15 Best Shampoos for Curly Hair, According to Experts

Reach for this nourishing shampoo weekly (or even as frequently as daily). It's gentle on hair and packed with ingredients like argan oil and chébé, a Chadian seed that, according to the brand, helps strengthen, protect and hydrate strands. Also an effective cleanser, Taylor loves this product because it "not only hydrates your hair but also cleanses your hair without stripping it of its natural oils," she says. Some online reviewers feel it has too strong of a smoky scent for their liking.

GH Health Newsroom Deputy Director Stephanie Dolgoff recommends this affordable pick. Formulated with rice, keratin amino acids and enzymes (and without sulfates), the brand claims this shampoo has multiple benefits including enhancing curl retention. Dolgoff likes that "it's widely available and smells nice," she says. After shampooing, she finishes "with a hair mask and then use a leave-in and gel and it is as good as the more expensive products," she adds. However, she doesn't use it for every wash because it's not as quite as moisturizing as other options out there.

Dealing with a dry scalp can be tough: Though you want to get a good clean, you also don't want your skin to get flaky or irritated. Enter: Leaf and Flower's CBD-infused curl shampoo, which GH Institute Deputy Editor Jessica Teich says is "super hydrating yet still makes my strands and scalp feel cleansed without the harsh squeaky feeling." It helps remove buildup without stripping, and Teich uses it when she wants her curls "to be super juicy and bouncy." It's definitely on the more expensive side, but she loves this shampoo, adding that "the scent is so amazing; it's fruity and almost candy-like but not cloying."

Brassiness begone, thanks to this purple shampoo from Moroccanoil. Whether you have highlights, silver hair, blonde hair or just general brassy or yellow tones you want to get rid of, this is one to reach for. Teich loved the quick results of this shampoo when she was blonde, sharing that "it was so pigmented that it would sometimes stain my hands, but that meant it made a measurable difference in just one wash." She has tried various purple shampoos and feels that this one was less drying than other formulas; she paired it with the brand's matching conditioner and felt "like my hair truly looked toned after," she raves.

Co-washes, or conditioning washes, are great for curly hair as they gently cleanse and condition hair simultaneously. If your hair is feeling over-washed or dehydrated, adding moisture back in by washing with a co-wash is a great solution. This one from Paul Mitchell is Teich's favorite. She especially loves its "therapeutic lavender scent that makes my shower feel like a spa," she shares. "It makes my hair feel so soft and silky, though it may not leave hair feeling the most clean if you use it alone." If you feel like you need a deeper clean, try using it after a traditional shampoo while conditioning your ends.

A key to maintaining healthy curls is keeping them moisturized. With this GH Beauty Award-winning Dove duo, you can get strong smoothing and conditioning effects thanks to a protein- and coconut oil-laced formula. Two testers noted that their hair wasn't frizzy after use, with one adding that their hair "was easier to style and my blowout lasted." Plus, in GH Beauty Lab assessment, the well-priced set got perfect scores for making hair manageable, smooth and supple. Some online reviewers thought their hair looked flat after use, though.

Curly hair gets frizzy too! If your curls are turning frizzy, grab this Beauty Lab-tested shampoo. Not only is it moisturizing (which is great for curls), but it did so well that testers said they were tempted to skip conditioner. One tester even said they "could already tell a significant change in my hair texture for the better" after just one use. Take note that a shampoo rinses out quickly and may not give the longest-lasting frizz protection, so try pairing with a conditioner or leave-in for best results.

Moroccanoil's hydrating shampoo is a reliable option for curls. Teich calls this her "go-to, everyday shampoo." Thanks to its sulfate-free formula, it's color safe and "strikes the perfect balance of cleanliness and hydration," she adds. "The scent is absolutely addicting — I get compliments on how good I smell every time I use it." As with any Moroccanoil product, this is packed with smoothing argan oil. Some reviewers say it leaves their hair feeling greasy, so if you have oilier hair, this may not be the best choice for you.

Taylor recommends looking for coconut oil as an ingredient in shampoos for curly hair. She shares that coconut oil is hydrating, and GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann adds that coconut-derived surfactants "effectively remove impurities without being excessively powerful," meaning that they won't irritate or be too harsh. So, OGX's coconut oil-infused shampoo is a great buy. Though this particular formula hasn't been tested in our Lab, many other OGX shampoos have done very well in testing. Reviewers love its coconut, fruity scent and that it leaves their curls soft and bouncy, but take note that some shared that their curls lacked volume after use.

Clarifying shampoos are great for removing buildup and deeply cleansing hair. But, with curls especially, you don't want them to aggressively strip the hair. Teich loves this pick for that deep clean, sharing that it's a "great go-to for a reset. It even has peppermint oil for a fresh feeling clean that I really love," she raves. It's a little pricey, but clarifying shampoos, including this aptly named one, only need to be used about once a week, so one bottle will last you a while.

Can you use dry shampoo on curly hair? Yes, confirms Hill. She recommends incorporating it into your shampoo routine as needed. Try this Beauty Lab test-winning Living Proof one, which faked freshly washed hair and maintained styles for up to five days. Plus, an impressive 100% of testers agreed that it left hair looking clean, with one sharing that it was "the most effective I've ever tried." As with many dry shampoo formulas, some testers did feel it left some powdery residue behind.

Teich shares that "curly hair tends to be drier than other hair types, which means dry scalps prone to flaking or irritation." If her scalp is feeling itchy or flaky, she trusts this Kérastase anti-dandruff formula for her curls. "I'll cycle this shampoo in for a few washes to nix any flakes, dryness or discomfort," she adds.

She also loves that it feels elegant and glamorous in her shower — plus, it does the trick, thanks to the inclusion of proven dandruff-fighting ingredient pyrithione zinc. Note that some online users find it leaves their hair feeling brittle or dry after use.

Filled with natural ingredients like alpine rose extract, camellia seed oil and blue algae, this well-priced Japanese shampoo gently cleanses hair. Taylor highly recommends this pick, sharing that it uses "plant extracts to help promote softer and shinier curls over time while also working to protect your scalp, which is key for growing healthy hair — no matter your curl pattern." There are very few poor reviews for this one, but one online reviewer does note that it made their hair feel dry after use.

Shampoo bars are great because they are waterless, making them both eco-friendly and more potent (meaning you can actually use less product and achieve the same cleansing results). This one from Ethique is designed specifically for curls, and with 4.5 stars based on more than 15,000 reviews, it's safe to say this one's a crowd favorite. It includes soothing ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter for happy, nourished hair.

One online reviewer raves that "Ethique cleans, leaves hair soft and my hair does not fall out like it did before. Not harsh, no irritation, very cleansing and gentle." However, as a shampoo bar, there is a bit of a learning curve: Swipe the bar across wet hair a few times, then set it down and wash hair as usual.

Maria Nila's co-wash is a favorite of the boyfriend of one of our beauty editors; it leaves his hair super moisturized and feeling healthy, and it adds definition and shine to his curls. Note that it doesn't lather much, so don't expect a super sudsy experience with this one. It has a light, fresh scent that smells like apricot and is great for anyone to use. "It left my hair very soft and my curls actually looked hydrated after my hair dried," an online reviewer shares.