35 best shampoos and conditioners for good hair days

I’ve been using Monday shampoo since its UK launch in 2021. I love it so much I wrote an entire separate review of its products and, after waxing lyrical about the brand to my friends, I’ve been assured it’s just as wondrous on curly locks as it is on my own straight strands. Upon retesting the shampoo for this round-up, I was impressed once more at how easily the formula lathers, without the use of sulphates, not to mention the fact its indulgent ingredients (shea and coconut oil) don’t weigh down my fine-medium hair at the root.

The scent is lovely and fresh and, for the price, I really don’t think you can go wrong. I’ve probably repurchased this product about five or six times at this point, and I won’t hesitate to do so again.

- Lucy Smith

While Monday’s smooth shampoo is a dream for clarifying hair without stripping it of moisture, the brand’s conditioner is ideal for working through knots and tangles. Though I have a bob now, I’ve used this formula on rib-length hair in the past and have been impressed with the results – finding it easy to comb through my brittle strands. As such, this conditioner is a wonder for damaged hair and doesn’t require an entire palm’s worth of product to do the job. Upon drying my strands, I love how soft the product leaves my hair and, from an aesthetic point of view, the bottles look #cleangirl-approved in my bathroom.

- Lucy Smith

This Cecred hydrating shampoo works harder than most, so, if you’re a co-wash kind of person (washing your hair with conditioner only), you might want to reconsider. It’s not often that curly girls get to say a little goes a long way (as far as shampoo goes, this is rarely the case), but I’m happy to report this formula does. Sure, it’s not ultra foamy – foams can leave hair feeling stripped and dry, post wash, FYI – but it does lather well across the hair strands and gently cleanses curls, without stripping the hair’s natural oils.

The high-slip formula makes coils easy to detangle, and leaves them feeling nourished and manageable. This shampoo is formulated with a sexy infusion of an antioxidant-rich African oil blend and hyaluronic acid, for max hydration – this helps promote hair health, moisture retention and leaves your hair shiny and moisturised, even post-drying.

While it’s free of silicones and parabens, the price point may be a bit high for some but, overall, it works exceptionally hard to maintain healthy, hydrated curls.

- Sheilla Mamona

Specially formulated for Afro-textured hair in need of intense hydration, this conditioner is a moisture boost in a jar. It’s rich in shea butter and an African oil blend, which coat strands for smooth, defined curls and coils. The squalane seals the hair cuticles; the hyssop extract is antioxidant-rich and is there for shine; and hyaluronic acid helps to lock-in moisture.

The thick, creamy consistency makes it perfect for tackling knots and tangles, leaving hair soft, shiny, and manageable. Meanwhile, the luxurious scent and nourishing formula make it a standout – its rich texture means you’ll need to rinse thoroughly to avoid residue, though.

- Sheilla Mamona

As someone who’s a religious user of the Living Proof perfect hair day dry shampoo, I had high hopes for the brand’s full shampoo. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint, and I could tell from that first scrunch of shampoo into my roots that it was going to lather well and cleanse effectively. What I didn’t know was whether or not it would dry out my hair, however, I’m please to say it did not and, in fact, achieved the perfect lifted-roots-to-moisturised-ends ratio. There wasn’t so much as a hint of grease around my hairline, nor a split end eeking into my line of sight. I don’t doubt those split ends remain but the shampoo (together with the conditioner) somehow smoothed them into be unnoticeable.

- Lucy Smith

Much like the shampoo above, Living Proof’s full conditioner left me in awe, with my post-wash hair appearing soft, silky and bouncily tousled. This was all after air drying and zero heat styling. What’s more, I could smell the brand’s signature fresh scent with every flick of my head – a big plus for us fragrance fanatics. I loved how the conditioner brought out my colour’s natural highlights and, with the fine-medium thickness of my hair, I found this formula to be uber moisturising, without leaving my roots slicked to my scalp. Full marks, no notes.

- Lucy Smith

I love this brand, and I love this shampoo. Without sounding too hyperbolic, I credit this power product with my life-changing curl revolution. The difference with this shampoo is its focus on strength and hydration. Lots of formulas can claim to battle frizz but Mielle products fight the issue at the cause: dehydration. The formula is rich in nutrients such as fortitude biotin, which encourages healthy hair growth and reinforces the hair’s natural structure. It’s a real saviour for the curly girls who are finally putting down the straighteners in favour of embracing their natural pattern.

The shampoo lathers really well, and a little goes a long way. Plus, the powerful minty scent was a welcome change from the sickly fruity shampoos I’m oh-so familiar with. The definition this shampoo provides for my curls is thus far unmatched – they’re so springy and light without any of that crispy texture so many other curl-defining products leave behind.

- Ella Duggan

While it’s not a classic conditioner, I actually use this masque as my go-to conditioning treatment on wash days, leaving it on for around 10 minutes. This leaves my hair feeling utterly buttery and smooth, as the luxurious texture of the cream coats every last thirsty strand. The masque uses a cocktail of classic hydrating ingredients, such as coconut oil, honey, peppermint oil and, of course, rosemary, for added botanical nourishment and to help strengthen the hair long-term.

Once dried using a diffuser, my curls had a new lease on life after using this product. Immediately, there were improvements in the volume, definition and shine, which only increased after each use. Carrie Bradshaw curls are well and truly in sight, thanks to this product and the brand’s shampoo.

While the brand describes the masque as suitable for all hair types, I think the thickness of the formula could lead to some build-up issues for those with finer hair.

- Ella Duggan

I’ve yet to find a shampoo that perfectly preserves the blonde in my hair but this option from Color Wow does a pretty great job. Almost 12 weeks since my last colour treatment and the blonde is still bright, with very little sign of brassiness. Crucially, for me, neither this shampoo nor the matching conditioner (see below) contain sulphates or parabens, which makes a real difference to my hair. After using Color Wow, my strands felt clean and fresh rather than weighed down.

- Annabel Grossman

Constantly dying my hair has inevitably left it dry and brittle, so, I would have liked this conditioner to be a little more moisturising, especially considering I tested the version of the formula that’s for medium to thick hair (there’s also a fine to medium iteration). That said, I have noticed fewer split ends than usual, and my hair feels stronger. Plus, the conditioner is excellent value, compared with some other formulas that do a similar job but come with a much steeper price tag.

- Annabel Grossman

Curly hair tends to be drier, due to the tightness of the coil and the length of time it takes for natural oils to get to the ends of your hair. I always want to inject and retain as much moisture and hydration into my hair as possible, even when shampooing and cleansing, so, it’s really important for me to choose shampoos that aren’t stripping.

Lush is known for its natural, vegan ingredients and what I love about tofu is that boost of vegan protein is just what my hair needs when it’s feeling dry and damaged. I love that this is a cream-to-foam formula that lathers once you rub it between your hands or through your hair, which makes it very handy for travel, because there’s no opportunities for leakage. This shampoo is SLS-free (sodium laurel sulphate) and uses rice vinegar for cleansing. This shampoo feels super lightweight and it’s great for all hair types, especially dryer/damaged ones.

- Nicole Ocran

Lush products seem to make my hair happy, and the scents are just dreamy – when I use the brand’s formulas, it feels like I’m having a spa day in my bathroom.

Glory’s ingredients include okra, coconut oil, olive oil and castor oil, which are rich ingredients for thick hair and curly/coily textures. That being said, you might not get on too well with this if you have fine hair. Instead, I’d advise using it as a mask or once-a-week treatment, to really enjoy the hydrating benefits, without feeling like your hair is weighed down.

I have thick, 3C-type hair that gets dry and tangles easily, and I find this conditioner is the best when it comes to helping me smooth out frizz and get rid of knots. My only gripe is the price, though it’s worth the money for the natural, cruelty-free ingredients as well as Lush’s brand ethics in terms of production and employee value.

- Nicole Ocran

If you’ve suffered from brittle, damaged curls, you’ll be pleased to know K18 has developed a genius formula that manages to cleanse your curls and scalp without causing dryness – crucial for maintaining the health of afro hair. The brand’s patent K18peptide, effectively prevents protein loss, which is even suitable for colour-treated curls and coils and leaves damaged hair feeling nourished and strong after a single wash.

By replicating the hair's natural pH level, this formula can be gentle on fine, brittle hair strands yet remain effective. You don’t have to use much of it to see results (although, it works much better in combination with the brand’s leave-in repair hair mask). The only downside is while it does deliver on moisture and repairs hair after a few uses, it works harder in combination with the mask and they’re both at the higher end of the price scale.

- Sheilla Mamona

This is a lightweight, high-performance conditioner designed to repair and shield hair from damage. Formulated with the patented K18peptide, it restores protein bonds to reverse damage from heat, chemical treatments, and everyday stressors. It’s also formulated with amaranth protein and hemisqualane, to add a boost of hydration, reduce frizz, and provide a protective barrier, leaving hair soft, smooth, and strong.

It has a lightweight formula that doesn’t weigh down curls, while still providing intense nourishment, making it ideal for all hair types. For best results, it works well in conjunction with the K18 leave-in repair mask (£30, Spacenk.com) and, while it delivers impressive results in hair texture and strength, the premium price tag makes it more of an investment buy.

- Sheilla Mamona

A shampoo at the higher end of the price scale, Amika’s hydro rush is a great choice for those with straight hair that’s dry, been heat damaged or is in need of a trim. For the majority of testing, my hair was actually long enough to graze the top of my ribs, rather than the shoulder-length style shown above and, after squeezing a generous Oreo-sized circle of this product onto my palm, I was pleased to discover a much smaller amount of the formula was adequate to coat the lengths of my hair.

Upon lathering, it has a pleasantly sweet (not sickly) scent and I found it easy to work into the oilier areas of my scalp. While some shampoos can leave a squeaky clean feel in their wake, this one left my wet hair feeling smoothed. Likewise, upon blow-drying, my roots remained lifted and silky. I did occasionally find a slight build-up of product left in the upper lengths of my hair, owing to an inadequate amount of rinsing in the shower – on this front, I’d dub it a better formula for those with a touch more time on their hands. Not, like me, someone who’s always five-minutes behind schedule.

- Lucy Smith

While Amika’s hydro rush shampoo was a top choice for my longer, dry and frazzled strands, I found the conditioner to be better suited to my healthy, recently cut hair. Upon testing with lots of split ends and brittle mid-lengths, I found myself using a hefty amount of product only to come up short when detangling. However, with my newly chopped locks, I found that just a grape-sized amount of the conditioner would adequately coat and hydrate the ends without overly saturating the grease-prone roots. In terms of finish, my styled hair felt soft and appeared velvety sleek.

- Lucy Smith

This is my second bottle of Oribe’s gold lust shampoo and I’ve been just as impressed this time around as I was with my first encounter with the brand. It’s annoying, really, how much I love this shampoo, given its premium price point. From the heavenly scent to the easy lather and luxury packaging, it’s certainly a formula worth hyping, though.

What’s more, it’s from a deeply moisturising collection of products and, for supremely dry and brittle strands, the brand even offers a matching hair oil (£38, Spacenk.com) and heat-protection spray (£42, Cultbeauty.co.uk) – I’m an avid fan of both.

While this could be taken as a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it, the gold lust shampoo and conditioner don’t love – in my experience – to be paired with subsequent serums and leave-in products. Of course, given the price of the products, it’s a blessing that they don’t require an onslaught of extra products, though, it can prove a little annoying if you’re styling with heat afterwards and your existing heat protector spray is (as many are) a two-in-one conditioner. I suppose, conveniently, this is an incentive to invest in the brand’s own dry heat protector.

Like the brand’s shampoo, this conditioner is a real indulgence. Its texture is worthy of even the pickiest of goldilocks, thanks to its not too thick, not too thin consistency – it’s just right. Indeed, it perfectly hydrates the areas of my hair that need it and, as the photo above demonstrates, lends itself well to air drying, having brought out the naturally tousled appearance of my hair’s texture. It might be a little on the rich side for those with fine hair and, even with my medium density, I had to exercise caution when conditioning around the mid-lengths, lest I leave the shower with an unintentional slickback.

- Lucy Smith

As a curly girl, I’m used to using a lot of heavy styling products that can often weigh down my hair as the days go by, so, I need a good, deep cleansing shampoo to bring my curls back to life, without stripping moisture. This shampoo from Kurl Kitchen, founded by sisters Fleur and Keisha East (yes, that Fleur East) has hydrating and nourishing ingredients, such as shea butter and plantain skin, combined with natural exfoliants such as Ghanaian black soap for a deep cleanse of the scalp. They deliberately went back to their roots in Ghana to find sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients from West Africa for curly and coily hair textures, and my hair is all the better for it.

- Nicole Ocran

A rich and thick conditioner without being heavy or claggy, the Kurl Kitchen shea butter baob wild yam is by far my favourite conditioner.

It boasts natural West African ingredients, and every time I use this my curls feel revitalised and nourished. I tend to be a heavy-handed conditioner user, but a little goes a long way here, even when I’m detangling.

Even if you have a looser curl pattern or a thicker one compared with mine, your curls will get on well with this conditioner, as it’s lightweight and smoothing, leaving your hair feeling so soft.

- Nicole Ocran

Before I kick off, it’s worth mentioning Pureology offers two versions of the hydrate range: this, the original hydrate shampoo and conditioner, and another hydrate sheer duo (£53.50, Sephora.co.uk), which features a lighter formula for those with finer hair. In retrospect, I think my hair – which flits between fine and medium thickness between the upper and lower layers – would have benefited from the sheer iteration. That said, it was the original hydrate shampoo I tested and, though it did require extensive rinsing (about five minutes’ worth), it undeniably left my hair in the glossiest state I’ve ever seen. The scent didn’t wow me, as someone that finds spa-like scents a bit samey, but the hydrating effect it had on my hair lasted from dawn until dusk and even bypassed the need for a midday detangle.

- Lucy Smith

Although I didn’t particularly appreciate the cooling/tingling effect of the menthol, especially in winter when my bathroom is cold enough as is, I can appreciate this is a personal preference, not to mention something that might feel refreshing come the warmer months. In terms of performance, though, much like the brand’s shampoo, the conditioner effortlessly left my stands looking silky and smooth. Regarding the price, it’s not the most expensive nor the cheapest of options but I would have liked to have seen some more haircare buzzwords on the ingredients list – vitamin B5, argan oil and the like.

- Lucy Smith

Here, you get 300ml of goodness for your hair. This shampoo gently cleanses while providing a plush, sulphate-free lather that doesn’t strip curls of their natural moisture. I also love how it flexes its hydrating properties without weighing down looser curls. It’s formulated with proteins and antioxidants, helps repair split ends and reduce breakage, all in one, making afros feel softer and silkier after every wash.

I love the scent, too – it’s warm, ambery and floral, which gives a luxurious and uplifting feel, with notes of sparkling yuzu and creamy sandalwood that linger pleasantly. I don’t know about you but, for me, this is what hair-wash dream days are made of. The lack of lather and foaming might take a little getting used to but, if you use a generous amount, you’ll have nourished, healthy curls.

- Sheilla Mamona

This conditioner is a great product for afro hair textures that require hydration but sit on the finer side of the spectrum. Powered by the ‘irisome complex’, it works to deeply nourish and replenish moisture for parched strands, while still feeling ultra-light on fine or overly processed afro hair. The inclusion of glucose proteins helps maintain elasticity, leaving curls softer, smoother, and more manageable, without the greasy after-feel.

Its consistency is perfect for detangling curls with ease, making wash day less of a hassle. However, for those who prefer clean beauty options, it may fall short, as it's not sulphate- or cruelty-free.

- Sheilla Mamona

After going grey/white during the pandemic and finding that my natural colour at 60 was partially platinum, I was keen to alleviate the brassiness that sunny weather wreaked on my strands. At the recommendation of my hairdresser, I tried a couple of silver products but was disappointed with how limp and dull they left my hair – not to mention staining my shower. L’Oreal’s silver shampoo, in comparison, was a revelation, as my hair felt glossy once more, without accelerating the dullness of the grey. There was no staining in the shower, either. The fact the packaging is made of 95 per cent recycled plastic is a big bonus for me, as is the fact the product is available in refill pouches. What’s more, I like how stylish and understated the bottles look in my bathroom.

- Mai Davies

Though I’d already been sold on the shampoo and had used it for a time, I was sceptical that the conditioner might not be able to provide any additional benefits. As such, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my hair felt even better after using it, with my strands now more manageable for longer. Certainly, with it reducing the number of washes, blow dries and straightening sessions, my hair felt in better condition and I’ll definitely be using the formula going forward.

- Mai Davies

Aveda reports that use of the invati ultra advanced collection can reduce hair fall (as a result of breakage) by up to 77 per cent. While I’m often sceptical of hair-growth claims, this is one instance where I’ve been genuinely impressed and, as shown in the cut-out image here, I have seen significant growth in the strands towards the edge of my hair line.

I also enjoyed the volume the formula generated around my roots, giving them a good, build up-banishing clean, and found it easy to rinse away the lather quickly, without hassle. This is, in part, due to the clarifying versus moisturising nature of the formula and, while I didn’t find the shampoo nourishing as such, it didn’t dry my scalp or leave me with any uncomfortable tightness. My one bug bear was the scent – as with most Aveda products, it is quite spicy and not the clean or fresh aroma I usually lean towards.

- Lucy Smith

Using this conditioner along with the accompanying shampoo (see above), I found my hair was feeling stronger and growing longer (I tested the products both before and after I had my hair cut short), as well as detangling with less effort than usual, thanks to the conditioner’s coconut oil and squalane.

However, I did find the thickness and weight of the conditioner caused it to occasionally fall out of my hair upon application. It’s not a huge qualm, but you have to be careful to press it into the strands before it slides onto the shower floor.

- Lucy Smith

As soon as the Vichy Dercos technique shampoo makes its way out of the bottle, its thick and luscious texture suggests it will do wonders for a dry and itchy scalp. Just a small amount of product does the job and, since using this formula, I have felt a marked improvement when it comes to avoiding sensations of itching or flaking. After only using the product for a few weeks, my hair felt noticeably softer and silkier, with my scalp feeling increasingly soothed, wash day after wash day.

- Elis Williams

The Philip Kingsley hydrating conditioner does exactly what it says on the tin – hydrating the hair from the roots to the ends. The product has succeeded in helping my hair feel healthy and full of vigour, despite the fact I suffer with eczema from time to time, including on my scalp. The ends of my hair look and feel healthier than before I started using this product – I’m a big fan of how soft my hair feels when I run my hands through it, too. At £30 for 200ml, it’s not the cheapest of options but just a small dollop goes a long way.

- Elis Williams

The ingredients listed on this two-in-one wash sound positively delicious, with mashed avocado, crushed coconut, torn sage and basil, to name a few. With products packed with natural, organic ingredients, Curlsmith takes pride in what it puts in its bottles, and it shows. While we may lose some of you at the mere mention of a two-in-one shampoo, I have to say this wash took me by surprise.

As someone with very thick curly hair (and lots of it), I was surprised to see just how well this creamy formula penetrated my tangled tresses. The name of the game with this wash is to improve overall hair health by using natural ingredients to cleanse the scalp of impurities, while also nourishing the strands. Mission accomplished, as far as I’m concerned.

While the milky conditioner-like appearance made applying this to the scalp feel very odd, it is a lightweight, gentle formula. Once dried, my hair had a new-found lightness and bounce, while my scalp felt significantly soothed. However, going forward, I may still want a few more products on-hand for curl definition and shine, but I’d say this power product is great for those on the hunt for simple, clean and straightforward haircare.

- Ella Duggan

I’m a firm believer in not having to spend a fortune on good haircare, and this Noughty shampoo is a great budget option that’s ideal for clarifying the hair and, more importantly, the scalp, when you’ve got lots of build-up from leave-ins and styling products. Over the years, so many haircare professionals have told me cleansing is the most important thing in terms of actually bringing curls back to life – and I’ve certainly found that to be true. This product is a simple, easy pick for all hair types, and it lathers nicely, despite being sulfate-free.

- Nicole Ocran

A great, budget-friendly all-rounder, this conditioner adds hydration and moisture to the hair, which is great for softening. Noughty’s USP is that it’s formulas are natural, sulphate-free, silicone-free and paraben-free, which can be hard to find at an affordable price point.

Depending on your hair texture, this may be a bit more of a marmite conditioner for some. I found I needed to use quite a bit of product to really hydrate and detangle, as it’s a very lightweight formula. However, it’s hard to complain too much at this price.

- Nicole Ocran

I recently had my hair type examined at Andrew Jose’s salon in Charlotte street, London, where Jose – who’s been a stylist for more than 35 years – told me I had oily roots and a strawberry blonde colour that, while natural, would likely appreciate being protected as you would an artificial colour. As such, he recommended Revlon’s eksperience scalp comfort dermo calm shampoo, which effectively cleanses hair to the root, without stripping the hair’s protective layer and, as a result, natural colour.

Upon integrating the shampoo into my weekly shower routine, I could certainly feel the lack of sulphates and, in fact, found I had to use a touch more product than usual to coat every strand. When rinsing my hair, I was pleased to feel the lightness of my locks, with the formula having clarified my scalp to reveal fluffy, voluminous roots, without that squeaky clean and somewhat dry feeling. I found this is the sort of product that works best when finished off with the hair dryer, and saw a more-lifted result when doing so, versus air drying.

- Lucy Smith

Again, recommended to me by stylist Andrew Jose, the eksperience colour protection conditioner sets out to hydrate, smooth and protect the hair, without rendering it flat and lifeless. After using this product regularly, I can attest to its effectiveness in the latter department – though, you do have to be vigilant when rinsing. Once you successfully work the formula out of your hair, you’ll be rewarded with lifted roots, silky-soft ends and, with the accompanying cleanser (see above), a more vibrant blonde overall.

- Lucy Smith