Find the Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Your Hair Type Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
If your hair never seems to do what you want it to do, it may not be stubborn — you might just be treating it wrong. Shampoo and conditioner are the foundation good hair days are built upon, so it’s important to use formulas designed for your hair’s specific needs, says Damian Santiago, co-owner of Mizu salon in NYC. “Shampoos designed for hair in different categories are designed for a reason,” he explains.
So, are you sudsing up with products that make the most of your hair? We created this guide to the best shampoos and conditioners for your hair type, from the salon to beauty aisle shelves.
When it comes to preserving your hair color, using the wrong type of shampoo can have disastrous effects. “Shampoos designed for color-treated hair have ingredients that add moisture and seal color in,” Santiago explains. His advice: choose a sulfate-free formula, since sulfates (the ingredient responsible for that luxurious lather) can strip color molecules from strands.
If you’re concerned about washing your color down the drain, choose a color-depositing shampoo that matches your hue. Davines’ range of Alchemic Shampoo and Conditioner ($24.50-$28.50) comes in shades from chocolate to copper, each designed to enhance hair’s tones. John Frieda’s Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner ($6 each) is one of our favorite drugstore duos, and the brand also makes great color-preserving shampoos and conditioners for redheads and blondes.
Since bleaching can dry out hair, go with a moisturizing regimen if your hair is lightened. Santiago likes Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful Color ($39-$42) for all color types, including ombré-style looks where the ends are lighter and therefore in need of extra TLC.
Purple-tinted shampoos can help counteract brassiness. In the beauty aisle, one of your best options is Clairol Shimmer Lights Original Conditioning Shampoo and Conditioner ($9-$13) — we’ve spoken with multiple high-end hair colorists who swear by the stuff, which also happens to be great for platinum and even gray hair.
For hair with texture, Santiago says it’s particularly important to use a shampoo and conditioner from the same brand to ensure you’re getting the right balance of ingredients. When it comes to his wavy-haired clients, “Whether they rock it natural or they smooth it out, they’re going to want that correct amount of cleansing and moisture.”
He likes Living Proof’s No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner ($24 each), which are made with a proprietary molecule that blocks humidity to help wavy hair look shiny and sleek.
Mass brands have options for wavy hair, too. Tresemmé Smooth & Silky Shampoo and Conditioner ($5 each) moisturize hair with argan oil to help smooth frizz and flyaways.
“You want to cleanse the hair properly but you don’t want to weigh it down,” Santiago points out. “Thickening shampoos make clients with fine hair happy. They get a little more oomph and plumpness when they shampoo.”
“There are certain curly heads of hair that benefit from not washing as often,” Santiago says. In this case, the less lather, the better. Curl-focused brand DevaCurl’s Low-Poo is a low lathering cleanser that won’t dry out curls. Pair it with the line’s creamy One Condition conditioner ($20 each).
African-American or “ethnic” hair types are better off using a co-wash — essentially rinsing the hair with conditioner instead of lathering up with shampoo, which can strip hair’s moisture.
But wait: you need one more shampoo in your arsenal, no matter what your hair type. “There are a lot of [styling] products out there with silicones and polymers, and they do build up in the hair,” says Santiago. “Clarifying shampoos are really important to use once in awhile.” His favorite is called Clean Start by a salon supply company called Mondo Verde. But Neutrogena’s classic Anti-Residue Shampoo ($6) is a great, universal option.
