2025's Top Shampoos & Conditioners for Shiny, Healthy Hair Growth
You'd never think to blame your good 'ol shampoo & conditioner for hair damage. We'll show you what to look for and what to avoid.
Tanya
As a former hair stylist with over 15 years of experience, Tanya knows hair and has tried thousands of products on all different hair types. She's passionate about educating consumers in making wise purchase decisions for long term hair health.
The Hidden Dangers Of Shampoo & Conditioners
According to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, ingredients such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are found in about 90% of hair care products. These harsh chemicals can damage the immune system, cause separation of skin layers, and inflame your skin leaving it dry, rashy, and irritated.
Shampoo and conditioner are the foundation of our haircare routine, and they can have a profound effect on both texture and health. However, we tend to forget just how important it is to choose the right shampoo and conditioner. That's why it's critical to find products with the highest-quality ingredients that have been clinically tested, even if it means doing extra research and paying a little bit more.
The Proof Is In The Pudding -- We Mean In The Shampoo And Conditioner
Your hair and scalp act like a sponge and absorb the nutrients that you feed it. You want to find the right mix of essential oils, vitamins, natural extracts, and mild cleansers to gently clean your hair and scalp while fortifying it with beneficial natural ingredients.
Below are the top natural ingredients to look for in a high-quality shampoo should contain. All ingredients have been studied in clinical research to help maintain healthy hair.
What to Look for in a Quality Shampoo:
Peppermint, Cedarwood, Tea Tree, Jojoba Seed & Grapefruit Essential Oils
Give your hair moisture and shine while removing dead skin cells, which promotes existing hair growth.*
Fortifying Horsetail, Nettle & Willow Bark Extracts
Help nourish and strengthen hair follicles while removing styling product buildup*
Vitamins B, D, & E
Help keep the scalp hydrated and maintain hair growth.*
Keratin, Soy & Wheat Proteins
Moisturize and protect hair from styling tools and products, while helping strands feel and look stronger.*
Natural Foaming Agents (Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine)
A foaming and anti-static agent derived from the fatty acids in coconut oil, which conditions and helps thicken the appearance of your hair.*
Many people don't understand why their hair is damaged. If you are experiencing an itchy or dry scalp and have noticed hair loss or thinning, you might want to look at what is inside your shampoo and conditioner. Listed below are harmful shampoo ingredients to look out for:
Harmful Shampoo Ingredients:
Harsh Sulfates
SLS and SLES are chemicals reported by the American Journal of Contact Dermatitis to cause irritation. They are added to shampoos because of their cheap and effective bubbling properties.
Parabens
Chemicals including methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben can be absorbed through your skin and have been linked to breast cancer.¹²
Cocamide DEA
Found in many products claiming to be natural, the basis of this chemical—coconut oil—seems innocent enough. But scientists tinkered with the ingredient, modifying it into an unnatural, toxic form, and in 2012 California added it to its known carcinogens list.¹³
Now that we've taken a look at the ingredients we need in our shampoo (and the harmful ingredients we need to avoid!) let's take a look at conditioner.
What to Look for in an Effective Conditioner:
Hydrolyzed Keratin, Soy & Wheat Proteins
Helps keep hair looking and feeling strong, reduces frizz, smooths, and makes your hair shine.*
Argan, Coconut, Marula & Avocado Essential Oils
Helps seal hair cuticles, which protects your strands from damage and leaves your hair feeling strong and sleek.*
Silk Amino Acids
Help nourish hair without weighing it down or causing buildup due to high levels of serine, which has excellent moisture preservation characteristics*
Detangling Agents (Behentrimonium Methosulfate)
Mild and recommended for use in baby products, derived from rapeseed oil, best used for detangling.*
Harmful Conditioner Ingredients:
Behentrimonium Chloride
Also known as Docosyltrimethylammonium chloride, this cheap, harsh chemical can cause skin and eye irritation.¹⁹
Isopropyl alcohol
Used in antifreeze, wood finish, and shellac, this strips hair of its natural oils and can cause damage. Avoid this ingredient.
Silicones
While you usually can't avoid them in your styling products, they shouldn't be present when conditioning your hair. They create the illusion of healthy hair when in actuality they clog your pores and dry your hair from the inside out.²⁰
Top 5 Shampoos And Conditioners For 2021
We've compiled a list of what we've found to be the top five products in this category, on the market today.
TOTAL RANKING
A+
OVERALL GRADE
PROS
-
Premium ingredient list: Argan Oil, Marula OIl, Jojoba Seed Oil, Saw Palmetto
-
Offers free shipping on all orders
-
Sulfate-Free, Paraben-Free, Silicone-Free
-
Hair was left clean and hydrated*
-
Color-Safe
-
Great User Reviews
-
90-Day money back Guarantee
-
Made in the U.S.A.
CONS
-
Only sold in the US
The Bottom Line
Hair La Vie Revitalize Shampoo and Restore Conditioner was Smarter Shoppers' number one choice. We found that their formula uses safe, clinically researched ingredients that are shown to be an effective foundation for healthy hair.
Hair La Vie also had the highest user reviews and ratings. Our Smarter Shoppers were happy with the 90-day money-back guarantee, and we felt their customer service team was top-notch. With all this in mind, we believe that Hair La Vie's shampoo and conditioner system is the best on the market.
* Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
TOTAL RANKING
B+
OVERALL GRADE
PROS
-
Several Essential Oils
-
Effective*
-
Cute packaging
CONS
-
Contains harsh chemicals, silicones, and parabens
-
Uses synthetic colors and fragrances
-
Limited 20-Day Guarantee
-
Long term use may cause hair damage*
The Bottom Line
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner is a highly concentrated salon product. Some of our Smarter Shoppers were less than satisfied after purchasing this product recommended by stylists, and many more were surprised to find such harsh chemicals in a brand named "Pureology." This shampoo and conditioner set was found effective when used sparingly, however some users also reported damage.
* Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
TOTAL RANKING
B-
OVERALL GRADE
PROS
-
Smells Good*
-
Soft Hair*
-
Can help reduce dandruff*
CONS
-
Hair feels drier*
-
Difficult to use*
-
Requires large amount to clean hair*
-
Oily scalp*
-
Users reported hair Loss*
-
Pending class-action lawsuit
The Bottom Line
Wen uses a five-in-one, formulated cleansing system replacing your shampoo, conditioner, detangler, and leave-in conditioner. Many of our Smarter Shoppers were satisfied with this product. Wen's Joy Cleansing Conditioner contains a healthy amount of extracts and oils. However, in December 2015, hundreds of women reported severe hair loss — resulting in a class-action lawsuit.
* Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
TOTAL RANKING
C
OVERALL GRADE
PROS
-
Cleans thoroughly*
-
Smells great*
-
Made in the U.S.A.
CONS
-
Contains harsh chemicals known to cause cancer (California State Proposition 65 Warning)
-
Dries out hair*
-
Users reported dry scalps and more dandruff*
The Bottom Line
Selected Review:
Many of our Smarter Shoppers were surprised about how harsh this shampoo and conditioner was on their hair. Many reported that their scalps felt dry and rashy. The product smells great and has a nice, tingling feeling, but it is full of chemicals. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo has a Proposition 65 warning, meaning the chemicals used in the shampoo and conditioner are on the State of California's list of harmful chemicals that studies have shown to be associated with cancer.
* Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
TOTAL RANKING
C-
OVERALL GRADE
PROS
-
Cleans thoroughly*
-
Adds shine*
CONS
-
Contains sulfates and silicones
-
Uses synthetic colors and fragrances*
-
Felt harsh on scalp and hair*
-
Users report off-putting fragrance*
-
Shampoo has a Proposition 65 warning (known to cause cancer)
The Bottom Line
If you want a non-SLS, non-silicone product, Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 Shampoo is not for you. Our Smarter Shoppers thought this product cleaned and moisturized their hair decently. But there were many mixed reviews, with some people enjoying the smell and some people not liking it at all. If you tend to color-treat and/or thermal-style your hair you might need something with more moisturizing properties than Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 Shampoo has to offer.
* Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
CITATIONS
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