Best shampoo and conditioner for dry and frizzy hair

At one point or another, most of us have dealt with the pain of damaged or brittle hair, leaving us desperately searching for the best shampoo for dry hair or the best homemade hydrating solutions to take care of the problem. Styling frizzy, dull, or damaged hair makes it all the more difficult and, most likely, heat damage comes from the hair styling tools we’re using. Luckily, it takes a simple change such as using a nourishing shampoo that specifically target dry hair to adequately hydrate your parched mane. 

Before you run to buy the first hair care product you see that says “repair,” however, you should be aware of the ingredients to look out for (and those to avoid) so you can make the shampoo purchase that your hair really needs.

What to look for in a shampoo for dry hair

“For dry hair, it’s great to use a shampoo that contains natural oils and plant extracts. In the colder months, humectants really help too,” Devin Toth hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City tells SELF. As for the ingredients you should avoid, Toth said you’ll want to steer clear of products that contain sulfates and parabens. This is because sulfates can strip your hair of its natural oils while parabens might irritate your scalp and cause further dryness and breakage. Celebrity hairstylist Dominick Pucciarello echoed Toth’s call for natural oils and plant extracts and tells us he recommends products that include coconut oil, shea butter, honey, and jojoba oil.

How did your hair get so dry in the first place?

Damage to your hair can come in many forms and sometimes it’s completely unavoidable. Toth explains to SELF that “chemical damage from color-treated hair, heat damage from styling tools, environmental damage such as chlorine, the sun, and hard water, or just simply being aged,” are all causes enough to leave your locks high and dry. “If you have long hair, your ends would have been exposed to the environment for years. Beyond these reasons, some people just have naturally dry hair the same way some people have naturally dry skin,” he adds.

How to tell your new shampoo is working

Achieving healthy hair comes down to a science, for all hair types. Dry strands stem from a dry scalp. “Like a good face wash, a high-quality shampoo won’t leave your scalp and hair squeaky clean. Squeaky clean means stripped of natural oils,” Toth notes. “You know your shampoo is working if your hair becomes softer, shinier, and easier to manage.” Another way you can test out how effective your shampoo is is by blow-drying your hair straight, which should result in bouncy silklike hair without split ends, says Pucciarello, who also suggests getting a trim every 6–8 weeks.

“Even with a great shampoo, if you shampoo your hair too often your mane will become dull and dried out,” Toth warns. “Sometimes your hair simply becomes used to a specific shampoo and you need to switch them up even if you have a really high-quality one.”

Below, we’ve listed the best shampoos for dry hair from Ulta, Sephora, Amazon, Target, and more. Lather your hair with these products and watch it work its magic.

All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If your hair is starting to resemble your cacti house plant - prickly and as dry as the desert - it’s time to inject some hydration with one of the best shampoos for dry, damaged hair.

To revive thirsty ends, you’ll need to invest in a supercharged formula that will deliver on glossiness. To make things simple, we’ve already put the best shampoos to the test to see whether they really live up to their moisture-boosting, de-frizzing and shiny claims.

Keep scrolling for our full reviews

      Why does hair feel dry?

      Having ends looking like straw is a red flag when it comes to hair health. It’s most likely a sign of damage, whether that be overdoing it with the heated hair tools or the bleach needed to keep those icy-blonde tones intact - chances are, your tresses have been through a lot.

      Skipping a much-needed cut or too much time in the sun also play a role. Although we don’t have to deal with the issues that come along with living in a hot climate in the UK, chlorine from your morning swim, wind exposure or not protecting hair when the sun does come out are all also taking moisture from your hair.

      As Anabel Kingsley, Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, explains: “Like your skin, UV rays can really dry out your hair. UV rays act on hair much like bleach – they degrade its protein structure and can make strands brittle, prone to breakage and overly porous.

      Salt water and chlorinated water can also cause hair to become dry. I wouldn’t use salt sprays if you have dry hair. Salt water is osmotic, meaning it draws water molecules out of your hair – which will further dry it out.”

      If you think your lengths are lacking in moisture, it’s time to switch to a shampoo that targets hydration.

      How we test

      Our panel of 534 testers - with a range of hair types, from straight to coiled - tried 40 shampoos for two weeks. Testers noted how well the products hydrated and cleaned hair, as well as how it looked and felt after the trial.

      In the Women’s Health Lab, we used a Dia-stron instrument that measures individual hair fibres to see how smooth and hydrated hair became after being washed and dried with each product.


      15 best shampoos for dry and damaged hair - reviews

      1. Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme Enriching Shampoo

      Best for hydration

      Vegan and restorative, this number aims to fortify hair cuticles and eliminate frizz. It really did moisturise ends, leaving hair less damaged and dry, and resulted in lengths feeling touchably soft. If that wasn’t enough, added silkiness was reported too, so you know this covers all the dry hair bases.

      Key specifications
      Volume:
      250ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      No

      2. Dove Daily Moisture 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner

      Best budget buy

      .

      Not only will this set you back just a few quid, but we reckon it does a better job than some of the priciest shampoos out there. It’s a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner too, which is great if you only want to take one bottle to the gym, and it leaves lengths smoother and more moisturised, without causing any irritation to the scalp.

      Key specifications
      Volume:
      400ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      No

      3. Vita Coco Nourishing Coconut Shampoo

      Best vegan shampoo

      Nourishing Coconut Shampoo for Dry Hair

      Coconuts aren’t just for sipping on a beach; this vegan formula promises to harness their hydrating quality to relieve your parched strands and leave you with a healthier head of hair.

      The result? Most testers were left with smoother, shinier, quenched ends, while their scalps felt less irritated and itchy. Not only was it a hit with our testers, but the formula also scored highly in our lab test for smoothing.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 400ml
      Paraben free: Yes
      Silicone free: Yes
      Sulphate free: Yes

      4. It's a 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo

      Best for long-lasting results

      Miracle Moisture Shampoo

      It's a 10 Haircare

      £15.35

      We won't judge you for skipping a wash after a workout every now and then, and with this shampoo, you won't even be able to tell – that’s how long it keeps your hair clean.

      The mix of vitamin C and aloe vera worked wonders when it came to smoothing hair in our lab test and left those with curls with more definition to their ringlets and less frizz. Testers were impressed that their hair looked immaculate and felt fresher for longer, with the shampoo making hair easier to style.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 295ml
      Paraben free: Yes
      Silicone free: No
      Sulphate free: Yes

      5. Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo

      Best for dry scalps

      Shampoo Miracle Moist For Dry And Frizzy Hair 300ml

      We love a good bargain, and when they deliver results, too? Almost priceless.

      This proved ace at smoothing frayed strands in our lab test, while our testers loved how strong and shiny their hair looked after washing. Fewer split ends occurred, with most seeing some welcomed body added to roots, too. If that wasn't enough, everyone also saw dandruff and itchiness reduced.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 300ml
      Paraben free: Yes
      Silicone free: Yes
      Sulphate free: Yes

      6. Imbue Curl Liberating Sulphate Free Shampoo

      Best budget buy for curly hair

      Curl Liberating Sulphate Free Shampoo

      Products dedicated to caring for curls try to charge you a fortune for sulphate-free formulas, but not Imbue. This will cost you less than a tenner and will help cater to kinks and coils ranging from 3A-4C.

      It provided a gentle but thorough clean, which managed to deliver moisture to dry curls, and one tester loved the definition it provided. All testers saw dandruff eradicated and were pleased to that their scalps felt healthier.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 400ml
      Paraben free: Yes
      Silicone free: Yes
      Sulphate free: Yes

      7. Garnier Ultimate Blends Nourishing Hair Food Banana Shampoo

      Best for a variety of hair types

      Ultimate Blends Nourishing Hair Food Banana Shampoo For Dry Hair

      If your hair just needs some general TLC, this will cover all your bases. Everyone was pleased to see hair looking more hydrated, smoother and shinier, all with less frizz.

      If you're guilty of whacking your hair in a bun during a workout, this helped improve breakages too, with all testers saying their colour looked refreshed after washing.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 350ml
      Paraben free: Yes
      Silicone free: Yes
      Sulphate free: Yes

      8. Redken All Soft Argan Oil Shampoo

      Best for dyed hair

      .

      We’ve accepted the fact that colouring our hair leaves it looking a bit worse for wear but this shampoo manages to help rectify the problem. Aiming to soften even the most distressed hair, this boosted hydration and helped repair the look of frazzled ends on test.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 300ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      No

      9. Bumble and bumble Curl Moisturizing Shampoo

      Best for curly hair

      .

      Curl Moisturizing Shampoo

      As incredible as curls look, they do tend to be on the drier side, due to the twisty, coily curl patterns making it harder for oils produced at the scalp to reach ends. This aims to rectify the problem for curl types ranging from 2A to 4C, to hydrate and detangle. The lather wasn’t rich (down to the fact it doesn’t contain sulphates) but it did a great job at moisturising and softening ends.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 250ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      Yes

      10. Aveda Nutriplenish Shampoo

      Best for fine hair

      .

      Nutriplenish Shampoo Deep Moisture

      Fine dry hair is quite the minefield - too much moisture and you weigh hair down, too little and it ends up looking like straw. This shampoo manages to find the middle ground, cleansing hair of any dirt without stripping natural oils. We found it provided scalps with a great clean, and noticed less frizz by the end of the trial.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 250ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      Yes
      Sulphate free:
      Yes

      11. OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo

      Best for added shine

      .

      Although the main ingredients sound like a healthy breakfast recipe - coconut milk and whipped egg whites - trust us, this shampoo works. Hair appeared shinier after washing, with scalps feeling soft and refreshed. The strengthening formula really got to work, which resulted in testers seeing less damage and dryness.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 385ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      Yes

      12. L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Gold Absolute Repair Shampoo

      Best for dry scalps

      .

      Serie Expert Absolut Repair Gold Shampoo With Protein and Gold Quinoa

      L'Oréal Professionnel

      £9.80

      Enriched with quinoa and proteins, this shampoo aims to reduce the look of split ends and damage by repairing broken bonds, leaving your lengths with mirror-like shine. Testers said it added hydration to dry strands while still managing to give scalps a rigorous clean.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 300ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      No

      13. Herbal Essences Bio Renew Sulphate Free Aloe & Hemp Shampoo

      Best for anti-frizz

      .

      Bio:Renew Sulfate Free Shampoo With Potent Aloe + Hemp

      This iconic hair brand has paired up with Kew Royal Botanical Gardens to harness the hydrating power of the most potent version of the hydrating aloe vera plant. This shampoo did the trick when it came to reducing frizz, with the nourishing formula managing to smooth any flyaways. When it came to dry, damaged ends, testers found they were either reduced or eradicated by the end of the trial - impressive!

      Key specifications
      Volume: 380ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      Yes
      Sulphate free:
      Yes

      14. Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo

      Best for smoothing

      .

      As summer has finally arrived, it’s time to start prepping hair for any heat-induced frizz. This shampoo aims to tackle the issue, addressing everything from static to flyaways - so your time styling hair doesn’t go to waste. It left ends with a glossy finish and provided pretty decent protection against frizz, leaving lengths feeling smoother and softer.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 236ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      Yes
      Sulphate free:
      Yes

      15. Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

      Best for over-processed hair

      .

      No 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

      This brand is usually a hairdresser’s go-to for trying to mend damage on over-processed hair (one of the biggest causes of dryness). This shampoo claims to replenish and restore, which we found it really delivered on. Not only did stressed-out ends appear less damaged, but hair looked more hydrated overall.

      Key specifications
      Volume: 250ml
      Paraben free:
      Yes
      Silicone free:
      No
      Sulphate free:
      Yes

      Which is the best shampoo for dry and frizzy hair?

      Top Shampoo Brands for Dry and Frizzy Hair @Purplle.
      L'Oreal Professionnel X-Tenso Care Pro-Keratin+Incell Shampoo..
      Mamaearth Argan & Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo..
      Matrix Biolage Smoothproof Smoothing Shampoo..
      WOW Skin Science Intensive Repair Shampoo & Revitalize..
      St. Botanica Coconut & Bamboo Hydrating Shampoo..

      What is good for dry frizzy hair?

      Home remedies for dry hair.
      Using hot oils. ... .
      Using good hair care products specific to your hair type. ... .
      Using beer as a hair conditioner. ... .
      Applying a coconut oil mask. ... .
      Applying a gelatin preparation. ... .
      Using egg and mayonnaise-based mixtures. ... .
      Applying a yogurt and oil mask. ... .
      Applying an avocado paste..