The 10 Best Drugstore Shampoos, According to Editors and Reviewers

Your best hair yet—on a budget.

collage of drugstore shampoos on a blue background
(Image credit: Future)

The world of shampoos and conditioners is vast, varying greatly in terms of the ingredients, scents, and customer bases. For instance, some shampoos are made to address scalp irritation, while others work best for clarifying sweat and buildup, growing hair, or enhancing brown or blonde coloring. And while there are a number of luxury shampoo brands out there that get the job done, not all of us can afford to venture beyond our local drugstores when shopping for our next go-to hair products. Thus, we've consulted expert hairstylists and editors alike to break down what to look for when you're cruising through the hair aisle and how to find the best drugstore shampoo for you. Plus, we've included a list of some of the very best drugstore shampoos so that you can easily achieve the 'do of your dreams, no matter your budget. 

What To Look For in a Drugstore Shampoo

Celebrity Hairstylist & DIY Expert for Sally Beauty Gregory Patterson says that when figuring out what the best option is for you, you should "look for ingredients and solutions for where you’re at right now. Think of your current hair state and condition." Thus, it may be best to keep a few shampoo options on hand so that your hair and scalp's condition can determine what you use each time you wash your hair.

"It’s easier to look for ingredients that you never want to use, like color-stripping harsh sulfates," he adds. "Avoid sodium chloride if you’re using keratin treatments, as well as parabens or low quality stabilizers and preservatives that ultimately build up on your hair."

And when it comes to finding a basic shampoo suited for consistent, regular use? Natural hair expert Antoinette Bullock says, "If you are looking for a simple shampoo that will actually cleanse your hair, then I would look for some key cleansing ingredients, such as surfacents, because they will effectively clean your hair. Some surfacents to look for are Ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, and sodium trideceth sulfate, to name a few."

Finally, when considering the texture of the formula, Bullock and Patterson both advise users to ensure that their chosen formula lathers properly.

"Lathering is when water and shampoo mix and create air bubbles," explains Bullock. "This lather is important when it comes to shampooing the hair because the more there is a rich creamy lather, the more effective it is at cleansing the hair and scalp from build up, oil residue or impurities. Water and oil do not mix—the surfactant lather will cleanse the hair properly by dissolving things that can not be dissolved in water on their own."

"Want to know a little secret?" adds Patterson. "You can tell the quality of a cleanser by its foam (a.k.a. lather): The smaller the bubbles and creamier the lather, the more high quality and gentle it will be in your cleanse. The airier or foamier lather you have, the more detergent and low-quality ingredients are being used."

The Best Drugstore Shampoos

Meet The Experts

Celebrity Hairstylist Gregory Patterson
Gregory Patterson