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If you’ve scrolled on TikTok at any point in 2025, you might have noticed that the best drugstore shampoos are capital-B back. Influencers and influencees alike are taking a break from higher-end brands and reaching for the formulas they used in yesteryear. You also may have clocked that sulfates and silicones—once ingredients to avoid, especially in the wake of the “clean beauty” movement—are now being revered for making hair extra shiny and suds extra sudsy. So, what’s the deal? And if you’re opting for budget hair care, what’s the best of the bunch? We spoke to editors and experts to get the lowdown on drugstore shampoos, how they compare to high-end options, and how to pick the right one for you.
Our Top Drugstore Shampoos
- Best Overall: Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Hydrating Shampoo, $10
- Best Volumizing: Odele Volumizing Shampoo, $12
- Best for Coily Hair: Creme of Nature Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo, $5
- Best for Oily Hair: Eva NYC Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo, $14
- Best for Sensitive Scalps: CeraVe 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner, $12
- Best for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Bare Pure Clean, $20 (2-Pack)
- Best Moisturizing: Milk_Shake Moisture & More Shampoo, $28
- Best Anti-Frizz: Kristin Ess The One Signature Shampoo, $12
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo, $24
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Is there a difference between drugstore shampoo and higher-end shampoo?
- Are silicones bad for your hair?
- How should I choose a drugstore shampoo?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
Dove
Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
Amazon (Shampoo)
Amazon (Conditioner)
Why it's worth it: In the Allure dictionary, "all-in-one" roughly translates to "Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Hydrating Shampoo." This 2024 Best of Beauty winner delivers intense moisture without heaviness, thanks to panthenol (vitamin B3), vitamin E, zinc, and peptides that tackle dryness from root to tip. Scalp-targeting ingredients also clear buildup that blocks moisture retention and weighs hair down. It has all the power of a deep-conditioning treatment but is mild enough for daily use. And, like all things Dove, it smells clean and classic.
Tester feedback from Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin
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Tending to my scalp isn't a temporal thing for me—between the heat-styling, the curly hair creams, and the dandruff, I've got a lot to maintain. I love using clarifying shampoos to help me start with a clean slate, but I don't love how drying they can be on the scalp or how they can leave your hair looking limp and straw-like. Enter: the Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy shampoo and conditioner. It's something I can use every time I shower to nourish my scalp, rehydrate it, and add volume to my hair while I'm at it. It's definitely a more premium product from Dove, so you may be surprised when you receive it (in terms of the product size and fancy-ish packaging), but this formula truly warrants it. The clarifying shampoo lathers easily, the conditioner hydrates my hair, and its scent is noticeable but not too strong. I can't say that it added noticeable density to my strands, but it certainly didn't hurt, and my hair overall seemed happier and healthier.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vitamin B3, vitamin E, zinc, and peptides
- Who it’s for: everyone, especially those with dry hair lacking volume
- Size: 9.25 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best Volumizing: Odele Volumizing Shampoo
Odele
Volumizing Shampoo
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Pop open Odele’s Volumizing Shampoo and you’re hit with crisp notes of cucumber, oakmoss, and ylang-ylang. But it’s more than just a pretty-smelling shampoo: This lightweight formula adds volume and gently cleanses, lifting away buildup without stripping. Rice protein strengthens and plumps fine or flat strands, while caudatus seed extract delivers shine. Color-safe and sulfate-free, it leaves hair soft, full of body, and turns an everyday wash into a ritual you’ll actually look forward to.
Tester feedback from Allure content director Kara McGrath
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“Since I bleach my hair, I find a lot of volumizing shampoos don't work for me. Since the point of them is to lift your strands up, brands skip on any heavy moisturizing ingredients that might weigh them down instead. But I need that moisture for my poor, chemically fried blonde! With this shampoo, Odele seems to have found the perfect balance. When I use it alongside the conditioner, my hair looks shiny and healthy, but not flat.” —Kara McGrath, content director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: rice protein, amino acids
- Who it’s for: those lacking volume
- Size: 13 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Coily Hair: Creme of Nature Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo
Creme of Nature
Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo
Walmart
Why it’s worth it: If your hair lives in the Type 3 or 4 category, you already know your curls crave maximum moisture without the sulfates. Enter 2025 Best of Beauty Award -winner for Best Shampoo for Kinky Hair, Creme of Nature Argan Oil from Morocco Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo, a formula that skips the usual drying culprits (alcohol, mineral oil, and petrolatum included) and leans on, you guessed it, argan oil—one of the richest hydrators out there—to ensure curls are cleansed without compromising their natural texture or bounce.
Tester feedback from Allure creative director Amber Venerable
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“This shampoo lathers so well with the tiniest drop and cleanses gently without stripping my hair of necessary oils." —Amber Venerable, creative director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: argan oil
- Who it’s for: those with curly, coily hair
- Size: 12 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Oily Hair: Eva NYC Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo
Eva NYC
Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: A drugstore gem, Eva NYC makes an excellent shampoo (and conditioner) for those with oily hair who want a super deep cleanse in one go. The Take Care Healthy Hair Wash strikes the perfect balance between bougie and budget (you'll find it at Ulta and CVS). Packed with nourishing amino acids and coconut-derived surfactants, it restores shine and hydration without stripping, while delivering a weightless cleanse that leaves hair light, soft, and never weighed down. And fear not, blondes, brunettes, and every bun in between, it's safe for color-treated hair. As for the scent? A dreamy blend of ylang-ylang, bergamot, honeysuckle, lavender, and sandalwood transports you to an island escape.? A dreamy blend of ylang-ylang, bergamot, honeysuckle, lavender, and sandalwood.
Tester feedback from Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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"With curly hair, it's often recommended to wash your hair less frequently to preserve moisture and prevent drying out your already fragile strands. I try my best to adhere to an every two- or three-day schedule, but when life calls for frequent washing, I reach for Eva NYC's Take Care Healthy Hair Shampoo. It's a no-frills formula in the best way—just a solid, gentle cleanse. My hair is pretty fine and easily weighed down, so I can't use hydrating or bonding formulas too often, and clarifying shampoos are too harsh for everyday use. This shampoo is an effective cleanser and adds a touch of softness and shine, a true Goldilocks product." —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: amino acids, lactic acid
- Who it’s for: those with oily hair
- Size: 10 oz
- Sulfate-free: no
Best Two-in-One: CeraVe 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
CeraVe
2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve ever tried CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream, you know it’s a drugstore MVP for delivering deep hydration without upsetting sensitive skin. The same goes for its new 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner, which makes wash day one step shorter and a lot gentler. It does double duty—cleansing and conditioning in one step—leaving your hair silky, not stripped. The formula blends barrier-repairing ceramides, moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, and soothing niacinamide to calm the scalp, banish flakes, and lock in hydration. Plus, it’s fragrance- and sulfate-free, safe for color-treated hair.
Tester feedback from Allure senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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“My scalp is fussy in between seasons: As soon as the weather starts to shift, it gets incredibly itchy and I get showered in flakes. I used to use coal tar shampoos, but they inevitably leave my strands feeling like straw and smelling like chemicals. This shampoo helps treat my dandruff without the stink, leaving it looking smooth and not feeling like straw.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 1% pyrithione zinc, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide
- Who it’s for: those with dry, sensitive scalps
- Size: 12 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Bare Pure Clean
Head & Shoulders
BARE Pure Clean
Walmart
Amazon (2-Pack)
Why it's worth it: An Allure drugstore mainstay, Head & Shoulders' Bare Pure Clean Shampoo landed on our desks in 2024 and promptly earned itself a Best of Beauty BoB Award. Targeting dandruff like a pro, this lightly coconut water-scented shampoo regulates flakiness without stripping or drying, thanks to zinc pyrithione (ZPT). The antibacterial and antifungal compound soothes and controls oil production so you get a deep cleanse sans irritation. And fun fact: The bottle is flexible and can be rolled up like a toothpaste tube to get every last drop out before you recycle and restock.
Tester feedback from Allure social media manager Bianca Richards
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"I love that this shampoo builds to a really thick, foamy lather, allowing me to thoroughly massage it into my scalp. I also appreciate the warm, coconut water-inspired scent, which left my hair smelling so good that my husband commented on it.” —Bianca Richards, social media manager
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 1% zinc pyrithione
- Who it’s for: those with a flaky scalp
- Size: 13.5 oz ounces
- Sulfate-free: no
Best Moisturizing: Milk_Shake Moisture & More Shampoo
Milk_Shake
Moisture & More Shampoo
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: Finding a shampoo that delivers the same bounce and hydration as a fresh blowout is no easy feat—but Milk_Shake’s Moisture & More Shampoo comes close. A cocktail of hyaluronic acid, milk proteins, fruit extracts, and niacinamide provides hydration and antioxidant protection to keep strands strong and silky. It lathers into a rich foam with a tropical papaya scent (like a mini vacation in your shower), and once you rinse, hair feels soft, light, and noticeably shinier.
Tester feedback from Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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“My hair is naturally frizzy and dry (womp, womp), so smooth and shiny aren’t usually in the cards. But after trying Milk_Shake’s Moisture & More Shampoo, I was pleasantly shocked—my stubborn strands actually listened. Once dry, my hair felt soft, brushable, and hydrated, with ends that looked noticeably smoother instead of their usual frayed state.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, milk proteins, fruit extracts, niacinamide
- Who it’s for: those with dry hair
- Size: 10 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best Anti-Frizz: Kristin Ess The One Signature Shampoo
Kristin Ess
The One Signature Shampoo
Amazon
Walmart
Why it's worth it: Kristin Ess's The One Signature Shampoo is suds for the people—shine-boosting, moisturizing, and always super clean-feeling. It features Zip-Up Technology, the brand's strengthening complex designed to "zip-up" split ends, sealing and protecting the cuticle and preventing all signs of frizz. Plus, it’s packed with pro-vitamin B5, algae extract, mango seed butter, avocado oil, and castor seed oil to deliver serious nourishment straight to the hair shaft. The fragrance is equally luxe, blending ambrette seed, pear water, sandalwood, and white amber.
Tester feedback from Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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“I have thick hair and use a lot of hair products, so any shampoo in my shower has to give me a seriously deep clean. This one from Kristin Ess gets the job done—it suds up nicely and removes dry shampoo and curl cream buildup without drying my hair out. This is key for me because I always shampoo twice before using my conditioner of choice, so it's important that my shampoo isn't too stripping. I'm also obsessed with the scent—it's light and clean, but lasts for hours after my shower. The matching conditioner is pretty great, too!” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: pro-vitamin B5, algae extract, mango seed butter, avocado oil, and castor seed oil
- Who it’s for: those with dry, frizz-prone hair
- Size: 10 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo
Biolage
Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: Stretching the time between salon visits doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking. A 2025 Beauty Award winner, Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo uses soybean oil and stearic acid to keep highlights bright, brunettes glossy, and reds vibrant long after your appointment. The duo doesn’t skimp on the salon experience either—a clean, floral scent smells like a fresh blowout, while the formulas leave hair fresh, soft, and deeply cleansed. For blondes (and every shade in between) that fade too fast, consider this your new color insurance.
Tester feedback from Allure senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
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“This Biolage shampoo-and-conditioner combo has become one of my absolute staples. Its quality is unmatched, and every moment of applying this product screams salon luxury. It provides a thorough clean and deep-conditioning, smells amazing, and brightens my blonde almost instantly. As someone who has been actively trying to delay my highlights appointments, I can visibly see this product extending the life of my color over time.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
More to know
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- Key ingredients: soybean oil and stearic acid
- Who it’s for: those with color-treated hair
- Size: 13.5 oz
- Sulfate-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between drugstore shampoo and higher-end shampoo?
Drugstore shampoos and their higher-end salon counterparts share the same core goal—to clean your hair—but key differences explain the price gap.
AJ Addae, a Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist, told Allure that pricier shampoos—especially sulfate-free ones—often use higher-quality coconut oil-derived cleansing agents like cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate. Cost also comes down to sensory elements like foam promoters, fragrance, and active ingredient delivery. "Lower-priced shampoos tend to either skip on fancy actives or utilize surfactants like sulfates, which are both a surfactant and a foam booster, to save on costs," Addae explained.
Cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowsk, based in Chicago, adds that drugstore shampoos often prioritize instant results over long-term benefits like bond-building because quick gratification keeps customers coming back.
Are silicones bad for your hair?
According to Allure's previous reporting, silicones aren't the boogeyman they're often made out to be. On The Science of Beauty podcast, Romanowski explained that silicones create a film on strands but shouldn't be mistaken for a clogging, "occlusive sheath." "That's a huge exaggeration," he noted. Plus, silicones are already in many of your favorite hair oils—even the ones often perceived as "clean." "Most natural oils have the consistency of olive oil," Romanowski explained, adding that it's silicones that give these products the texture and styling benefits customers love.
How should I choose a drugstore shampoo?
You should choose a drugstore shampoo like you’d pick a high-end one: based on your hair concerns and goals. While drugstore options may be less expensive and slightly less sophisticated, they still offer a variety of targeted formulas. Sensitive scalps should go for gentle, soothing options, curly hair thrives with curl-specific formulas, dry strands need hydration-focused shampoos, etc. If your skin is particular about ingredients, check in with your board-certified dermatologist to determine what to prioritize and what to avoid.
Meet the experts
- AJ Addae, a Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist and CEO of Sula Labs
- Perry Romanowski, a Chicago-based cosmetic chemist
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best drugstore shampoos, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists—who have all kinds of hair and hair goals. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
