Some of us live for our hair, frequenting the salon for deep conditioning masks or blowouts, and buying the latest styling tools or trendy hair care lines. The rest of us barely remember to grab a bottle of shampoo during a late-night store run for something else.
Whichever camp you fall into, you deserve a quality shampoo that suits your hair type and budget. I talked to dermatologists and hair experts about what to look for in a shampoo and rounded up expert-recommended and NBC Select staff-favorite options to consider.
How I picked the best shampoos
Here are a few factors dermatologists recommend considering when shopping for a shampoo:
- Hair type and texture: Choose a shampoo that suits your specific hair type and concerns. If you have dry hair, use moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and argan oil. Those with oily hair should consider using clarifying agents like tea tree oil, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. For color-treated hair, opt for sulfate-free shampoos to maintain the color, as well as color-depositing shampoos to help preserve a specific shade (for example, you’ll want a purple shampoo for blonde and gray hair). Damaged hair will benefit from shampoos with proteins like keratin. “Avoid harsh sulfates, parabens and synthetic fragrances regardless of hair type,” says Green.
- Scalp issues: For scalp conditions like dandruff, choose a shampoo with ketoconazole, which is an antifungal ingredient that helps treat fungal scalp infections like dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, says Green.
- Price: Shampoos vary widely in price. Below, I included budget-friendly options under $10, as well as splurge-worthy options that are $50 and above. Most shampoos on this list fall in the $10-$20 range.
Related
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
Best shampoos of 2025
Below, I rounded up dermatologist-recommended and NBC Select staff-favorite shampoos for most hair types and any scalp issues, including psoriasis and thinning hair.
Best for dry, sensitive scalp
This Vanicream shampoo is free of parabens, sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate, which can irritate the scalp and dry out hair) and fragrances that can cause flaking, itching and rashes, says dermatologist Dr. Rina Weimann. The shampoo is compatible with all hair textures, according to Vanicream.
Best clarifying shampoo
This Ouai shampoo is a favorite of NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin for her thick, curly hair. “I shampoo my curls with this once a week to do a deep clean. I only need a little bit to cover my mid-length hair, and it develops a thick lather as I work it in,” she says. “It almost immediately makes my hair feel softer — I could easily run a comb through it with the shampoo alone, no conditioner needed, which I can’t say about most other shampoos I’ve tried.” She also loves that this shampoo gets rid of all the buildup from products she uses, like gels and creams, so her curls and scalp feel much cleaner.
Best for dandruff
This is our favorite overall expert-recommended dandruff shampoo because it relieves flaking and itching, plus it’s suitable for all hair types and textures, according to the brand. It’s the only over-the-counter option that has ketoconazole in it, which my experts say is the best anti-yeast medication. (Yeast, specifically Malassezia yeast, is linked to dandruff.) You should use this shampoo twice a week in place of your normal shampoo, according to the brand.
Best for oily hair
Celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago recommends this shampoo in our roundup of favorites for oily hair. It removes buildup, makes hair feel clean after just one wash and is safe for color-treated hair, says Santiago. NBC Select contributor Michelle Rostamian has gone through a bottle of this shampoo and loves how well it clarifies her scalp, especially after hair styling and product usage. Keep in mind that because it has peppermint oil, it tingles, so be wary of touching your eyes in the shower after using it.
Best for volume
I love using Odele’s volumizing shampoo on my fine hair because it makes my hair look and feel thicker over time, according to the brand. It’s sulfate-free and has cocamidopropyl betaine to cleanse, which is a gentler cleansing agent and won’t dry out or damage your hair, says Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
Best budget-friendly
King recommends this budget-friendly Dove shampoo because it’s made with pyrithione zinc, an ingredient that has antibacterial and antifungal properties, she says. The shampoo is safe for color-treated hair and can decrease yeast on the scalp without causing irritation, says King. If you’re dealing with dandruff on dry, damaged hair, King advises shampooing four times a week to minimize flares.
Best for thinning hair
If you have thinning hair, the best topical ingredient to look for is minoxidil, which has been clinically shown to promote hair growth in both men and women, says Weimann. (Minoxidil is found in Rogaine, for example.) If you don’t have access to minoxidil or want to pair it with a hair thickening treatment, Green recommends this Nioxin shampoo, which has peppermint oil, niacinamide and biotin to thicken hair, she says. Nioxin has several hair systems to target different levels of thinning, too.
Best for fine hair
This shampoo won an NBC Select Wellness Award for fine hair because it volumizes, strengthens and hydrates hair while also exfoliating the scalp. I have very fine hair, so few shampoos actually work at creating volume and not weighing down my hair — this is one of the only options that actually makes my hair look thicker, to the point where I get compliments from friends and family. It’s definitely on the pricey side, but it’s very worth it, in my experience. The shampoo is also oil- and paraben-free, which means it’s safe to use on color-treated hair, according to Revitalash. To apply, the brand recommends gently massaging it into the scalp and letting it sit for up to two minutes before rinsing.
Best for curly hair
Ouidad makes some of our favorite co-washes, and it’s a favorite brand among our curly-haired staff. “Curly hair requires so much product daily. I feel like nothing really cleans my scalp or hair well from all the gunk. This shampoo does,” says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider. It’s a nourishing cleansing oil that mimics your hair’s natural oils, so it gently cleanses without stripping moisture from your curls, according to the brand.
Best for natural hair
This shampoo comes recommended by Dani Priester, owner of Haus of Beauty Salon in Englewood, New Jersey, in our guide to the best natural hair products. It hydrates, softens and detangles your hair and doesn’t strip it of its natural oils (stripping natural hair can lead to damage and breakage), she says. “They perfectly hydrate for the natural-haired, and those with any type of real texture,” says Priester.
Best luxe pick for curly hair
“I have textured hair and multiple curl patterns throughout my head, so I don’t drive myself crazy trying to find products that serve one specific curl ‘type.’ My main objective is just discovering single ingredients that make my hair happy, and anything with almond is on top of that list,” says NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown. “It’s super luxurious and thick, in my opinion, so I only need a little per wash, which means one bottle lasts me a while (a plus given the price).” Brown recommends pairing this shampoo with the brand’s curl conditioner.
Best shampoo bar
“The shower is the last place I want to feel cramped and surrounded by products: major anxiety alert. This is why I use bar soap for head-to-toe cleansing — they take up less space and waste and satisfy my minimalist approach to skin care,” says Brown. “This soap, a gift from the brand, has been in my regular rotation for months. It lathers up nicely and smells amazing, especially in the morning when I need a little sensorial pick-me-up. My hair feels and looks clean after each use, but doesn’t leave behind the squeaky, dry feeling that’s typical with clarifying formulas.
Best for dry hair
This SheaMoisture shampoo is a favorite of NBC Select video producer Josh Rios for his “chronically dry hair,” he says. “I’ve used other products before to maintain moisture in my hair and this has been the best so far without leaving me feeling like I can’t touch my hair for most of the day,” says Rios. “I love that it doesn’t build up in my hair as much as other products I’ve tried.”
Best baby shampoo
Babies deserve quality shampoo, too, even if the hair on their head is still growing in. Weimann recommends this gentle shampoo for babies (and adults with sensitive skin). “It lacks harsh ingredients that typically trigger dry, flaking skin in newborns and infants such as sulfates, parabens, fragrance and phthalates,” she says. You can also use this shampoo as a body wash, according to the brand.
Best for length
This shampoo is a favorite of NBC Select intern Kalohe Danbara, who has fine, straight hair. “My hair has gotten much longer and fuller since switching to this shampoo,” says Danbara. “It also smells amazing, which is a huge plus.” The shampoo has biotin, a B-vitamin that helps hair grow stronger, according to the brand.
Best purple shampoo
Purple shampoo has violet pigments to tone and neutralize blonde or gray hair, which counteracts unwanted brassiness and yellow/orange hues that can develop over time, experts say. One of our favorite expert-recommended purple shampoos for platinum blondes, color-treated blondes, silvers and grays, this Milk_shake option makes the fastest and most noticeable difference in removing unwanted undertones, according to online reviewers. You don’t need to let the product sit on your hair for more than a few minutes for it to work, plus it conditions your scalp and strengthens the hair, according to the brand.
Best dry shampoo
You can use a dry shampoo up to three times a week between washes to add volume and keep your hair looking clean and not greasy, according to experts in our guide to dry shampoos. This Dove dry shampoo comes recommended by Weimann because it’s affordable and isn’t too drying on the scalp, which helps prevent brittle or hardened hair, she says. “This dry shampoo helps to soak up the grease while maintaining hair moisture,” says Weimann.
How to find the best shampoo for your hair
Shampooing removes dirt and product buildup from your scalp and hair. But frequent shampooing, or overwashing, can strip away the natural oils that help hydrate and nourish hair, resulting in a dry scalp, dehydrated strands, hair loss and hair thinning, says Weimann.
The best thing you can do to find a quality shampoo that’s right for you is to determine what’s best for your hair type or texture, experts say. For example, brands like Design Essentials and Briogeo specialize in coarse hair, while Ouidad is well-known for collections targeting curl patterns.
This is what to look for in a shampoo based on your hair and scalp type, according to my experts:
- Oily or acne-prone scalp: Salicylic acid and/or apple cider vinegar can be helpful for an oily scalp. Make sure to exfoliate your scalp and use oil-absorbing ingredients like apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, salicylic acid and charcoal, says King.
- Dry, damaged or frizzy hair: Look for moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, glycerin, dimethicone and jojoba and coconut oils. Coconut oil is especially good for dry, frizzy hair because it moistures and nourishes the hair shaft, says Weimann. She recommends massaging the coconut oil in the hair away from the roots (start closer to the ends) to avoid a greasy scalp at bedtime. “I frequently recommend my patients think of coconut oil as a hair mask,” says Weimann.
- Fine hair: Consider a formula without occlusives and opt for light emollients to increase body, says King. Look for gentler cleansing ingredients like sodium lauryl sarcosinate or cocamidopropyl betaine, she says.
- Dandruff: Look for active ingredients like pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfide. Avoid shampoos with harsh detergents (like sulfates) because they can dry out the cuticle, making the issue worse, says King.
- Coarse or curly hair: Look for co-washes, which take shampoo out of the equation entirely and replace the cleansing detergents with oils to cleanse the hair and scalp, according to experts in our guide to co-washes.
If you’re unsure about your hair type or which shampoo to use, consult a board-certified dermatologist.
Related
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. Michele Green is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Rina Weimann is a dermatologist who performs adult and pediatric medical dermatology, skin cancer treatment and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an updates editor at NBC Select who has written about skin care, hair care and wellness since 2021. For this article, I spoke to three dermatologists about how to shop for the best shampoos for different hair and scalp types. I also rounded up expert-recommended and NBC Select staff-favorite shampoos to consider.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
