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Jayme Cyk Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
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As beautiful as it is, thick hair can be difficult to manage—becoming easily tangled or prone to dryness and frizz. The best shampoos for thick hair remove oil and buildup while simultaneously nourishing and hydrating locks. From our top pick the Roz Foundation Shampoo to the luxurious Oribe Resilience Shampoo, our favorite formulas cut through thick hair to cleanse strands and balance the scalp.
It’s important to consider ingredients and formula, as well as your hair type and texture before making a purchase. Look for ingredients like panthenol (a common humectant), argan oil, coconut oil and grapeseed oil, which lock in moisture and prevent damage to the cuticle. Below, find the best shampoos for thick hair, along with tips and tricks from several experts.
Best Shampoo Overall For Thick Hair: Roz Foundation Shampoo
Best Luxury Shampoo For Thick Hair: Oribe Hair Alchemy Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Thick, Damaged Hair: Virtue Recovery Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Thick, Dry Hair: Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Thick, Curly Hair: Pattern Hydration Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Thick, Natural Hair: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash
See AlsoHow Long Does It Take for Vinegar to Remove Hair Dye?Even the Most Stubborn Nose Hairs Are No Match for These Editor-Tested Electric TrimmersHow to Remove Hair Dye From Skin Using Household Staples + the One Fix That Is Sure to Surprise YouHow to clean a hairbrush to remove hair, lint, and build-upBest Shampoo For Thick, Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex No.4 Shampoo
Best Unscented Shampoo For Thick Hair: Nécessaire The Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Thick, Oily Hair: Adwoa Blue Tansy Clarifying Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Thick, Frizzy Hair: Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo
Best Drugstore Shampoo For Thick Hair: Garnier Fructis Sleek And Shine
Best Shampoo Overall For Thick Hair
A Beauty Editor Favorite That Gently Cleanses
Roz Foundation Shampoo
This line was created by celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak, who works with clients such as Emma Stone and Zoe Saldana. The Foundation shampoo is formulated with ginger root, frankincense, grape and walnut to restore scalp health and preserve hair color. It lathers well, thanks to coconut surfactants, and is suitable for all hair types and textures. Plus, it has a woody floral aroma that makes you feel as if you’re in Big Sur.
Best Luxury Shampoo For Thick Hair
A Strengthening Pick With A Fabulous Scent
Oribe Hair Alchemy Shampoo
This reparative shampoo includes a blend of chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf and plant-based protein to strengthen strands and prevent breakage. It also contains a hyaluronic acid complex for added moisture to increase elasticity, and green tea and polysaccharides to safeguard hair from environmental stressors. “I’m into the Alchemy Resilience Shampoo because it lathers really nicely,” says LA-based celebrity hairstylist Kiley Fitzgerald. “It isn’t specifically for thick hair, but it works really well.”
Best Shampoo For Thick, Damaged Hair
Helps To Address Color, Heat Or Chemical Damage
Virtue Recovery Shampoo
Infused with alpha keratin 60ku, a protein that’s identical to the keratin found in our hair, the Virtue Recovery Shampoo strengthens, hydrates and nourishes damaged strands. It also contains hydrolyzed quinoa, baobab seed oil and grapefruit extract to add shine and replenish the scalp. While it’s suitable for all hair types and textures, it’s an excellent choice for severely damaged hair—whether it’s heat, chemical or color damage.
Best Shampoo For Thick, Dry Hair
An Ultra-Hydrating Option For Parched Locks
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Shampoo
Our top pick for dry hair includes ingredients like rosehip oil, algae extract, plant proteins and panthenol (a humectant) to deliver essential fatty acids to strands and boost hydration. Created for all hair types, this clean, cruelty-free formula almost functions as a deep conditioning mask—the ingredients are that potent. Users say a little goes a long way and to rinse well before going in with your regular conditioner.
Best Shampoo For Thick, Curly Hair
A Curl Enhancing Cleanser With A Light Fragrance
Pattern Hydration Shampoo
This hydrating shampoo is specifically formulated for curly, coily and tight textures. Thanks to humectants like aloe and honey and additional hydration from coconut oil and shea butter, this formula is perfect for defining curls without weighing them down. Users say it has a light and refreshing scent.
Best Shampoo For Thick, Natural Hair
A Lightweight Formula Modeled After Sensitive Skin Cleansers
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash
Formulated with argan oil and aloe vera juice, this fruit loop-scented hair cleanser was created as a hybrid between a shampoo and a co-wash (conditioning hair wash) to reduce breakage and thoroughly nourish strands. The addition of lemon tea tree oil soothes the scalp without drying out textured, thick locks. It has a light lather and users rave about how soft and manageable their hair feels after using it.
Best Shampoo For Thick, Color-Treated Hair
A Highly Concentrated, Reparative Option
Olaplex No.4 Shampoo
A favorite pick among those with color-treated or bleached hair, this contains Olaplex’s proprietary molecule—bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate—which can repair broken bonds for stronger, healthier hair. It also helps to eliminate frizz, add shine and reduce breakage. Other key ingredients include grapeseed oil, glycerin and panthenol for added moisture.
Best Unscented Shampoo For Thick Hair
A Scent-Free, Scalp-Enhancing Formula
Nécessaire The Shampoo
Approved by The National Eczema Association, this fragrance-free pick (which is not always easy to find in a shampoo) is infused with hyaluronic acid, vitamins B3 and B5, and plant surfactants to soothe dry, sensitive and reactive scalps. It cleanses effectively without stripping hair and has a gentle lather. Users love the consistency and say they can go longer in between washes without getting greasy.
Best Shampoo For Thick, Oily Hair
A Detoxing Cleanser That Removes Excess Oil And Dirt
Adwoa Blue Tansy Clarifying Shampoo
This clarifying gel shampoo uses blue tansy—a tried and true anti-inflammatory skincare ingredient—to nourish, promote new growth and soften strands. The refreshing gel texture, which also blends slippery elm and bamboo to promote shine and strengthen strands, effectively removes buildup and resets the hair and scalp. After washing, your hair is primed and ready to be styled.
Best Shampoo For Thick, Frizzy Hair
A Hairstylist Favorite For Fighting Frizz
Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo
Made with minuta olive extract, which is full of fatty acids and vitamin E, this cult classic shampoo thoroughly nourishes, softens and hydrates hair. “My go-to is always the Davines Love Shampoo,” says Fitzgerald. “It suds really nicely. I’ve got so much hair that I need it to really lather and be able to scrub and get soapy.” It has a creamy texture and users rave about how soft and shiny it leaves their hair.
Best Drugstore Shampoo For Thick Hair
A Budget-Friendly Option That Eliminates Frizz
Packed with argan oil from Morocco and plant keratin amino acids, this budget-friendly shampoo strengthens strands while gently cleansing. Meanwhile, its fruity scent transports you to a tropical setting sans humidity, so your locks remain frizz-free. It works best when paired with the smoothing conditioner or a leave-in conditioner that’s used post shower.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of haircare stories. The author of this piece Jayme Cyk is a regular contributor with over a decade of experience covering beauty and lifestyle topics. The story was overseen by deputy editor Jane Sung, who has produced a wide variety of haircare stories including the best conditioners for dry hair and the top hair straighteners according to rigorous testing. In addition, Cyk gathered key insights and guidance from LA-based celebrity hairstylist Kiley Fitzgerald and certified trichologist Bridgette Hill.
How We Chose The Best Shampoos For Thick Hair
To select the best shampoos for thick hair, we first took into account each product’s active ingredients—we carefully evaluated each ingredient list and ultimately chose formulas that cleanse, hydrate and nourish. Our final list is inclusive of different hair types (curly, colored, etc.) as well as those with sensitive scalps who might benefit from an unscented option. Our experts chimed in with recommendations based on their own experiences, while customer reviews were examined for standout product traits. As everyone’s haircare budget looks a little different, we included both affordable and luxury options.
Built Bar
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Built Bar
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