The best drugstore shampoos for every hair type, according to experts

Although salon-quality shampoos are beautiful, they may be expensive, typically costing up to $50. There are a number of solutions available at pharmacies and large retailers like Target and Walmart if a $10 shampoo is more within your price range. I spoke with specialists in hair and scalp care, such as stylists, trichologists, and dermatologists, about the things to look for and steer clear of when purchasing an inexpensive shampoo. Along with NBC Select staff recommendations and highly regarded products that support their advice, I have compiled a list of some of our experts’ favorite drugstore shampoos.

GO Ahead and SkipWhy should I trust NBC Select? How did I choose the finest drugstore shampoos? The best drugstore shampoos of 2025? How do I shop for a drugstore shampoo?

Selected.

Our top picks

• 

  Best overall

  Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo

  $8.96

  $9.68

  Amazon

  Learn more
  

• 

  Best for damaged hair

  Saltair Recover & Restore Damage Repair Shampoo

  $undefined

  $11.99

  Target

  Learn more
  

• 

  Best for oily hair

  Acure Buildup Balancing Hemp & ACV Shampoo

  $8.99

  $9.99

  Amazon

  Learn more
  

• 

  Best for curly hair

  Ogx Quenching+ Coconut Curls Shampoo

  $6.97

  $9.29

  Amazon

  Learn more
  

How I picked the best drugstore shampoos

To choose the finest drugstore shampoo for you, consider the following aspects when you shop:

• 
  Hair type and texture
  
  : Hair texture refers to the individual strand and its structure it s composed of four groups including fine hair, medium hair, thick hair and coarse hair. Hair type is the pattern of your hair and it can fall into four groups, including straight, wavy,

  curly and coily

  (to determine hair type, examine how your hair looks after it dries). My list has options for all hair types and textures for all groups.

• 
  Price
  
  : Drugstore shampoos can vary in price but my list has options all under $20, with some reaching this maximum price point in packs of two.

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The best drugstore shampoos in 2025

Experts and NBC Select employees have approved each of the drugstore shampoos listed below.

Best overall drugstore shampoo:

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo

• For all hair tyoes/textures
• Reduces frizz
• Creamy lather

• Not in pump packaging

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King of New York and certified trichologist Taylor Rose endorse this moisturizing, sulfate-free drugstore shampoo. According to King, its recipe contains mafura oil, shea butter, and manuka honey to nourish and moisturize the hair. According to King, it also contains African rock fig, an antioxidant-rich substance that helps guard against harm from free radicals.

Best for oily hair:

Acure Buildup Balancing Hemp & ACV Shampoo

Acure Buildup Balancing Hemp & ACV Shampoo

• Free of common irritants
• Helps balance hair’s PH
• For all hair types

• Not in pump packaging

Rose suggests this alternative, which is one of our favorite drugstore shampoos made by Acure. King claims that the apple cider vinegar in this shampoo eliminates extra sebum, making it ideal for people with oily hair and scalps that frequently appear greasy.

Best for dry hair:

Dove Hydration Spa Shampoo

Dove Hydration Spa Shampoo

• Smoothing
• Moisturizing
• Softens hair

• Not available in many sizes

According to King, who suggests this Dove shampoo, hydrating elements like ahyaluronic acid—also a mainstay of skin care—may help moisturize dry, brittle hair. She claims that the set leaves her hair feeling hydrated and silky without making it seem heavy when used with Dove Hydration Spa Conditioner. It contains cocamidopropyl betaine, a softer substitute for a harsh sulfate, in its recipe.

Best for frizzy hair:

Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo with Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter Extracts

Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo with Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter Extracts

• Smoothing
• Tropical and nutty scent
• Available in multiple sizes

• Not sulfate free

Celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist Francesca Maria Alfonso suggests this Garnier product if your hair is dry and coarse. She claims that it has coconut oil, is smoothing, and is paraben-free. Alfonso believes this solution is still a good choice if you’re on a tight budget, even though it contains sulfates, a harsher but effective cleanser. Additionally, she advises that choosing a shampoo devoid of parabens is a great option for people with sensitive skin or scalps because parabens can irritate the scalp.

Best for dandruff:

Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo

Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo, Anti-Dandruff Treatment

• Relieves irritation
• Reduces flaking
• Subtle fresh scent

• Not sulfate free

This shampoo is a fantastic addition to your shower regimen, regardless of whether you have dandruff or not. The brand claims that it employs zinc pyrithione to treat dryness, irritation, itching, and more. With more than 12,000 reviews on Amazon, it has a 4.8-star rating.

Best for sensitive scalps:

Hairitage Down to the Basics Fragrance Free Shampoo

Hairitage Down to the Basics Fragrance Free Shampoo

• For all hair types/textures
• Hydrating
• Color-safe

• Nothing to note at this time

Rose suggests this shampoo because it is effective for a variety of people and contains cocamidopropyl betaine and other sulfate substitutes in its ingredient list. According to the manufacturer, it also contains hydrating components like panthenol and glycerin to keep the shampoo from stripping the hair and calming compounds like chamomile to give the hair luster and ease scalp irritation.

Best for fine hair:


Odele Volumizing Shampoo

Odele Volumizing Shampoo

Rose suggests this Odele shampoo for people with fine hair since, according to the makers, it gives their hair volume and makes it appear and feel thicker over time. According to Rose, it is also free of sulfates and cleanses with the kinder cocamidopropyl betaine.

Best for curly hair:

Ogx Quenching+ Coconut Curls Shampoo

Ogx Quenching+ Coconut Curls Shampoo

• Softens hair
• Very moisturizing
• Reduces frizz

• Not in pump packaging

This is one of former NBC Select production coordinatorKelsey Fredricksgo-to shampoos (she alternates between this option and the brand sRenewing+ Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo) when she doesn t feel like splurging). She claims that it effectively washes and nourishes her hair, which is crucial for her curly hair, and she adores the smell of coconut. My curls don t feel dry when I use this and it s been a common feature in my hair care routine since I was a teenager, she says.

Best clarifying:

4U by Tia Clarifying Shampoo for Curls

4U By Tia Clarifying Shampoo

• Strengthens hair
• Adds shine
• Safe for all hair types

• Not in pump packaging

When NBC Select SEO editorNikki Brownneeds a deep cleanse after taking down herbraids, she turns to thisclarifying shampoofrom 4U by Tia. The shampoo uses apple cider vinegar and Hemi15, which is a silicone alternative, to retain moisture and improve curl definition while clarifying and balancing your scalp s pH level, according to the brand. It has a warm, vanilla and floral scent and is safe for use on color-treated, chemically-treated and relaxed hair.

Best for damaged hair:

Saltair Recovery & Restore Damage Shampoo

Saltair Recover & Restore Damage Repair Shampoo

• Easy to dispense
• Conditions hair
• Reduces frizz

• Strong earthy scent at first

After years of bleaching her hair and constantly using hot tools without aheat protectant, NBC Select associate reporterBianca Alvarezhas undergone a hair recovery journey using repairing products like this shampoo for herdamaged hair. I use two pumps of this shampoo and it creates such a luxurious lather in my hair that even after rinsing out this creamy foam, my hair always feels clean but also less dry, brittle and dull, says Alvarez. It s been a staple for me and I never feel bad when I run out of it because it doesn t hurt my budget when shopping like other shampoo options I own and love.

Best for itchy scalps:

Dove Dermacare Scalp

Dove DermaCare Scalp

• Good for dandruff
• Helps an itchy scalp

• Nothing to note at this time

If you struggle with dandruff or flakes, look for shampoos like this Dove option, which has pyrithione zinc. Pyrithione zinc has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, and it helps with inflammation and itch, says King. This drugstore shampoo has a mild formula that balances pH levels, meaning that it can decrease yeast on the skin without causing irritation, she says. (Yeast can cause stubborndandruff or flaky patches.)

Best shampoo alternative:

Raw Sugar Rosemary Vinegar Hair Rinse Shampoo Alternative

Raw Sugar Rosemary Vinegar Hair Rinse Shampoo Alternative

• Stimulates scalp
• Easy to apply
• Adds shine

• Doesn’t replace full hair wash

After being sent this shampoo alternative by Raw Sugar for testing, Brown, who says she s usually really bad at taking care of her scalp when she has braids, found this to be an easy solution to cleansing her scalp. She loves the shampoo s clean scent and nozzle applicator, which she says is easy to navigate around her braids and apply the shampoo directly to her scalp. It also relieves any itchiness and hardly has a lather, so rinsing it off never feels daunting, she says.

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How to shop for a drugstore shampoo

It s worth noting that there is a difference between affordable drugstore shampoos and more expensive options, according to the experts we spoke to. Drugstore shampoos typically have more filler ingredients like sulfates, excess water and chemicals, says Rose. Salon-quality products, on the other hand, tend to have more vitamins and minerals that are actually beneficial to the hair, she says. In fact, most of the hair stylists we spoke to do not use, and therefore are not familiar with many drugstore shampoos.

Still, not everyone can or is willing to pay for higher-end shampoo. Moreover, with shampoos, like any hair product on the market, there really is no one size fits all option, says Rose. The best thing you can do is understand your hair type and look at the first five ingredients listed on the bottle, which on average make up 97% of a product s volume, says trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology,William Gaunitz.

In general though, here are a few rules to keep in mind:

• 
  Go gentle
  
  : Gentle surfactants are good for cleaning, says King. In shampoos, surfactants are the cleansing agent that help get rid of dirt, oil or residue. Harsh cleansers you want to avoid include sodium lauryl sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate, according to our experts. Instead look for sodium lauryl sarcosinate or cocamidopropyl betaine, according to New York City-based trichologist and hair health expert
  
  Shab Caspara
  
  . Another option to consider are coconut oil-derived surfactants, says Gaunitz.
• 
  Avoid fillers
  
  : Avoid potentially damaging filler ingredients like propylene glycol and formaldehyde, which can cause scalp inflammation, says Gaunitz.
• 
  Check your hair type
  
  : For an oily scalp, salicylic acid and/or apple cider vinegar can be helpful because they re good at removing that excess sebum (an oily substance produced by the scalp), according to King. For dry or damaged hair, look for a formulation that contains humectants, emollients and occlusives, says King. For dandruff, ingredients like pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfide will benefit the scalp, says King. If you have a sensitive scalp or skin, look for a paraben-free shampoo, according to Alfonso.

Frequently asked questions

The difference between a salon-level shampoo and a drugstore option is in the fine print. As mentioned, drugstore shampoos often have more fillers like sulfates or excess water ingredients that do nothing for the hair’s health and some can even damage hair over time, says Rose . In comparison, s alon-quality products tend to have more beneficial vitamins and minerals. Drugstore shampoos that have nearly identical ingredients to salon shampoos are typically less concentrated, so you ll need to use more product with each wash , she says.

That depends. Rose recommendswashing your hairone to two times a week if you have a dry scalp. A normal/balanced scalp should be washed about every three days, and a combination scalp (has areas of more oily patches and areas of dry patches) should wash every other day. Lastly , Rose recommends those with an oily scalp type should wash daily, or every other day, depending on how their hair looks at the end of the day. If you re someone who sweats every day, you should be washing your hair daily to ensure that sweat isn’t clogging your hair follicles, she says.

But beware that the same rules do not apply if you have an inflammatory scalp condition likeseborrheic dermatitis, says Gaunitz. Those with scalp issues should be washing their hair on a daily basis, or the very minimum every 48 hours, according to Gaunitz.

The biggest mistake people make is not getting all the shampoo out, which can clog hair follicles over time. Consider splitting your hair into sections while rinsing the shampoo out to ensure you re cleansing your entire scalp. Rose also recommends double cleansing your scalp and hair: The first round removes any dirt, oil and product build-up on the scalp, while the second part actually cleanses the hair follicles adequately, Rose says. Adding in a clarifying shampoo once a week to remove buildup is also a great hack, she says.

Using conditioners and cream- or oil-based products helps avoid dryness and breakage, according to King. As we know, harsh detergents like sulfates can dry out the cuticle, as can hair gels and sprays that contain alcohol or other drying ingredients, she says.

How you towel dry your hair is important too, says Rose: Two of the easiest changes you can make for a big difference in hair health are switching to a microfiber towel instead of a regular towel, and switching to satin/silk pillowcases, says Rose. Using gentle fabrics can prevent any damage caused by friction. I

f you re styling your hair after showering, hot tools likeflat ironscan also dry out the hair cuticle, increasing the risk of damage and breakage, says King.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• 
  Dr. Hadley King
  

  is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

• 
  Taylor Rose
  

  is a certified trichologist and hair health expert.

• 
  Francesca Maria Alfonso
  

  is a celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist.

• 
  William Gaunitz
  

  is a certified trichologist and the founder of

  Advanced Trichology

  .

Why trust NBC Select?

I am aformer editorfor NBC Select. For this story, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists and professional hairstylists about the best drugstore shampoos, including product recommendations and advice on how to shop for your own.

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