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The 33 best shampoos and conditioners of 2024 — according to experts
Our top brands are tested and reviewed for curly hair, dry hair, thinning hair — and everything in between.
Uncovering the best shampoo and conditioner for your specific hair needs can feel overwhelming — there are so many products available, choosing just one for all your follicular needs, can feel like a shot in the dark, at least it often feels that way to me. According to stylist Willa Ashley, lead colorist at the Hairrari Salon in Los Angeles, I'm not alone in my shampoo/conditioner confusion. "Finding a quality product that works for you, unfortunately, can take some trial and error," she explains.
Over the past few months, I tried dozens of shampoos and conditioners. And I talked to renowned stylists about which products they recommend to their clients and why. Finally, because first-person reviews and word of mouth are often a trusted, reliable way to make these decisions, I consulted my shopping-expert colleagues about their tried-and-true favorites — the shampoos and conditioners they could not live without. Herewith, the best shampoos and conditioners for every hair type and hair condition we found. (No time for a full wash? Check out our picks for the best dry shampoos.)
Note: Most shampoos and conditioners work best in tandem. Unless otherwise noted, when we recommend a shampoo from a brand's line, we're fans of the conditioner too and vice versa.
Best shampoos and conditioners for dry hair and damaged hair
Whether your hair is damaged from overbleaching, chemical treatments or too much heat styling, the right shampoo can go a long way to bringing it back to a healthy state and reducing wear and tear like split ends. "People struggling with breakage or dry hair should focus on products with a lot of hydration," says Tylor Johnson, the ultra-popular San Francisco colorist and founder of Nous Haircare. "You need reparative ingredients — like peptides and proteins."
Key ingredients: Sodium Laureth Sulfate | Hair type: Damaged or brittle hair | Sulfate-free: No | Size: 6.8 ounces
Milbon's repair shampoo was designed specifically to protect severely fragile, brittle or fried hair from further damage and help the individual strands build back elasticity and resilience. "Milbon's repair shampoo and conditioner is amazing for damaged hair," says Johnson. "The great thing about their line is that they have a fine and coarse formula, making it good for a lot of hair types and textures."
- Helps repair severely damaged hair after one use
- Highly moisturizing
- Stylist recommended
- Pleasant light floral scent
- Hard to find outside of salons
- Expensive
Key ingredients: Biotin and collagen | Hair type: All hair types, fine or thin | Sulfate-free: No | Size: 13 ounces
This ultra-hydrating, super-gentle, sulfate-free shampoo contains vitamins and proteins to help repair damaged strands while detangling and adding loads of body and shine. High-quality, easy-to-find and budget-friendly, it's hands down the best shampoo we found at this price point.
Key ingredients: K18Peptide | Hair type: All hair types | Sulfate-free: Yes | Scent: Clean, citrus | Size: 8.5 ounces
Celebrity-favorite brand K18 was recommended by almost every stylist I spoke with for this story and you can see why: It's one of the best, most hair- and scalp-nourishing shampoos I've ever tried. It's good for all hair types and has a proprietary blend of peptides, which can work as a protective shield to reduce the damage hair endures during washing and styling — a formulation that makes it safe enough for daily use.
Garnier
Key ingredients: Olive leaf extract | Hair type: Dry hair | Sulfate-free: No | Size: 12.5 ounces
My colleague and fellow beauty writer Rebecca Carhart recommended this ultra-hydrating shampoo that she's been enjoying for the past two years: "My friend who has the shiniest hair I've ever seen uses this shampoo and conditioner, so I obviously had to give it a try. I love how clean the shampoo makes my hair feel and the fact that it is silicone- and paraban-free. It uses virgin-pressed, sustainably sourced olive oil from Italy and olive leaf extracts to make hair softer and shinier and I'm amazed how well it works for a drugstore brand."
Key ingredients: Rice water | Hair type: Dry, damaged hair | Sulfate-free: No | Size: 12 ounces
This Shu Uemura repairing shampoo is a splurge FOR SURE, but if you're looking for a best-in-class hair cleanser that will actually help strengthen your damaged mane (with rice water, a clinically proven hair saver), it might just be for you. Experts I spoke with raved about the Shu Uemura line, and this formula is, according to the brand, meant to "gently cleanse, repair and visibly thicken fragile hair — without stripping away hydration."