The best drugstore shampoos have been a trending beauty topic since they blew up our For You pages last year, and we’re still shopping these yesteryear favorites. You also may have clocked that sulfates and silicones—once ingredients to avoid, especially in the wake of the “clean beauty” movement—are now being revered for making hair extra shiny and suds extra sudsy. So, what’s the deal? And if you’re opting for budget hair care, what’s the best of the bunch? We spoke to editors and experts to get the lowdown on drugstore shampoos, how they compare to high-end options, and how to pick the right one for you.
Our Top Drugstore Shampoos
- Best Overall: Pantene Extreme Damage Care Regenerative Oil Blend Shampoo, $10
- Best for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo, $4
- Best for Oily Hair: Eva NYC Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo, $14
- Best for Coily Hair: Camille Rose Curl Love Shampoo, $13
- Best for Fine Hair: Odele Volumizing Shampoo, $12
- Best for Kinky Hair: Creme of Nature Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo, $5
- Best for Damaged Hair: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Shampoo, $10
- Best for Sensitive Scalps: CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo, $11
- Best for Frizzy Hair: Kristin Ess The One Signature Shampoo, $12
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo, $26
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Pantene Extreme Damage Care Regenerative Oil Blend Shampoo
Pantene
Extreme Damage Care Regenerative Oil Blend Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: If you have brittle, dry, or coarse hair, chances are it’s damaged—and that’s where Pantene Extreme Damage Care comes in to save the day (and your strands). It houses argan and jojoba oil to nourish strands and hydrate them from the inside out, for softer strands that scream “We just left the salon,” not “I’m thirsty.” Plus, it’s sulfate-free, so you never have to worry about it shortening the shelf life of your color, keratin treatments, or whatever else is behind your damage.
“Between the cold winter weather and my weekly heat-styling, my hair has been feeling crispy. This shampoo is one of the few that doesn’t make my hair feel stripped of moisture. It creates a thick lather that thoroughly clears my scalp of buildup. When I rinse it out, my hair doesn’t feel weak or stringy. And after using the Extreme Damage Care conditioner and letting my hair air dry, it feels way softer and bouncier.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
- Key ingredients: argan oil, jojoba oil
- Who it’s for: damaged hair types
- Size: 13.5 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Classic Clean
Head & Shoulders
Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: A longtime Allure drugstore favorite, Head & Shoulders’ Bare Pure Clean Shampoo is a household name for anyone who’s dealt with dandruff. This light, freshly-scented shampoo regulates flakiness without stripping or drying, thanks to zinc pyrithione (ZPT), a mild antifungal agent that curbs yeast production that leads to flakes and irritation. With regular use, the active helps keep dandruff at bay while soothing dryness with every wash. And yes, you can use this shampoo on a normal basis: Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC, told Allure that pyrithione zinc-infused formulations are gentle, making them great for regular use on sensitive scalps.
Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
“They say not to fix things that aren’t broken, and this good old-fashioned Head and Shoulders dandruff shampoo is one of those things. I don’t have much if any dandruff myself, but the fact that this formula is designed to treat it is what makes it the ultimate clarifying shampoo in my eyes. When my hair is drowning in product buildup (a common occurrence, given that I like to slick my hair back with tons of mousse and gel on the daily), I always double-wash with Classic Clean; once to degunk all that product, twice to target the oil and dirt at the scalp. Without fail, my hair turns out virtually weightless, shinier than before, and with a clean scalp that’ll last me nearly a week if I’m careful not to overdo it on mousse again.” —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor
- Key ingredients: 1% zinc pyrithione
- Who it’s for: those with a flaky or easily irritated scalp
- Size: 13.5 oz ounces
- Sulfate-free: no
Best for Oily Hair: Eva NYC Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: A drugstore gem, Eva NYC makes an excellent shampoo (and conditioner) for those with oily hair who want a especially deep cleanse in one go. The Take Care Healthy Hair Wash strikes the perfect balance between bougie and budget (you’ll find it at Ulta Beauty and CVS for easy access). Packed with nourishing amino acids and coconut-derived surfactants, it restores shine and hydration without stripping, delivering a weightless cleanse that leaves hair light, soft, and never weighed down. And fear not, blondes, brunettes, and every bun in between, it’s safe for color-treated hair. As for the scent? A dreamy blend of ylang-ylang, bergamot, honeysuckle, lavender, and sandalwood transports you to an island escape.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
“With curly hair, it’s often recommended to wash your hair less frequently to preserve moisture and prevent drying out your already fragile strands. I try my best to adhere to an every two- or three-day schedule, but when life calls for frequent washing, I reach for Eva NYC’s Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo. It’s a no-frills formula in the best way—just a solid, gentle cleanse. My hair is pretty fine and easily weighed down, so I can’t use hydrating or bonding formulas too often, and clarifying shampoos are too harsh for everyday use. This shampoo is an effective cleanser and adds a touch of softness and shine, a true Goldilocks product.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: amino acids, lactic acid
- Who it’s for: those with oily hair
- Size: 10 oz
- Sulfate-free: no
Best for Coily Hair: Camille Rose Curl Love Shampoo
Camille Rose
Curl Love Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: Coily hair—with its tight corkscrew or S-shaped pattern—calls for a shampoo that sets the stage for the rest of your curl routine (because yes, it is a whole routine). Camille Rose Curl Love Shampoo gets hair truly clean without leading it into frizzy, dried-out territory. It purifies strands so they feel fresh and buildup-free, while still leaving behind the hydration coily hair craves.
To achieve this, the gently foaming, sulfate-free formula leans hard into moisture: Avocado oil helps reduce breakage, olive oil smooths frizz and softens even the thickest textures, and macadamia oil sinks into the hair shaft to balance oil levels and boost shine. For thicker textures, the brand recommends separating the hair before applying product to ensure every strand reaps the benefits. Then, massage with water until you have a deep suds and repeat if you want an extra squeaky clean feel.
Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
“I love the Camille Rose Curl Love shampoo for its hydrating effects. My hair is very porous, so my cuticle absorbs water easily but is prone to dehydration. That’s why I need a moisturizing shampoo to lock in extra hydration, and this Camille Rose shampoo is it! It’s rich in avocado, olive, and macadamia oil, which provides extra hydration so my curls are replenished. Now I don’t use this shampoo for deep cleanses—I stick to a clarifying one for that—but this cleanser is the perfect weekly shampoo for us high porosity girls.” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
- Key ingredients: avocado oil, olive oil, macadamia oil
- Who it’s for: dry, curly hair
- Size: 12 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Fine Hair: Odele Volumizing Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: Pop open Odele’s Volumizing Shampoo and you’re hit with crisp notes of cucumber, oakmoss, and ylang-ylang. But it’s more than just a pretty-smelling shampoo: This lightweight formula adds volume and gently cleanses, lifting away buildup without stripping. Rice protein strengthens and plumps fine or flat strands, while caudatus seed extract delivers shine. Color-safe and sulfate-free, it leaves hair soft, full of body, and turns an everyday wash into a ritual you’ll actually look forward to.
“Since I bleach my hair, I find a lot of volumizing shampoos don’t work for me. Since the point of them is to lift your strands up, brands skip on any heavy moisturizing ingredients that might weigh them down instead. But I need that moisture for my poor, chemically fried blonde! With this shampoo, Odele seems to have found the perfect balance. When I use it alongside the conditioner, my hair looks shiny and healthy, but not flat.” —Kara McGrath, former content director
- Key ingredients: rice protein, amino acids
- Who it’s for: those lacking volume
- Size: 13 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Kinky Hair: Creme of Nature Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo
Creme of Nature
Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: If your hair has an angular, more zigzag pattern (that can be less defined than coils), you already know your curls crave maximum moisture without the sulfates. Enter the 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Creme of Nature Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo, a formula that skips the usual drying culprits (alcohol, mineral oil, and petrolatum included) and leans on, you guessed it, argan oil—one of the richest hydrators out there. That way, it ensures curls are cleansed without compromising their natural texture or bounce.
Tester feedback from creative director Amber Venerable
“This shampoo lathers so well with the tiniest drop and cleanses gently without stripping my hair of necessary oils.” —Amber Venerable, creative director
- Key ingredients: argan oil
- Who it’s for: those with curly, coily hair
- Size: 12 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Damaged Hair: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Shampoo
L’Oréal Paris
Elvive Total Repair 5 Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: Bouncy, hydrated hair that feels blowout-fresh isn’t easy to replicate at home—but the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Shampoo gets impressively close. “It targets dryness and damage to leave hair stronger, smoother, and healthier with regular use,” says New York City-based hairstylist Marc Ballance, who counts it as an affordable go-to. The formula blends sweet almond oil, lipids, and wheat protein to soften strands, boost shine, and help hair hold onto moisture, so even a few days post-wash, it still feels silky. Add in a rich lather and a fresh, garden-inspired scent, and wash day suddenly feels like a mini escape.
- Key ingredients: argan oil
- Who it’s for: those with dry or damaged hair
- Size: 12 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Scalps: CeraVe Gentle Hydrating Shampoo
CeraVe
Gentle Hydrating Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve ever tried CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream, you know it’s a drugstore MVP for delivering deep hydration without upsetting sensitive skin. The same goes for its the 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award–winning Gentle Hydrating Shampoo, which uses barrier-protecting ceramides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and calming niacinamide to gently cleanse the scalp of buildup, while locking in essential moisture. Fragrance- and sulfate-free, it’s safe for color-treated hair and leaves strands soft, healthy, and never stripped.
Tester feedback from Calaor
“My scalp is fussy in between seasons: As soon as the weather starts to shift, it gets incredibly itchy and I get showered in flakes. I used to use coal tar shampoos, but they inevitably leave my strands feeling like straw and smelling like chemicals. This shampoo helps treat my dandruff without the stink, leaving it looking smooth and not feeling like straw.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide
- Who it’s for: those with dry, sensitive scalps
- Size: 12 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Frizzy Hair: Kristin Ess The One Signature Shampoo
Kristin Ess
The One Signature Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: Kristin Ess’s The One Signature Shampoo is suds for the people—shine-boosting, moisturizing, and always super clean-feeling. It features Zip-Up Technology, the brand’s strengthening complex designed to mend split ends, sealing and protecting the cuticle and preventing all signs of frizz. Plus, it’s also packed with pro-vitamin B5, algae extract, mango seed butter, avocado oil, and castor seed oil to deliver serious nourishment straight to the hair shaft. The fragrance is equally luxe, blending ambrette seed, pear water, sandalwood, and white amber.
“I have thick hair and use a lot of hair products, so any shampoo in my shower has to give me a seriously deep clean. This one from Kristin Ess gets the job done—it suds up nicely and removes dry shampoo and curl cream buildup without drying my hair out. This is key for me because I always shampoo twice before using my conditioner of choice, so it’s important that my shampoo isn’t too stripping. I’m also obsessed with the scent—it’s light and clean, but lasts for hours after my shower. The matching conditioner is pretty great, too!” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
- Key ingredients: pro-vitamin B5, algae extract, mango seed butter, avocado oil, and castor seed oil
- Who it’s for: those with dry, frizz-prone hair
- Size: 10 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo
Biolage
Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo
Why it’s worth it: Stretching the time between salon visits doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking. Another 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner, Biolage’s Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo uses soybean oil and stearic acid to keep highlights bright, brunettes glossy, and reds vibrant long after your appointment. It doesn’t skimp on the salon experience, either—a clean, floral scent smells like a fresh blowout, while the formula leaves hair fresh, soft, and deeply cleansed. For blondes (and every shade in between) that fade too fast, consider this your new color insurance.
Tester feedback from senior director of commerce audience and analytics Lexi Herrick
“This Biolage shampoo-and-conditioner combo has become one of my absolute staples. Its quality is unmatched, and every moment of applying this product screams salon luxury. It provides a thorough clean and deep-conditioning, smells amazing, and brightens my blonde almost instantly. As someone who has been actively trying to delay my highlights appointments, I can visibly see this product extending the life of my color over time.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of commerce audience and analytics
- Key ingredients: soybean oil and stearic acid
- Who it’s for: those with color-treated hair
- Size: 13.5 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between drugstore shampoo and higher-end shampoo?
Drugstore shampoos and their higher-end salon counterparts share the same core goal—to clean your hair—but key differences explain the price gap.
AJ Addae, a Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist, told Allure that pricier shampoos—especially sulfate-free ones—often use higher-quality coconut oil-derived cleansing agents like cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate. Cost also comes down to sensory elements like foam promoters, fragrance, and active ingredient delivery. “Lower-priced shampoos tend to either skip on fancy actives or utilize surfactants like sulfates, which are both a surfactant and a foam booster, to save on costs,” Addae explained.
Chicago-based cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowsk adds that drugstore shampoos often prioritize instant results over long-term benefits like bond-building because quick gratification keeps customers coming back.
Are silicones bad for your hair?
According to Allure’s previous reporting, silicones aren’t the boogeyman they’re often made out to be. On The Science of Beauty podcast, Romanowski explained that silicones create a film on strands but shouldn’t be mistaken for a clogging, “occlusive sheath,” noting that it’s ” a huge exaggeration.” Plus, silicones are already in many of your favorite hair oils—even the ones often perceived as “clean.” “Most natural oils have the consistency of olive oil,” Romanowski explained, adding that it’s silicones that give these products the texture and styling benefits customers love.
How should I choose a drugstore shampoo?
You should choose a drugstore shampoo like you’d pick any other: based on your hair concerns and goals. While drugstore options may be less expensive and slightly less sophisticated, they still offer a variety of targeted formulas. Sensitive scalps should reach for gentle, soothing options; curly hair thrives with curl-specific formulas; dry strands need hydration-focused shampoos, etc. If your skin is particular about ingredients, check in with your board-certified dermatologist to determine what to prioritize and what to avoid.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best drugstore shampoos, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists—who have all kinds of hair and hair goals. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
More hair help is on the way:
