When your hair is dry and lifeless, you know that you need a good shampoo for dry hair for it to perform the way you would like. Shampoos for dry hair help to infuse moisture, smooth the hair shaft, and protect your hair from further damage. While you might think that any shampoo will do to clean your hair, this isn’t the case. Some shampoos can contain drying agents such as phthalates and parabens, which can make dry hair more prone to damage. So, in addition to tweaking your hair care routine, you should consider trying one of these top-rated hydrating shampoos for dry hair.
In this article:
Our Picks for the Best Shampoos for Dry Hair
The best shampoo for dry hair should be hydrating and with repair benefits while also providing thorough cleansing to your dirty hair and scalp. The options we have reviewed below are the best on the market, based on user experience and the overall benefits they promise to bring to your hair.
1. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
Dry hair needs to be gently cleaned. And that means that the best shampoo for dry hair should be free of harsh chemicals. Briogeo’s moisture-infusing shampoo is designed to work with a variety of hair types ranging from straight to coily.
While it works to effectively remove dirt, product build-up, and oil from the hair and your scalp, it’s also ultra-hydrating thanks to critical ingredients like biotin, vitamin B, algae extract, and panthenol. Best of all, this cruelty-free shampoo for damaged hair is also vegan-friendly and can be used on chemically treated hair. Buy it now at Sephora!
2. Kiehl’s Since 1851 Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo
Kiehl’s has long been a brand associated with effective skin and hair care products designed from natural ingredients for superior results. Their shampoo for dry hair is a creamy option that promises to moisturize and fortify your hair instantly. You’ll appreciate that the avocado oil, lemon extract, and other fruit oils all work to mimic the oils naturally found in your hair, making this the best shampoo for dry hair. Buy it now at Nordstrom!
3. Vernon François Pure-Fro Shampoo
When you have very curly or coily hair, you know that dryness can be a serious issue. And that also means that you can’t just use any shampoo that’s lying around. In your case, you need to focus on the best shampoo for dry hair. This one is specifically designed to work with dry curly or coily hair. The shampoo is formulated with ubuntu Kalahari melon oil to infuse essential moisture into your hair while also gently cleansing your hair and scalp. Shop it now at Net-a-Porter!
4. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo
Who wouldn’t want to have a perfect hair day? Thankfully, Living Proof has created a shampoo that promises to give you precisely that result. Their shampoo for dry hair is ideal for damaged hair, as it promises to restore shine and smoothness on the hair shaft, increase volume, and strengthen your hair. You’ll appreciate that this shampoo can be used on a variety of hair types and thicknesses, and is cruelty-free with a formula that doesn’t contain parabens or silicone. Buy it now at Sephora!
5. Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo
If your tresses have seen better days, this is the perfect shampoo for damaged hair. Joico’s shampoo gently cleanses your hair with specially selected surfactants, while a blend of nourishing natural oils helps to infuse moisture. You’ll appreciate ingredients like jojoba oil and keratin that nourish and strengthen your hair shaft. This shampoo is ideal for dehydrated and damaged hair. Buy it at Ulta!
6. Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Shampoo
If you’re looking for a solution to your dry hair woes, you can’t go wrong with a brand like Bumble and Bumble. Especially if you’ve been struggling with dry, brittle, and damaged hair, their Invisible Oil shampoo promises to revive your hair thanks to a blend of six oils including sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, and safflower oil. This is the best shampoo for dry hair that can be used on straight, wavy, and curly hair. Shop it now at Sephora!
7. MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo
Coloring and straightening your hair can be a great way to express yourself, but it can also leave you with serious damage. If this sounds familiar, then you’re going to like the MoroccanOil Moisture Repair shampoo. This is the best shampoo for dry hair that’s also been damaged, as it works to restore your hair’s moisture balance and strength thanks to ingredients like keratin, argan oil, fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E. Pick it up now at Nordstrom!
8. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo
It’s only natural that just like everything else on your body, age can change how your hair behaves. If you’ve noticed that your hair is more prone to dryness or shows damage more quickly, then this shampoo is a smart pick for you. This shampoo for dry hair works to reverse the signs of damage by specifically focusing on infusing moisture into your hair shaft. Rated for use with all hair types, you’ll appreciate how this shampoo hydrates while improving shine, softness, texture, and manageability. Buy it now at Sephora!
9. Julien Farel Vitamin Shampoo
When you color or chemically straighten your hair, you need to give it a bit more TLC than hair that hasn’t been heavily manipulated. In that case, Julien Farel has a shampoo for damaged hair that’s sure to turn back the hands of time on your strands. Their Vitamin shampoo is formulated in Italy with rice protein, honey, mushroom extract, and glycerin. Buy it now at Net-a-Porter!
10. Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
If you weren’t aware, you can’t always use the same products on color-treated hair as you would on virgin (non-treated) hair. Pureology’s Hydrate shampoo is specially formulated with hydrating ingredients to keep color-treated hair from being brittle and dry. In particular, you’ll like the green tea, and sage, all of which help to not just hydrate but strengthen your delicate strands. Shop for it at Ulta!
11. Shu Uemura Urban Moisture Hydro-Nourishing Shampoo
Dry hair needs moisture, that’s a no-brainer. And that’s why this Shu Uemura option is the best shampoo for dry hair. This color-safe formula is ultra-hydrating thanks to moringa and red algae extracts. You’ll like how it gently cleanses your scalp without stripping essential oils. Get it now at Sephora!
12. Oribe Shampoo for Moisture and Control
When you have dry hair, you know that finding the perfect balance of ingredients that will keep your hair moisturized can be a tall order. But Oribe’s shampoo is designed to do exactly that. Natural extracts like watermelon, lychee, sunflower seed, and edelweiss flower help to deeply penetrate the hair shaft and restore its moisture balance. This is the best shampoo for dry hair that will deeply nourish and hydrate your tresses from root to tip, giving you smoother hair without flyaways or kinks. Shop it now at Net-a-Porter!
13. Wella Invigo Nutri-Enrich Shampoo
If your hair is damaged or dry, the last thing you want to do is test out a product from an unknown brand. But with a company like Wella, best known for creating hydrating hair dyes, you know you’re getting a product that you can trust. Their shampoo is perfect for reviving dry or damaged hair. Oleic acid and panthenol work to moisturize and nourish your hair, making it one of the best shampoos for dry hair. Pick it up now at Ulta!
14. Klorane Shampoo with Mango Butter
Parched hair needs serious ingredients to turn it from dry, brittle, and damaged to healthy and robust. Klorane’s shampoo for dry hair tackles that problem thanks to the core ingredient – mango butter. The title ingredient helps to gently cleanse your scalp and hair while also providing intensive hydration to damaged and dry hair. Shop it now at Dermstore!
15. Drybar Sake Bomb Shampoo
Sake bombs are for more than a night out at your favorite sushi bar. The brand that brought you the concept of a blowout-only salon also creates hair care products that you can use at home. Drybar’s Sake Bomb shampoo is designed to be used on all hair types and specifically focuses on strengthening and softening dry, damaged hair. You’ll enjoy the watercress extract and keratin, which make this one of the best shampoos for dry hair. Get it now at Sephora!
16. Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo
Imagine giving your scalp an invigorating tingle every time you wash your hair. You don’t have to live in a fantasyland because you can experience this with the Malin + Goetz shampoo. This shampoo for dry hair relies on natural peppermint extract and synthesized amino acids to effectively cleanse your scalp and hair without stripping natural oils that your scalp needs to stay moisturized. Shop it now at Nordstrom!
17. IGK Hot Girls Hydrating Shampoo
Styling tools can help transform your hair from curly to straight and back to curly. But all of that heat can fast track you onto a path of damaged and dry hair. If you’ve been relying a bit too much on heat tools, this is the best shampoo for damaged hair. It features litchi extract and vitamin E to infuse moisture while also strengthening it and repairing against heat damage. This shampoo is ideal for all hair types as well as chemically and color-treated hair. Buy it now at Sephora!
18. Virtue Labs Recovery Shampoo
Dry and brittle hair is more prone to damage such as split ends. But you can turn back the hands of time with Virtue Labs’ shampoo for dry hair. This shampoo is designed for all hair types and repairs damaged hair by filling in cracks, cleansing daily build-up, and infusing moisture. Key ingredients include hydrolyzed quinoa, grapefruit extract, and baobab seed oil. Buy it at Sephora!
19. Redken All Soft Shampoo
If you prefer a brand that has name recognition, you can’t go wrong with the salon favorite, Redken. Their All Soft shampoo is specifically formulated to cleanse your scalp and hair gently. But more importantly, this is one of the best shampoos for dry hair thanks to Redken’s exclusive RCT Protein Complex that works to improve the overall health of your hair while enhancing structure and volume. Shop for it now at Ulta!
20. Rahua Hydration Shampoo
Finding the right shampoo that will not only work for dry hair but also your hair type can feel like a challenge. Rahua’s Hydration shampoo is designed to work with all hair types from straight to tightly coiled. The best shampoo for dry hair, it offers a massive moisture infusion that improves hydration, prevents frizziness, and also improves the look and feel of your hair. Buy it at Sephora!
21. Christophe Robin Regenerating Shampoo with Prickly Pear Seed Oil
Finally, if you need the best shampoo for dry hair, Christophe Robin has a solution that focuses on naturally-derived oils like prickly pear seed. Not only is this shampoo rated for all hair types, but also it promises to hydrate while correcting damage like split ends and breakage. Best of all, it’s safe for color-treated hair. Shop it now at Sephora!
What to Look for in the Best Shampoo for Dry Hair?
If you struggle with dry hair, you’re probably at the end of your rope trying to find remedies to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy. So, even though we’ve outlined a few of the top-rated shampoos for dry hair, you’re probably wondering if there are specific ingredients you should be seeking or ones to avoid.
Best Shampoos for Dry Hair
Note that there are varying levels of hair dryness. For some people, it’s a scalp issue, while for others it can be just the hair shaft, and for others a combination of the two.
If you’re facing dry scalp problems, the best shampoos for dry hair will highlight their ability to moisturize, hydrate, and smooth your hair. In particular, hair products aimed at curly hair are ideal because they almost exclusively focus on moisture.
Ingredients like menthol, aloe vera, shea butter, tea tree oil, olive oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil are ideal for helping to stimulate oil production in your scalp. Likewise, shampoos that feature essential oils are also good options because they’ll help to improve the moisture balance of your hair and scalp.
Shampoos to Avoid
The primary cause of dry hair is a lack of moisture and essential natural oils. In that case, you’re going to want to avoid shampoos that promise to fortify or volumize, as these types of shampoos tend to strip hair of critical oils. Skip high-pH shampoos that contain sulfates, parabens, and alcohol, as these can aggravate your issues.
Photos via @natalieannehair, Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta