Found: The Best Shampoos for Expensive-Looking Hair This Season

Everyone has different needs and goals when it comes to their hair. Some of us (ahem, me) need volume and damage repair thanks to a fine texture or perpetual color treatments,  while others want anti-aging benefits or major curl TLC. Regardless, we feel confident saying that everyone wants th eir strands to reach their full, healthy, and yes, expensive AF-looking potential. We have some really great news on that front: You don't actually have to pay a fortune to get hair that looks like a million bucks. Many of our favorite shampoo and conditioners are actually hiding away in the sparkling aisles of your nearest drugstore, and we're here to guide you toward all of our favorites.

Whether you're seeking the best drugstore shampoo and conditioner to achieve beach-inspired mermaid waves (yeah, we're pretending it's not winter, too!) or need an affordable, cult-classic purple elixir to bust your brass, we have your strands covered just ahead. Keep scrolling for the nine best drugstore shampoo and conditioners that are budget-saving dupes of our more expensive favorites. 

View photos

Tigi Bed Head Urban Antidotes Recovery Conditioner ($16)

Just like Moroccanoil's cult-loved favorite, Tigi's more affordable formula features a strategic blend of both moisturizing and strengthening components—a dream power couple for those with damaged, dry, color-treated, or break-age prone strands. Hair is left feeling soft, shiny, and more vibrant in color thanks to the formula's conditioning and moisture-balancing perks. 

If you need color protection and love…

View photos

Kérastase Reflection Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair ($30)

View photos

Kérastase Reflection Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair ($34)

Try…

View photos

Matrix Biolage Colorlast Shampoo ($18)

View photos

Matrix Biolage Colorlast Conditioner ($16)

You probably should pay a lot for your color, (you often get what you pay for in that industry), but let us be the ones to tell you that you don't necessarily have to pay a lot for your color-protecting products. If you're looking to save some money but still want the hy drating and shin-inducing benefits of a more expensive formula like Kérastase, we recommend opting for Matrix's pH-balancing and color-safe formula instead. Not only does this duo keep your hair soft and tangle-free, but your strands will also retain their post-salon vibrancy up to nine weeks after your dye job. 

If you need to detoxify and love…

View photos

Earth's Nectar Mint Leaves & Tea Tree Shampoo ($22)

View photos

Earth's Nectar Mint Leaves & Tea Tree Conditioner ($22)

Try…

View photos

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo ($14)

View photos

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Conditioner ($15)

Just like Earth Nectar's essential oil– and botanical-based blend, Paul Mitchell's deep-cleansing shampoo and conditioner is fortified with nature's best: natural tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and lavender to draw essential circulation to the scalp, remove buildup, and gift strands with all the shine you'd expect from a way pricier option. 

If you need a purple shampoo and love…

View photos

dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo ($26)

View photos

dpHUE Cool Blonde Conditioner ($26)

Try…

View photos

Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo for Blonde & Silver Hair ($10)

View photos

Shimmer Lights Purple Conditioner for Blonde & Silver Hair ($13)

FYI: Shimmer Lights was one of the OG purple shampoos on the market, and it's remained a brass-busting obsession ever since. Since a purple shampoo should be an enhancement (aka you're not using a purple shampoo every single time you wash), it's really not worth spending an arm, leg, and entire paycheck on your formula. Plus, they all do the same thing—truly. 

If you need volume and love…

View photos

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo ($24)

View photos

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Conditioner ($24)

Try…

View photos

Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing Shampoo ($15)

View photos

Hempz Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing Conditioner & Hydrating Hair Mask ($10)

Like Briogeo, Hempz uses the loveliest ingredients from Mother Earth to elevate the look, feel, and overall health of your strands. While Briogeo's beloved formula features ginseng, biotin, ginger, and maltodextrin, Hempz's more affordable dupe has equally luscious MVPs like sweet pineapple, honey melon, and its signature hemp seed oil, which work harmoniously to volumize and plump a limp hair situation. 

If you need curl-enhancement and love…

View photos

DevaCurl No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser ($24)

View photos

DevaCurl One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner ($24)

Try…

View photos

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Combination Pack ($25)

For the ultimate creamy, cleansing wash experience, we recommend Shea Moisture's epic combo pack—just like DevaCurl's luxe formulas, which are intended to keep your natural oils and curls intact, so too does the trio from Shea Moisture. With, of course, a helping hand from strand-loving ingredients like hibiscus, coconut, and crucial silk proteins for extra softness and strength. 

If you need an anti-aging formula and love…

View photos

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Clinical Densifying Shampoo ($27)

View photos

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Conditioner ($27)

Try…

View photos

Kenra Snail Anti-Aging Shampoo ($9)

View photos

Kenra Snail Anti-Aging Conditioner ($9)

Our hair is an extension of our skin, and just like we see noticeable shifts in our complexions as we age, the health and condition of our hair will also change. That's why, investing in an anti-aging formula that boosts density, moisture, and resilience is a great alternative if you're looking to stave off brittle, weak, or thinning strand prognosis. We love Alterna's cult-loved Caviar line, but if you need something that's a tad less taxing on the bank account, Kenra's shampoo and conditioning duo is seriously brilliant. Enriched with snail essence, it makes for a potent blend of proteins proven to combat dulling, thinning, breakage, frizz, dryness, elasticity, porosity, scalp irritation, unmanageability, and changes in texture.

If you need texture and love…

View photos

Amika Sexture Beach Look Shampoo ($25)

Try…

View photos

Pacifica Salty Waves Texturizing Shampoo ($5)

View photos

Pacifica Salty Waves Texturizing Conditioner ($10)

Even though you don't even need conditioner with Amika's cheekily named texture shampoo, you'll still save yourself $10 dollars with Pacifica's beachy wave-inducing pairing. All-natural, the formula boosts hair with moisture and control while key tropical additions like sea algae, banana, and chamomile deliver on your surfy mermaid hair dreams. 

If you crave velvety smoothness and love…

View photos

Ouai Smooth Shampoo ($28)

View photos

Ouai Smooth Conditioner ($26)

Try…

View photos

Tresemmmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo ($6)

View photos

Tresemmmé Keratin Smooth Conditioner ($6)

If a smooth, ultra-sleek finish is what you're after Tresemmé's iconic keratin-spiked shampoo and conditioner is practically legend. (Even among the brand's non-drugstore competitors.) Dripping with luxe ingredients like marula oil and silky texture-inducing keratin, it's a steal at just $6 per formula.

Up next: The Top-Rated Shampoos and Conditioners That Make Me Forget I Have Fine Hair

This article originally appeared on Who What Wear

Read More from Who What Wear

This is the ultimate way to try different hair colours – with zero commitment

If you've always been curious about switching hair colours for a few days without actually dyeing it, or need to refresh your colour without stepping into the salon, then welcome to the world of colour-depositing masks…

Navigating the world of at-home hair colour can be tricky. Even more so if you're after something less temporary than even temporary hair dyes. Until recently, the only truly temporary options were either hair chalk (too fiddly), hair paint (leaks onto everything), or spray-on shades (turns hair into coloured straw).

If you're a bleached blonde in any way, chances are you've already tried a purple shampoo or conditioner to ice up highlights and tackle brassiness. But there's so much more potential in using these kinds of temporary solutions: enter the colour hair mask. Like your average nurturing mask, but with intense colour pigments that temporarily (and I mean temporary) coat your strands. 

Lasting for a few washes to about a month, they're the perfect way to boost your current colour or experiment with something entirely new – although the end result will be heavily influenced by your base hair colour (so deep brunettes won't go blonde or red, but will take on a tint). Make sure to do a strand test on a small section (ideally at the back) so you can see the final colour.

As someone with bleached highlights that tend to go brassy, I've been using purple hair masks (purple shampoos are too drying) for years to balance my colour out and achieve a unique caramel shade that I've never managed with a hair dye. My hair is really weakened after bleach, so rather than go in with a hair dye and cause further damage, a colour mask is the perfect way to restore lustre while altering the colour. I only need to use one once a month, as I wash my hair twice a week. 

When I started to miss my natural dark brown hair, I picked up one of Moroccanoil's new Colour-Depositing Mask in Cocoa Brown and applied it to most of my hair, leaving a few highlights, and just like that I was back to my natural colour for just three weeks. 

My hair slowly went back to its usual shade, and I really enjoyed the midway point between dark brown and light brown along the way. I'll definitely be experimenting with more colours and different brands – carry on for the most highly recommended.

One day after testing the Moroccanoil mask in Cocoa

Moroccanoil Colour Depositing Mask

These little packets are so ideal for trying different colours without committing to a full-sized tube. Choose from Cocoa (rich medium brown), a warm and a cool blonde, Rose Gold, Hibiscus (bright floral pink), Bordeaux (rich burgundy) and Aquamarine (cool blue).

With apricot kernel oil, amino acids, and Moroccanoil's repairing ArganID technology, hair is left feeling glossy and vibrant. Apply like you would a hair mask (just use gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after, in the shower is best), leave for five minutes, rinse, and admire your new colour. 

Shop Moroccanoil Colour Depositing Mask at Lookfantastic, £6.85

Josh Wood Colour Shade Shot Gloss

Created by legendary hair colourist Josh Wood, these colour treatments serve to amp up colour, stop fading, and impart glossy shine onto virgin or coloured strands. With quinoa, perilla oil, shea butter and UV protection, it's a total treat for hair. 

Choose from four shades: Chestnut Brunette (warm brown), Smoky Brunette (ash brown), Champagne Blonde and Icy Blonde. 

Shop Josh Wood Colour Shade Shot Gloss at Josh Wood, £15

Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask

This creamy, rich treatment gives strength and shine to hair while seriously transforming the colour. They come in Ash Brown, Warm Chestnut, Chic Copper, Baby Blonde (cool) and Golden Blonde (warm).

I've been using the Baby Blonde shade (a vibrant purple-blue) to balance my bleached bits for years, giving me an iced latte shade within just an hour that lasts for up to a month. Try the travel-sized pouches if you don't want to commit.

Buy Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask at Lookfantastic, £15

Joico Colour Butter

Images: Ava Welsing-Kitcher/Courtesy of brands

Pretty easy: Holiday party hairstyles

The holiday season is now underway, with calendars packed full of Christmas parties and festive events.

Yet, the busy nature of December often means that there is little time to get ready between work and heading out, so we've asked Paul Jones, Moroccanoil's U.K. ambassador, for his top tips on simple "desk to dancefloor" hairstyles.

Embrace the curl

While curled hair always looks great, it can be tricky to style at the office. So, rather than trying to figure out ways to use your curling iron at your desk, Paul suggests curling your hair before work or on your lunchbreak and then spritzing with a medium hold hairspray such as Moroccanoil's Luminous Hairspray.

"Twist the curled hair into a low bun while it is still warm. This will stop gravity from weighing your curls down and pulling them out," he said. "When you're ready to party, let the bun down, tip your head upside down, and apply some dry texture spray to the strands."

Other great medium hold hairsprays include Ouai's The Medium Hair Spray and Living Proof's Flex Hairspray.

Add an accessory

If you have no time to spend on your hair before the party, then the best option is to accessorise! Paul recommends taking a few minutes to slick one side of your hair down and slide in a festive accessory – you'll look totally glam in mere seconds!

"Firstly, get rid of daytime frizz in your hair by adding a pump of Moroccanoil's Hydrating Styling Cream cocktailed with the Moroccanoil Treatment. This will bring back your hair's natural lustre. Then, spray on a little dry shampoo to the roots of the hair, as this will add volume to your hairdo after a day at your desk," the expert advised.

Some top dry shampoo choices also include R+CO's Death Valley Dry Shampoo and KLORANE's Oat Milk Dry Shampoo Spray.

Go for a ponytail

Really stuck for hair inspiration? Well, there's no better time to go for a trusty ponytail.

"High ponytails are a great way of getting a cool party look. Use a hair bungee to secure hair so that it is super tight and proceed to spritz with hairspray. Create a smooth finish using Moroccanoil's Smoothing Lotion at both the ba se and lengths of the pony. For a cool, modern chignon finish, braid the hair and pin around the base of the ponytail. Finish with a spritz of finishing spray for a glass-like, party-ready look."

© Cover Media

11 thickening shampoos that will give your hair ALL the volume

Courtesy of brand

Finding the best hair thickening shampoo for limp roots and lacklustre strands can be a balancing act: you don't want to weigh your hair down with heavy formulas, but you still need to make sure you're using something with allll the volumising ingredients.

The secret to success? Knowing exactly what to look for. Caffeine is a key ingredient to scan the bottle for, as studies have found that it stimulates hair follicles, accelerates growth and can help to minimise loss. Body builders, such as clay fibres, are ideal when you want quick, visible fullness, aka before a big night out – while hydrolyzed protein (from wheat or pea) can help dry hair hold onto moisture, making your strands look plumper and healthier.

If you feel like you're forever trialling products promising to thicken your strands, but still haven't yet found the best shampoo for fine hair– we've got ya. All of these formulas have been tried and tested by yours truly to wean out the ones that fall short of spectacular and leave you with the ones really worth your hard-earned cash.

Scroll through the winners…

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1 IGK 1995 2 in 1 Shampoo and Texturizer, £22

2 Body Building Shampoo

Philip Kingsley marksandspencer.com

£15.00

The stuff of hair-thickening legend, this trichologist-developed shampoo really does live up to its accolades. The star ingredient is keratin, which is the structural protein that strengthens hair fibres, stopping them from snapping. A holy-grail product for oily or greasy hair. 

3 Advanced Hair Series Shampoo Oxygen Moisture

This lightweight (and wallet-friendly) shampoo is specially designed to not weigh down fine, flat hair. The result is extra-clean, super-swishy strands with roots that seem to defy gravity. 

4 Evo Gluttony Shampoo (300ml)

Evo lookfantastic.com

£15.95

Easily one of the best shampoos for fine hair that never feels really clean, this one works wonders on roots that seem to stick to your scalp. Sulphate free and vegan friendly, Evo's offering is a great all-rounder for frequent washers, and is packed with protein to strengthen strands. 

5 Delicate Volumising Shampoo with Rose Extracts

Christophe Robin lookfantastic.com

£39.00

Scented with rose extract, Christophe Robin's offering is undoubtedly the most luxurious shampoo for fine hair out there (and yes, it smells as good as you're imagining). The key is in the jelly-like formula that washes out effortlessly – no hard rubbing required – to ensure your roots are clean, not claggy.

6 Hair Density Shampoo Intense

Grow Gorgeous lookfantastic.com

£19.00

Packed with caffeine, this advanced formula wakes up roots like no other. Combine this with scalp-balancing niacin, which creates a fertile ground for new hair growth, and you're well on your way to the full, long hair of your dreams.

7 Thickening Shampoo

RevitaLash cultbeauty.co.uk

£34.00

If you've ever used Revitalash's legendary eyelash growth serum, you'll know how quickly it gives you a flutter to rival Bambi's. This super-advanced, paraben-free shampoo offers the same results on your hair – really. Willow bark gently exfoliates the scalp, leaving it balanced and primed to accommodate new growth, while loquat leaf thickens thinning strands.

8 Extra Volume Shampoo

Moroccanoil lookfantastic.com

£18.95

Because fine hair can be dry too, Moroccanoil's Extra Volume shampoo combines body-building linden-bud extract with famously hydrating argan oil. The result is swishy, soft hair that's full of movement.

9 Collagen & Fullness Shampoo

TRESemmé superdrug.com

£2.47

Using a shampoo that's too heavy for your hair type will weigh it down, even after it's been washed out, leading to limp, lifeless roots. For really fine hair, Tresemmé's Thick and Full shampoo is ideal – the micellar formula is much lighter than a classic shampoo, and the peptide collagen inside works to visibly plump skinny strands.

10 VOLU Shampoo

Davines cultbeauty.co.uk

£16.90

This cult classic contains lightweight surfactants that sweep away pollutants and grime without stripping the life out of fine, delicate strands. It's sulphate free, yet still produces a satisfying lather, and smells like a spring meadow. No wonder it's enjoying a 5-star review streak on Cult Beauty.

11 Densifique Bain Densite

Kérastase lookfantastic.com

£13.25

Taking its cues from your favourite skin serum, Kérastase's volumising shampoo contains hyaluronic acid to help fine hair keep hold of moisture for longer, making it look plumper. Use it with the coordinating conditioner, and you've got yourself a hair-thickening dream team.

12 Living Proof Full Shampoo, £22

This sophisticated volumising shampoo is free from irritants and sulphates, so ideal for anyone with a sensitive scalp. Super gentle, it'll lift away impurities and oil to make hair feel clean, not stripped. A perfect option for everyday use, but if you've used a whole can of hairspray the night before, it might not quite cut the residue.

BUY NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

15 Best Shampoos for Oily Hair

ACV isn't just for your diet

via amazon.com

If you're totally on board with all the trendy apple cider vinegar benefits everyone is already talking about, there's more good news: WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo is a total scalp-saver. The naturally acidic quality of vinegar helps break up oils, act as a gentle clarifying treatment, and can even act as a natural dandruff treatment.

Buy now

Clear the grease, let your hair increase

via amazon.com

That's the concept behind Grow Girl These Roots Were Made for Washing, a pre-shampoo treatment designed to get harmful dirt, pollutants, and follicle-clogging oils off the scalp in a gentle way with apple cider vinegar and witch hazel. This gentle formula is also paraben-free, sulfate-free, and non-drying. Committing a few minutes before you shampoo results in a noticeably better scalp and hair conditions for days to come. Side bonus: it's supposed to help grow longer and stronger, too.

Buy now

Smells like a dream

via aveda.com

You don't have to give up your top priority of completely delish-smelling mane when you shop for shampoos for oily hair. Aveda Scalp Benefits Balancing Shampoo gently cleanses with burdock root, echinacea, and sage while perfume-worthy aromas from vetiver, rosemary, cinnamon, and flower extracts go to work satisfying your scent cravings.

Buy now