Upgrade Your Grooming Routine With These Top-Rated Shampoos for Men (2024)

A solid grooming routine hinges on finding the right shampoo. But when faced with a drugstore shelf loaded with endless shampoo bottles, it can feel like diving into the unknown: Can a shampoo really make hair look thicker? Do those 2-in-1 combos even work? Is it worth dropping extra cash on a fancy shampoo?

Ultimately, the best shampoo for any man is one that leaves his scalp feeling fresh without turning his hair into a dry, brittle mess. But to help you navigate all the options on the market — from shampoos that claim to fight dandruff to ones that promise to hydrate dry scalps — our editors and analysts did the research to find the best men's shampoos tailored to every hair type and concern.

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab regularly tests shampoos and conditioners, putting them through the wringer with consumer testers to pinpoint top choices for various hair dilemmas: dry hair, fine hair, oily hair, you name it. After gathering an assortment of popular options, we put them to the test, assessing each shampoo's lather, scent and most importantly, how it leaves hair looking and feeling. Combining this data with years of research experience, we then ID our top picks.

For more on how we test shampoos and expert advice on shopping for men's shampoos, head to the bottom of this guide. Looking for more of the best hair products? Check out our guides to the best beard shampoos and hair growth products for men.

Get a good scrub with a nice shampoo that properly cleanses and moisturizes on the way out. American Crew's Daily Deep shampoo nails that combination by leaving softer and cleaner-feeling hair. Its panthenol ingredient acts as a humectant to draw moisture into the hair strand. GH testers reaped the benefits, giving it high marks for its lather and its rinse. Shoppers echoed that sentiment, highly rating its citrus mint fragrance. The only qualm? Its hydrating formula may not benefit oily hair types.

A must-have for men who wear styling products, clarifying shampoo can combat excessive oil and grime. The Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo is a potent yet lightweight cleanser, and it does such a great job at eliminating dirt that it's what the Beauty Lab uses to prepare hair strands for product studies. Its simple yet effective formula rings in at only $2 a bottle, but it should be noted that some found its fresh, clean-smelling scent "overly strong and potent."

Hair and scalp plagued by a trifecta of dryness, itchiness and flakiness? Consider Head & Shoulders the salve. It's formulated with the dandruff-fighting ingredient pyrithione zinc. For Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek, the creamy formula kept dandruff at bay without stripping the hair and scalp. Bringing it out for dry, winter months, one GH analyst says he appreciates that the scalp treatment leaves his hair feeling soft and smelling nice. However, some testers felt it left a residue even after rinsing.

When it comes to getting down to the nitty gritty, Kérastase excels at catering its line of products to specific hair conditions, said Shelly Aguirre, a professional hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. The brand's haircare has impressed in GH Beauty Lab tests, including the volumizing shampoo and conditioner dubbed the "holy grail" by testers. Infused with the skincare ingredient salicylic acid, this shampoo deeply cleanses by exfoliating scalps. Shoppers compared its scent to men's cologne, but it may not be best for those sensitive to scents.

If you're looking to simplify your haircare routine, Dove's 2-in-1 offers just that. This shampoo-conditioner combo simultaneously cleanses hair strands and hydrates them thanks to its conditioning agents, which have been shown to make combing easier after use. Our testers found that this shampoo lathered and rinsed well without weighing down hair, while making combing and styling afterward easier. It should be noted, however, that a 2-in-1 product may not be able to provide comparable conditioning to a standalone conditioner.

"Seaweed Bath Co. shampoos are a great affordable option for paraben and sulfate-free shampoos," recommends Aguirre. "They're all natural and easy to find at [major retailers]." Combining soothing aloe with moisturizing argan oil, the scent-free shampoo and conditioner set gently clean sensitive scalps. Aguirre also likes their Smooth Shampoo for curly hair and the sea clay and apple cider vinegar Detox Shampoo for removing scalp impurities. However, a few Amazon users stipulated that the shampoo came out on the watery side.

Having dominated our most recent test of shampoo for dry hair, it's a no-brainer that this pick is great for men with dry hair. When used with its matching conditioner, this shampoo conferred the highest levels of conditioning to hair strands, with testers raving about how moisturized it made their hair feel and its impressive lather. The scent, however, may not be masculine enough for all men's preferences.

Nizoral's Anti-Dandruff Shampoo contains ketoconazole, a topical antiandrogen and antifungal medicine that can combat the growth of bacteria that causes dandruff. Rajani Katta, M.D., a dermatologist and author of Glow: The Dermatologist’s Guide to a Whole Foods Younger Skin Diet, recommended this dandruff shampoo for its ability to combat the flake-causing yeast. The strength of this treatment, however, may result in irritation or dryness in some, so if you have a sensitive or dry scalp you may want to look for a less potent option.

Two-in-one formulas get a bad rap. Method proves the naysayers wrong. Its shampoo and conditioner contain jojoba and argan oils to condition strands as you wash. GH consumer testers praised everything, "from smell to packaging to how well it lathered and rinsed off," one said. This shampoo scored well for its lather, rinse and how clean it left hair feeling. We did find that some consumers ranked it poorly for weighing down their hair after use, so fine or oily hair types may want to look for a more clarifying shampoo.

Taking your shower to a new level of indulgence? Look no further than Oribe's Signature Shampoo. The scent alone is so decadent it merits the hefty price tag. Luckily, this shampoo's formula justifies it too. We loved almost everything about this shampoo, from the luxurious, thick texture to the way it left our hair after washing — noticeably softer and easier to style afterward than some other shampoos we tested. While it's undeniably pricey, we found ourselves using less than normal to clean our scalps, and given the way it made our showers more luxurious, we can rationalize the cost.

Jack Black's Turbo Wash takes dual action to new heights. The thick shampoo and body wash is filled with refreshing scents of shea butter, rosemary and juniper berry, and nourishing ingredients like panthenol and vitamin E. We love its pump packaging, which helps dispense just the right amount. It comes in sizes ranging from three to 33 ounces, the smaller of which can be thrown in a gym bag for a speedy post-workout wash. "I'd buy this just for the scent!" remarked one tester. While we agree, its tingling sensation may be too strong for the more sensitive.

Color fading is inevitable when it comes to shampooing, but some formulas can reduce fade better than others. Our Beauty Lab has run extensive testing on shampoo for colored hair, and TRESemmé came out as top dog. Despite being the least expensive in our last round of color-protective shampoo testing, this one and its matching conditioner displayed the least amount of fading on colored hair samples after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV radiation. Consumer testers also favored it more than other shampoos, noting its luxurious texture. However, we realize its feminine scent may not suit all men.

Dry hair can be a concern for anyone with curly hair as oil from the scalp struggles to penetrate curls. Choosing a hydrating shampoo that's free of harsh detergents is key to cleaning curly hair without leaving it frizzy. Briogeo's curl shampoo is made with a mild surfactant synthesized from coconut oil, which can be better suited to dryer and more sensitive hair and scalps. We appreciate that it also comes in a larger version with a pump dispenser, saving you in price per ounce. More than 200 five-star Amazon reviews encourage our suggestion, though some pointed out that the low lather this product provides can mislead you into using too much.

Oftentimes, people with longer locks struggle with dryer, more brittle hair. If that's the case, opt for a milder shampoo that won't dry out hair strands with frequent washing. This GH Beauty Award winner is formulated with gently cleansing sodium cocoyl isethionate instead of more harsh surfactants. When combined with its matching conditioner and leave-in treatment, the bonding shampoo left 93% of consumers saying their hair felt moisturized after use, making it a great pick for damaged hair. It's worth noting that you may not get the best results without using all three products in the system.

Almost every guide on the subject of men's shampoo brings up this Tea Tree Special Shampoo, and for good reason. The herb-infused formula boasts a unique tingling sensation and decadent scent (of tea tree oil, menthol and lavender oil) that makes morning showers feel invigorating and refreshing. Its internet cult status demands its inclusion, with more than 46,000 five-star ratings on Amazon speaking to its efficacy and pleasant smell. We also love the simple packaging and pump for dispensing just the right amount of shampoo. Sensitive sniffers and those who don't like tingly shampoo are best to steer clear because it may be overpowering.

Whether your gray is all natural or dyed, purple shampoo can help maintain vibrancy and diffuse brassy tones for a more polished appearance. The One Purple Shampoo, created by celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess, is a favorite among GH editors for the efficacy it offers at a great price. While we love Ess's The One scent, a clean yet sweet aroma characterized by pear and magnolia, you may want to consider other options if florals aren't your speed. For those trying to banish brassiness on recently bleached hair, leave it in your hair for 5 to 10 minutes to load up the violet pigments in your strands.