After Testing Over 100 Shampoos, We Know These 10 Are the Best for Curly Hair

A common misconception is that people with curly hair aren’t subject to hair thinning. As a postpartum woman shedding hair every day, I know that’s false. Curly hair can thin, and it can be quite noticeable to see formerly luscious curls drop in volume.

Writer Raki Swanson experienced great results with Vegamour Gro+ Advanced Shampoo. “After using this shampoo and conditioner for two weeks, something started to happen,” she says. “I started to get little hairs growing around my face.”

Swanson was struggling with a perimenopause-induced receding hairline. Yet, this product boosted hair growth in just two weeks. The shampoo was a bit drying immediately after use, however. She followed up the wash with the matching Vegamour Gro+ conditioner and observed that her hair felt much softer afterward. Swanson experienced some frizz when using this product but found it to be a small price to pay for the impressive growth. 

After trying dozens of shampoos over the years, I had largely settled for formulas that were nothing special and left my curls feeling dry and weighed down. When I tried the Curl Quencher Shampoo by Ouidad, I expected another underwhelming experience. Instead, it produced a rich lather and left my curls much more hydrated and manageable.

When testing this product, I evaluated its scent, lather, and post-wash feel, and it performed well in all three areas. It had a smooth texture and created a frothy lather that distributed easily throughout my thick curls. The scent was fresh and clean without lingering too strongly once my hair dried. My hair was noticeably softer and less tangled after washing, which had previously been difficult for me to achieve, even when using conditioner.

I have thick curly hair with a fair amount of texture, so I welcomed the heavy consistency. Those with fine hair may find this shampoo too thick. Note that this shampoo won’t leave your scalp feeling squeaky clean, as it’s about imparting moisture. However, I didn’t experience any issues, and I didn’t notice any scalp buildup or itching.

I’ve used RŌZ products for years, including the styling oil, hair serum, and treatment oil. All of its products feel luxurious, including this vegan, paraben-free shampoo. We appreciated its classic California-inspired botanical scent, beautiful packaging, and rich feel.

“I thought my hair seemed softer, more hydrated,” says health writer Mary Sauer, adding that it didn’t leave behind a residue. She also noticed frizz reduction.

Keep in mind that the directions recommend a double wash. This shampoo does leave a deeply clean feeling, which could feel drying for some. 

Most shampoos come in plastic bottles, but Kitsch’s Strengthening Shampoo Bar offers a more sustainable option — without sacrificing results for color-treated curls. Solid shampoo formulas often raise concerns about color fading, but we were pleasantly surprised to find this bar is specifically formulated to be color-safe, gently cleansing curls while helping maintain moisture and strength in dyed hair.

Color-safe shampoos typically don’t include many extras, which is why this bar stood out. After just one wash, Swanson noticed softer, shinier curls with less frizz. “I’ve never used a product that worked right away like this,” she says, adding that it made her eager to try more from the brand.

The bar format is travel-friendly and helps reduce packaging waste, though it may take a few washes to determine how much product to use and how best to distribute it through curly hair. Kitsch recommends storing the bar in a separate bag or case between uses to help it dry properly.

Sweat, dirt, and product can build up on our scalp over time, which can leave curls looking dull or weighed down. Clarifying shampoos are formulated to remove this buildup and excess oil more thoroughly than regular shampoos. This shampoo enlists sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, two cleansing agents used in some shampoos to create a rich lather to remove mineral deposits from the hair, providing a deep clean.

Editor Nicole Bonaccorso, who tried this shampoo, notes that moderation is key. “A little goes a long way with this shampoo; it lathers a lot,” she says. We appreciate how it leaves the hair shiny and voluminous without requiring a lot of product.

Bonaccorso says her hair wasn’t dried out at all when using this product, but it is worth noting that some people may struggle with clarifying shampoos drying out their hair. 

One thing to note is that this product doesn’t have the best scent. It has added fragrance, which some people prefer to avoid, but it doesn’t cover up the distinct smell of apple cider vinegar. 

As someone who has tried numerous shampoos, I can be a bit jaded. When it was time for me to try the drugstore mainstay Rosemary Mint Hair Strengthening Biotin Shampoo from Mielle Organics, my expectations were low. I expected that it would clean my hair but also strip it, leaving it feeling dry and difficult to detangle, which has been a common experience for me.

Instead, I enjoyed a rich lather with a soft, smooth texture. The scent was amazing. The product felt great when massaged into my scalp. After I rinsed, my curls were hydrated and easily detangled.

The overall formula left my curls soft, defined, and manageable, but do note that it may weigh down finer curls. From a practical standpoint, I appreciated that the bottle had an easy-to-use pump, making application extremely straightforward. Best of all is that I can pick it up at my local drugstore, no shipping wait times involved. 

“My hair was softer and seemed more moisturized with less frizz,” Sauer says. She didn’t love that the bottle was difficult to close and adds the shampoo doesn’t truly lather. However, each of these notes may not be an issue at all, depending on your hair type. She also found that the thick shampoo moisturizes her tresses more and more as she continued to use it. It is a bit pricey, but we think the results are worth every penny. 

Nécessaire is known for simple, thoughtful formulas and elevated yet subtle scents, so we were interested to try the brand’s Rosemary Shampoo, especially since it’s positioned as a scalp-support and anti-thinning option.

Bonaccorso notes that the rosemary scent isn’t too strong and doesn’t linger. While she refers to the scent as leaning slightly more masculine, we think the light, herbaceous fragrance would be suitable for anyone. She did have to use a bit more product than usual, but her hair felt more manageable after use, and it styled well when dried.

Bonaccorso also says that while she trusts rosemary’s healing properties, this product is slow to reap visible anti-thinning results. Still, she says this was her favorite out of all the shampoos for thinning hair that she’s tried. 

Celebrity beauty brands can be hit or miss, but Beyonce’s Cécred line impressed us with thoughtful formulas and strong performance. This clarifying shampoo takes a unique approach to cleansing the scalp. It utilizes a physical exfoliant, serving as a scalp scrub and yielding soft, light, and manageable hair.

“The dominant notes are of mint and rosemary,” says editor Katie Tuttle. She enjoyed the sensation of the physical exfoliant on her scalp and was pleased with the texture of her hair post-wash. “My hair felt lighter and very clean but not stripped of moisture,” she says.

This shampoo doesn’t leave a residue, but you will need to give your hair a thorough rinse to remove the exfoliating grit. It also doesn’t create a strong lather, but we don’t think you’ll miss it — feeling the exfoliant work on your scalp is deeply satisfying.