The Best Drugstore Shampoo for Every Hair Concern

Best for Oily Hair

You may have already heard about the clarifying abilities of using ACV or apple cider vinegar on your hair. And though a DIY concoction works just fine, it can smell a tad, well, vinegary—which is what makes this shampoo so great. It has ACV in the formula to remove excess oils and amp up shine, as well as, oat to soothe your scalp and help hydrate your strands without weighing them down. Plus, the scent is crisp and slightly fruity and not in the least unpleasant.

Best for Dry Hair

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have parched strands that could use every bit of moisture it can get, this is the shampoo for you. With a delicious tropical scent that the brand is known for, this hydrating formula also leaves your hair softer and shinier thanks to a blend of coconut extract, aloe leaf juice and glycerin, which draws in moisture.

Best for Volume

Whether your hair is fine, thinning or simply lacks texture, this shampoo is here to help. With hydrolyzed wheat proteins to strengthen strands and collagen to thicken them, each wash beefs up limp strands from the start. It also has biotin (aka vitamin B7), which is found in foods like salmon and eggs, and is lauded for its ability to fortify hair and encourage new growth over time. One reviewer claims it makes her hair “soft, bouncy and full of life.”

Best for Frizz

It may sound counterintuitive but if you’re experiencing more frizz than usual, it’s a sign that you may need to add more moisture to your hair. You see, the drier your strands are the more they will pull moisture from the environment, which causes the cuticle to swell and puff out into a frizzy cloud. This shampoo seals in moisture using dimethicone and silk proteins to create an invisible barrier around your hair so you have sleeker, smoother strands regardless of what the forecast says.

Best for Clarifying

Tried and true, this specially formulated shampoo swiftly clears up any dulling residue (caused by shampoos, conditioners and other styling products like dry shampoo or serums) to leave your strands cleaner, softer and shinier. Use it once a week as a quick refresh to keep your hair bouncy. As one reviewer shared: “My hair is long, and I had months of chalky hard water, bad shampoo, and heavy conditioner build-up on my flat locks. Literally one application of this product left my hair so much lighter and smoother.”

Best Scent

Another drugstore favorite, this fragrant formula does everything you want from a shampoo at a very affordable price. It lathers generously and makes your hair feel noticeably softer after every use. And, as mentioned up top, the scent is truly delightful. (So much so that this editor’s generally aloof partner commented on how good it smelled. “It’s really nice. Might be one of my favorites,” were his exact words, which is high praise coming from someone who rarely notices these things).

Best for Blonde Hair

Calling all natural or dyed blondes, those with gray or graying hair, and anyone with lightened ends or highlights: Swap in a purple shampoo between salon visits to keep brassiness at bay. Just like when you color correct with makeup, using opposite shades (in this case purple and yellow) will counteract each other to cancel out any warm tones that creep into your hair over time. This shampoo uses purple pigments and iris botanicals to neutralize brass, while the gentle, sulfate-free formula doesn’t strip your hair of color or moisture.

Best for Curly Hair

As anyone with curly hair can attest, maintaining moisture is key for taming your tresses. This moisturizing shampoo uses shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil and aloe vera to gently cleanse curls, while keeping them hydrated so they’re more defined and less prone to static or frizz when dry. As one reviewer noted: “This shampoo is very low lather but is still an effective cleanser,” before adding that you should “give your hair time to adjust and massage [it] into your hair a little deeper” for best results.

Best for Dandruff

With over 5,000 raving reviews on Amazon alone, fans praise this shampoo for delivering quick results in clearing up flakes and, unlike other dandruff treatments, having a pleasant scent. Ketoconazole, the key ingredient in the formula, is an anti-fungal that’s commonly used in prescription-grade dandruff medications. “This has worked miracles on my scalp,” wrote one reviewer. “I'm over a month in to using this shampoo and I can confidently say this has gotten rid of the thick scaly mess on my head. I don't have peeling around my hairline. My hair doesn't itch and I can part my hair without having to dust away huge flakes anymore.”

Best for Damaged Hair

Fun fact: Hair is made up of more than 90% protein. When it’s exposed to external factors like color or heat, the proteins can get depleted, which causes the hair to become weakened. This shampoo is formulated with keratin proteins, black rice and elastin to strengthen and smooth brittle strands, so it looks and feels healthier and prevents further damage. We also appreciate the large pump bottle, which lasts a long time, and the creamy lather.

Best for Shine

It's the rare shampoo that tackles saltwater, chlorine, and product buildup while also delivering a hit of moisture and shine to your strands. Loaded with a blend of coconut oil, banana and sunflower seed oil, it makes even rough or difficult-to-manage hair somehow smoother and sleeker. Did we mention it smells like a pina colada?

Best for Baby

Rest assured, moms: This gentle formula is paraben- and phthalate-free, as well as, hypoallergenic. The gel texture glides easily onto skin and froths into a soft, bubbly lather. Oh, and the scents! You can choose from lavender, sweet almond and sweet orange vanilla (shown here). They're all delicious and subtle and made from a blend of all-natural botanicals and essential oils. (Though there’s also a fragrance-free option.)

Best Natural

If you're looking for a cleaner clean, try this top rated shampoo that is formulated without sulfates, parabens or phthalates and looks to natural ingredients like quinoa, flax proteins and loquat leaf extract instead to clear away any oil or product buildup that’s sitting on your scalp, while beefing up each skimpy strand. The herbaceous scent (courtesy of rosemary mint) is as uplifting to the senses as the shampoo itself is to your roots.

Best for Everyday Use

As if we needed another reason to love Target, the retailer introduced us to Odele: a clean and streamlined line that features natural ingredients, neutral scents and sleek packaging that everyone in your family can use and enjoy (seriously, look at the mint green bottle). The smoothing shampoo, in particular, is our go-to for daily cleansing without stripping our strands.

Best Co-Wash

For proponents of a co-wash or conditioning wash, this creamy formula is a solid choice. With an easy-to-use pump and formulated with a chockfull of hydrating ingredients like panthenol and argan oil, it cleanses your hair, while imparting extra moisture so you're left with silky, more manageable strands and less frizz. Plus, the scent is divine.