SHAMPOO is one of the few beauty products that everyone uses, but finding the right one is where the challenge lies.
Discovering the best shampoo for your hair type has the power to completely elevate the appearance of your locks, taking them from dull and lifeless to sleek and shiny.
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There really is a shampoo for every hair concern, whether it’s down to excessive bleaching or an oily scalp.
When picking out a shampoo, the factors to consider include how effectively it cleans the hair, how it improves hair health, long-term effects and the price.
We’ve tried-and-tested some of the most popular shampoos in the beauty world to see if they’re worth it, from viral favourites to budget buys.
Best shampoos at a glance
How we tested
We tried every shampoo included across several hair washes to determine the immediate effectiveness and long-term effects.
Our testers assessed how each shampoo felt during and after use, and how effectively they held up up to their promise.
The shampoos have been tested on fine, damaged and coloured hair, and on hair extensions to see how they would hold up against different hair types.
We tried a variety of different shampoos including purple, clarifying and intensely hydrating shampoos, at a range of price points that span from £8 to £35.
Best shampoos tried & tested
Color Wow Colour Security Shampoo
Color Wow Colour Security Shampoo, £15.48 (was £21.50)
Pros: Feels lightweight, lovely scent, leaves hair looking shiny, lathers well
Cons: Could be more hydrating
Rating: 9.5/10
Nothing makes my hair feel cleaner that Color Wow’s Colour Security Shampoo.
I love everything about this shampoo, from the gorgeous scent to the way it lathers, and especially how lightweight it feels.
It’s not the cheapest (although it’s often on sale at Amazon), but I think it’s worth it for how fresh and shiny my hair feels every time.
Suitable for all hair types, the shampoo is free from sulphates, silicones and other ingredients that weight the hair down, which is ideal if you have fine hair or extensions like me.
My hair always looks shiny after using and I’ve noticed that I haven’t had as much frizz, although I do wish it was slightly more hydrating.
Every Color Wow product I’ve tried, I’ve loved — and the Color Security Shampoo is absolutely no exception.
Reviewed by Sophie Bates
Best for: Colour treated hair Size: 250ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? Yes
Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo
Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo, £23.13 (was £25.70)
Pros: Feels luxurious, great for damaged hair, leaves hair feeling soft
Cons: Would prefer a longer-lasting scent
Rating: 9/10
Redken was one of the first shampoo brand’s to take a scientific approach to haircare.
The Acidic Bonding Shampoo has been going viral recently (with the help of Sabrina Carpenter as the product’s ambassador).
Infused with citric acid and a bonding care complex, the shampoo is designed to seal the hair’s cuticles and protect weakened bonds to repair damaged and bleached hair.
The consistency feels lightweight, and I noticed a glossy finish to my hair after the first use.
I haven’t used it enough yet to determine whether it helps with hair health as promise, but it’s here to stay in my routine.
Reviewed by Sophie Bates
Best for: Damaged hair, Size: 300ml, Sulphate-free? No, Silicone-free? Yes
Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo
Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo, £8
Pros: Salon results without the price tag, lightweight hydration that doesn’t weigh hair down, safe for coloured hair
Cons: Clunky packaging
Rating: 9/10
I have never been as loyal to a beauty as I have to Arkive The All Day Everyday Shampoo.
My hair just about reaches my hips, so my ends need all the hydration they can get, but it is also fine, which means my roots get greasy quickly, so it’s not as simple as piling on moisturising leave-in products post shower as I’ll be an oil slick the next day.
I need a lightweight, hydrating shampoo to cleanse my scalp /and/ nourish the lengths of my hair, and magically, it does it all.
A little goes a really long way, it lathers well to remove product build up (dry shampoo is my hero) and it smells delicious – with zesty rhubarb and orange alongside vanilla and musk.
My hair feels silky soft and detangled, but not weighed down.
I often find hair products plateau after you’ve used them for a couple of months – but I’m still getting compliments most days about how shiny and healthy my hair looks!
At £12, it way out-performs other shampoos I’ve tried that’re five times the price.
Reviewed by Tara Ledden
Best for: Dry, colour treated hair Size: 250ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? Yes
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Shampoo
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Shampoo, £34.43 (was £38.25)
Pros: Instant results, great for any level of damage or colour, leaves hair soft, shiny and strong, only need a pea size amount even on thick hair, salon grade
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 9/10
My hairdresser recommended this to me when my overly bleached and damaged hair was in its most dire state.
I can honestly say that when it comes to repair shampoos, I’ve tried them all and therefore find it hard to trust a shampoo that promises to not only help coloured hair but also heat-damaged hair, yet this Shu Uemura shampoo does exactly that.
Compared to the price of high street shampoos, it can feel a bit steep, but you only need a tiny pea-sized amount for it to work its magic.
Even after just one wash, I noticed how easily a comb glided through my hair, and it didn’t leave my hair feeling like straw (which is a common issue with many high street shampoos designed for damaged or coloured hair that I have tried).
The shampoo creates a lovely, smooth base for a sleek blow-dry, and I genuinely can’t fault it (with the price being the only drawback).
However, even then, it feels like an investment in restoring even the most bleached, coloured, and heat-damaged hair to a glossy, healthy state.
Reviewed by Lucy Powell
Best for: Damaged hair Size: 300ml, Sulphate-free? No, Silicone-free? No
Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo
Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo, £31
Pros: Deeply cleans hair and scalp, doesn’t leave hair feeling ‘squeaky clean’, elegant fragrance
Cons: Can’t be used daily, messy formula,
Rating: 8/10
I have very long, thick hair, so cleaning it is no mean feat.
Throw an oil-prone scalp into the mix, and I’m left with hair that feels almost impossible to maintain.
However, I’ve recently incorporated detox shampoos into my routine, which have proven to be a game-changer.
These formulas typically star grease-busting ingredients that deeply cleanse your hair and scalp.
In the case of Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo, its star ingredient is charcoal, which absorbs dirt and impurities like a magnet.
While its thick, black texture is terrifying (and very messy if spilt in the shower), it has a glorious scent and easy lather.
The shampoo leaves my hair feeling fresh and clean, without feeling squeaky clean, which is one of my biggest haircare bugbears!
Reviewed by Mia Lyndon
Best for: Oily hair, Size: 236ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? Yes
Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, £17.64 (was £28)
Pros: Leaves hair feeling soft, helps with hair growth, thick consistency that doesn’t feel heavy
Cons: Easy to get through the bottle quickly
Rating: 8/10
Olaplex is as good as royalty in the haircare world, and the No.4 Bonding Shampoo is a brand bestseller.
Designed to repair damaged hair caused by heat and colouring, I’ve found myself purchasing the shampoo whenever my hair is in need of some TLC.
The shampoo has a thick consistency that doesn’t weigh the hair down, leaving it silky soft after every wash.
I do find that I get through the bottle quickly, as I find that slightly more product is needed compared to other shampoos I’ve tried.
While I haven’t noticed my hair looking any shinier, my hair does generally feel softer and healthier since using.
It’s one that I’d recommend anyone on a hair health journey trying out, as it’s been praised by several reviewers for helping with hair growth.
Reviewed by Sophie Bates
Best for: Improving hair health, Size: 250ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? No
Pureology Strength Cure Blonde Shampoo
Pureology Strength Cure Blonde Shampoo, £22.23 (was £24.70)
Pros: Brightens bleached hair, only need a small amount, doesn’t stain hands, leaves hair feeling soft
Cons: Messy, not for everyday use
Rating: 8/10
I use Pureology’s Strength Cure Shampoo once a week to keep my bleached hair looking fresh between salon trips.
While the formula feels thick before applying, it lathers nicely and it leaves my hair feeling soft.
I can notice the difference immediately after using, my hair looks brighter and it removes any brassiness — but the pigmented formula will turn your hair silver if you leave it on for too long.
The violet colour will make a mess in the shower if you’re not careful, but it never leaves a purple tint on my hands like other purple shampoos I’ve tried.
The Pureology shampoo isn’t one that I’d be reaching for daily, but I love having it as part of my weekly routine to keep my hair looking toned and bright.
Reviewed by Sophie Bates
Best for: Bleached hair Size: 266ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? Yes
Ouai Detox Shampoo
Ouai Detox Shampoo, £28
Pros: Deeply cleanses the scalp, removes product build-up, lovely scent, bottle lasts a long time, leaves hair looking shiny
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 8/10
I regrettably have been using dry shampoo multiple times a week for years, and the product build-up often leads to be scalp feeling like it needs a refresh.
Ouai’s Detox Shampoo was recommended to me after London’s hard water was taking a toll on my hair extensions, and it’s become a regular in my routine.
Concentrated with apple cider and vinegar, Ouai’s shampoo is designed to be used every few washes to remove product, oil and other impurities.
It has a lovely scent containing notes of bergamot and white musk, and it’s one of the few shampoos that leaves my hair smelling amazing even after applying heat.
The £28 price tag is more than I would usually spend on a shampoo, but because it’s not one you’d typically use daily, I’ve found the bottle has lasted or months (and I’m still not finished).
Reviewers have also praised the shampoo for it’s effectiveness on greasy hair, so it’s a great investment for taking a haircare routine to the next level.
Reviewed by Sophie Bates
Best for: Removing product build-up, Size: 300ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? Yes
Rehab Shampoo Sheets
25-Pack Rehab Shampoo Sheets, £24
Pros: Zero waste, deep cleaning, lasting silky soft finish, great for travelling
Cons: One sheet isn’t enough for long and thick hair, expensive
Rating: 7/10
I was sceptical about how much a shampoo sheet could not only wash my hair but also provide care to it from just one sachet – but I was wrong.
The Rehab Shampoo Sheets are zero waste, as the individual packaging can be dropped and dissolved at the bottom of the shower.
The Shampoo Sheet itself lathers extremely well, and the most notable factor would be how soft it felt, leaving my hair smooth and easy to comb.
One sting of the product is the price point, depending on how often you wash your hair.
One box contains 25 sheets, working out at 96p per wash, so when compared to high-street brands, it is slightly more expensive.
Also, because the shampoo comes in sheet form, there is a downside in not being able to choose how much to use. If you have thicker and longer hair, you may need more than one sheet.
Reviewed by Lucy Powell
Best for: Sustainability, Size: 300ml, Sulphate-free? Yes, Silicone-free? Yes
What does purple shampoo do?
Purple shampoo works to get rid of any brassiness in the hair with its rich pigment.
The purple hue tones the hair for a cooler colour, which can look like an icy blonde if left on for longer periods.
As they can be drying on the hair, purple shampoos are not typically designed to be used for every wash, but instead between once and twice a week to prevent brassiness.
Pigment in the shampoo can also build up over time if overused, which can lead to the hair appearing dull or discoloured.
Purple shampoo is best for blonde and grey hair, and can work on both bleached and natural locks.
The shampoo type can also be used on hair extensions that may have become discoloured over time due to chlorine build-up or damage.
How many times a week should you shampoo your hair?
Every hair type is different when it comes to determining how frequently it should be washed.
Haircare experts generally recommend washing the hair every two to three days, but some hair types can be washed as little as once a week.
Fine hair tends to get oily at a faster rate, which could mean washing it every couple of days is necessary.
Experts generally advise against washing the hair everyday, as it strips the natural oils that protect the hair and scalp, and can also lead to drying it out and causing breakage.
What is a clarifying shampoo?
Clarifying shampoo works like a deep clean for your hair and scalp.
The use of products including dry shampoo can cause build up over time, and a regular shampoo may not remove all of the residue.
Clarifying shampoos have a higher concentration of surfactants that helps to remove the impurities, but the stronger formula means they shouldn’t be used daily.
It’s recommended that clarifying shampoo is used around once a week or every three to five washes, while a regular shampoo should be used in-between.
Should you choose a shampoo based on your hair type?
Choosing a shampoo for your hair type is the best way to get the most out of hair wash days.
If your hair is fine, choosing a shampoo that’s designed to give some volume will be far more effective than a version that will weigh the hair down.
There’s a shampoo for every hair concern, from damaged and dry to fine and limp, coloured, frizzy and more.
Choosing the right shampoo for your hair type also ensures that your hair and scalp are cleaned thoroughly without stripping them of natural oils.