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The Best Shampoos for Different Hair Types

Published December 9, 2025

2 Deals

Hannah Schwob for NYT Wirecutter

By Amanda Rosenthal

Amanda Rosenthal is a writer covering skin care and beauty. She has swiped, patted, and pressed almost two dozen blushes in search of the best flush.

There’s a reason our hair is tied to our identity: Our nuclear DNA is at the root of every single strand. And by a decidedly less scientific measure, it can also be an extension of our personality and even influence how we face the world. Is it any surprise, then, that bad hair can tank our mood — and great hair can buoy it?

Because hair is so personal, finding a great shampoo is essential — but also daunting. That’s where Wirecutter comes in. To find the best shampoos for a wide range of hair types, I consulted a trichologist, two board-certified dermatologists, a cosmetic chemist, and two hairstylists. Then I evaluated 92 different formulas, tested 43 with the help of my colleagues, and sent 15 final contenders to 21 panel testers in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s with a range of hair lengths, types, and curl patterns.

After three months and heaven knows how many gallons of water, we arrived at six standouts: a daily stalwart for medium and thick hair and an aromatic upgrade, a hydrating curl-definer, a budget-friendly revitalizing wash, a volumizing yet lightweight formula for thin, fine hair, and a fragrance-free choice for sensitive skin and scalps.

Our picks and research

Best shampoo for medium and thick hair: California Naturals Classic Clean


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Best for...

A shampoo’s to-do list is brief — cleanse strands, refresh the scalp, and rinse cleanly without dehydrating the hair — yet so many options fall short. Not California Naturals Classic Clean. Thanks to coconut-derived cleansing agents, this wash springs to a lush lather that efficiently removes excess oil and dirt. Plus, its mix of plant-based oils (coconut, avocado, and sunflower) provide just enough moisture without leaving behind a greasy film on your strands or scalp.

Our testers noted that their hair felt refreshed but not squeaky, which is more than can be said for Pantene Pro-V Classic Clean Shampoo, which left testers yearning for more hydration. One tester with blonde highlights said she usually avoids overly sudsy shampoos but was surprised by how pleasant the California Naturals formula felt: “It isn’t harsh at all, and I love how shiny it makes my hair, bringing out the blonde but not stripping it.” The formula is also sulfate-, paraben-, and silicone-free, which makes it a great option for people who are looking to avoid those ingredients.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Although this shampoo has no artificial fragrance, it still has a subtle tropical aroma. While many of our testers liked it, people who are sensitive to scents might not.

Upgrade pick for medium and thick hair: Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo


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Upgrade pick

Rich, foamy lather. Scrupulous, sensorial cleanse. Healthy-looking results. Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo earned high marks on all counts. Though its creamy formula comes with a luxe price tag — over $25 for less than 10 ounces — testers agreed that the results justified the splurge. The gentle, plant-based cleansing agents bubbled beautifully and rinsed clean, leaving hair refreshed but not stripped.

Infused with skin-care-grade ingredients such as niacinamide and a peptide, this shampoo treats your hair and scalp as carefully as the skin on your face. And the formula’s moisturizing ceramides replenish lipids on your scalp and help to smooth frayed cuticles on your strands, according to cosmetic chemist Janna Linehan-Salas. One tester with medium-length hair noted that it made her strands feel noticeably silkier, with fewer flyaways and brighter-looking highlights.

Beyond performance, testers agreed that the aromatherapy-level scent and sleek packaging made this shampoo feel lush: Whereas the California Naturals shampoo has a mellow (bordering on meh) scent, this Nécessaire formula has a nice, noticeable herbal rosemary fragrance. Rosemary has also been linked to hair growth, but in this shampoo it’s more about adding shine and hydration, leaving hair, as one panelist put it, “soft, manageable, and silky.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The bottle can be slightly difficult to squeeze, especially when the contents get low.

Best for tight curls and coils: Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo


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Best for...

Curly hair is prone to dryness, as natural oils have to take a circuitous route down those spirals, which can leave ends parched and vulnerable to damage. The fix: added hydration, which testers found in the nourishing, curl-defining Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo. This formula contains botanicals, such as aloe juice, honey, shea butter, and olive oil, that enrich strands and help curls spring into action.

Our curly-haired panelists (with Type 3a to 4b curls) also appreciated how effectively the Pattern shampoo removed residual styling product, dirt, and excess oil, especially in comparison with Cécred Hydrating Shampoo, which didn’t seem to fully clean hair. Impressively, the Pattern formula thoroughly cleansed without stripping moisture, leaving curls moisturized and defined, with one tester even likening it to “a sudsy conditioner.”

And after seeing how “juicy” her 4a curls looked post-shower, another tester who usually straightens her hair skipped the flat iron entirely in favor of gentle coils that were “bouncy but never heavy.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• It’s easy to overuse this shampoo at first. It gets especially foamy, so to avoid wasting it, start with a little at a time.

Best for dry, damaged hair: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo


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Best for...

Glistening, healthy-looking strands and thick, luscious hair are goals for so many people — and that was especially the case for our testers with dry, damaged lengths. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo delivered with its blend of gentle cleansers (a lightly sudsing coconut derivative among them) and moisturizers, including hyaluronic acid to attract and bind water to the strands to prevent moisture loss.

The creamy formula also includes hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride — a detangling agent often found in pricier shampoos — to give hair that nice sleekness you usually get from a conditioner. In fact, a panelist with dry, brittle hair noted how Elvive Hyaluron + Plump gave her a velvety-smooth finish and enough slip for her to detangle any knots post-cleanse, even without the aid of conditioner. Best of all, this L’Oréal shampoo is a relative bargain, imparting as much softness and shine as Redken All Soft Shampoo, which, ounce-for-ounce, is about five times more expensive.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• It has a sugary fragrance. Many panelists liked the mix of vanilla, sandalwood, and berry notes, but one tester would have preferred a fragrance-free option.

Best for fine hair: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo


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Best for...

Best for fine hair

Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

Sparse or thin strands will benefit from this volumizing formula, which cleanses without weighing hair down. It delivers luxe-looking fullness but has a price tag to match.

Dealing with fine hair can be a catch-22: Wash it, and you risk weighing it down with the shampoo’s various ingredients. Don’t wash it, and you risk weighing it down with your hair’s natural oils. That’s why Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo was such a welcome surprise for our testers: It both cleansed well and made flat strands look more voluminous.

“This provided a lot of body, which my limp hair loves,” a panelist with long, fine, and “easily flattened” hair pointed out. Testers continually noted how this shampoo delivered a hydrating surge to strands without feeling heavy or greasy. Verb Ghost Shampoo, in comparison, made hair feel dry.

One tester with short, fine hair described his experience with this pick as luxe, referring to the “thick, rich, almost creamy lather” as both moisturizing and cleansing. The shampoo sudses up quickly into a fluffy foam, so testers recommend using only a little at a time (a dime-sized blob is enough for short hair).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• This Ouai shampoo is expensive at more than three bucks an ounce for the 10-ounce bottle, but it lasts a while. In fact, one tester eked out 40 washes — or about a month and a half’s worth of showers — from a $32 container.

Best for sensitive skin and scalps: Vanicream Shampoo


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Best for...

Ol’ plain-Jane Vanicream has legions of fans at Wirecutter. Our testers have anointed its cleanser, moisturizer, and body lotion as skin-care picks. And we were just as impressed with Vanicream Shampoo: The fragrance- and dye-free formula gave panelists a luscious, sudsy foam and an effective, nonirritating cleanse.

Notably, this shampoo contains a mere 15 ingredients, including the mild surfactant coco-glucoside, a coconut derivative, and nice hydrators such as glycerin and panthenol. (If the formula were to trigger sensitivity, you wouldn’t have to grapple with a long ingredient label to pinpoint the irritant.)

Testers with sensitive scalps noted that their hair felt truly clean but not stripped. CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Shampoo, meanwhile, felt too harsh and “squeaky-clean.” They also appreciated how easily the Vanicream formula distributed through their hair. While the bottle isn’t the prettiest (Vanicream loves a lackluster graphic, apparently), you can always decant it into a better-looking dispenser.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• This shampoo is fragrance-free, but the formula gives off a slight pasty aroma that one tester deemed “unappealing but not offensive.”

How to determine your hair type and shop for shampoo

Categorizing your hair as a particular type is more complicated than shampoo manufacturers may lead you to believe. Generally speaking, you have four main factors to consider:

• Strand diameter: This refers to the width of individual strands (fine, medium, thick).
• **Density: **This is the number of hairs per square inch.
• Curl pattern: This refers to the shape of your strands as they grow. Experts have adopted the Andre Walker Hair Typing System to talk about pattern. It classifies hair into four main types: straight (1), wavy (2), curly (3), and coily (4), with subtypes (a, b, c) for variations within.
• Damage level: Heat-styling, chemical treatments, and environmental factors (sun, air pollution, hard water) can degrade the integrity of the hair cuticle or cause the ends of the hair to split. Such structural changes affect hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. As damage accrues, hair tends to become dry, frizzy, brittle, and stretchy.

As if that weren’t confusing enough, there are still other aspects to keep in mind, such as how porous your strands are (naturally or due to damage). Plus, experts say all of the factors above can vary from section to section on your head.

So — given all those dizzying variables — how do you find the right shampoo? For this guide, we grouped shampoos the way their manufacturers often categorize them for shoppers, by general “hair types” that account for both strand diameter and density:

• Fine (thin individual strands and/or those that grow sparsely on your scalp): This hair type needs lightweight, volumizing shampoos without heavy oils and silicones, which can weigh down strands. Transparent formulas are often the way to go, as they tend to cleanse without adding buildup.
• Medium and thick (wider strands or those that grow densely on your scalp): These shampoos are often more hydrating and smoothing, or they may contain rich conditioning ingredients.

Additionally, we included categories for hair that needs special care:

• Tight curls and coils: These strands need hydration because their spiral shape makes it harder for natural oils to travel their length, which leads to dryness.
• **Damaged hair: **This hair type needs reparative ingredients that help hold in moisture, fortify strands, and prevent breakage. Moisturizing ingredients are key, because they help revive dull strands and provide shine.
• **Sensitive skin and scalp: **People with such sensitivity require gentle, fragrance-free formulas to reduce irritation and maintain scalp moisture.

What to know about sulfates in shampoo

Sulfates are cleansing agents that lift away oil and dirt while creating suds and lather. In recent decades, sulfates in shampoo have gotten a bad reputation for potentially stripping hair of its natural oils, which are necessary for healthy levels of hydration.

During my research, however, a cosmetic chemist and dermatologists pointed out to me that many of today’s shampoos are formulated with low concentrations of sulfates, so those options are generally gentle on hair but still provide necessary cleansing benefits.

I ultimately decided to evaluate shampoos with and without sulfates — and two of our picks (L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo and Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo) contain them. California Naturals Classic Clean, Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo, Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo, and Vanicream Shampoo, our other picks, are all sulfate-free.

How we picked and tested

To start my search for the best shampoos and conditioners, I consulted articles in academic journals and interviewed a trichologist and product developer, a cosmetic chemist, two dermatologists, and two hairstylists to identify what qualities (and ingredients) to seek out in different formulations for various hair types and textures.

With that expert guidance — and a plethora of recommendations from Wirecutter staffers with a wide range of hair types and concerns — I prioritized shampoos that could be used daily. As such, I ruled out clarifying shampoos that are meant for less frequent use. (Although we didn’t test dandruff shampoos and conditioners, we stand by our Head & Shoulders recommendations in our roundup of the best drugstore hair products.)

I then embarked on a hair journey, sleuthing around retail sites such as Amazon, Sephora, Target, and Ulta to find the top sellers and well-reviewed shampoos for each hair type. I scoured listings for hundreds of shampoos and landed on 92 to consider. I then sorted through online reviews and ratings and considered prices and ingredient lists to land on 32 shampoos to send to a group of preliminary testers on Wirecutter’s beauty and personal-care team based on their hair types. After about a month of our team’s testing and reviewing, I narrowed down the list of contenders and sent a total of 15 shampoos to a group of 14 panelists, also sorted by hair type.

Testers evaluated each shampoo on the following:

• Cleansing ability: We judged how thoroughly the shampoo cleansed hair, removing buildup, excess oil, and dirt, without stripping the hair of moisture.
• **Sensory experience: **Fragrance, lather, and product texture were all part of our assessments.
• **Lasting effects: **We asked testers to note how their hair appeared and felt both immediately after washing and days later.
• **How well it caters to the hair type: **Every shampoo makes different claims relating to various hair types, concerns, and needs. Panelists judged how well each shampoo supported their strands.

Why you should trust us

I’ve been reporting about hair care and beauty for the past three years, and I’ve tested dozens of shampoos over the course of my career. I have a strong background in product testing, and I have written numerous beauty roundups. I’ve interviewed dozens of board-certified dermatologists, trichologists, hairstylists, and cosmetic chemists to dive into product ingredients, formulations, efficacy, and knowledge about hair types. Having tried more than two dozen shampoos in the past year, I consider myself an excellent critic.

As both a digital native and a natural skeptic, I treat viral products with the same rigor and discerning eye as I do any other. In an abundant category like shampoos, I made sure to enlist testers with a wide variety of hair types, concerns, and needs. In my preliminary testing round, I ensured that there were testers for each category who could vouch for a shampoo’s effectiveness. When it came time to send shampoos to panel testers, I assembled groups that were inclusive of hair types, lengths, treatments, colors, and concerns.

As someone with fine, limp strands, I look for products that add body without weighing down my hair. I prefer a lightly fragranced option that provides an appealing sensory shower experience. I also prioritize high-quality ingredients that don’t strip my hair.

Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

The competition

Medium and thick hair

A tester disliked Alberto VO5 Moisturizing Shampoo’s overwhelming artificial aroma, likening it to the smell of a candy vape. Similarly, testers turned their noses up at the strong fragrance of Amika Forget Frizz Ant-Frizz Shampoo, despite praising its sudsy lather and great detangling abilities.

Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Shampoo’s clear formula left testers’ hair feeling slightly too clean.

Although numerous panelists loved Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hydrating Shampoo, the bottle’s twist-up dispenser wasn’t user-friendly. One tester simply screwed the top off each time, as she couldn’t figure out how to open it.

Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath, Kristen Ess Ultra Rich Softening Shampoo, and Native Moisturizing Shampoo were all too hydrating for testers. These formulas tended to leave some residue on testers’ hair and scalps.

Ouai Medium Hair Shampoo failed to provide enough moisture, leaving a panelist’s strands way drier than usual.

Testers unanimously agreed that both Pantene Pro-V Classic Clean Shampoo and Pureology Hydrate Shampoo over-cleansed hair, making it feel parched.

**Tight curls and coils **

Cantu Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo provided a nice, conditioning slip, but one tester with Type 3b curls ultimately preferred other formulas’ cleansing abilities and fragrances.

Some testers liked the moisturizing formula of Cécred Hydrating Shampoo (and many of us at Wirecutter adore Beyoncé), but multiple panelists found the rigid bottle frustrating to use and wasteful.

Curlsmith Frizz Control, Design Essentials Natural Shampoo, L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Moisture Push Shampoo, and OGX Quenching+ Coconut Curls Shampoo all delivered an adequate cleanse, but none provided sufficient moisture or definition for testers with tight curls.

In contrast, Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo gave panelists’ curls a bouncy boost, but it required two washes for their scalp and hair to feel thoroughly clean.

Dry, damaged hair

Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo, Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Hydrating Shampoo, Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Shampoo, and Matrix Food for Soft Shampoo were all overly cleansing and left one tester’s strands “stripped.”

The tropical scent of OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo was off-putting to some testers, though it did offer a nice lather.

Redken All Soft Shampoo and SheaMoisture Hydrate and Repair Shampoo were close runners-up to L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump. Both provided ample moisture and nice detangling abilities, but in the end, testers found that their scalps didn’t feel quite as clean.

Tresemmé Rich Moisture Shampoo left testers’ ends feeling dry.

Fine hair

Finesse Volumizing Shampoo and Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo didn’t cleanse as well as other contenders. Herbal Essences Rose Hips Shampoo, meanwhile, created a parched, “squeaky-clean” sensation that one tester hated.

The sticky, glue-like texture of L’Oréal Paris EverPure Thickening Shampoo was difficult to distribute and to rinse clean. On the flip side, Living Proof Full Shampoo overly cleansed, though it was easy to wash out. Although a few testers loved Monday Haircare Volume Shampoo for its effective cleanse, it left a few panelists feeling dry.

Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Shampoo did such an abysmal job of cleaning one tester’s hair that she felt like she needed to immediately wash it again.

A few testers liked Verb Ghost Shampoo’s nice lather, and they appreciated that it gave their strands a bit of body while it cleansed. However, a number of testers noted that their hair felt drier than usual.

Sensitive skin and scalps

Both CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Shampoo and Odele Ultra Sensitive Shampoo left one panelist’s scalp feeling itchy.

Raw Sugar’s The Sensitive One Shampoo didn’t cause any irritation — but it also didn’t provide a good, thorough cleanse. One tester said their hair felt lackluster.

Seen Fragrance Free Shampoo provided a luxe, gentle cleanse, and testers considered it just as effective as our less expensive Vanicream pick — but there was nothing outstanding to justify its added cost.

We also ruled out a number of other shampoos from Aussie, Aveda, Aveeno, Briogeo, Bumble and Bumble, Crown Affair, Davines, Dove, Fekkai, Finesse, Garnier, Herbal Essences, John Frieda, Kérastase, Kristen Ess, Kevin Murphy, L’Oréal Paris, Marc Anthony, Method, Mielle, Moroccanoil, Native, Nexxus, OGX, Oribe, Ouai, Pantene, Paul Mitchell, Pureology, Rahua, Raw Sugar, Redken, Rōz, Sally Beauty, SheaMoisture, Suave, and Wella for a variety of reasons, including insufficient or unfavorable reviews, limited distribution, or value concerns.

This guide was edited by Rory Evans and Jennifer G. Sullivan.

Sources

Celestine Gitau, trichologist and cosmetic product developer, video interview, August 11, 2025 1.

Jeanine Downie, MD, dermatologist, video interview, August 13, 2025 1.

Janna Linehan-Salas, cosmetic chemist, video interview, August 15, 2025, phone interview, November 7, 2025 1.

Violet Gega, hairstylist, phone interview, August 14, 2025 1.

Susan C. Taylor, MD, dermatologist, video interview, August 19, 2025 1.

Tina Malhotra, hairstylist and salon owner, email interview, August 21, 2025

Meet your guide


Amanda Rosenthal

What I Cover

I am a Manhattan-based beauty writer and marketing skeptic who specializes in reviewing skin-care, hair-care, and beauty products. While I don’t believe in lengthy 10-step routines (you can achieve the same results with fewer products), my three-step regimen is grounded in efficacy and simplicity.

Whether I’m advising friends about the performance of the latest trending product or helping my sister understand an ingredient’s effect on her sensitive skin, my recommendations are rooted in real-world testing and research, vetted by clinical data and industry expertise. No fluff here.