Hair & Beauty

The Very Best Shampoos And Conditioners For Every Hair Type

By Isabel Croker
2nd Sep 2021

Best shampoo and conditioner for every hair type

There’s nothing worse than a bad hair day. From oily hair to out-of-control frizz and damaged locks, hair care certainly can be a challenge. But that doesn't mean your hair has to suffer, ‘cause some awesome brands are cranking out seriously innovative products designed to tackle even the most tangled of hair problems.

Don’t let your hair health go down the drain—giving your locks some TLC is a serious game-changer, and thanks to the ever-growing range of epic hair care products, it’s easy to give your hair some lovin’ from home. We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the best shampoo and conditioner for every hair type—from fine hair to frizzy hair and oily hair, we’ve got the best products to guarantee you a good hair day, every day.

For Oily Hair

Is there anything worse than washing your hair and it immediately feels greasy and oily? There are a plethora of reasons why our hair can be greasy—from exercising to using hair tools with buildup to using the wrong products, avoiding greasy hair can be frustrating. No need to fear—with the right shampoo and conditioner, you can detox your hair and get rid of that greasy feeling. The very affordable Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo is infused with apple cider vinegar, which can strip away excess oil and is also gentle enough to use on your roots and damage-prone ends of your hair. Paul Mitchell’s Special Tea Tree Conditioner contains a beautiful blend of peppermint, lavender and tea tree oil that will restore essential nutrients into your hair. Combine these two oil-fighting products and your hair will be super soft, oil-free and you can say cya to hiding your greasy hair in a bun every other day.

For Fine Hair

You wouldn’t wear size 10 shoes on your size 7 feet, so why should you use a shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t fit your hair? For all our fine-haired friends, we know the struggles of finding the perfect hair product, but we think we’ve done a pretty good job. The Matrix Biolage VolumeBloom Shampoo is a winner for volumising hair, making your hair look plumped and for long-lasting bounce. Bonus: it’s a unisex shampoo so your male friends don’t have to miss out on having lush locks. Pair it with the Toni & Guy Volume Addiction Conditioner which boosts volume and leaves you with a weightless finish. At just $15 per bottle, this bad boy won’t break the bank. Shut up and take our money.

For Curly Hair

Marc Anthony’s Strictly Curls Curl Defining Shampoo is like a breath of fresh air. Formulated with hydrolysed silk and free from parabens and all those nasties, this shampoo helps nourish curly hair while holding its shape, controls frizz and repels humidity which is a big no-no for all our curly-headed pals. It was an easy pick for our best conditioner for curly hair—Shea Moisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner has this one in the bag. This intense hydration hair treatment uses only natural ingredients to deeply moisturise your hair and protect curls from breakage. Say goodbye to knots and tangles and welcome soft, shiny and easy to style curls. 

For Dry Hair

Frizziness and split ends are just the start—we all know the struggles of easily broken, damaged and dry hair and we ain’t about that life. If your hair is looking a bit thirsty, we’ve got you covered with the best shampoo and conditioner to revive dry hair. MOROCCANOIL Hydrating Shampoo boasts superhero ingredient argan oil, which nourishes your hair thanks to its winning combo of essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Add red algae, a natural moisturiser that protects hair cuticles, and Vitamin E, which repairs damaged hair by maintaining the natural moisture balance, and you’ve got yourself a winner. For the ultimate luxe hair treatment, pair it with the matching MOROCCANOIL Hydrating Conditioner. Think of it as a really lush daily face cream, but for your hair. 

For Frizzy Hair

Tackle frizz at every stage of your hair care routine with the best anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner, which will make taking care of your unruly locks a breeze. Banish those dreaded flyaways with the ELEVEN Smooth Me Now Anti-Frizz Shampoo and matching conditioner, which are heavyweight products created to target thick and coarse hair. When anti-frizz is in the name, you know it’s gonna be good. These goodies have been formulated to tackle the two main causes of frizz—dryness and damage, so they will strengthen your hair while eliminating all frizziness. Sounds too good to be true? Try it for yourself and thank us later.

For Damaged Hair

Curling, straightening, colouring—we sure put our hair through a lot, so it’s no wonder a lot of us have damaged hair. The good news is, you can start treating your hair with love with a new haircare routine and we’ve got the best shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair to do just that. No matter how badly your hair needs rescuing, Redken Extreme Hair Strengthening Shampoo is up to the task. Nourishing all layers of the hair strand, the soy protein in this baby seals in moisture and will reduce breakages and split ends by up to 75%. Pair it with Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner which is ultra-moisturising, pH-balanced and will strengthen the most damaged of locks. Bonus: it’s cruelty-free, oil-free and free of all parabens and other nasties.

For Hair Regrowth

Hair loss or slow hair growth is a common condition many guys—and girls—face but it doesn’t make it any less daunting. There's a bundle of reasons, from diet to lifestyle and hereditary issues, that could affect your hair growth, but we’ve done the hard work for you and found the best growth promoting shampoo and conditioner around. Thicken and texturise your hair with OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo which helps promote hair growth through its magical ingredients of collagen and biotin. These are a prime pair to restore and repair damaged hair and the sulphate-free formula volumises each strand for luscious locks, while promoting faster hair growth. Bundle the shampoo with Watermans Condition Me Conditioner, which encourages hair growth, adds body and shine and revitalises your hair appearance. Combining the sweet smell of rosemary, shea butter and caffeine this is one product packed full of goodness. 

For Hair With Dandruff

No one wants to admit they have dandruff—not only is it noticeable, but it can also be irritating and is just all around not a good time. Anti-dandruff hair care is one of the best ways to regulate your scalp health and minimise the signs of dandruff. Our pick for the best anti-dandruff shampoo is the Kérastase Specifique Bain Anti-Pelliculaire Shampoo. This mild shampoo is designed to prevent dandruff on even the most sensitive of scalps and uses a nourishing hair care treatment to leave your hair feeling soft and healthy, with not a flake in sight. A very affordable choice at just $8.00, Neutrogena T/Gel Anti-Dandruff Conditioner is uniquely formulated to help treat itchy, flaky scalps and comes highly recommended by many long-time dandruff sufferers. 

Now that you’ve got your hair care sorted out, it’s time you glow up your facial routine. Bless your skin with liquid gold AKA the very best face oils of 2021.

Image credit: Tim Mossholder

Editor's note: Urban List editors independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. Urban List has affiliate partnerships, so we might get revenue from your purchase.

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