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The 10 Best Shampoos as of July 2026

Updated 2 July 2026 · Reviewed by the Pickarank team · Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best shampoos you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money — with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

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Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance

9.0Best overall
Check price on Amazon ≈ £28
Best value

L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths

8.5Best value for long hair
Check price on Amazon ≈ £4
Also great

Kérastase Bain Satin

8.8Best for dry hair
Check price on Amazon ≈ £24

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often — tap through for today's price on Amazon.

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How we ranked these shampoos

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) — how well each shampoo does its core job.
  • Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#ShampoosScoreBest forHair typeApprox. PriceAmazon links
1Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance9.0Best overallDamaged / all£28View Price
2Kérastase Bain Satin8.8Best for dry hairDry£24View Price
3Aveda Damage Remedy8.7Best salon repairDamaged£30View Price
4Redken All Soft8.6Best softeningDry / brittle£18View Price
5L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths8.5Best value for long hairLong / damaged£4View Price
6Head & Shoulders Classic Clean8.5Best anti-dandruffAll / flaky scalp£5View Price
7OGX Argan Oil of Morocco8.4Best for shineDull / dry£7View Price
8Faith in Nature Coconut8.3Best naturalAll£6View Price
9Garnier Ultimate Blends8.3Best budget all-rounderAll£4View Price
10Alberto Balsam Shampoo8.1Best cheapAll£1View Price

The full ranking

1
Best overall

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance

9.0Our number one pick.

Olaplex No.4 uses patented bond-building technology to repair and strengthen damaged hair while cleansing gently, a genuine step up for chemically treated hair. It is expensive, but the repair and results are excellent.

Cleansing: 9.0Condition: 9.4Scent: 8.8Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Repairs and strengthens hair
  • Gentle cleanse
  • Great for treated hair
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Best paired with No.5 conditioner
Check price on Amazon≈ £28
2
Best for dry hair

Kérastase Bain Satin

8.8A superb runner-up.

Kérastase Bain Satin deeply nourishes dry hair with a luxurious lather and salon-quality softening, leaving hair smooth and manageable. It is pricey, but the nourishment and finish are excellent.

Cleansing: 8.8Condition: 9.4Scent: 9.0Value: 8.2
Pros
  • Deeply nourishing
  • Salon-quality softness
  • Lovely scent
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Rich for fine hair
Check price on Amazon≈ £24
3
Best salon repair

Aveda Damage Remedy

8.7Rounds out our top three.

Aveda's Damage Remedy uses plant-derived proteins to strengthen and repair damaged hair with the brand's signature natural aroma. It is expensive, but the repair and natural formula are excellent.

Cleansing: 8.8Condition: 9.2Scent: 9.0Value: 8.2
Pros
  • Strengthens damaged hair
  • Plant-derived formula
  • Signature aroma
Cons
  • Premium price
  • Aroma not for everyone
Check price on Amazon≈ £30
4
Best softening

Redken All Soft

8.6A standout in the upper half.

Redken All Soft with argan oil transforms dry, brittle hair into soft, silky and manageable locks, a salon favourite for smoothness. It is mid-priced, but the softening and shine are excellent.

Cleansing: 8.8Condition: 9.2Scent: 8.8Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Excellent softening
  • Adds shine
  • Argan oil formula
Cons
  • Mid-to-high price
  • Rich for oily scalps
Check price on Amazon≈ £18
5
Best value for long hair

L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths

8.5A well-rounded mid-table pick.

L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths strengthens and smooths long, damaged hair with castor oil and keratin at a bargain price, superb everyday value. It is a supermarket formula, but the results and value are excellent.

Cleansing: 8.6Condition: 8.8Scent: 8.6Value: 9.4
Pros
  • Great for long hair
  • Strengthening formula
  • Excellent value
Cons
  • Contains silicones
  • Fragranced
Check price on Amazon≈ £4
6
Best anti-dandruff

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean

8.5Great value in the middle of the pack.

Head & Shoulders Classic Clean reliably controls dandruff and soothes a flaky scalp while cleansing effectively, a trusted everyday anti-dandruff shampoo. It is basic in luxury, but the scalp results and value are excellent.

Cleansing: 9.0Condition: 8.4Scent: 8.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Effective anti-dandruff
  • Soothes flaky scalp
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Can dry some hair
  • Basic conditioning
Check price on Amazon≈ £5
7
Best for shine

OGX Argan Oil of Morocco

8.4A dependable pick if the price is right.

OGX Argan Oil of Morocco adds noticeable shine and softness to dull, dry hair with a gorgeous scent at a fair price. It is silicone-rich, but the shine and scent are excellent value.

Cleansing: 8.4Condition: 8.8Scent: 9.2Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Adds lovely shine
  • Gorgeous scent
  • Good value
Cons
  • Silicone-heavy
  • Can weigh down fine hair
Check price on Amazon≈ £7
8
Best natural

Faith in Nature Coconut

8.3Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Faith in Nature's coconut shampoo is a natural, vegan, SLS-free formula with a pleasant scent and eco-friendly refill options. It lathers less than sulphate shampoos, but the natural formula and value are good.

Cleansing: 8.4Condition: 8.4Scent: 8.8Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Natural and vegan
  • SLS-free
  • Refill options
Cons
  • Less lather
  • Lighter cleanse
Check price on Amazon≈ £6
9
Best budget all-rounder

Garnier Ultimate Blends

8.3A budget-friendly option worth a look.

Garnier Ultimate Blends offers a range of pleasant, effective everyday shampoos with natural-inspired ingredients at a low price, dependable value. They are fragranced and basic, but the results and value are good.

Cleansing: 8.4Condition: 8.4Scent: 8.8Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Pleasant everyday cleanse
  • Many variants
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Fragranced
  • Basic formula
Check price on Amazon≈ £4
10
Best cheap

Alberto Balsam Shampoo

8.1Rounds out our top ten.

Alberto Balsam is a remarkably cheap shampoo with pleasant scents that cleans hair perfectly well for everyday use. It is basic, but for the price it does the job.

Cleansing: 8.2Condition: 8.2Scent: 8.6Value: 9.4
Pros
  • Extremely cheap
  • Pleasant scents
  • Cleans well
Cons
  • Basic conditioning
  • Fragranced
Check price on Amazon≈ £1

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the shampoos in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Kérastase Bain Satin and Aveda Damage Remedy are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best shampoos without overthinking it, the Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £28

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