For most people, shampoo and conditioner are two nonnegotiable products. We all use them. There’s also a good chance shampoo and conditioner are items you’ll randomly pick up during a trip to the drugstore. But you might want to consider choosing this duo a little more carefully.
Everyone’s hair has different needs. For example, my hair is extremely thick and wavy, so when I shop for shampoo and conditioner, I typically opt for something with tons of moisture to help detangle and smooth flyaways. Someone with fine hair, however, might want products that add volume at the root and build body. One thing we should all avoid? Sulfates. “I do recommend looking for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, as these tend to be more gentle and less harsh, drying, or irritating to the hair and scalp than those that contain harsh sulfates,” says Howard McLaren, co-founder and creative director of R+Co.
Once you’ve landed on the right shampoo and conditioner, it’s also important to consider how you use these products. “I recommend not shampooing every day,” says McLaren. “Dry shampoos can help keep the hair and scalp clean and refreshed in between washings, but typically, most people can wash their hair two to four times per week. People that tend to have dry, coarse, or frizz-prone hair wash less frequently, and those that have fine or oil-prone scalps tend to wash a bit more often.” When it comes to application, McLaren recommends shampooing your scalp and conditioning the rest of your hair.
Keep reading to find the best shampoo and conditioner for you. I’ve included picks for every hair type, texture, and color. Get ready for the best hair you’ve ever had.
Made with all hair types and textures in mind, this shampoo-and-conditioner duo helps soften and strengthen hair while adding shine. Juniper-berry extract helps balance oil production on your scalp, while glycerin, panthenol, and babassu-seed oil infuse hair with moisture. Plus, marigold-flower extract works to hydrate the scalp, which aids in eliminating dandruff.
This set is vegan, sulphate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and color-safe. The shampoo is slightly clarifying, so it helps remove oil and product buildup without stripping, and the conditioner provides weightless hydration while detangling.
Vegetable proteins help texturize hair and create lift at the roots to pump up volume. The conditioner also helps plump and repair each strand for soft, more voluminous-looking hair. This duo also smells incredibly refreshing.
Thick hair needs a moisture boost without being weighed down by a heavy product. This duo from JVN Hair helps minimize frizz and smooth flyaways while providing lightweight hydration that doesn’t leave you feeling like you have a curtain on your head.
These products from Bread Beauty Supply are favorites of Who What Wear associate beauty editor Shawna Hudson. “I always come back to these two gems,” she says. “They’re truly some of the best products for curls I’ve ever used. The hair wash is really creamy and gentle and smells amazing, and the deep conditioner always leaves my hair ultrasoft.”
This unique cleanser-and-conditioner duo is another favorite for Hudson. “I adore this brand,” she says. “Not only are the founders incredible, but my curls just really love these products. I was skeptical about using the shampoo at first because it does contain seeds, and I have thick hair, but they washed out so easily that I barely even noticed. The conditioner is just next-level. Usually, since I have pretty dry hair, my curls would always be parched the day after washing when I’d use other conditioners, but this conditioner absolutely does the trick. I think the secret ingredient is kokum butter, a tropical Indian fruit that really softens and nourishes your hair.”
This set was made specifically for wavy hair. They’re formulated to nourish over-processed and damaged hair to help amplify natural texture. You’ll end up with smooth, strong hair that’s free of flyaways and frizz.
Unfortunately, straight hair can easily look limp and lifeless if you don’t use the proper products. This pair breathes life into straight hair by infusing it with tons of body and volume, giving hair movement. Hyaluronic acid and ceramides plump and nourish each strand.
This is the first shampoo and conditioner I was ever loyal to. For just $3 each, this set packs a punch. Avocado and jojoba-seed oil add a ton of moisture and hydration without weighing down your hair.
While it can be easy to write off a shampoo or conditioner that retails for $87 a pop, there’s a reason for the price when it comes to Sisley-Paris. The shampoo is a dense foam infused with macadamia oil to gently cleanse, and the conditioner smooths hair cuticles, providing a trove of moisture.
At this point, Olaplex has cornered the hair-damage market. The brand’s shampoo and conditioner work just like its other offerings to help maintain hair bonds via patented rebuilding technology. The result is hair that’s healthier, shinier, and smoother.
If you’re hoping to hold on to your hair color for as long as possible before it begins fading, try reaching for this shampoo and conditioner from Redken. Cranberry oil and a color-care complex will help your color last as long as humanly possible.
Though my hair is now almost black, I used to highlight it blonde. After one round of highlights left me with hair that was veering on orange, I tried many purple shampoos and conditioners, but I didn’t find success until I tried this duo from Joico. It brightens blonde without making it look too ashy, and it doesn’t strip moisture from hair as many violet-toned options do.
Many people suffer from a dry, irritated, or itchy scalp at some point, which can often result in dandruff. If you’re dealing with flakes, this duo is different—the shampoo has micro-exfoliants to lift away buildup and cleanse hair, while the hair mask has tea-tree oil to cool and soothe.
Vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and phthalate-free, this duo is safe for all hair types and textures. The shampoo has hydrating and cleansing ingredients like coconut water and sugar beet extract, and the conditioner is a blend of baobab and Amazonian oils for a heap of hydration.
These sunny picks from Oribe help strengthen hair from root to tip while also preventing hair loss. Chia-seed oil, fermented bamboo leaf, and protein get deep into the hair shaft to strengthen the cuticle and build elasticity, which creates the perfect environment for hair growth.
Yes, brunettes need toning shampoo too. A blue shampoo helps neutralize any orange tones that can crop up in brunette hair, so you can keep your color fresh for as long as possible. These products from Eva NYC neutralize brass and impart tons of shine.
Co-washes are a great option for textured hair that’s also on the dry side, as it gently cleanses while its conditions. With agave and shea butter, this one deeply moisturizes and nourishes.
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