We know what you might be thinking — 4U by Tia Mowry is a curly hair brand, so the shampoo should work only for curly hair. However, this formula surprised me with its versatility. It creates a gentle lather that cleanses my scalp without stripping my curly hair of moisture. Plus, my family members with fine, straight hair report that it works beautifully on their strands as well. The smell is delicious yet subtle, so it pairs well with differently-scented conditioners and leave-in products. The price is excellent too. The bottom line? I’m addicted to it.

This shampoo has a drying effect, but it’s nothing that a conditioner won’t fix. Still, it may not be best for very low-porosity and thirsty hair. And though the brand is transparent about its ingredients and avoids known irritants like parabens, the fragrance may still be irritating on sensitive scalps. This product does not yet have an EWG toxicity/irritation rating.

Looking for an affordable pick that doesn’t strip your hair? We like the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Purifying Shampoo. The silicone-free, vegan, cruelty-free formula is lightweight and creates a thick lather to get your scalp squeaky-clean (no need to shampoo twice). Plus, the fresh aloe scent lasts for days, so you don’t need to worry about your scalp smelling funky in between washes.

If you have oily or very fine hair, this product may leave your strands overly moisturized. The formula does not yet have a toxicity rating, though it contains a few potentially irritating ingredients. Similar Garnier Fructis products have a rating of five out of 10.

There’s no need to worry about the ingredient list when it comes to Attitude — the brand makes sure each product is hypoallergenic and easy on sensitive skin. The Extra Gentle and Volumizing Shampoo is EWG verified, meaning it meets the EWG’s strictest standards for health and safety. Plus, many reviewers report that this shampoo calms down an itchy scalp. With a well-balanced, hydrating and volumizing formula, it’s no wonder buyers are raving about this product.

Unfortunately, the Attitude Extra Gentle Shampoo is one of our most expensive recommendations. It isn’t always available in drugstores, either. Note that the formula is unscented — which may be a downside for people who love scented shampoo.

Who doesn’t love a good splurge on a volumizing, luxurious shampoo? The Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Shampoo contains panthenol, a form of vitamin B-5 that moisturizes and helps repair strands. In addition, the formula is lightweight and helps create body without adding weight to your hair.

If you want to clarify your hair and remove buildup, you may need to wash your scalp twice to build this lightweight product into a lather. Also, most buyers love the crisp apple scent but a few report that the fragrance (and formula in general) is irritating. This product has a toxicity rating of five out of 10.

If your scalp gets greasy after just one day, you may be using the wrong shampoo. The right product — like the Aveeno Scalp Soothing Refresh & Thicken Shampoo — can balance out an oily scalp while hydrating and repairing skin. This formula contains rosemary and peppermint, both of which may promote healthy blood circulation and reduce inflammation and bacterial growth. Primarily a clarifying shampoo, the Aveeno Scalp Soothing shampoo will keep your scalp clean without stripping your hair.

If you have very dry hair, this product may be too drying. The rosemary and mint scent is also off-putting for some buyers. As for its toxicity and irritation level, this formula gets a rating of five out of 10.

Research shows that biotin may be an effective ingredient for hair loss and that collagen may fortify strands. So, a product like the OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo is a great choice for treating thin hair. The paraben and sulfate-free formula helps nourish strands so they look thicker and fuller in time.

A few reviewers complain that the shampoo feels too heavy. In addition, buyers love the jasmine and vanilla scent, though it may be irritating on sensitive skin. This product gets a toxicity rating of five out of 10.

If you’re hoping to revitalize your hair follicles and promote new growth, try a shampoo that contains rosemary and mint — like the Camille Rose Rosemary Cleanser. The reasoning? One study found rosemary to be just as effective at increasing hair density as minoxidil (though more research is necessary). Another study found that peppermint oil increased hair growth in participants as well as minoxidil did.

While many buyers like the thick formula, others find it off-putting and note that it takes a while to work into hair. The product may be a little drying, so be sure to follow up with the Rosemary Oil 5-Minute Strengthening Hair Mask. The cleanser does not yet have a toxicity rating, though most Camille Rose products have a rating between four and six out of 10.

Stripping shampoos can cause extreme dryness, frizz and breakage, which is why a moisturizing product like the Camille Rose Lavender Fresh Cleanse is a must for dry hair. I love how gentle the formula is on my thirsty hair, and the gentle scent pairs well with nearly all conditioners. It contains apple cider vinegar to help clarify without causing damage, and arnica flower to strengthen hair and reduce the chance of breakage.

However, some reviewers wish the Lavender Fresh Cleanse had more slip to aid in detangling very curly or coily hair. Others wish for a bigger bottle (this one is eight ounces). This product does not yet have a toxicity rating.

Homemade hair remedies remind us that manuka honey and yogurt are natural strengtheners that help repair hair bonds. So, it makes sense that Shea Moisture would utilize both ingredients in its Hydrate + Repair Shampoo. The formula gently cleanses hair with a rich lather that doesn’t strip strands.

If you have thin or fine hair, this product may overly-saturate and weigh down your hair. The natural scent is also off-putting for some buyers. In terms of toxicity and potential irritants, this formula has a rating of four out of 10.

In order to preserve a dyed hair color for as long as possible, it’s important to use a shampoo that protects against color fading. The L’Oréal Elvive Color Vibrancy Shampoo is up to the task; this formula uses UV filters and antioxidants to seal in colorants for up to 60 days, according to the bottle. Customers report that it effectively prevents fading while keeping strands shiny and soft.

The downsides: The pump design of this product could use improvement, as it often sucks air instead of shampoo. A few buyers also report that the formula doesn’t wash out completely. This product gets a toxicity rating of six out of 10.

In the world of hair care, formulas that market themselves as multipurpose usually raise a red flag because they don’t perform well. However, the Honest Shampoo + Body Wash is an exception to the rule. The vegan and cruelty-free formula is gentle enough for baby skin, hypoallergenic and EWG verified. It’s also lightweight and has the right balance of cleansing and moisturizing properties — making it a great pick for straight hair.

However, some buyers complain that the product doesn’t fully cleanse the scalp with just one wash. The formula is somewhat drying on low-porosity hair, and some customers wish the mild scent would last longer than it does.

Looking for a moisturizing shampoo for straight hair that won’t overly-saturate strands? The Monday Haircare Gentle Shampoo is a great option. It doesn’t leave hair feeling brittle and tangled after washing, and it cleanses the scalp while reducing irritation. A bonus: The spring floral scent gets excellent reviews.

Though the smell is fresh and pleasant, buyers wish it would last longer than it does. The pump is also short, which makes it difficult to pump out product as you near the end of the bottle. This product gets a toxicity and irritation rating of five out of 10.

If you have wavy hair, chances are you struggle to maintain waves throughout the day because they fall flat. The Maui Moisture Lightweight Curls Shampoo is a great solution; it contains flaxseed which helps shape waves, reduce frizz and give your strands extra bounce. Plus, it’s light enough that it won’t weigh down your hair.

If your hair is low-porosity or delicate, this shampoo may dry out your curls. Buyers also report that the matching conditioner isn’t hydrating enough for low-porosity strands. Unfortunately, a few received broken shampoo bottles in the mail. This product has a toxicity rating of five out of 10.

Curly hair needs more moisture than wavy and straight hair types, so an extra-hydrating shampoo like the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus shampoo is a smart choice. I frequently return to this shampoo because it creates a rich lather, leaves behind a delicious, sweet smell, and doesn’t dry out my strands. This formula has a low toxicity and irritation rating of two out of 10.

The Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus shampoo does not have a lot of protein — so if you have dyed or high-porosity strands, this product may leave your hair overly moisturized and limp. (If you pair it with a protein-rich conditioner, however, it may work well.) This brand is no longer Black-owned but it is still Black-led and supplies grants to Black-owned businesses.

Have you dyed or bleached your curly hair? If so, it’s important to use a protein-rich shampoo to help fortify and repair strands, giving your curls bounce. The Curlsmith Core Strength Shampoo is powerful enough to revive curls but gentle enough for frequent washes. As with all Curlsmith products, it has a sweet, fruit-and-floral scent.

Though this formula contains key moisturizing ingredients to help balance out the protein, it may be overly drying on low-porosity strands. This product does not yet have a toxicity rating, though it does contain a few potentially harmful ingredients, including fragrance and benzyl alcohol (a solvent and preservative). Most CurlSmith products have a toxicity rating between three and five out of 10.

Low-porosity, type 4 curly hair (which includes 4a, 4b and 4c curls, coils and kinks) needs a lot of moisture, so most drugstore shampoos don’t cut it. Fortunately, the Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Detangling Shampoo has enough moisture to pre-detangle strands before you even reach for the conditioner. This formula creates a rich lather to cleanse the scalp, while ingredients like honey and babassu oil keep strands soft.

The downsides: Buyers report that the pump squeezes out very little product, so it takes a while to apply. In addition, the bottle sometimes comes damaged when shipped from Amazon. This formula has a toxicity and irritation rating of four out of 10.

If you prefer a squeeze bottle to a pump, we recommend the Maui Moisture Curl Quench shampoo for type 4 curls. The anti-frizz formula hydrates strands while cleansing the scalp, and it’s safe to use on color-treated hair. Buyers love the coconut and orange scent.

If you have an oily scalp, this product may add too much moisture to your roots and leave them limp and oily. This formula may also cause flash-drying due to the coconut oil. Indeed, a few reviewers found that it dried out their low-porosity hair even more. As for its toxicity and irritation rating. The Maui Moisture Curl Quench gets a four out of 10.

Does your dandruff just keep coming back? You may need a shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione — an active ingredient that can help treat seborrhoeic dermatitis (which causes scaly, inflamed skin) and dandruff (dry skin flakes). The Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti Dandruff Shampoo is a great option because it uses zinc pyrithione, pH balanced ingredients and hypoallergenic fragrance to soothe irritated skin and prevent future dandruff.

If you have an oily scalp, this shampoo may overly hydrate your roots. Also, it may not help your symptoms if you have serborrheic dermatitis instead of dandruff — so make sure you see a dermatologist to help you determine your scalp condition. This product gets a toxicity rating of five out of 10.

You might not have heard of the Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo, but we highly recommend it for scalp build-up. It contains salicylic acid which helps treat dandruff, psoriasis and serborrheic dermatitis. In addition, it works for hours after application to prevent future build-up and relieve flaking and itching.

If you have a dry scalp, this product may increase dryness and actually lead to more flaking. So, it’s important to follow up with a hydrating conditioner. This product has a toxicity and irritation rating of three out of 10. Note that this formula is fragrance-free, which helps reduce the chance of irritation.

If you have a lot of product build-up from your leave-in conditioners, gels and creams, it’s important to clear it every two or three washes with a clarifying shampoo. The 4U by Tia Clarifying Shampoo does an excellent job of cleansing the scalp while keeping strands hydrated, thanks to ingredients like apple cider vinegar and Hemi15, a hydrator.

Unfortunately, this product isn’t available in most drugstores. You may also need to cleanse your scalp twice if you have a lot of build-up. A word of caution: This formula won’t clear up build-up if you use a conditioner with silicones. In that case, you would need a conditioner with sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate to clean out the silicones.