“I encourage people to leave this particular shampoo on hair, with intent to reach the scalp, for a couple of minutes before rinsing out allowing those oils to retrieve full coverage,” Davie says. “The longer you keep it in and evenly massage into the head the better chances the scalp is stimulated for healthier growth.”
The Best Shampoo for Men with Thick Hair: Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo
Our Experience
If this article were called “Adam Hurly’s Favorite Shampoo of All Time,” then Davines’s LOVE shampoo would be in the first spot. But my needs do not match every reader’s needs, so this product will have to settle for “Best Thick Hair Shampoo” in the meantime. It is so difficult to find a product that tames my thick hair while it cleanses. The entire LOVE line is like a relaxer for my untenable and rigid-straight strands and becomes even more essential whenever I decide to grow my hair out. If you have coarse or thick hair—and especially if it’s on the straighter side—then this shampoo (and LOVE assortment) is a game-changer.
The Best-Smelling Shampoo for Men: Corpus Cypress Shampoo
Our Experience
This shampoo is more than just its delicious aroma, yes. However, we cannot ignore it: Corpus’ woodsy scent is on the more masculine side of the scent spectrum, should you want some aromatherapy that might pair nicely with your cologne. (Vetiver, cypress, and cedar take center stage in this one.) I would pump this scent throughout my home, and happily deploy this moisturizing, fortifying wash through my strands any day of the week. Use it as a beard wash, too, if you want to smell it even more each day.
The Best Shampoo for Men with Fine Hair: Ouai Fine Shampoo
Our Experience
Here is an all-time favorite of my fine-haired partner, who demands a shampoo that fights gravity and gives his hairs extra height and fullness. OUAI’s formula here has the ability to deeply rinse without causing any frizzing or fraying, unlike many shampoos that give volume by virtue of parching the hairs. So with OUAI, you get volume, density, and body, plus mega moisture to top it off.
The Best Shampoo for Men With Thinning Hair: The Grey Stimulating Shampoo
If cost were no object, this would be our best overall shampoo, too. However, I do think that a $75 bottle of shampoo is tough to promote as a universal option—but as a luxury pick, The Grey is a no-brainer. But this Dutch men’s label really packs on the active ingredients, a difference you feel in the strands after rinsing (you can peep the “key ingredients” above for that long list, which benefit far more than just thinning hair). While I never really advertise shampoos as the solution for hair loss—you need to take more clinical measures—however, a shampoo like this can be a game-changer when it comes to maximizing the potential of your precious hair. If you have a stylable length—let’s say an inch or more, then you might notice your styling regimen performing slightly better after a rinse from The Grey. It’s nourishing, it’s smoothing, it’s tingly and refreshing, and it smells brilliant.
The Best Custom Shampoo for Men: Prose Custom Shampoo
Given that basically no single shampoo will work for every guy, the easiest way to find one for you is to go to a customizing brand like Prose. Among the brand’s many made-to-order hair and skin care products, this shampoo factors in everything from your hair’s density and curl pattern, as well as scalp oil levels and sensitivities, plus the environmental conditions in your area (think: water hardness, air quality, humidity, and more). So, you receive something that doesn’t just suit your hair and scalp needs, but that considers all the variables that make for a good hair day.
It’s hard for me to tout this as a standalone product, too, considering the fact that Prose builds out entire regimens targeted to your hair and skin, all of which work together to achieve those results. I’ve always been impressed with Prose, even as my variables have evolved (more hair density due to hair growth efforts, a few zip code changes, seasonal shifts, and length variance). But if you’re wondering if Prose lives up to the hype, the answer is yes, absolutely.
The Best Shampoo for Damaged Hair: K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo
Few brands have skyrocketed quite like K18, which went from 0-60 in a couple years’ time thanks to fantastic reparative formulas. (The brand’s leave-in hair mask, despite the $75 sticker shock, is worth every penny if you have long and/or damaged strands.) And naturally, this balancing shampoo is part of its recipe for success. Not only does it flood your strands with fortifying proteins as it flushes away grime, but it also balances the scalp and strand pH levels. By collectively reducing inflammation and closing off the cuticles, it fights everything from frizz to breakage to swelling, all while giving your head its happy little rinse.
If I need to look my absolute best on any given day, I’ll do a full K18 routine, starting with this shampoo. It ensures I have no frizz, style-cooperative strands, and eye-catching natural shine for the next 24 hours or more.
The Best Shampoo for Men with Dry Hair: Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo
This shampoo just missed out on the “best universal” winner, thanks to its cult-fave status and ability to resurrect the saddest, most frayed, and damaged hair from the brink of breakage. I’m even traveling right now for a couple of weeks as I write this, and this is the shampoo I’ve brought along to counter the cool air and keep my strands soft and strong.
The Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo
Our Experience
For my job, I can call in just about every product I want to test, to use up, to restock…It’s a nice gig, I admit. But sometimes there’s a product or brand that I don’t have a “professional relationship” with, and I actually pay for the thing myself. Nizoral is one of those products I always keep stocked. I can’t have a single conversation about dandruff control with my go-to dermatologist sources without this one being recommended. Not only that, but the active ingredient here, ketoconazole, is more than a fungal foe: It’s arguably the single worthwhile ingredient you can find in a shampoo that can temper follicle-thinning DHT (dihydrotestosterone) on contact, making it potentially the only true ingredient to seek out in “hair loss shampoos.”
Though not a body wash, I spot-treat other parts of my body with this one too, since sometimes I get flakes around my nose or beard dandruff. It’s a great groin-area wash too, if you’re prone to jock itch after a sweaty buildup. It isn’t something you want to overuse, though: This one is drying, so I would only recommend using it as an active treatment to counter dandruff, or every couple weeks to keep the problem at bay. But damn, does it work quickly and effectively. And, if you have severe flaking or itching up top, you can ask your derm for a 2% upgrade of this one, which is available via prescription.
The Best Shampoo for Men With Straight Hair: Living Proof Full Shampoo
Our Experience
This is one of the few shampoos that my partner and I will share—me for my extremely thick but straight hair whenever it’s grown out a few inches or more, and him for his fine hair at any length. It gives me just the right amount of movement, texture, and definition so that my hair doesn’t look limp or feel unstylable. I tend to cut back on the amount of conditioner I use afterwards too, since I like the style-ready results of the standalone shampoo. (That’s not a green light to stop using conditioner, but rather, to change your cadence on the days you shampoo.) Living Proof is also one of the best brands for finding a product that works with any hair type, not just this “Full” line that promises volume and texture.
The Best Solid Shampoo for Men: Church California Shampoo Bar
Our Experience
I find most shampoo bars feel like a solution for getting around TSA’s liquid regulations while flying, as opposed to actually great shampoos. But along comes Church, one of the US’s best barbershops and maker of some A+ hair stylers, with its first hair care product (as well as a conditioning bar to match it). I don’t know if there’s a liquid shampoo that can go toe to toe with Church’s bar shampoo in terms of fortifying and conditioning ingredients. I’d go so far as to call it a co-wash for this fact, not to mention, it will also outlast any liquid shampoo that you buy, too—assuming you don’t store it in a pool of water.
The Best Detoxifying Shampoo: Wonder Valley Sandalwood Yuzu Shampoo
Our Experience
The first thing you’ll notice about California-cool grooming brand Wonder Valley’s shampoo is that it smells refreshingly natural—none of that overly synthetic, “shampoo-y” scent. The second? Nearly every ingredient is recognizable and easy to pronounce. This silky formula doesn’t explode into a dramatic lather but instead forms a subtle foam that cleanses and helps detoxify your hair from daily buildup. It leans heavily on oils—cedarwood, grapefruit, frankincense, lime, yuzu, and leaf extracts—giving it an old-world simplicity. There’s a faintly ecclesiastical vibe, like a quiet chapel filled with incense, which is right up my alley. There are few extra bells and whistles—just simple cleansing via Mother Nature, and we could all use that from time to time.
The Best Nourishing Shampoo: Flamingo Estate Rosemary & Ionian Bergamot Shampoo
Our Experience
Oh, Flamingo Estate, I always have one of your products in rotation—whether it’s a fantastically aromatic candle or one of the herbaceous bricks of soap. Mostly everything in the line carries the brand’s unmistakable DNA: an ode to the lush foliage of their estate and, of course, olive oil. This shampoo is so packed with goodness that it feels like feeding your hair a nourishing meal after a long fast. A powerhouse blend of babassu, jojoba, avocado, meadowfoam seed, and olive oils works to cleanse while fortifying. Aloe hydrates and soothes the scalp, biotin thickens strands, vitamin B5 boosts moisture retention and shine, and various antioxidants support overall hair vitality. As expected, the Rosemary & Bergamot scent is herbal and transportive, bringing the garden into your cleansing ritual.
The Best Volumizing Shampoo: Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo
Our Experience
Volumizing and thickening aren’t quite the same, though with similar outcomes. Volumizing shampoo lifts hair at the roots for more body, while thickening (or densifying) shampoo strengthens and plumps strands, making hair feel fuller. This Aveda volumizing shampoo uses acacia gum—a natural ingredient from said tree—and does both. It forms a lightweight shield around each follicle while locking in moisture at the root and enhancing lift. There are no unnecessary chemicals here—just pure volumizing mojo for flat hair. Plus, acacia gum tames frizz and adds shine, so your hair won’t just have more volume; it’ll flaunt it with a luscious sheen.
The Best Scalp-Soothing Shampoo: Necessaire The Shampoo
Our Experience
Think of Nécessaire’s shampoo as skin care for your scalp. We’ve said it before, but healthy hair starts at the root, and this shampoo cleanses your follicles and the skin beneath, using powerhouse ingredients found in top-tier skin care. A hyaluronic acid complex delivers multi-level hydration, vitamin B3 (niacinamide) boosts circulation and regulates oil production, while vitamin B5 (panthenol) strengthens strands and locks in hydration. A proprietary plant-based infusion calms irritation, creating a fertile foundation for follicles to flourish. It all sounds scientific, but in practice, this shampoo felt gentle AF—cleansing my hair and scalp without a stripping feeling and setting the stage for stronger, healthier hair over time.
The Best Densifying Shampoo: Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo
Our Experience
Luxury hair care OGs Oribe have a shampoo for every need—color-treated, moisture control, you name it—but their brand-new densifying shampoo deserves a special shoutout. The Oribe team went all in, consulting a trichologist to craft a formula that adds serious heft to hair. This shampoo packs a bioactive blend of pea sprout extract to support follicle density over time, red clover extracts to help reduce shedding, and peptides to strengthen and fortify. The shampoo plays the long game but as someone with finer hair, I noticed a difference after several uses, and my strands felt denser and fuller. For thicker hair, it adds depth; for finer hair, it’s a no-brainer.
The Best Invigorating Shampoo: Malin+Goetz Peppermint Shampoo
Our Experience
Sometimes, you just need a wake-up call, and Malin+Goetz’s OG cult-classic Peppermint Shampoo is precisely what the old-school follicular physician ordered. This cooling, invigorating formula lathers exceptionally well (thanks to a coconut-derived surfactant) and is always a go-to for me, especially in the warmer months. The formula is packed with plant-based amino acids and vitamins to soothe and soften all hair types, and in M+G apothecary fashion, the packaging and font are on point. But the crisp, minty scent steals the show, delivering an energizing, tingling boost for both your hair and senses.
The Best Exfoliating Shampoo: R+Co Submarine Water Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo
Our Experience
R+Co is foremost name in luxury hair care, known for its cool packaging, clever names, and targeted formulas. While we’ve highlighted the brand’s products countless times, this Exfoliating Shampoo deserves some accolades. Exfoliating shampoo, you ask? Yeah—this isn’t your everyday cleanser; it’s a concentrated, once-a-week treatment formulated for a scalp and hair detox. Much like a facial exfoliator, it uses naturally derived enzymes and fruit alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to gently dissolve excess skin cells and buildup. The formula is also packed with botanicals: bilberry extract, rich in tannins and anti-inflammatory properties to calm; radish root to nourish and soften; and tomato extract to stimulate the scalp and regulate sebum. Again, this isn’t a daily driver, but when your follicles need a reset—clearing away flakes, oils, and buildup—this shampoo answers the call.
The Best Styling (Texturizing) Shampoo: Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Wash Texturizing Shampoo
Our Experience
You’ve showered, washed, and blow-dried your hair. Then, you reach for a texturizing paste or wax. With the Surf Wax Shampoo from hair care stalwart Bumble and Bumble, you might skip that last step—or at least gain a styling enhancer. This shampoo works like a hybrid, cleansing while infusing hair with a mineral-rich blend that amplifies natural waves, leaving hair with a soft yet textured, beachy feel. I have finer hair that sometimes looks best in the morning with that “I woke up like this” tousled texture, and this shampoo nailed that effect on its own. Staying the course with the oceanic theme, sea fennel and kelp extract nourish and strengthen. Fair warning: if your hair runs dry, this might not be your best bet, as the formula helps create a signature grit. But for those with normal to oily hair? Lather up for just off-the-coast texture—no actual beach required.
How to Choose the Right Shampoo, According to the Experts
Know Your Hair Type and Oil Levels
The first step to finding the right shampoo is to understand your “variables.” This means your strand’s overall texture (so, it’s curl or wave pattern, or lack thereof), as well as the individual strand density, the oil levels in your scalp, any sensitivities, etc. Finding a shampoo that matches your needs—and learning the right cadence of using it—is crucial for healthy hair. “I recommend everyone tailor their routine to what works best for them and not just use products that are popular at the time,” Lee adds. “Whether you have short or long hair, your scalp health is important to focus on and make sure you give it what it needs.” Celebrity groomer Dan Perri (with A-list clients like Post Malone, Gerard Butler, and Brendan Fraser) adds that men’s hair needs and variables might even change as time goes on—aside from just natural thinning. “If you are someone who’s had the same shampoo for years it, may be time for a switch,” he says.
