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Your hair is your crown, so why not treat it like one? The right shampoo is essential for a head full of enviable locks, and even if you’re rocking a buzzcut, finding a cleanser that treats your follicles like royalty is worth a well-thought-out search.
If shower time for you is a chore and you’ve found yourself stuck in a 3-in-1 rut, you could use a shampoo that makes you look forward to your next head-to-toe wash. We’ve taken the time to seek out the suds that will elevate your hair to the coif even kings would be jealous of.
Picking the Right Shampoo
Everyone’s hair requires some attention. Depending on your hair type, you may have to put in more effort than others. Those with finer hair work well with any shampoo that relieves them of excess oil buildup and often wash their hair. However, those with more curly or coarse hair must rely on a shampoo that lives to hydrate since those hair types dry out quickly and require a ton more moisture.
So, make sure you’re looking for a shampoo that will fulfill your needs, and don’t just pick one based on the hype or even the scent. If you have a flaky scalp, you might want an anti-dandruff shampoo with tea tree oil, or if you have locks that are dying for moisture, you’ll probably lean toward products that are rich in shea butter and coconut oil. Either way, pay close attention to the ingredients in your shampoo products, and they may be the reason for some or all of your hair frustrations.
Ingredients to Stay Away From
Sulfates
Sulfates – such as sodium lauryl sulfate –are now like a curse word in the hair care community. Everyone likes to shy away from them because they are a detergent that strips your hair of its natural oils to the point where it could do more harm than good.
Suppose you have hair that tends to build up more oil over time. In that case, sulfates probably won’t do nearly as much damage for you as they would on more curly hair types, but it is still best to avoid them and look for specific scalp care products, as that would be the root of your excess oil production problems (no pun intended).
Parabens
Parabens have also become a big no-no, and many brands choose to heavily market the fact that their products do not contain them. Since many people aren’t exactly sure what parabens are, it can be tough to determine why exactly this is such a good thing in the first place.
Basically, parabens prevent the growth of mold and fungi, but research has shown that they can cause a ton of irritation to your skin and eyes, and they are often related to hormone imbalance issues. Anything that adversely messes with your body should be avoided at all costs, especially when there’s a chance it could cause reproductive harm. So a paraben-free world is the one we should aim to live in. Without further ado, here are the best shampoos for men in 2022.
1. Blu Atlas
Blu Atlas Shampoo
Though most shampoos tend to isolate by addressing just one or two hair types and concerns, Blu Atlas has made it a point to create a hair cleanser for everyone. Jojoba oil and aloe vera soothe the scalp and soften hair follicles for easy detangling and manipulation.
A lot of shampoos contain stripping detergents that can dry out your hair and lead to a flaky scalp, but Blu Atlas has made it a point to create all their products with no sulfates, phthalates, or parabens, so you can enjoy a gentle, conditioning clean that contains no free radicals or harmful compounds. This is the best shampoo for men of all backgrounds. From super fine hair to full, thick coils, Blu Atlas is there to give you salon-quality hair care in the comfort of your own home.
2. Duke Cannon Supply Co. News Anchor Power Clean Shampoo
Duke Cannon Supply Co. News Anchor Power Clean Charcoal Shampoo
When you’re between washes and plagued by a dry, itchy scalp, all you want is a shampoo that is going to give you that infinitely clean feeling to make all your irritation fall to the wayside. Duke Cannon’s Power Clean shampoo is made with activated charcoal to provide the ideal detox and shield your scalp from harm.
Zea mays cob powder breaks down that heavy product buildup that weighs you down, while lanolin hydrates the hair, giving you a shiny mane full of volume. Get ready to be the center of attention and the star of your show.
3. 18.21 Man Made Tobacco
Original Sweet Tobacco Man Made Wash
The concept of the 3-in-1 wash is polarizing, to say the least. People either love the convenience or are not sold on the fact that one product could be appropriate nourishment from your head to your toe. 18.21 Man Made is dedicated to creating washes that are perfect for travel or the low-maintenance man looking for a bit of pampering that is so good it almost feels wrong.
Designed to look like a bottle of whiskey, the Sweet Tobacco scent is a secret delight. Much like the speakeasy energy, this package means to reflect. Macadamia Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Quinoa, and Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters repair and protect your hair while providing long-lasting moisture to your face and body.
4. Briogeo Curl Charisma Shampoo
Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
Curly textures will rejoice over the power of Briogeo’s rice amino and avocado shampoo, which works to moisturize and soften the hair so you can detangle without a flinch. Most curly textures are stressed by the stretching and pulling of combing anyways, so having a shampoo that dries out your mane before you’ve even gotten to condition it will just make the efforts more exasperating.
Rice water rinses have been a longtime natural hair health secret to long and strong hair. Briogeo uses rice amino acids to restore your hair’s protein strength and fuses the power of tomato fruit and avocado to seal the hair and prevent rampant frizz and flyaways.
5. Kevin Murphy Balancing Wash
Kevin Murphy Balancing Wash Strengthening Daily Shampoo
Color-treated hair is challenging to maintain as it is, but when your shampoo threatens to dull your color and eradicate the product of your hard work and length salon trip, it can be devastating. Your shampoo is supposed to give your hair strength and shine, not strip its color and render it brittle and lifeless.
This Kevin Murphy is full of antioxidants, cleaning your scalp while covering it with a layer of moisture and ridding your hair of product residue without taking your pigment with it. Your hair will remain durable and rich with color, so you don’t have to make any premature touch-ups.
6. Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo
Aveda Invati Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo Rich
Aveda grants you the opportunity to bring the spa experience straight to your bathtub, and this exfoliating shampoo will leave you feeling as if you just received a celebrity-tier treatment at a five-star facility. Thicker hair has difficulty becoming clean with an initial wash. Product and daily grime buildup can get tangled in your locks, and lead to a dry scalp with unsightly dandruff that is ever harder to rinse away.
Aveda Invati shampoo uses ginseng to awaken your follicles and lactic acid for a gentle chemical exfoliation that shuns dandruff production. Turmeric’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties calm a head of hair that is often pulled and manipulated to exacerbation, so you can keep taming your hair without damaging it.
7. Baxter of California Daily Fortifying Shampoo
Baxter of California Daily Fortifying Shampoo
The rush of mint on your scalp against the steam of a hot shower isrelaxing and energizing at the same time. Baxter of California’s Daily Fortifying Shampoo understands the desire for a blast of coolness amid the balmy heat running through your strands.
Baxter’s goal is to create products for men who find their skin and hair especially stressed by the environment and especially the harsh weather and bracing seawater in California. Wheat protein strengthens locks and repairs damage, while coconut extracts soften and hydrate with Vitamin E.
8. Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo
Kiehl’s since 1851 Amino Acid Shampoo
Kiehl’s always kills it in the shampoo department, but this Amino Acid shampoo indeed grants new life to tired, flat hair. Created with coconut oil to lock in moisture and backed by Phyto Proteins to instill proper moisture, this shampoo acts more like medicine than it does a cleanser. You’ll exit the shower with shiny hair that is free of excess oil and a renewed sense of confidence from the impossible fullness your mane now possesses.
9. Scotch Porter Hydrating Hair Wash
Scotch Porter Hydrating Hair Wash
Scotch Porter wants to help you transform into the man you are meant to be, and there is no better place to start than from the very top. As you begin your skin and hair journey, you may be wondering why the shampoo you were using before just wasn’t doing the trick for you. Why did your hair feel lifeless and flat, and why was your skin so irritated after what you thought would be a relaxing shower?
Well, many shampoos have harsh detergents, but Scotch Porter’s Hydrating Hair Wash is sulfate and silicone-free, so you can get a genuinely moisturizing wash that doesn’t pretend to make your hair soft and clean and allows it to be. This formula also contains Kale Protein and White Willow Bark to rehabilitate even the most devastated dos.
10. Lumin Keratin Recovery Shampoo
Lumin Keratin Recover Shampoo
Lumin’s brand mission as a subscription-based service is to provide men with the ability to have a full skin and hair care regimen without the struggle of determining which ingredients and products are best for their hair concerns.
They know that this type of research is lengthy and many men simply do not have enough time to devote to the process, so many products they’ve created work wonderfully for all skin and hair types, just like their Keratin Recovery Shampoo. Stave off hair loss and restore the strength of your strands with this shampoo, which contains tea tree oil to melt away flakes and peppermint oil to promote thicker, fuller hair.
11. Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Shampoo
Hask Shampoo Thickening, Biotin Boost
Having fine hair works to your advantage most of the time. Maintenance and brushing are easy, and shampooing often doesn’t seem to wear down your hair as much. However, even with these benefits, you sometimes feel left out of the joy of running your hands through bounds of thick, buoyant locks and being able to pile on the product without weighing it down and inviting in grease.
This shampoo is rich in biotin and collagen to promote rapid hair growth and a healthy scalp, giving you a voluminous body and aiding in the recovery of heads troubled with thinning and loss.
12. Jack Black Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser For Hair and Body
Jack Black Performance Remedy Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair and Body
Jack Black’s hair and skin products always seem to give you the motivation to get out and do something. Even if you’re a self-proclaimed homebody, one shower session with the hair and body cleanser, and you’ll be dying to show off just how clean and fresh you smell. Eucalyptus is always a fantastic shower fragrance – it tends to decongest as you wash, so your head and chest can be as clear as day.
13. Oribe Signature Shampoo
Oribe Signature Shampoo
Life is more effortless when your hair isn’t bearing down on you with the weight of all the products you must use to keep it in place. We can all go crazy with the pomade once in a while, but what if your shampoo added a weightless organization to your hair, so you didn’t have to struggle to shape it each morning?
Oribe Signature Shampoo has resplendent packaging, and the actual formula of their shampoo is lighter than you would expect. Your hair needs hydration so it can move and be as you please. This shampoos infusion of lychee and watermelon and Hydrolyzed Keratin provides body and movement that isn’t sloppy but is graceful and gentlemanly.
14. Ouai Detox Shampoo
Ouai Detox Shampoo
After a week of working out and conquering your daily work commute, your hair definitely has taken a beating and needs a little clarification and care. Between the smog of the city and your daily oil production, you may be feeling a bit weighed down.
Luckily, Ouai’s Detox Shampoo has apple cider vinegar to provide a careful round of exfoliation, dismissing any dandruff or dirt that’s trapped on your scalp. Hydrolyzed Keratin gives way to an unbeatable shine and curbs frizz, perfect for dry and damaged hair burdened with flagrant flyaways.
15. Korres Natural Magnesium and Wheat Protein Shampoo
Magnesium Tonic Shampoo
After spending months using hair care products that just don’t suit you, your hair has suffered quite a bit of damage. If you’re the type to tuck your hair under a baseball cap or beanie, and you’ve got the flaky scalp and brittle strands to prove it, there is hope for a total revival from the eyebrows up.
Sure, you can go for a dramatic cut and start fresh, but if you want to keep your length and attempt to revert the damage, Korres has a shampoo that will strengthen your hair, so you don’t have to go with the full buzzcut. Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Rice, and Wheat Proteins are all brimming in this bottle of liquid hair repair. Your hair will appear thicker, and roots will be stimulated to continue to grow out your mane to your desired length.
16. Bevel Moisturizing Shampoo
Bevel Sulfate-Free Moisturizing Shampoo
Bevel knows that men with curly textured hair have difficulty finding a shampoo that keeps their hair healthy, frizz-free, and full of hydration. To remedy this, their brand devotes its time to perfecting formulas specific to curly hair types’ unique needs.
Shea butter fills your hair with moisture, and the coconut oil provides slip so you can detangle without stretching and straining your hair too much. Your locks need to relax, so give them (and your arms) a break they so desperately need.
17. Pete and Pedro Bold: Bourbon Shampoo
Pete and Pedro Bold | Bourbon Scented Daily Shampoo
Your scalp is ready to party, and Pete & Pedro are committed to bringing the booze. Well, the metaphorical booze. No, this shampoo’s formula doesn’t contain real bourbon, so you can’t drown your sorrows at the bottom of this bottle. But it does have the same pungency, with a rich sweetness to it as well.
Rice protein and ivy extract refuse to let your hair give up – each ingredient works to restore your hair’s strength and integrity, so you never have to resort to a close shave ever again if you don’t want to.
18. STMNT Grooming Goods All-In-One Cleanser
STMNT Grooming Goods All-in-One Cleanser
You know how people love to ask you about your desert island must-haves? This STMNT cleanser would be at the top of your list, combining all of your grooming needs into one bottle. Activated charcoal draws out dirt and oil from your scalp, beard, and pores, so you’re blemish-free all over, not one spot to speak of.
The bright citrus scent with a hint of jazzy Tonka makes this the perfect shampoo for men who need their one favorite product to check all their boxes.
19. Jupiter Balancing Dandruff Shampoo
Jupiter Dry Scalp & Dandruff Shampoo
Scalp irritation will stop you from being able to navigate your day usually, whether it comes to discreetly trying to give your head a scratch at your desk or attempting to hide your flakes from a first date. Jupiter wants to put an end to the sneaky dandruff dance with their Coconut Oil and Algae extract-based formula, which also integrates Zinc Pyrithione, which is also noted to lower the likelihood of breakage and split ends.
Control sebum production and calm scalp woes with this powerful but great smelling medicated shampoo, the best shampoo for men who are tired of letting their dandruff dominate their lives.
20. Act+Acre Cold Processed Hair Cleanse
Hair Cleanse
Act+Acre wants you to depend on plant power to achieve your hair goals so you can be released from the clutches of compounds that can harm your hair and bodily health over time. Using Apple Amino Acids and a cold processing system that maintains the integrity and strength of all the natural ingredients, this shampoo provides a gentle cleanse that does not make the wash, rinse, repeat process seems excessive.
The brand explains that two washes are a must – the first is to wash away persistent residue, and the second is specifically so your scalp can soak up all of this product’s natural benefits.
21. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo
Alterna Shampoo, Replenishing Moisture
Anti-aging remedies are normally reserved for the face and body, but your hair just might be begging for a reset too. Alterna’s Anti-Aging Complex could be your miracle solution if this sounds like you. Caviar extract and antioxidants carry luxurious sustenance from root to tip, increasing elasticity and covering you in vivacious shine.
Repair your lipid layer with a burst of Omega-3s, saving you from any potential dry spells that might interrupt an otherwise fabulous hair day.
22. Acure Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo
Acure Shampoo, Ultra Hydrating, Argan & Pumpkin
Men tend to lose more collagen than women as they age, and this loss occurs at a much younger age. It is important to add anti-aging and collagen-boosting ingredients to your skin and hair routine to remedy this.
Pumpkin Seed Oil is full of Omegas-3s, Vitamins E and K, and phytosterol so that you can revert the aging process with Acure’s Ultra Hydrating Shampoo. This hair cleanser showcases Argan and Pumpkin oils as their main saviors, encouraging noticeably softer and stronger hair from the very first wash.
23. Viori Rice Water Shampoo Bars
Hidden Waterfall Shampoo Bar
Veering away from traditional, liquid shampoos can seem a bit risky. Still, Viori makes the transition fun with their ornate etchings and convenient bamboo shower containing, allowing your bar to breathe and bit and lower the chance of it collecting bacteria, as many bar-shaped shower products can be home to.
The main ingredient, Longsheng rice, repairs dry hair and leaves a shiny luster in its wake. Cocoa and Shea Butter moisturize while Rice Bran Oil and Hydrolyzed Rice Protein fortify your hair to resist split ends and breakage.
24. Davines Oi Shampoo
Davines Oi Absolute Beautifying Shampoo
Roucou oil is the shining star of this milky Davines shampoo. The texture is smooth snd silky. As you work the lather into your hair, you’ll immediately notice that the smoothing properties work their way through every strand.
This oil is a wholly versatile ingredient – it protects against sun damage, eases the detangling process, and combats static, so you don’t have to worry about pesky flyaways. The lather isn’t as sudsy as most, but it cleans just as well, if not better than your usual bottle of bubbles.
25. R+Co Cactus Texturizing Shampoo
CACTUS Texturizing Shampoo
Despite the fatal dryness of the desert, the cactus always knows how to reserve enough water to survive through the frigid nights and glaringly hot days. If you’ve noticed your normally wavy to curly hair lost its pattern and texture, you might need to take a note out of the cactus playbook and find a way to store hydration against harsh environmental stressors and hard water impact.
Glycerin seals moisture into every part of your hair, while Sunflower Seed Extract, a compound packed with vitamins, provides nourishment and lasting scalp health. Your natural pattern may have been taking a break, but after using this shampoo, you’ll know it was never truly gone for good.
26. Verb Hydrating Shampoo
Verb Hydrating Shampoo
Verb was created to attend to the needs of virtually all hair types, and they understand that the most important aspect of cleansing your hair is imbibing it with as much moisture as you can. Without proper hydration, your hairstyles will potentially fall flat, and instead of having confidence in your softness and volume, you’re running for some pomade to feign luster and shine.
With Verb, you’re also receiving maximum UV protection, so color-treated hair won’t dull, and natural hair won’t lose its vibrance. Vitamin B5 hydrates and restores while Sunflower Seed Extract prevents pigment from losing vitality.
27. Head and Shoulders Deep Cleanse Scalp Detox Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Scalp Cleansing Shampoo
Head & Shoulders is known for their fight against dandruff, and they aren’t about to let up any time soon. One of their most effective formulas, and best shampoos for men that are looking to solve aggravating flakiness and itchiness permanently is their Deep Cleanse Scalp Detox.
It is silicone-free, so you aren’t replacing your dandruff with more product buildup. At the same time, it uses sea minerals to clarify your pores and make more room for hydration and more regulated oil production on your scalp. Enjoy being dandruff-free for up to 3 days with this highly effective, stimulating recipe.
28. Dove Men+Care Fresh and Clean Fortifying 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner with Caffeine
Dove Men + Care Shampoo and Conditioner, Fresh & Clean
Dove has been the foundation of skin and body care for people worldwide, and it is a brand that we’ve come to trust for generations. Dove’s line of products for men seeks to make the process of maintaining your bodily health and appearance not so strenuous, so natural this dual shampoo and conditioner would serve as the epitome of their mission.
This is a great basic cleanser that is supported by the energizing benefits of caffeine and the bright impact of menthol.
29. Native Eucalyptus and Mint Scalp Refreshing 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner
Eucalyptus and Mint 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner
We are a little bit critical of products that claim to wash and condition simultaneously, but when we find one that comes up to par, it’s worth noting. Though there is nothing wrong with adding a separate conditioner to the wash if you feel you need it, this Native 2-in-1 won’t turn your hair frail and fiending for a deep-conditioning treatment.
You can enjoy the calming effects of Eucalyptus while basking in the delightful zing of mint. Native is adamant about not using more ingredients than they have to and is formulated with about 10.
How Often Should I Wash My Hair?
Though the process of washing your hair may feel great, and you’re probably inclined to do it every time you take a shower, most hair types do not require this type of cleaning maintenance. Over-washing your hair can make it more brittle and dry it out way faster than neglecting it will, so for the most part, don’t overdo it.
If you have finer hair, you most likely get the inclination to wash it every time it gets a little oily but try to reduce it to no more than two or three times a week if possible. Ideally, you should be washing your hair just once or twice a week, especially if your hair is curly or coarse. You don’t want to run the risk of causing any breakage, so in the meantime, try to manipulate your hair as little as possible and use a try shampoo to eliminate any excess oil if your hair texture allows it.
Another option would be co-washing instead of using traditional shampoo. A co-wash is a cleansing conditioner that you can use either before your regular shampoo or in place of it. You may be able to use a conditioner you already have handy to co-wash. However, beware, as most conditioners contain silicone, and using them frequently can cause visible buildup in your hair.
There are plenty of options out there for you to choose from, but take a little bit of time to try things out and see what works best for you. You’ll have the hair of your dreams – and everyone else’s – in no time.
The news and editorial staff of the Bay Area News Group had no role in this post’s preparation.