Dudes ‘Do: Ranking the Best Shampoos for Men

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Perfect hair requires a lot of work, but pretty darn good hair is a lot easier to attain. Just choosing the best shampoo for men can pay immediate dividends. Whether you’re trying to repair dry and damaged hair or looking for a reliable everyday cleanser, there’s a shampoo out there for you.

When selecting the best shampoo for men, we looked for products designed for a wide variety of hair problems. And while there are a lot of great premium products from brands like Brickell and Jack Black, we know most men want to buy shampoo for $20 max. As such, price was a major factor when making our selections. (But we’ll be honest, it wouldn’t be a great list without a few from those guys, and we did include some of our favorites.)

Here are 14 of the best shampoos for men we could find. Even if you think you’ve found the best men’s shampoo for you, give these a look-through and you might just find an even better option.

1. Pura d’Or Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo

BEST OVERALL

The Pura d’Or Original Gold Label Anti-Hair Thinning Shampoo might, by virtue of its name, seem like a strange best shampoo for men, but hear me out. I’ve used this shampoo before and let me tell you, this shampoo CLEANS, and I am not one to use all caps lightly. No matter how oily and gross your hair is feeling, the Pura d’Or will get rid of it without breaking a sweat. And if you happen to be balding (or want to make sure you don’t), then you have over a dozen anti-hair thinning ingredients/reasons to make this your go-to shampoo.

Read More: Best Anti Thinning Shampoos For Men 

2. Baxter of California Deep Cleansing Shampoo

RUNNER-UP

We love most of what Baxter of California is doing, but right now, we’re really feeling the Baxter of California Deep Cleansing Shampoo.

Suitable for all hair types, this shampoo relies on apple cider vinegar, menthol and ginseng to restore your hair to its rightful glory and wash away any lingering hair product. The end result? Fresh, clean, fully renewed hair with a nice shine to match.

3. Art of Sport 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner

BEST TWO-IN-ONE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

I’ve got pretty long hair, so I expected the Art of Sport 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner to fail pretty hard. But much to my surprise, not only was my hair feeling notably fresh and clean, it was unbelievably soft. Seriously, it was some of the best softness I’ve ever gotten from a two-in-one shampoo + conditioner and I have tried many over the years.

If you have regular-guy-length hair, this shampoo + conditioner will likely work even better than it did for me and leave you with squeaky-clean hair and genuinely surprising softness. It’s also great for a lazy shower day when you only want to grab one bottle for your head and a pretty good value compared to more premium brands.

4. Method Men Cedar + Cypress 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner

ALSO CONSIDER TWO-IN-ONE

Method Men’s Cedar + Cypress two-in-one shampoo and conditioner uses menthol and essential oils like argan and jojoba oil to leave your hair feeling refreshed and silky smooth. The cedar and cypress scent also makes you feel like you’re taking a shower in a waterfall in a forest. As an added bonus, Method Men’s product page also features a breakdown of all the ingredients in the shampoo, so you can decide if it’s right for you. Spoiler alert: Almost every ingredient is natural and derived from plant sources. And if you really enjoy this two-in-one shampoo, Method Men makes it in multiple different scents, such as juniper and sage or bergamot and lime, so you can find the one best scent for you or buy them all for some variety to your grooming routine.

Read More: Best Biotin Shampoos

5. American Crew 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash

BEST ALL-IN-ONE

Sometimes you don’t want to deal with multiple products to take care of your body. That’s where a product like American Crew’s three-in-one shampoo, conditioner and body wash comes in. Yup, American Crew’s Classic formula does it all and does it well. It cleanses and invigorates the scalp, restores and detangles hair and adds a shine that lasts until your next shower.

The only thing we would note is, because this shampoo is a body wash, it may be too aggressive of a wash for some hair situations, like if you’re balding. But if you just need a simple all-in-one washing solution and aren’t too worried about dandruff or losing hair, this shampoo from the self-proclaimed Official Supplier to Men is a sure bet. Plus, if you love American Crew and tea tree products, you can also snag this same three-in-one in a tea tree variety.

Read More: Best Men’s Hair Loss Products

6. Gage for Men Tea Tree Shampoo

BEST TEA TREE SHAMPOO

I’m all about the Tea Tree Special Shampoo (see below) and recommend it unreservedly for tea tree lovers. But, I recently had the chance to test out the Gage for Men Tea Tree Shampoo and if you’re looking for a new tea tree option, you’ve found it. Not only did the Gage for Men shampoo deliver the beloved tea tree tingly scalp sensation but it also left my hair feeling ultra-clean. As a slowly balding dude, I’m also dealing with more itchiness, but this shampoo tamped down on that too. In other words, it’s a perfect shampoo for delivering everything you want out of tea tree.

7. Tea Tree Special Shampoo

ALSO CONSIDER TEA TREE

Tea tree products are practically a subcategory all on their own due to their utility and popularity, and we’ve written about our favorite tea tree shampoos before. Tea tree oil found its way into shampoos due to its natural cleansing properties and the signature tingle it leaves on your hair and scalp. Tea Tree Special Shampoo adds peppermint and lavender into the mix to wake up your scalp and boost that sweet tingle sensation. With this shampoo, you’ll have a clean, refreshed head of hair in no time.

Read More: Best Hair Loss Shampoos

8. OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Shampoo

BEST COCONUT SHAMPOO

OGX’s Coconut Milk Shampoo might not be your typical men’s shampoo, but that shouldn’t stop you from trusting it with your hair. Coconut milk and coconut oil work to strengthen and hydrate your hair, whether frizzy, fine, oily or straight. And it doesn’t hurt that it leaves your hair smelling subtly of coconut. This is one of our all-time favorite shampoos for its natural ingredients and just great overall cleansing. If you don’t need a special-purpose shampoo, like to stop balding or prevent dandruff, and just want a daily shampoo to leave your hair feeling, soft, clean and refreshed, OGX’s Coconut Milk Shampoo is the shampoo for you.

9. Old Spice Dry Shampoo for Men

BEST DRY SHAMPOO

That’s right, dry shampoos exist for men, too. What started as a women’s product has crossed over to the men’s grooming world because dry shampoo is so useful in a pinch. If you need to freshen up your hair but don’t have the time or a place to shower, Old Spice Dry Shampoo for Men will freshen up your hair by absorbing excess oils. With that great Old Spice smell with a hint of citrus, no one will be able to tell you skipped out on the shower. Just spray some in your hair, rummage your hands through a bit and you’ll start to feel cleaner hair practically instantaneously.

10. Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner

BEST DANDRUFF SHAMPOO

The best dandruff shampoos are a little more difficult to pin down depending on the cause, but the Head and Shoulders Classic Clean Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner is an excellent place to start. First, it is a great cleanser and conditioner, but more importantly, thanks to pyrithione zinc, it’s highly likely to take care of your dandruff no matter the cause.

11. Selsun Blue Medicated Maximum Strength Dandruff Shampoo

ALSO CONSIDER DANDRUFF

If Head and Shoulders doesn’t take care of business, Selsun Blue Medicated Maximum Strength Dandruff Shampoo will. It relies on a different active ingredient, selenium sulfide, than Head and Shoulders and marries it with menthol to soothe your scalp and stop dandruff and flakes in their tracks.

12. Just For Men Control GX Grey Reducing 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner

BEST FOR GREYING HAIR

Hey, there’s no shame in going grey, and honestly grey can look as good if not better than typical hair colors. But every guy has his own goals for his appearance and if you want a shampoo to help fight greying hair, Just For Men has your back with its Control GX Grey Reducing 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner. With daily use, this combo set reduces grey over time so you can avoid changing your entire hair color all of a sudden.

Just For Men recommends using the shampoo every day until you’ve achieved the look you want. Once you’re there, you can go back to a normal shampoo or just use the Grey Reducing shampoo less frequently. And if you’re worried that the chemicals must be damaging for your hair, fear not as the formula uses hemp oil to keep your hair smooth and healthy. For best results when washing, make sure to thoroughly massage the shampoo into your hair and let it sit for about a minute before rinsing. After a little while, you’ll see why it’s one of the best shampoos for men who are starting to grey.

13. Jack Black Black Reserve Body & Hair Cleanser

PREMIUM PICK

If you’re looking for a premium, great-smelling hair and body wash, look no further than Jack Black Black Reserve Body & Hair Cleanser. Not only does this wash have a fantastic, manly scent courtesy of lavender, bergamot, coriander and patchouli, but it’s also packed with moisturizing and soothing ingredients to help keep your hair and body fresh, clean and smooth. Truly, whatever ingredients you like to have to improve your hair and skin moisture, this cleanser has got them. It’s got aloe vera to calm and soothe irritated, dry skin, shea butter to hydrate and moisturize skin and hair, panthenol, which binds extremely well to water for increased hydration, and more.

Yup, just about everything in this premium shampoo works to get you clean and keep your hair and body hydrated and moisturized, and it brings the kind of signature manly scent we expect from a company like Jack Black. Like an excellent bourbon or wine, there’s a reason Jack Black calls this the reserve cleanser. They know, and you’ll find out, it’s one of the best shampoos for men out there.

14. Renpure Originals Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo

GREAT VALUE

If you’re looking for a ton of shampoo on the cheap or dealing with dry and damaged hair, the Renpure Originals Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo will be perfect. Plant-based ingredients wash away sweat and accumulated grime while argan oil soaks into every individual hair, leaving your mop feeling cleaner and straight-up healthier.

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