Trust Me: These Are the 26 Best Affordable Shampoos for Healthy, Shiny Hair
No matter how much you might spend on it, there's something about shampoo that always feels like the most basic step of your hair routine. After all, sudsing up in the shower just isn't that exciting—it's the masks, hair oils and styling products that bring the fun later. While I am partial to a more expensive shampoo-and-conditioner duo, if you're looking to save some money, this is the place in your hair routine where I often recommend cutting costs, leaving you to invest more in your styling products instead. As a beauty editor, I have tested a lot of shampoos over the years, but while the luxe cleansers often feel great, and smell even better, there are plenty of drugstore shampoos that I use regularly and recommend to my friends who have a plethora of hair types.
Before we get into my favourites, it's important to note that a lot of inexpensive shampoos tend to contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), an ingredient that’s used purely to create that classic shampoo lather. This isn’t an issue for all hair types, as it is effective at removing grease from the hair, but it’s definitely an ingredient to watch out for if you have curly or Afro-textured hair, as it can leave hair looking and feeling drier than when you wash with an SLS-free shampoo.
So if you’re looking for shampoos that are affordable but cleanse amazingly, keep scrolling for 26 of the best drugstore shampoos—all for £20 and under.
The 26 Best Drugstore Shampoos
1. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Shampoo
"One affordable shampoo that has made a great difference to my hair is L'Oreal Paris Glycolic Gloss Shampoo," says Who What Wear beauty editor Eleanor Vousden. "I love using the entire range (especially the gloss treatment) but the shampoo has helped give my dull lengths a a glassy shine which rivals more expensive shampoos that I've tried."
Pros: Sulphate free
Cons: Not suitable for sensitive scalps
Key ingredients: Glycolic acid
2. Aussie Calm The Frizz Shampoo
If you’re constantly trying to smooth out frizz and flyaways, try this shampoo that contains Australian hemp seed extract to help with that. The formula is pretty clarifying and works well for greasy roots and straighter textures.
Pros: Calms frizz
Cons: Some users find it drying
Key ingredients: Hemp seed extract
3. John Frieda Frizz Ease Brazilian Sleek Frizz Immunity Shampoo
This shampoo aims to re-create the effects of a smoothing Brazilian blow-dry at home with a keratin infusion to help smooth the hair cuticle for silky hair.
Pros: Benefits improve with every use
Cons: Contains SLS
Key ingredients: Keratin
4. OGX Quenching+ Coconut Curls pH Balanced Shampoo
"I used to rely on a whole host of shine-boosting products to give my hair a glass-like finish," says freelance beauty editor Grace Day. "Then I discovered this shampoo, and it's all I need. It cleanses well but doesn’t strip moisture, and the argan oil aids in adding shine and sealing in hydration."
Pros: Repairs damaged hair
Cons: Frequently sold out
Key ingredients: Argan oil, vitamin E
5. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo
Protecting colour isn’t just about using gentler cleansers. To keep colour fresh, you have to protect it from UVA and UVB rays, which is exactly what this shampoo does when used alongside the range’s conditioner and masque.
Pros: UV filters prevent colour from fading
Cons: Not suitable for those with coconut allergy
Key ingredients: Red peony
6. L'Oréal Paris Botanicals Lavender Sensitive Hair Scalp Therapy Vegan Shampoo
This shampoo is formulated especially for finer hair textures and is great for soothing sensitive scalps. The lavender is calming, and the lack of silicone in the ingredients list means your hair will feel like its natural texture when it dries rather than weighed down with product.
Pros: Vegan
Cons: Highly fragranced
Key ingredients: Coconut oil
7. Beauty Pie Stronger Shinier Hair Strengthening Shampoo
"Shiny, silky hair has been a huge trend for the past few years," says hairstylist Luke Hersheson. "The Lustreplex Shine-Enhancer in [this] shampoo gives even the most damaged of hair a significant improvement, making it feel soft and look glossy and polished."
Pros: 91% of users agreed hair appears shinier after 2 weeks’ use
Cons: Highly fragranced
Key ingredients: Rice protein, quinoa
8. NUXE Prodigieux High Shine Shampoo
Whether you’ve dyed your hair or it’s your natural hue, this will help to keep the tone far from brassy. Plus, fermented pink camellia oil nourishes without weighing down the hair fibre.
Pros: Sulphate free
Cons: Highly fragranced
Key ingredients: Pink camellia oil
9. L'Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Magnesium Silver Neutralising Shampoo
If your grey or platinum-blonde hair is looking slightly yellowish, then this will knock out any unwanted tones and leave your strands looking bright.
Pros: Works for grey, white, or light blonde hair
Cons: Contains SLS
Key ingredients: Magnesium
10. Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl Shine Shampoo
This formula really works for thick and curly hair. It doesn’t strip moisture, and the shea butter and coconut oil propping up the ingredients list help to create shiny, healthy-looking curls.
Pros: Sulphate free
Cons: Can feel heavy on fine hair
Key ingredients: Silk protein, coconut oil
11. Wella Professionals Invigo Volume Boost Bodifying Shampoo
For those who struggle with volume, this shampoo cleanses away any product residue that can weigh hair down. The texture is lightweight too, so once dried (if followed with the Volume Boost Bodifying Conditioner), your hair will look bouncier.
Pros: Adds volume
Cons: Can irritate sensitive scalps
Key ingredients: Vitamin E
12. FUL Purifying Charcoal Shampoo
"It's so important that your hair wash regime includes a clarifying shampoo or weekly treatment," says senior colourist at Live True London, Stephane Ferreira. "This is my pick. It helps to remove excess dirt and product, leaving hair shiny and fresh and providing a solid foundation for styling."
Pros: Suitable for all hair types
Cons: Not suitable for daily use
Key ingredients: Activated charcoal
13. Maui Moisture Revive Hydrate Shea Butter Shampoo
Aloe vera juice, coconut water, shea butter, macadamia and coconut oil are all at play in this formula for a silky-soft finish once rinsed out.
Pros: Vegan
Cons: Contains SLS
Key ingredients: Can feel heavy on fine hair
14. Bleach London Pearlescent Shampoo
If you have super-bleached blonde hair, this shampoo will impart a soft pearl tone. Trust me—your locks will have a beautiful, rich sheen post-drying.
Pros: Adds a pearly sheen
Cons: Works best on pink hair
Key ingredients: Amino acids
15. Undone by George Northwood Undirty Shampoo
Of the range from super stylist George Northwood, this is the most crowd-pleasing shampoo that works for most hair types. Ingredients include fermented minerals and sugar beet, which help with strengthening and moisture retention for all-round healthy hair.
Pros: Helps to reduce frizz
Cons: Contains SLS
Key ingredients: Fermented minerals
16. Umberto Giannini Grow Root Stimulating Shampoo
When it comes to hair growth, focusing on root stimulation will help to get things moving, which is why this formula includes coffee seed extract and pea sprout extract—both of which are known to stimulate and aid growth.
Pros: Helps to stimulate hair growth
Cons: Some users find it drying
Key ingredients: Caffeine, seaweed
17. Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo
For coily hair, this is a good option as a clarifying wash that doesn’t completely strip the hair of moisture thanks to the shea butter.
Pros: Formulated specifically for natural hair
Cons: Some users find it drying
Key ingredients: Shea butter
18. Lee Stafford For the Love Of Curls Shampoo for Waves, Curls Coils
This shampoo is for anyone who has anything from a slight wave to a coil. When rinsed, my hair feels noticeably softer and my curls look defined.
Pros: Specifically formulated for curly hair
Cons: Some users experience a dry and itchy scalp
Key ingredients: Shea butter, castor oil
19. The Hair Lab by Mark Hill Strengthening Growth Shampoo
Finer, more delicate hair types will find that this shampoo helps to strengthen thanks to biotin in the formula, while argan oil coats the hair, leaving it silky smooth.
Pros: Sulphate free
Cons: Hard to lather
Key ingredients: Argan oil, lemon oil
20. Pantene Hair Biology Clean Resconstruct Shampoo
Using a lot of styling products on Afro hair can lead to mammoth build-up come washday. This shampoo makes light work of cleansing away grime and build-up, so it’s a great clarifying option to have on hand.
Pros: Great for greasy hair
Cons: Needs thorough rinsing for proper removal
Key ingredients: Rose water, micellar water
21. Lush Avocado Co-Wash
Looking for something eco-friendly and gentle? This co-wash bar does have a low lather for cleansing but is incredibly softening, too.
Pros: Great for travelling
Cons: Not great for knots and tangles
Key ingredients: Avocado, olive oil
22. KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo
A tangle-free washday doesn’t have to be just a dream with this shampoo. Seriously, it really does aid in detangling thick, coily hair after washing.
Pros: Hydrates dry hair
Cons: Some users find it leaves roots greasy
Key ingredients: Coconut
23. Nurture + Gentle Cleansing Shampoo Bar
For tightly coiled hair or Afro-textured hair in locs, using this bar lathered up slightly gives a mild but effective clean for the hair and scalp.
Pros: Improves scalp health
Cons: Needs thorough rinsing
Key ingredients: Nettle, lavender
24. As I Am JBCO Cowash
This co-wash is a true shampoo-and-conditioner hybrid with a light lather but extreme moisturising benefits thanks to the Jamaican black castor oil.
Pros: Hydrates dry hair
Cons: Some users may still need to use a separate conditioner
Key ingredients: Castor oil
25. Arkive Headcare The All Day Everyday Shampoo
Created by legendary hair stylist Adam Reed, Arkive Headcare offers up salon-standard formulations at affordable prices—and the shampoos are some of the best around. This one would suit basically any hair type thanks to its blend of baobab protein and betaine which removes product build-up and grease while nourishing and hydrating the hair itself. Plus, it smells absolutely incredible.
Pros: Leaves hair delicately fragranced
Cons: Some users found it cause scalp irritation
Key ingredients: Baobab protein, betaine
26. Unite Boing Curl Shampoo
"This is a brilliant option for tight curls and Afro hair," says hairstylist Melissa Timperley. "It cleanses with a gentle coconut-derived fatty acid while provitamin B conditions and shines."
Pros: Light gel texture
Cons: Available in limited places
Key ingredients: Coconut, provitamin B, chamomile
Now shop drugstore conditioners:
If dryness is your primary concern, then this conditioner quenches straw-like lengths with hydration.
So nourishing for curls and coils.
Brunette hair can be prone to brashness, but this conditioner helps to counteract colour from fading.
This post was previously published and has since been updated.
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