If you’re not overwhelmed by the choices of shampoo out there, seriously congrats because I don’t think I’ve ever walked into a drugstore and not been overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available—even as a beauty editor.
There truly is something for everyone—from purple shampoo and blue shampoo to dry shampoo—and whilst that’s something to be celebrated, it can be really difficult to know what’s going to work best for you and what’s worth your money.
I'm Tori, beauty contributor here at MC UK, and to help me in my search for the best drugstore shampoo, I've enlisted the help of Senior Beauty Editor Katie, Junior Shopping Editor Valeza, and fellow beauty contributor Mica.
Between us, we’ve tried hundreds of beauty products in the name of journalism, so honestly? We expect a lot from a humble bottle of shampoo. It’s got to tick our criteria: cleansing thoroughly, not stripping our precious natural oils, not fade our hair colour, help add in much-needed hydration, foam nicely and have a scent to our taste—to name a few. All while being within our budget.
Luckily, the cosmetic chemists have created formulas that deliver above and beyond our expectations. But nevertheless, if you’re still in camp totally overwhelmed, we’ve got you. As beauty editors, we love to get a bargain on a truly great product, and are particularly passionate about the shampoos we can find on the high street.
Ahead, take a look at our favourite drugstore shampoo formulas, from sulphate-free to colour-safe.
Best drugstore shampoos: Quick links
- Best shampoo for greasy roots and dry ends: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Pure Shampoo, £8 | LookFantastic
- Best drugstore purple shampoo: PROVOKE Touch Of Silver Brightening Purple Shampoo, £3 | Amazon
- Best affordable shampoo with added colour: Bleach London Rosé Shampoo, £4.95 | Amazon
- Best drugstore shampoo for cleansing without stripping: Monday Haircare Moisture Shampoo, £5 | Boots
- Best drugstore shampoo for thin hair: John Frieda Profiller+ Thickening Shampoo, £6 | Amazon
- Best drugstore shampoo for hydration: Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo, £7 | Amazon
- Best clarifying drugstore shampoo: OGX Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo, £7.99 | LookFantastic
- Best drugstore shampoo for curly and afro hair: Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo, £8.66 | Amazon
- Best drugstore shampoo for wavy hair: Function of Beauty Custom Wavy Hair Shampoo, £9.60 (was £12) | Boots
- Best drugstore shampoo for bleached hair: Bleach London Reincarnation Shampoo, £13 | LookFantastic
- Best drugstore shampoo for incredible smelling hair: Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo, £4.50 | Boots
- Best drugstore shampoo for sensitive scalps: Aveeno Skin Relief Soothing Shampoo, £8.43 | Amazon
- Best volumising drugstore shampoo: Pantene Volume & Body Shampoo, £2.75 | Ocado
- Best drugstore shampoo for moisturised waves: Umberto Giannini Coco Beach Waves Nourishing Shampoo, £8.95 | Amazon
- Best all-round drugstore shampoo: ARKIVE All Day Everyday Shampoo, £12 | Boots
- Best drugstore shampoo for damaged hair: L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Shampoo, £7.79 (was £12.99) | LookFantastic
How we tested the best drugstore shampoos
Although shampoo seems like a simple enough product, we expect a lot from them. Here at Marie Claire UK, we go through a pretty thorough testing process for the products we recommend. In this list, we tested each shampoo on its fragrance, level of lather, ability to cleanse our scalp, and colour protection (told you we expect a lot). We also considered how well the shampoo lived up to its claims based on its budget, because let's be honest, when it comes to drugstore shampoos, we don't want to spend a lot.
So here goes, the very best drugstore shampoos to shop now...
Best drugstore shampoos 2024: Tried and tested
1. L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Pure Shampoo
We don't know about you, but both our Senior Beauty Editor, Katie Thomas, and Executive Beauty Editor, Shannon Lawlor, struggle with dry ends and greasy roots. Finding a shampoo that tackles both of those is near on impossible, until now.
"I cannot recommend this shampoo enough. It has completely transformed the way I look after my hair. Beforehand I would use one of the best shampoos for greasy hair and then apply lots of oil to my ends. Or I would have to use a super hydrating shampoo and arm myself with a dry shampoo. Now I don't need to. It's £8, which incredible value for what this is able to achieve - hydrated ends and oil-free roots for longer." - Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
2. PROVOKE Touch Of Silver Brightening Purple Shampoo
"When I first got my balayage done, I absolutely hated it - I liked the definition it gave to my hair, but the new colour just looked off among my naturally cool-toned brown roots. I’d all but decided to chop my hair into a bob when I decided to give this purple shampoo a go - at under £3, I had nothing to lose - and I am SO glad I did.
After the first wash, my hair tone was noticeably cooler, and after two or three washes, my balayage ends took on the ashy blonde tone I’d always wanted. I now use this once every one or two weeks in-between my regular shampoo, and it maintains a beautiful cool tone for my hair. I’m obsessed." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
3. Bleach London Rosé Shampoo
Let's be honest, getting your hair coloured is incredibly expensive. What Bleach London has done is create a product line that's inspired by its iconic in-salon expertise. Alongside its home hair colour range, there's also its collection of shampoos that colour as your wash.
"I have loved this Rosé Shampoo for over five years. It adds the most beautiful pink hue to blonde hair. I use it in the summer, when I'm feeling my most playful. I am such a fan of it that one of my bridesmaids used it in the lead up to my wedding, because I thought it would look so pretty with her white floral dress. And I was right." - Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
4. Monday Haircare Moisture Shampoo
"Monday haircare really does nail it on the no-frills, affordable shampoo front. It cleanses hair without totally stripping it and has a pleasant (but not over-the-top) scent. It's great for dry hair in need of a moisture boost. Plus, the bottles are a great size so feel like they last longer than three washes (as some shampoos seem to do!) And they look really cute in the shower, too.
What I also think is great is that the entire bottle is recyclable, including the pump, which typically have to be chucked. Friendly for your hair and the planet!" - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
5. John Frieda Profiller+ Thickening Shampoo
"Although I have lots of hair, it’s much finer than it looks. For this reason, I do reach for thickening treatments every now and then. Now, thickening shampoos are a difficult one because there’s only so much they can help. For actually thinning hair, your first port of call is a medical professional to rule out any underlying concerns.
There is a place for these products in a routine though. While a shampoo can't give you more hair, it can give the appearance of thicker roots, which is exactly what this one does. It lathers really well, smells elegant but not too strong and gives volume without making hair fluffy. This one works best when I blow dry my hair afterwards, so it's a great pre-styling cleanse." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
6. Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo
"In my opinion, Hask is a brand that doesn’t get enough attention. I love all of the ranges but particularly love the argan oil shampoo. For my straight, fine but long hair, it definitely lives up to its claim of leaving it feeling silky-smooth.
Its star ingredient is, you guessed it, argan oil, which helps keep hair feeling hydrated and free from frizz. Often I find these thicker formulas leave a horrible residue but this doesn't leave any greasy feeling behind, which is a huge win. Since this formula doesn't contain any sulphates, it doesn't foam up as much as others do so you might need a scalp massager to work the shampoo into your scalp." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
7. OGX Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo
"If you’re really struggling with product build-up in your hair, you need a clarifying formula. Sometimes, if I’ve abused the dry shampoo or left my hair between days for a little too long, I use a clarifying shampoo. This OGX one is strong enough to give a thorough clean without feeling irritating or like it's stripping my scalp. Think of this as your weekly detox treatment.
Although the name might have you be thinking otherwise, this shampoo smells incredibly fresh so don't let that stop you." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
8. Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
"Designed to deeply nourish curly and afro hair types, thanks to the formula packed with Jamaican black castor oil and shea butter. While delivering moisture, the formula also works to cleanse scalp build-up from leftover product and dead skin cells. Being for curly hair, it doesn't have sulphates in the formula—although it still lathers a little." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
9. Function of Beauty Custom Wavy Hair Shampoo
"This shampoo - like all Function of Beauty products - is tailored towards a specific hair type. In this case, it’s wavy hair, and I can confirm, as a wavy-haired girl, it’s one of the best wavy hair products I’ve tried. It’s the perfect balance of hydrating and volumising, helping to boost height and define waves without creating tangles or flyaways. It smells simply dreamy and looks chic on my shower shelf too.
This has been my go-to shampoo for months now, and I really can’t fault it - yes, it falls on the pricier side of high street hair care, but it works so well for my fine, wavy hair that I’m still willing to repurchase it time and time again. It's also worth checking for any 3-for-2 deals on the Boots website, as this is when I like to stock up on my shampoo and conditioner for less." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
10. Bleach London Reincarnation Shampoo
Most of us have had a bleached or coloured hair moment at one time in our lives and, as a beauty editor, I’m often getting my hair tinted. One of the brands I lean on when my hair is in need of some serious TLC from colour damage is Bleach London.
Made with creatine to rebuild hair bonds and wheat microproteins and amino acids to strengthen the hair, it's well worth being on the slightly more pricey side of the drugstore picks. Use it alongside the Reincarnation Mask and you'll have what feels like brand-new hair after just a single wash. I won't be without either of these products.
11. Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo
"You just can't go wrong with a bit of Aussie, which absolutely is worth buying for the iconic scent alone. As far as cleansing goes, it deeply washes without stripping the scalps and leaves ends feeling frizz-free and defined, thanks to the inclusion of Australian macadamia nut oil." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
"I don’t think I’ve ever smelled an Aussie hair product I didn’t immediately fall in love with, and this hydrating shampoo is no exception. The moisturising formula is a little heavy for my fine hair, but Aussie also does plenty of other (equally affordable - and delicious-smelling) shampoos to cater to all hair types and textures." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
12. Aveeno Skin Relief Soothing Shampoo
"Finding a shampoo when you suffer with a sensitive scalp, eczema or psoriasis can be an expensive and long journey. However, I can always count on Aveeno to deliver. This soap-free formula cleanses without disrupting the delicate scalp and the inclusion of colloidal oatmeal soothes. Unlike a lot of medicated shampoos made for those with a sensitive scalp, this formula actually smells really pleasant and fresh." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
13. Pantene Volume & Body Shampoo
"Pantene’s Volume & Body shampoo was my go-to shampoo for years. Not only is it super affordable, but it also smells great (an absolute must for me). Yes, it gives my hair impressive volume and bounce, but it also hydrates each strand, leaving my hair smooth and shiny too - it’s the best of both worlds, IMO." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
14. Umberto Giannini Coco Beach Waves Nourishing Shampoo
"First off, this stuff smells absolutely stunning, with a sweet, floral coconut-y scent. This shampoo cleanses my scalp without stripping natural oils and hydrates my waves without weighing down my fine hair too much. I wouldn’t say this is the most volume-boosting formula - if I’m after height and body, I’ll reach for a volumising drugstore shampoo instead." - Valeza Bakolli, Junior Shopping Editor
15. ARKIVE All Day Everyday Shampoo
"No shampoo leaves my hair feeling quite as soft and refreshed as Arkive's Everyday formula. I find that it makes my long hair far less dry and knotty, plus is much more shiny when I reach for this. The thin formula coats the hair well making it lather nicely without having to use too much product. The Future Bloom scent, which is fresh and elegant is another reason to love this product.
It's an excellent all-rounder so if you share the bathroom with family or flatmates, they'll absolutely be stealing this without you knowing." - Tori Crowther, Beauty Contributor
16. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Shampoo
"My hair is constantly dry and frazzled and, as I use heat tools on it most days, it's prone to breakage. Bond repairing formulations tend to be incredibly expensive, but this innovative formulation from L'Oréal Paris uses citric acid to deeply nourish the hair, protect it from breakage and smooth the hair shaft to minimise the appearance of split ends. My hair always feels so soft after using this and incredibly glossy—a rare feat for my dull strands. The fact that you can pick it up for around a tenner is incredible as, honestly, I'd pay three times the price for this impressive product." - Mica Ricketts, Beauty Contributor
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