The 9 Best Shampoos for Men in 2024, Tested by Grooming Experts

This stuff contains creatine (yes, really) to strengthen weak hair, thicken thinning strands, and deliver a potent lather while cleansing. After months of testing, one editor noted that the shampoo made his hair feel stronger and thicker. No wonder it won a 2023 Men’s Health Grooming Award.

While this shampoo is specifically formulated to thicken and plump thinner (or thinning) hair, the reason we chose it best overall is because you don’t have to have that issue to reap the benefits. Thanks to the creatine and ginger root in the formula, it also strengthens strands so your hair, no matter what kind of you have, becomes stronger against breakage and damage. And yes, it also does what all good shampoos must: cleans your scalp and hair effectively without leaving it overstripped.

Yes, this stuff is fairly expensive and the bottle is smaller than you’d probably want for a shampoo. However, thanks to the rich lather, a little goes a long way so the small-ish bottle still lasts you a good amount of time, even if you wash your hair every day. This shampoo is the definition of “you get what you pay for.” Sure, you can find cheaper shampoos that get the job done and are fine, but shelling out a little bit more for a truly incredible shampoo can really make a huge difference. Give it a shot and thank us later.

Read more: Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men

The aloe vera and citric acid in this stuff dig out dirt, oil, and product buildup. It’ll leave your hair feeling “soft, not squeaky,” according to one of our testers. We also loved that it features no silicones, parabens, or dyes, making it ideal for guys with sensitive skin. No wonder it took the top spot at our 2022 Grooming Awards.

Apart from the fact that this clarifying shampoo does a great job of cleansing even the dirtiest scalps (it’s perfect for big jobs like after a hard workout, doing yard work or hiking to name a few), we also appreciate that it’s extremely budget friendly so it won’t break the bank if you use it often. The scent isn’t overpowering and the rich lather easily gets the job done without needing to use a lot.

We’ve tested a lot of clarifying shampoos and while many of them deep clean your scalp well, they also leave your hair feeling overly dry and crispy. This one, however, does not – another reason we love it so much. Even when you’re only using a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week (depending on how dirty or oily your hair and scalp are), you still don’t want your hair to be left dried out. Somehow this even removes product buildup from your hair while still keeping it soft and moisturized (maybe it’s the aloe vera), which in our book is exactly what you want in a clarifying shampoo.

This non-foaming, detergent free hair cleanser won’t strip your curly hair of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy. It also moisturizes while it cleanses to help protect your curls and keep them from frizzing.

Co-washes like this are ideal for curly hair but can also be thought of as a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner for very dry or damaged hair since using one is basically like washing your hair with a conditioner. If you’re used to high-lather shampoos, using this can take a bit of getting used to (it really doesn’t lather and feels more like a conditioner) but once you get the hang of it the results speak for themselves.

The reason it’s so good for curly hair is because it doesn’t lather, so even with the learning curve, it’s worth it. Traditional shampoos typically use surfactants and sulfates that cause that lather you’re used to, but they can also strip and dry out hair – particularly curly hair that is already prone to dryness in general. Not only does this shampoo use non-lathering surfactants to cleanse your hair, but it’s also sulfate-free, so it won’t dry out your hair at all. In fact, it’s so moisturizing you don’t even need to follow it with any sort of conditioner (unless your hair is extra dry). It’s the easiest way we’ve found to protect your curls and keep them looking their best.

You don’t have to have actual dandruff to reap the benefits of this shampoo. Salicylic acid helps to clarify the scalp and help decrease oil production, which makes it ideal if your scalp and hair tends to get oily or greasy.

Think of this shampoo as an exfoliator for your scalp. The salicylic acid, just like the kind found in some of your facial skincare products, helps to gently remove buildup on your scalp, including flakes, but also goes down into pores to help control oil production. Even doing all of that, this shampoo is anything but harsh and really does help soothe itch and irritation on your scalp. Our favorite thing about it, though, is that it smells and lathers like a fancy shampoo, not like the typical dandruff shampoos you’ll find at the drugstore.

It’s worth a reminder that you really don’t need to use this every day–even though it smells so good that you’ll want to. Because the salicylic acid is potent, overdoing it could risk additional irritation to your scalp. Another usage tip: you want to make sure the salicylic acid actually reaches your scalp, so make sure to use your fingers (or a massaging brush) to thoroughly massage it into your scalp. Once you have, let it sit for a few minutes to make sure the active ingredients penetrate the skin on your scalp enough to be effective. Do that and you’ll have a flake and itch-free scalp in no time.

Controlling dandruff when you have textured hair can be a hassle, because traditional dandruff shampoos can leave it dry and crispy. This version, however, the requisite pyrithione zinc you want to control dandruff, but is sulfate free and packed with nourishing ingredients to help keep your hair hydrated.

Apart from the pyrithione zinc that helps control dandruff, this specific formula also contains apple cider vinegar to help gently cleanse your hair and scalp without stripping it and coconut oil to help smooth and hydrate hair. The large size is convenient and lasts a long time even if you use it frequently and the scent is pleasant without any of the medicinal quality that some other dandruff shampoos have.

Out of all the medicated shampoos we have tested, this is by far some of the best smelling. It’s actually pretty easy to forget that it’s a medicated shampoo, but it is. That means you’ll want to make sure you let it sit on your scalp for a few minutes in order to let the active ingredients go to work. Luckily that’s easy when it smells and feels like a “normal” shampoo. It also doesn’t leave your hair feeling sticky or filmy like other medicated shampoos. However, it’s important to note that since this is formulated for curly and textured hair, the addition of moisturizing ingredients may be too much for fine or thinning hair

If you want your upgrade your daily shower from mundane to sublime, we recommend this volumizing shampoo from Sisley Paris. It gives your hair an added boost of volume and body and the invigorating scent is the perfect way to kick-start your day. One tester noted that his hair felt softer and smoother after using it for more than six months. He also noted that Sisley’s formula was gentle enough to use every day, without drying his scalp.

If you’ve never used a luxury shampoo before, it may be hard to justify spending this much money on a shampoo, but once you do use it, you’ll understand immediately. A richer lather, a creamier formula, a more elevated and pleasing scent are all part of the luxury shampoo experience, but where it really shines is how it leaves your hair looking lustrous and healthy in a way that cheaper shampoos just can’t compete with.

We don’t endorse an expensive product like this unless we truly believe in it and in this case, that’s absolutely true. Not only is the experience of using it incredible, but out of all the shampoos we’ve tested – from drugstore to luxury – this is some of the best, not just in how it feels and smells to use, but how it left our hair looking. Sure, you could use it every day if you want (you’ll definitely be tempted), but you really don’t need to with this stuff. It made our hair look its best with only a few washes a week. The healthy shine and feel it delivers stuck with us longer than cheaper shampoos. That’s why it’s worth the investment.

Dealing with men’s hair loss? Another favorite of our editors here at Men’s Health is this thickening shampoo from Old Spice, which is specifically designed to support healthy hair growth. It’s great for those dealing with thinning hair. One tester found that after using Old Spice’s shampoo for two months, his hair appeared thicker and fuller. We also love its large, budget-friendly size, which lasted us more than three months.

We have to reiterate here that this shampoo will not actually help you regrow your hair (unless you’re also using something that contains a proven hair growth ingredient like minoxidil or finasteride). But what it will do, and do very effectively, is make thin or thinning hair appear fuller, with the help of the biotin in the formula which not only plumps, but also strengthens hair. It’s a great option for volumizing even if you’re not noticing any thinning.

We know we sound like a broken record here, but it’s worth repeating one more time: this will not regrow hair. For that, you need something like minoxidil. However, if what you’re looking for is thicker-looking hair, this stuff really gets the job done. It’s gentle enough to use every day and when we did during the testing process, we could see a noticeable difference in how thick and full our hair looked. For that reason, we believe it’s worth trying even if you’re not worried about thinning and you just want a bit more volume.

Do you have a dry or itchy scalp? Grab this soothing kit that comes highly recommended by hairstylist and scalp expert Diane Stevens. “It contains aloe vera, an anti-inflammatory ingredient to soothe the scalp, help increase softness or smoothness of hair,” she said. “It also reduces tangles and hair surface roughness.” Our editors found that

Keep in mind that this is a full system that includes a shampoo, conditioner, and serum for those with very dry or inflamed scalps. If you don’t think you need the whole system, the shampoo is available on its own and is effective at reducing itch in cases that may not need the full three-part system. After all, it’s also a very effective and pleasant to use shampoo that lathers well and smells good which makes it a shampoo you actually want to use.

Whenever you use a product that’s designed to be part of a system, of course you’re going to get the full benefits if you use the whole system. This is no exception. However, we’ve tested a lot of systems in our time and we were impressed at how well this shampoo worked at soothing our itchy scalps even if we didn’t use the other two products. If you have chronic itchy scalp, you’ll likely want to pick up all three products, but if you just want something on hand to soothe your scalp every now and then, the shampoo will do the trick just fine.

Read more: Best Shampoos for Itchy Scalps

Pros

• Can fix dry hair after a few washes
• Protects color treated hair

SACHAJUAN Moisturizing Shampoo is perfect for severely dry, dehydrated hair. It rehydrates hair through a blend of Ocean Silk Technology and Argan oil; providing optimal moisture levels. A few of our editors say that after using it for two weeks, they found that it helped fix their dry hair. Testers with color-treated hair also found that Sachajuan’s moisturizing formula kept their locks soft and healthy-looking.

Are There Any Real Differences in Shampoos?

Every potion for your pate is designed to remove oil, dead skin cells, and grime from your scalp, says Paradi Mirmirani, M.D., a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente. “the biggest difference is the strength of the cleanser.” If you have an oily scalp (and greasy hair), you need a strong shampoo; a dry scalp (and wispy hair) requires gentler stuff. but don’t confuse dryness with dandruff, which is caused by a fungus. Now, if you’re running out of hair to shampoo, you need a formulation that creates the illusion of thicker hair. We’ve identified four categories and tested a slew of shampoos in each to find the best. top off with conditioner for a covetable coif.

Dry Scalp

Look for mild cleansers called betaines high up
on the ingredient list, says Zoe Draelos, M.D., a consulting professor of dermatology at Duke University school of medicine. These don’t bind to oil as well as harsher cleansers do, so they leave some of your natural moisture.

Thinning Hair

Minoxidil is the only proven OTC way to stimulate hair growth. But the shampoo you use can make each strand appear thicker. Look for volumizing formulas with plumping polymers (like quaternium) that bind to each strand, says Jim Hammer, M.Ed., a cosmetic chemist.

Oily Scalp

Control greasiness with a shampoo that contains anionic surfactants, such as sulfates, sulfoacetates or sulfosuccinates. An Italian study review found that these detergents, which contain negatively charged particles that bind to oil, are the strongest cleansers.

Dandruff

Eliminate the itch by using a product containing either zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide, which fight the flake-causing fungus and soothe inflammation, says Dr. Draelos. Alternate that with a salicylic acid shampoo, which exfoliates to remove dead skin cells and flakes.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Most experts say that washing your hair more than a few times a week is unnecessary because over washing an strip the scalp and hair of it’s natural moisturizing and protective oils. A good rule of thumb is to wash it every other day and always follow shampoo with conditioner to replenish moisture. However, there are some caveats and how often you actually wash is personal. If you have curly, textured, or dry hair, you may need to wash it even less. Washing once or twice weekly may be enough. On the flip side, if you have an oily scalp, sweat or exercise a lot, or use a lot of hair products, you may need to cleanse your hair more often.

Can Shampoo Really Help With Dandruff?

Yes, provided it has the right ingredients. Clinical dandruff is actually caused by a fungus that can grow on your scalp and feed off the oils. Ingredients like zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide have been shown to kill this particular fungus, called malassezia. Other ingredients, like salicylic acid, can address other factors like dryness, itchiness, and oil buildup that can look similar to dandruff, but only zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide have been approved to stop the fungus itself. Using a dandruff shampoo that contains these ingredients as directed can help curb dandruff (as long as you keep using it).

What’s the Deal With Sulfates in Shampoo?

Sulfates (most commonly sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate) are used in shampoos to create that lather we always expect when washing our hair. They’ve been used for decades because they were thought to have a cleansing effect, but in recent years, the conversation around sulfates has shifted. Many people now believe that sulfates have a stripping effect and can leave your hair dry, unprotected and needlessly crispy (that squeaky clean feeling). Sulfates in themselves aren’t harmful, but you may want to avoid shampoos with sulfates if you have dry, fine, or color- or chemically-treated hair as they can increase dryness (and fade color). Additionally, avoid sulfates if you have rosacea, eczema or highly sensitive skin, as they can cause irritation, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.