Running your hands through your soft, clean hair after leaving the salon is one of the best feelings in the world. With a head full of sleek locks, you’re ready to kick butt and take names, whether that’s in the board room, on the street, or at home with your family.
Although it seems like nothing can replace that salon experience, you can recreate that salon clean feel without leaving the house. All you need is a good shampoo, and the right technique to use it effectively.
How Many Times Should I Wash My Hair?
There are many benefits to using shampoo. First, it’s important to talk about how much we should wash our hair. Some people believe that the only way to keep oil and grease at bay is to wash our hair every single day.
It’s hard to believe but washing our hair every day actually does more harm than good because it strips the natural oils from our hair and scalp. This dries out our hair, which in turn leads to an overproduction of oils as glands in our scalp work overtime to reproduce the oils we’ve stripped away. To protect hair and keep it clean and naturally sleek, people with normal hair should wash it no more than twice per week. If your hair is oily, washing slightly more often is OK. A good shampoo will help lock in moisture and strengthen hair without weighing it down.
There are so many shampoos on the market today that it’s hard to decide which ones to try. Many of us never look beyond our local pharmacy, although it is possible to find some good-quality shampoos there if we do our research. If you’re willing to pay a bit more for a salon-quality product, you’ll find specially-formulated shampoos that are designed to protect hair while it washes away dirt, oil, and grime.
Here are some of our favorite shampoos on the market today.
Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Hydrating Shampoo
If you want to improve the look of your hair but don’t want to drop $30 to $50 on a bottle of shampoo, Pantene’s Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Hydrating Shampoo is considered the best pharmacy option on the market. Reviewers say that it hydrates their hair and gives it more volume without weighing hair down. It also contains lipids that help to reverse heat-related damage, so it’s great if you regularly style your hair. It also softens dry, brittle hair, and gives it a pleasant, understated scent.
Pros
- Cheap price point ($5)
- Available almost everywhere shampoo is sold
Cons
- Contains several artificial ingredients
- Has a fragrance, so may not work for people with sensitive skin and chemical sensitivities
Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2 Shampoo
Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2 Shampoo is a step up from pharmacy brands but is considered one of the best all-around shampoos on the market. It works best with thick hair and helps to moisturize hair that’s tired and dried out. It contains iris rhizome extract, which the company says helps protect hair against dehydration and oxidization. It also contains lipids that work to enhance all the other active ingredients and gives hair an even, all-over shine. The moisturizing ingredients work to smooth flyaways and makes detangling hair a breeze.
Pros
- Been recognized multiple times by publications like InStyle
- Considered gentle enough for any hair type
Cons
- On the more expensive end; currently retails on Amazon for $25
- Some users have found it doesn’t protect well against heat
Baebody Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
If you have curly or color-treated hair, the Moroccan Argan Oil shampoo from Baebody is a great choice for your hair type. Argan oil, which has been growing in popularity over the last few years, is a key ingredient known for moisturizing the scalp and adding volume to hair. This shampoo is rich in argan oil and contains several other types of oil including jojoba, camellia seed, and avocado oils, which wraps around curls, giving them plenty of definition. Vitamin E seals in moisture, giving hair fresh-from-the-salon shine.
It’s also super affordable, at only $15.95 per bottle.
Pros
- Baebody doesn’t test on animals
- Sulfate and alcohol-free
Cons
- Many users found the formula too thin to work effectively
- Doesn’t last as long as many other shampoos because of how much product needs to be used at once.
Giovanni Invigorating Shampoo, Tea Tree Triple Threat
If you’ve got dry hair or persistent dandruff, try using the Tea Tree Triple Threat Invigorating Shampoo from Giovanni. It’s made with tea tree extracts to help soothe irritated, dry scalps, and prevent the dreaded itchy scalp from returning. The shampoo also contains rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils, which helps strengthen and condition hair follicles. After using this shampoo, hair will look and feel noticeably softer and should be resistant to breakage. Giovanni’s products are made with organic botanicals and other cruelty-free ingredients. Plus, they don’t contain damaging lauryl and laureth sulfate. Even better, it’s only $18.25 from Amazon.
Pros
- Made with all-natural ingredients like organic essential oils
- Soothes dry, itchy scalps
Cons
- Essential oils can irritate extremely sensitive scalps
- Does not help hair retain moisture
ORIBE Shampoo for Beautiful Color
If you regularly color your hair and want to ensure you’re protecting your colorists hard work, ORIBE Shampoo for Beautiful Color is the shampoo for you. It’s a super-gentle shampoo that works to extend the life of color and protect it from damage. It’s made with watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts, which is ORIBE’s signature mixture for protecting hair from oxidative stress and photoaging. It also contains baobab tree extract, which helps to provide moisture to dry areas of hair. This means that it won’t make hair greasy or oily by adding moisture where it’s not needed — only the dry areas are targeted.
Pros
- Gentle on all hair types
- Provides UV protection against sun damage
Cons
- Definitely on the more expensive end at $46 per bottle
- Only available from the ORIBE website or partner salons