 ingredients that gently cleanse and replenish moisture. The best part: It's infused with a sweet coconut and vanilla scent that'll elevate your whole shower experience. Check out our guide for more of our favorite sulfate-free shampoos.

Best for fine hair

"Fine hair can be easily weighed down," advises Cottin. She notes that if you have fine hair, "you want to avoid terms like 'rich hydration'" on your hair care products since they can overburden your tresses even further.

Instead, look for labels that tout volumizing properties, like this collagen—and peptide-infused lifting shampoo, one of our favorite drugstore shampoos. The lightweight shampoo adds body without weight. Furthermore, amino acids and ceramides work to strengthen strands and resist breakage, leaving behind added softness.

Best for damaged hair

Though it's a bit pricey, this damage-repairing, protein-infused shampoo could be well worth it if you struggle with brittle and weak hair. It's formulated with a gentle yet powerful amino acid and arginine complex that strengthens and fortifies dry and damaged hair, making it one of the best drugstore shampoos on the market. Meanwhile, citric acid conditions your locks and adds smoothness.

Best for color-treated hair

Dyeing your hair can be harsh on your tresses, leading to dry and brittle strands. Cottin likes argan oil as a moisturizing and restoring ingredient, and it's the star of this repairing formula. Beyond merely cleansing hair, the pH-balanced system increases suppleness and shine, helping promote softer and silkier hair. It works best when followed by the brand's All Soft Mega Conditioner.

Best for oily hair

"Oily hair needs a clarifying shampoo," says Cottin. I like Monday's clarifying shampoo for its gentle yet thorough cleansing." The sulfate-, paraben-, and cruelty-free product is one of the best drugstore shampoos for its top-notch ingredient list. It's formulated with grapefruit extract, which cleanses and balances hair and the scalp. Meanwhile, vitamin E promotes scalp and hair health, and coconut oil hydrates and helps to add shine.

Best luxury

This pick, which is popular among hair professionals, is full of top-tier ingredients that have ample benefits for your hair. "This product is infused with botanical oils that aid in a smoother slip on the strands to prevent possible breakage… and with proteins [and] amino acids to help strengthen the hair for daily maintenance," explains Peace, who especially likes to use it on curly, coily, and damaged hair, though it is suitable for all hair types. It's also formulated with sage to support hair follicles, moisturizing jojoba, and green tea, which helps promote a healthy-looking scalp. A small dollop creates a super rich lather, so a little goes a long way (and it also helps ease the high price point).

Best for dry hair

"When shopping for drugstore shampoos for dry hair, it is best to look for oil-based ingredients," explains Peace. "Products that include botanical oils will help to lock in moisture to the tresses during shampoo treatments." His pick: this sulfate- and paraben-free moisturizing shampoo from Carol's Daughter. Its formulation includes aloe leaf juice, which hydrates dry strands to increase softness and make hair more manageable. It also contains sweet clover and rose extract, which help promote a healthy-looking shine. Although it's suitable for any type of dry hair, it works especially great on coily and curly hair.

Best for curly hair

If you have curly hair, you'll want to be picky about your haircare routine. "Curly hair tends to be dry, so [it often] needs the same amount of moisture as dry hair," says Cottin, who feels SheaMoisture makes some of the best drugstore shampoos for extra hydration. "Shea butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil are all good ingredients."

This coconut and neem oil-infused shampoo enhances curly hair by moisturizing and protecting it meanwhile replenishing lost oils. It also contains hibiscus flower extract to improve hair elasticity while helping to reduce breakage and split ends. The product is ethically traded, sustainably produced, and cruelty-free without the use of silicones, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, or petrolatum.

Read more in our review of the best shampoos for curly hair.

What to look for

Ingredients:

If you have dry or frizzy hair, "look for moisturizing and smoothing products that have ingredients such as coconut oil, argan oil, hydrolyzed keratin, and glycerin," says Cottin. Meanwhile, "oily hair needs a clarifying shampoo with ingredients such as apple cider vinegar or tea tree."

If your scalp and skin tend to be sensitive, try a fragrance-free option that doesn't contain potentially harsh chemicals such as sulfates and parabens.

Hair type:

Though many drugstore shampoos are suited for all hair types, you can often get the best results when you target your specific hair type, including whether it's fine or thick and whether it's straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Straight hair can often benefit from shampoos with volumizing properties. Meanwhile, curly and coily hair tends to get drier, so deeply moisturizing products work best.

If you dye your hair, be sure to select a color-safe formula that won't weaken or tinge your color. "When seeking out shampoos for color-treated hair, it is best to opt for those products that are free of sulfates," advises Peace.

FAQs

How often should you wash your hair?

Although Peace recommends shampooing hair "anywhere from one to four times per week," he clarifies that it all depends on hair type, including "the condition of one's scalp and the condition of one's hair." People with oilier hair may want to wash more frequently. Meanwhile, Cottin notes people with protective hairstyles may want to shampoo their hair as infrequently as once every two weeks.

How do you know if your hair is dirty?

If your hair is in need of a shampoo cleanse, it'll exhibit clear signs. "Dirty hair will most often showcase itself through unpleasant smells, dingy or dusty appearances, low luster, flaky debris throughout the head, [or] greasy residue," says Peace. Itching or discomfort is another sign that it's time to wash, adds Cottin.

Are affordable shampoos as good as expensive ones?

"Shampoos sold in most salons are typically formulated with more research behind them. The ingredients used are also usually of a higher quality than drugstore brands," says Cottin.

Peace agrees that "the major differences between the two will typically be evident in the ingredient list." He notes that "high-end brands offer more focus on the luster and softness of the hair," while drugstore brands are more tailored toward scalp conditions such as dandruff or hair loss. "Of course, they all aid in the function of clean hair and scalp," he adds.