How to choose the right shampoo
The right shampoo is the one that fits your scalp, your hair type, and your goals—not Instagram trends. Start with two questions: Does my scalp feel oily, dry, itchy, or balanced? Does my hair need moisture, repair, color protection, volume, or frizz control? Then layer in porosity (how fast your hair absorbs and loses moisture) and whether you use heat, bleach, or color.
Our shampoo quiz at the top of this page walks you through budget, main concern, color, porosity, and sulfate preference so you get a concrete starting point. For porosity specifically, use our hair porosity test if you are unsure—porosity changes which textures and ingredients work best.
Consider your hair type
- •Straight hair: Often suits lightweight or volumizing formulas so roots do not go limp.
- •Wavy hair: Balancing cleansers—enough to remove oil but not so harsh that waves go flat.
- •Curly hair: Moisturizing, often sulfate-free options that keep the cuticle calm.
- •Coily hair: Richer, hydrating formulas with oils or creams; avoid stripping cleansers.
Consider your scalp type
- •Oily scalp: Clarifying or balancing shampoos; you may still need moisture on the lengths.
- •Dry scalp: Gentle, moisturizing washes; avoid daily harsh surfactants.
- •Sensitive scalp: Mild, often fragrance-free options; patch-test new products.
- •Normal scalp: Most balanced shampoos work; tune by hair length and damage.
Pro tip: High porosity hair often cannot tolerate constant protein or strong bond-repair cleansers—moisture-first, gentle formulas usually behave better. If you are unsure, start with our porosity test.
What hair shampoo should I use?
Below is a practical map from common situations to the type of shampoo that usually works. Always adjust if your scalp disagrees—hair care is trial-and-error within safe, gentle boundaries.
- Oily roots or greasy hair fast: Look for balancing or clarifying washes; if lengths are dry, focus shampoo on the scalp and use more conditioner on mids and ends.
- Dry, dull, or frizzy hair: Creamy, oil-rich, or “moisture” lines; avoid daily strong sulfates if hair feels straw-like after washing.
- Curly / coily routines (incl. CGM-style): Sulfate-free or low-lather hydrating cleansers; occasional stronger cleanse if you get buildup from stylers.
- Color-treated or highlighted hair: Color-safe, usually sulfate-free shampoos to slow fade; blondes may add a purple or toning shampoo sometimes—not necessarily every wash.
- Damaged or bleached hair: Repair-oriented lines can help, but if hair is high porosity or protein-sensitive, prioritize moisture and ease off protein or bond-heavy products if hair feels stiff.
- Fine or flat hair: Volumizing or lightweight formulas; avoid heavy oils at the root unless scalp is very dry.
When you have a shortlist, use the brand quizzes in the “Top shampoos by brand” section below to match a specific bottle—or go straight to the Hair Routine Builder for shampoo plus conditioner and treatments.
Should I use sulfate-free shampoo?
Sulfate-free formulas use milder cleansers. They are a strong default for color-treated, dry, curly, or damaged hair because strong sulfates can strip dye, oils, and leave frizz. Many people with high porosity hair also prefer gentler cleansers so the hair does not feel “squeaky” and rough after every wash.
That does not mean sulfates are “bad” for everyone. If your scalp is very oily, you use a lot of dry shampoo or silicone-heavy stylers, or you swim often, an occasional deeper cleanse (sometimes with sulfates or a clarifying shampoo) can reset buildup. The goal is balance: clean scalp, happy lengths.
In our quiz you can say whether you want sulfate-free only; we factor that into example picks.
Which brand makes the best shampoo?
There is no single “best” brand—only what fits budget, access, and your hair profile. Mass-market lines (for example L'Oréal Elvive and Ever) offer solid technology at lower prices. Salon brands like Redken and Kérastase often use more concentrated or targeted ranges. Olaplex is known for bond-building cleansers—helpful for some damaged hair, but not always ideal for high porosity or protein-sensitive routines.
We group popular shampoos by brand below with links to each brand’s finder quiz so you can go from general advice to a specific product name.