The 6 Best Shampoos of 2025

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.