Shampoo

Best Shampoos

We saw several recommendations for one particular salon brand; Kerastase is a high-profile salon line (owned by L'Oreal) that banks its reputation on use by professional hair stylists and salon owners. As a result, it's pricey, but reviewers say that most of the shampoos have gentle, effective formulas that live up to the marketing claims. Two of the sources we found say that Kerastase Bain Satin Nutritive 1 Shampoo (*est. $32 for 8 ounces) works well for normal-to-slightly-dry hair. It gently cleanses and nourishes the hair with glucose, protein and lipids. However, in the test reports we read, much less expensive shampoos like Clairol Herbal Essences (*est. $4 for 12 ounces) and Dove (*est. $4 for 12 ounces) are just as effective. Some consumers may prefer the smell, feel or cache of salon formulas -- issues that are tangential to cleaning ability.

Paula Begoun, in her comprehensive book "Don't Go Shopping For Hair-Care Products Without Me," evaluates over 130 brands of hair-care products, with in-depth analysis of ingredients. She notes that many brands, including the top-selling Redken and Dove brands, have nearly identical formulas across their shampoo product lines, except for some differences in fragrance and plant extracts (which do nothing for hair, but may irritate the scalp). Begoun and other reviewers agree that an anti-residue shampoo, like Neutrogena Anti-Residue (*est. $6 for 6 ounces) , should be used at least once a week to remove buildup, especially if you use a volumizing shampoo or styling aids like gels, waxes and mousses; these products coat each hair with a film to get the desired effect of fullness, curls, waves or spikes.

Redken shampoos (*est. $10 for 10 ounces) receive the most reviews of any brand in our report. This is a salon shampoo, but it is much cheaper than Kerastase. Redken offers shampoos in eleven formulas for almost every hair type -- moisturizing, volumizing, anti-dandruff and specialty formulas like clarifying and combating UV damage.

The one Redken shampoo that gets the most raves is Redken All Soft, which is formulated for very dry and brittle hair. At Allure magazine, All Soft wins the Best of Beauty Award for dry hair. Consumers at iVilllage.com and Epinions rave about this shampoo. At iVillage.com, almost 30 owners give it an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Most critics say that this shampoo leaves their dry hair soft; one even complained that her hair was too soft. There are those who also say the shampoo has a wonderful smell and it detangles hair better than other products they have used. While a few comment that the shampoo is expensive, they also said it was worth the price because you don't need as much to clean your hair. The owners at Epinions give All Soft a perfect score with 23 users writing comments similar to those at iVillage.com. But users here are decidedly mixed about the smell. Some love the scent, others don't, but no one gives All Soft a poor rating because of it.

Reviewers pick Dove (*est. $4 for 12 ounces) most often among lower-priced drugstore shampoos. Originally known for its bar soap, Dove has branched out into all areas of the beauty market. Dove offers several shampoo formulas for light and dark colored hair, moisturizing, volumizing and intense therapy. In tests at Choice magazine, Dove Revitalising Shampoo is a top choice, but this particular shampoo is not available in the U.S. The formula that gets the most reviews at Epinions and Amazon.com, Intense Moisturizing Shampoo, is no longer available. But all the various Dove shampoos that do get reviews are rated highly. Many feel that these shampoos clean well, and people like the smell.

Reviewers also like Clairol Herbal Essences (*est. $4 for 12 ounces) as a lower-priced drugstore shampoo. It comes in a variety of formulas, including moisturizing, clarifying/residue removal, replenishing for dry/damaged hair, volumizing and anti-dandruff. Contributors posting to Epinions say that they're generally pleased with the moisturizing and clarifying formulas, but that the volumizing and replenishing formulas don't work as well as they had expected. Experts say the anti-dandruff formula contains salicylic acid to exfoliate the scalp, but the pH of the shampoo is too high for it to be very effective for those struggling with dandruff.

Experts say Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo (*est. $6 for 6 ounces) is a simple shampoo that won't cause buildup and is good for all hair types. This formula has stood the test of time since 1980. Experts recommend using an anti-residue shampoo once a week, especially if you regularly use a thickening shampoo, which deposits a film on each hair to make it appear thicker. Unless these film-forming agents are periodically removed, they build up and cause hair to look flat and feel heavy.

Head & Shoulders (*est. $5 for 14 ounces) is among the least expensive brands that contain the anti-fungal zinc pyrithione, which combats the organisms that cause dandruff. Head & Shoulders isn't always effective, and those with severe dandruff may need a prescription-strength formula from a dermatologist or a shampoo with coal tar, like Neutrogena T/Gel. But experts say Head & Shoulders causes the least amount of irritating side effects of store brands.

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo (*est. $15 for 16 ounces) is an option for people who can't get dandruff relief from anti-fungal shampoos like Head & Shoulders. Neutrogena contains coal tar, which slows the creation of skin cells, making it especially suited to combating scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Experts warn that coal tar shampoos can be very drying to the hair, and to use them only as often as is necessary to control symptoms.

Denorex (*est. $10 for 12 ounces) is another dandruff shampoo, but experts say it's too harsh for many people, since it contains the drying agent sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate. Like Clairol's Herbal Essences dandruff formula, Denorex contains 3% salicylic acid to combat dandruff, but the drying elements offset any benefit of the salicylic acid (which helps loosen dandruff flakes from the scalp), according to Paula Begoun.

If you dye your hair, you might be interested in shampoos aimed at color-treated hair. According to Good Housekeeping magazine, which is the only reviewer we found that tests these color-retaining formulas specifically, there are two main types. Depositing shampoos actually contain small amounts of hair dye which adhere to the hair shaft to help your color last longer. Color-extending formulas, on the other hand, are "products that seal the cuticle of the hair so it better holds on to the dye you already have," according to Good Housekeeping editors.

L'Oréal Professionnel Colorist Collection Shampoo (*est. $15 for 8 ounces) is named as the best color-depositing shampoo in the Good Housekeeping test, and it's recommended for all hair colors (the L'Oreal shampoo comes in 12 color shades). You're supposed to use the L'Oreal shampoo every second washing. While Good Housekeeping editors like it, we couldn't find other reviews for this formula.

Pert Plus (*est. $5.50 for 25 ounces) was the first combination shampoo/conditioner to hit the market in 1985, and now, many other brands have joined in offering this convenient option. Experts say combination products are best for normal to slightly dry hair of normal thickness, and for short hair. Because the conditioning agents can build up on hair, it's best to also use a clarifying or anti-residue shampoo every few times you shampoo.

Johnson & Johnson was the first company to patent the use of extremely gentle cleansing agents that aren't irritating to baby's eyes. Reviewers say (*est. $4 for 15 ounces) is a great shampoo for babies and children, but it's too mild for adult hair, especially if you use styling products.

Important Features: Shampoo

Experts say the following about shampoo products:

• Shampoos do good work in their primary job: cleaning hair. Any benefits beyond that are suspect, and some claims on the packaging have no basis in fact.

• Almost all salon lines include products that fall short on advertised claims. For example, while color-enhancing shampoos may otherwise be good hair products, not all have been shown to extend the life of hair dyes. The same holds true for brands that claim to protect hair from the sun.

• The only part of the shampoo label that's regulated by the Food and Drug Administration is the list of ingredients. That means manufacturers can claim their shampoos "add volume" or "moisturize," and not really do either of those things.

• Pricier salon-brand shampoos don't necessarily outperform inexpensive store brands. The same ingredients are often used for products in different price ranges.

• Be aware of shampoos that claim to repair, restructure or nourish damaged hair. Hair is dead; it can't be repaired. Shampoo products can only help the look and feel of hair temporarily. Also, ingredients like sunscreen and antioxidants are washed down the drain when you rinse, leaving no benefit for your hair.

• Most experts discredit claims that shampoos are "organic" or "all natural," saying natural ingredients can't clean hair. Plus, the efficacy of organic plants, fruits, vitamins, etc. has never been proven. These ingredients may smell nice, however.

• Shampoos do not work differently on hair over time. Conditioning elements, styling products and chemical processes do build up and sometimes necessitate a temporary change in shampoo brands, but hair doesn't "adapt" to shampoo. But hair does change as we grow older, if our diet changes or we develop an illness. All of these give the impression that the shampoo is no longer working as it once did.

• Unless you use an unusually large amount of styling products, it's only necessary to lather your hair once. Also, the amount of lather and foam generated by a shampoo does not affect its ability to clean hair.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (With Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Redken (*est. $10 for 10 ounces)	details
4	Dove (*est. $4 for 12 ounces)	details
3	Kerastase (*est. $32 for 8 ounces)	details
3	L'Oreal (*est. $15 for 8 ounces)	details
3	Pantene Pro-V (*est. $6 for 25 ounces)	details
3	Philosophy (*est. $16 for 16 ounces)	details
3	Suave (*est. $3 for 22 ounces)	details
2	Herbal Essences (*est. $4 for 12 ounces)	details
2	Alberto VO5 (*est. $2 for 15 ounces)	details
2	Head & Shoulders (*est. $5 for 14 ounces)	details
2	Neutrogena (*est. $6 for 6 ounces)	details
2	Garnier (*est. $4 for 13 ounces)	details
2	Aussie (*est. $4 for 13 ounces)	details
1 each	Pert Plus , Nexxus Therappe , Fruitrience Raspberry and Pink Grapefruit Enriched Shampoo, Wella Professionals Color Preserve Hydrating Shampoo , Marc Anthony True Professional Brilliant Color Color Lock Shampoo, Tresemmé Color Thrive Shampoo , Alterna Ten Shampoo , Fekkai More Scalp-Purifying Shampoo Kiss My Face Miss Treated Shine Enhancing Shampoo, Clairol Renewal 5X Shampoo, Phyto Phytoprogenium Shampoo , Sunsilk Color Collection Shampoos, Avalon Organics Peppermint Revitalizing Shampoo. Salon Selectives , LUSH Solid Shampoo , Aveeno Baby Shampoo , Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo , Flex Shampoo Extra Body , Flawless No Sulfates Allowed Repairing Shine Shampoo by John Paves, Ted Gibson's Individual Color Captivating Copper Shampoo, Prawduct Shine Booster Shampoo by Robert Hallowell, Scent of Santa Fe Shampoo by Phillip B. None

As you can see from this chart, there are a huge number of shampoo brands (and these are just the ones that were favorably mentioned by reviewers). Reviewers choose Redken and Dove shampoos most often, but some experts note that most shampoo brands contain similar ingredients, and there often isn't much difference between the variously labeled bottles. Kerastase by L'Oreal is a top pick among higher-priced salon shampoos. Head & Shoulders is still one of the highest rated and least expensive brands for dandruff. Johnson & Johnson's "no tears" formula is best for babies and children, although reviewers say it's too mild for adult hair, especially if you use styling products. L'Oreal Professionnel Colorist Collection Shampoo is highly rated in a Good Housekeeping test if you want to use a color depositing shampoo between hair coloring appointments.

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