It Turns Out That Cheap Shampoos Aren’t ‘Bad’ For Your Hair After All, So Here Are The Best To Try

Formulated for damaged hair, this classic Pantene shampoo features active Pro-V nutrients including antioxidants and purifying ingredients to strengthen hair from the inside-out. By reversing the signs of damage, it gently cleanses while works against styling damage, prevents the split ends and bolstering shine and smoothness.

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'The TikTok girlies weren't lying about this one. Its rich formula and classic scent instantly had me hooked, but it was the healthy look and feel of my newly compromised hair (having just colour treated my virgin hair for the very first time) that made me stay loyal to this classic shampoo. Breakage? Reduced. Annoying constant knotting? Thankfully, gone.'

Specially made for coarse, curly and coily hair types, this shampoo contains an ultra-nourishing blend of vitamin E, coconut oil and shea butter to boost radiance, softness, and your natural texture. The rich lather helps to lift dirt, impurities and build-up from the hair with ease, too.

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says, 'This is one of the first "cheap" shampoos that helped me to kick my high end shampoo habit. Its sumptuous formula, rich lather and easy-on-the-eye packaging made it an easy swap, as did its effects on my lengths which were left supple, smooth with my natural waves in tact.'

A long-time bathroom staple, this floral-scented Herbal Essences shampoo is loaded with a blend of
plant-based, naturally-derived nutrients like real Rose essences, which are handpicked in Grasse. Aside from its nostalgic scent which is scientifically proven to boost moods, it imparts a velvety hardworking lather, two times more nourishment, and touchable softness.

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'This one is a real blast from the past and is as nostalgic as it gets when it comes to beauty, for me at least. The familiar floral scent instantly takes me back to my school days but the formula has definitely seen an upgrade. Expect, soft, shiny hair and lasting hydration.'

Rice water has steadily grown in popularity thanks to its transformative effects on our skin and hair, but if fermenting your own concoction seems a chore, Garnier has you covered. Geared towards those of us with long, dull hair left damaged by environmental stress, this shampoo is enriched with rice water and starch to rehydration, replump, and reseal cuticles for smoothness and reflection-ready shine. 

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I've been using rice extract in my skincare byway of K-Beauty products for some time now and have seen a noticeable difference in levels of inflammation on my skin, based on these results I was keen to see how rice water would fair on my hair. Expectedly, this shampoo worked a treat, foaming up nicely before leaving behind a long-lasting shine that in no way looks greasy.'

This stellar range from L’Oréal Paris hones in on hero skincare ingredient glycolic acid to penetrate the hair’s fibre with its small molecular weight to help bolster shine, smoothness and strength from within. Used as the first step in the brand's answer to an at-home glossing routine, this shampoo is the foundation you need for that next-level shine.

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'This shampoo is a stark example of high street brands doing what they do best. It is no-fuss, affordable, delightfully good smelling and does exactly what you need it do it. I especially loved how long I could go between wash days as the shampoo did a great job of clarifying my scalp and sapping up residue without leaving behind any greasy, heavy feeling.'

TikTok has recently gone wild for Alberto Balsam's Raspberry shampoo thanks to its ability to leave behind lasting scent and soft, supple strands.

Rachael Martin, beauty editor, says: 'The first thing I noticed about the Alberto Balsam Raspberry Shampoo was the colour. It's very pink and doesn't exactly feel like the height of sophistication. But this is hardly a deal breaker - it's £1, after all. It's the scent that hits next - think a heady mesh of sugar and raspberries that feels sickly initially, but becomes more subtle (and actually quite lovely) as the day wears on. In shower the shampoo lathers up easily, leaving strands that feel clean and void of any dry or brittle texture- there's the addition of moisturising Vitamin B5 to thank for that. I followed with a dollop of the complementing conditioner (also £1) and then rough dried my hair. And I really was pleasantly surprised. My hair did feel shinier and it did feel softer. I'm prone to tangling and a frizzy, lifted cuticle and both bugbears were minimised.'

First and foremost a clarifying shampoo, this is deep cleanser helps to remove buildup all while enriching the hair with moisture.

Renee Washington, fashion and beauty assistant, says: 'This shampoo has been a staple ever since my childhood. It cleanses my hair so well without completely stripping it of its natural oils. I find using it means I can even ease up on the conditioning steps after because my hair isn’t so dry. Also don’t let the brown colour throw you, it lathers amazingly, and smells just like a vanilla treat.'

Made for for salon-quality, at home. This well-loved shampoo helps to forge stronger hair that is enriched with a covetable more shine, less frizz and long-lasting suppleness, thanks to its hero ingredient argan oil sourced straight from Morocco, which is loaded with vitamin E and fatty acids to help seal up the hair cuticle and in turn promote healthier-looking shiny hair. 

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I once picked up a travel sized version of this shampoo and the conditioner at duty-free just before heading out on a girls trip to the South of France. A day into the holiday, I needed to restock after my friends quickly caught onto the shampoo's brilliant benefits – safe to say we've all been hooked ever since.'

For those looking for a 'clean hair experience' that really does protect the integrity of your natural hair texture, look to Maui Moisture. It is vegan and free from sulfated surfactants, silicones, artificial colours, mineral oils and ALES, and instead comes equipped with a botanical blend of natural ingredients like exotic bamboo fibres, neem oil and  castor oil to fortify hair from root to tip. 

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I have naturally wavy hair and for a brief period decided to completely embrace my natural texture with the right haircare and styling tools. This shampoo was key to my natural haircare game, it provided sustained nourishment throughout the week (I would wash once a week) and left my waves defined, radiant and bouncy, all while lifting residue left behind by various styling products that also supported my texture throughout the previous week.'

Colour treated hair becomes sensitive to external aggressors like the sun and pollution as the natural protective layer of fibres becomes compromised. This clever shampoo contains UVA + UVB filters to help fortify hair, while locking in colour.

Joely Walker, head of beauty, says: 'As a dye-hard blonde I need a shampoo that works with my colour, not against it (be wary of deep cleanse shampoos that can cause colour fade). This also leaves my somewhat frazzled, heat-damaged hair feeling soft and smooth after every single wash.'

Known for its natural ingredients and cutting-edge technology, this Italian brand prides itself on creating quality haircare products that are as indulgent as they are efficacious. Case in point, the In Oud Wash.

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'As someone who has tried an endless list of shampoos, both fragrance-free and scented, I have to admit that I am much more inclined to the latter. And this shampoo brings my favourite fragrance note into focus. Expect a refined woody and spicy balance of Agarwood resin to flood your bathroom, while an emollient active blend of organic mallow, blueberry and olive oil extracts moisturise and cleanse in tandem.'

With nourishing Australian macadamia nut oil at its core, this wildly popular pick promises to rest ore and refresh dry, frizzy hair.

Rachael Martin, beauty editor, says: 'If I want my hair to look beautifully smooth and shiny then my failsafe is Aussie's Miracle Moist - I even used it on my wedding day. It's cheap as chips, yes, but you best believe it works like a dream. Lather up and let the macadamia nut oil get to work - even the most parched strands appear refreshed and revived. Follow with the 3 Minute Miracle mask for a hefty hit of moisture.'

Loaded with acacia honey, acacia flower and beeswax, this shampoo prioritising strength and nourishment, to build the resilience of your hair while leaving it glazed, too.

**Cassie Steer, acting beauty director, says: '**This is the shampoo that brings my rebellious, frazzled hair back from the brink. Supremely nourishing (although it may be a tad too weighty for finer-haired girls), it’s ridiculously good value for money and genuinely holds it's own against its luxe counterparts. Smells good too.'

Think Simple's gentle skincare approach but this time for your hair. The soothing shampoo effectively cleanses and revives hair, all while tending to those of us with sensitive scalps.

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Packed with moisture-loving pro-vitamin B5, chamomile oil and glycerin, this gentle shampoo focuses on hair-loving ingredients sans harsh chemicals, artificial colour, perfume and animal-derived ingredients. The result? Natural shine that won't disrupt the balance of your hair and scalp.'

Expertly formulated with Biotin (a vitamin B7 that is a great aid to healthy skin, nails, and hair) as well as hyaluronic acid, this shampoo works to strengthen hair while thickening by 200% and helping to reduce hair loss caused by breakage. It works especially well on fine, thin hair that is need of an instant plumping boost.