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Let's come right out and say it: When it comes to the best shampoo for men, we’re being sold short, gents. So many drugstore brands that target men are selling a single shampoo, as if one-size-fits-all is suitable. However, the “best shampoo” for every wash is not a single product, because no two of us have the exact same needs. (Think: scalp oil levels, hair texture, strand density, fullness, lifestyle habits, formula preferences, sensitivities, and hairstyling preferences.) “It is important to consider your hair type when choosing a shampoo,” says celebrity groomer Sonia Lee, whose clients include Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, and Orlando Bloom. “Men should be tailoring their shampoo and upgrading to one that fits their hair type from the jump so it can grow into healthy hair.”
Read on for the best shampoos for men based on personal testing, along with picks from the hair stylist and dermatologist I trust most.
The Best Men’s Shampoo, at a Glance
- The Best Shampoo Overall: Sachajuan Moisturizing Shampoo, $33
- The Best Custom Shampoo: Prose Custom Shampoo, $34
- The Best Co-Wash Shampoo: Geologie Cooling Co-Wash, $29
- The Best Smelling Shampoo: Corpus Cypress Shampoo, $32
- The Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo, $19
Jump to: How to Choose the Right Shampoo, According to the Experts | Brands to Know | How We Tested | About the Experts
The Best Shampoo Overall: Sachajuan Moisturizing Shampoo
Moisturizing Shampoo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Universal use—revives and repairs even the most fragile hairs.
- Sachajuan’s signature scent is refreshing aromatherapy.
Cons
- Sometimes a strength is also a weakness.
- If you are scent averse, this one’s extremely prominent punch might not appeal to you. (But seriously, it’s relaxing and refreshing.)
Why It’s the Best
There’s no reason we can’t just crown Sachajuan the “best shampoo brand” here, given its range of washes that address all different hair types and needs—even one called “Scalp Shampoo” that keeps things perfectly balanced and simple. But the most universal option from the deliciously scented Swedish salon staple is the brand's Moisturizing Shampoo.
This comes as close to a 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner without actually being one (Sachajuan, of course, has conditioners for the whole spectrum of hair needs, too); but this product gives any user what they need: a non-stripping and proactively nourishing rinse that helps even the most vulnerable or difficult of strands. (We’re talking those prone to breakage and frizz, as well as those with stubborn coarse hairs or even curls and brittle grays.) While my partner and I both have a respective Sachajuan line that we reach for, this is one of the few products from any brand that we both share—him with his fine, dry, and wavy strands; me with my coarse, dense, oily, and straight ones. Whenever one of us finishes showering, the other comments (from two rooms away): “Oooh, Sachajuan shower?” because that delicious smell permeates the air.
The Best Co-Wash Shampoo: Geologie Cooling Co-Wash
Geologie
Cooling Co-Wash
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lasts a long time, especially if you’re only using it every second or third day.
- Great sebum temper to buy you even more time before another shampoo.
Cons
- Takes a while to rinse.
- It really does condition and coat the strands.
Our Experience
Geologie has two co-washes—this relatively universal one, plus a smoothing option for thicker hairs. Of all the conditioning washes that have passed through this household, this one always gets drained first. It has supremely purifying prowess thanks to the tea tree oil and leaves the scalp feeling refreshed after a rinse, despite not actually being a shampoo. (Read up on co-washing, if you’re uninitiated.) I’ve used it as an actual conditioner, too, after a full-on shampoo, but moreover rely on this product to get me reset on the second or third day, when I’m just not feeling a full flushing-out. My partner and I even bring it on weekend trips as the sole hair care product for those few days—it satisfies our very different hair needs while streamlining our regimen.
The Best Curly and Coily Hair Shampoo for Men: Frederick Benjamin Invigorating Cleanser Shampoo
Frederick Benjamin
Shampoo Invigorating Cleanser
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely hydrating and smoothing for thick strands, too—not just curly ones.
- That scalp-tingling spearmint has your scalp buzzing happily for the next 30 minutes.
- Great value.
Cons
- Many reviewers note that it feels watered down.
- I’ll agree that it feels more runny than other options, and the low price might account for this. Still, I believe that it still delivers on its promise.
Our Experience
Here's a pick from Davie, which should satisfy guys all along the curl spectrum. "This shampoo is a first-class ticket to refreshment paradise," says Davie. “Coily hair is very prone to dry scalp and dandruff. You need a shampoo like Frederick Benjamin's that can settle into the scalp and provide great texture.” It won’t strip away the much-needed moisture from your curls, and instead will flood them with the proteins necessary to stay defined.
“I encourage people to leave this particular shampoo on hair, with intent to reach the scalp, for a couple minutes before rinsing out allowing those oils to retrieve full coverage,” Davie says. “The longer you keep it in and evenly massage into the head the better chances the scalp is stimulated for healthier growth.”
The Best Shampoo for Men with Thick Hair: Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo
Davines
LOVE Smoothing Shampoo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely smoothing on coarse, frizz-prone strands
- Promptly rinses any product build up which makes for an efficient shower
Cons
- On the pricier side
Our Experience
If this article were called “Adam Hurly's Favorite Shampoo of All Time,” then Davines's LOVE shampoo would be in the first spot. But my needs do not match every reader's needs, so this product will have to settle for "Best Thick Hair Shampoo" in the meantime. It is so difficult to find a product that tames my thick hair while it cleanses. The entire LOVE line is like a relaxer for my untenable and rigid-straight strands, and becomes even more essential whenever I decide to grow my hair out. If you have coarse or thick hair—and especially if it's on the straighter side—then this shampoo (and LOVE assortment) is a game-changer.
The Best-Smelling Shampoo for Men: Corpus Cypress Shampoo
Corpus Naturals
Cypress Shampoo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The woodsy scent.
- Competes with the most moisturizing and reparative options on this list, too.
Cons
- The brand only offers this one shampoo—in the one scent—for now
Our Experience
This shampoo is more than just its delicious aroma, yes. However, we cannot ignore it: Corpus’ woodsy scent is on the more masculine side of the scent spectrum, should you want some aromatherapy that might pair nicely with your cologne. (Vetiver, cypress, and cedar take center stage in this one.) I would pump this scent throughout my home, and happily deploy this moisturizing, fortifying wash through my strands any day of the week. Use it as a beard wash, too, if you want to smell it even more each day.
The Best Shampoo for Men with Fine Hair: Ouai Fine Shampoo
OUAI
Fine Shampoo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Reparative recipe adds strength to fragile strands
- Great for fine hair and thinning heads of hair
Cons
- Citrus-floral scent may be a bit strong—then again, others will love how refreshing it feels, especially in the shower
Our Experience
Here is an all-time favorite of my fine-haired partner, who demands a shampoo that fights gravity and gives his hairs extra height and fullness. OUAI's formula here has the ability to deeply rinse without causing any frizzing or fraying, unlike many shampoos that give volume by virtue of parching the hairs. So with OUAI, you get volume, density, and body, plus mega moisture to top it off.
The Best Shampoo for Men With Thinning Hair: The Grey Stimulating Shampoo
Stimulating Shampoo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Salon-caliber rinse out, with conditioner-level nourishment.
- Aggressive roster of active ingredients to justify the cost
Cons
- The cost.
Our Experience
If cost were no object, this would be our best overall shampoo, too. However, I do think that a $75 bottle of shampoo is tough to promote as a universal option—but as a luxury pick, The Grey is a no-brainer. But this Dutch men’s label really packs on the active ingredients, a difference you feel in the strands after rinsing (you can peep the “key ingredients” above for that long list, which benefit far more than just thinning hair). While I never really advertise shampoos as the solution for hair loss—you need to take more clinical measures—however, a shampoo like this can be a game-changer when it comes to maximizing the potential of your precious hairs. If you have a stylable length—let’s say an inch or more, then you might notice your styling regimen performing slightly better after a rinse from The Grey. It’s nourishing, it’s smoothing, it’s tingly and refreshing, and it smells brilliant.
The Best Shampoo for Damaged Hair: K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo
Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Color-friendly, frizz-fighting, damage-reversing formula.
- Protective base for the conditioning and styling routine ahead.
- Prevents frizz and dehydration while balancing pH.
Cons
- Not really necessary for anyone with short hair who will be cutting it frequently.
Our Experience
Few brands have skyrocketed quite like K18, which went from 0-60 in a couple years’ time thanks to fantastic reparative formulas. (The brand's leave-in hair mask, despite the $75 sticker shock, is worth every penny if you have long and/or damaged strands.) And naturally, this balancing shampoo is part of its recipe for success. Not only does it flood your strands with fortifying proteins as it flushes away grime, but it also balances the scalp and strand pH levels. By collectively reducing inflammation and closing off the cuticles, it fights everything from frizz to breakage to swelling, all while giving your head its happy little rinse.