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Buying guide · Updated November 2026

The Best Shampoo & Conditioner

Shampoos and conditioners ranked on results for each hair type, formula, feel, value and community verdicts.

  1. Best overallNizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (Ketoconazole 1%)
  2. Runner-upRedken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo
  3. #3Olaplex Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo
  4. Best valueSheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

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1Best overallNizoral A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (Ketoconazole 1%)

Nizoral

A-D Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (Ketoconazole 1%)

8.4Great

The drugstore ketoconazole shampoo that dermatologists and dandruff sufferers keep returning to, used just twice a week.

  • Dandruff
  • Scalp care
  • Flaking relief
  • Soothing
  • Contains 1% ketoconazole, an antifungal active aimed at the yeast linked to dandruff
  • Only needed every 3–4 days, so a bottle lasts for months
  • Brand says it is safe on color-treated, chemically processed and gray hair
  • Sulfate (SLES) base can leave lengths feeling dry without conditioner
  • Strict usage schedule and drug-label warnings, including a doctor check for children under 12

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2Runner-upRedken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo

Redken

Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo

7.7Good

A sulfate-free, low-pH repair shampoo that colorists rate for softness on damaged hair, best used with the rest of the line.

  • Damage repair
  • Split ends
  • Smoothing
  • Color protection
  • Frizz control
  • Sulfate-free, acidic-pH formula aimed at damaged and color-treated hair
  • Reviewers report softer, smoother and shinier lengths after bleach or color
  • Refill and liter sizes lower the cost per wash
  • Headline breakage and split-end claims rely on using several products from the line
  • $37 for 300 ml is expensive for a daily shampoo

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3Olaplex Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo

Olaplex

Nº.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo

7.6Good

A gentle, bond-building daily shampoo that suits damaged and color-treated hair, priced well above most rivals.

  • Damage repair
  • Split ends
  • Frizz control
  • Shine
  • Color protection
  • Sulfate-free, color-safe cleanse built around Olaplex's patented bond-building ingredient
  • Reviewers report softer, shinier and less frizzy hair, especially on bleached or colored lengths
  • Concentrated formula; brand says 250 ml lasts up to 100 washes
  • $34 for 250 ml is expensive for a daily shampoo
  • Some users find it too gentle for oily scalps or heavy product buildup

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4Best valueSheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

SheaMoisture

Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

7.6Good

An inexpensive sulfate-free shampoo for waves and curls with shea butter and coconut oil, though results vary with hair type.

  • Curl definition
  • Frizz control
  • Shine
  • Hydrating
  • Sulfate-, silicone- and paraben-free cleanse suited to curly-girl style routines
  • Shea butter, coconut oil and silk protein for softness and slip
  • Inexpensive and widely stocked at drugstores and Ulta
  • Can feel heavy on fine or wavy hair, according to some reviewers
  • Fragranced formula

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5OUAI Detox Clarifying Hair Shampoo

OUAI

Detox Clarifying Hair Shampoo

7.5Good

A heavily fragranced weekly clarifier with apple cider vinegar that strips buildup well but costs more than most rivals.

  • Scalp care
  • Oil control
  • Volume
  • Shine
  • Removes dry shampoo, styling residue, oil and hard-water buildup, per brand and reviewers
  • Includes chelating agents for mineral deposits
  • Only needed once or twice a week, so a bottle lasts
  • Strong olefin sulfonate cleanser is meant for occasional clarifying rather than gentle daily washing
  • Heavily fragranced with dyes, not ideal for sensitive scalps

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At a glance

How they compare.

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