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May 13, 2023

The 2023 SELF Healthy Beauty Awards: The Best New Shampoos and Conditioners for Every Hair Type

By Jenna Ryu All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our

By Jenna Ryu

All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Every great hair day starts with your good old friends shampoo and conditioner. Though building that foundation sounds easy enough—theoretically, you’ve been washing your hair your whole life—you might stumble into the drugstore and quickly become overwhelmed at the options that deck the shelves today: clarifying shampoos to attend to your scalp, conditioners to volumize flat or thinning hair, and cowashes geared toward curls and kinky textures.

If you’re wondering where to start—or if you’re simply an enthusiast searching for the best of the best—SELF has you covered. For our 2023 Healthy Beauty Awards, testers worked their way through dozens of shampoos and conditioners, determining which new products make strands shine and frizz disappear. Throughout our judging process, we kept ingredients top of mind, too, ensuring each item can actually do what it claims to.

Below, you’ll find the shampoos and conditioners that hydrated, detangled, and exfoliated us from scalp to split ends. Whether you finally take the plunge on the TikTok-famous Olaplex or score one of the under-$10 gems, we know you’ll find your new wash day staples here.

Want to see more from the 2023 Healthy Beauty Awards? Check out the best hair creams, gels, serums, and leave-ins; best body care products; and the best makeup.

Courtesy of Hers

Looking to add a little oomph? This option from Hers is a game-changer. Ingredients like biotin and rice water help lift hair from the root for instant body and bounce.

Bonus points, per the experts: This shampoo contains glycerin, a natural humectant that leaves hair soft and silky.

One tester said: "It promises to make your hair noticeably fuller after five washes, but I could honestly say I noticed the difference after the first time."

Courtesy of Love Beauty and Planet

Wavy hair can be tricky to manage: Treating it like straight hair can result in flatness or frizz, while thick silicones and sulfates found in curly hair products can weigh you down. Our testers felt seen and heard with this gentle, sulfate-free, and wallet-friendly shampoo that gave hair just enough structure for a beachy, lived-in look.

Bonus points, per the experts: The aloe vera in this product gently exfoliates your scalp, removing buildup that prevents wavy hair from doing its thing.

One tester said: "I really love this product. You only need a little bit to get a good lather. It rinses out easily and made my hair feel nice and clean—it was soft, smooth, and shiny with minimal frizz."

Just so you know: It also contains coconut oil, which is great for moisturizing natural hair, but may weigh down fine or thinning hair.

Courtesy of Curlsmith

This Curlsmith shampoo promises to leave hair feeling refreshed—and our testers say it really does. They particularly loved how easy it was to work into a lather, perfect for wash days when you’re low on time (or just don't feel like spending half an hour in the shower).

Bonus points, per the experts: Rosemary oil and aloe, two hydrating ingredients, generally work well on all hair types.

One tester said: "I’ve been working out a lot and usually need to wash my hair more frequently. But with this shampoo, I haven't needed to—one wash lasts a week."

Courtesy of 4U By Tia

Tia Mowry: She acts, she cooks, and now she's helping people take care of their coils. Her new haircare line, 4U by Tia, is made for natural Black hair and relies on ingredients like apple cider vinegar to gently exfoliate and hydrate the scalp.

Bonus points, per the experts: This shampoo is made without sulfates, which can dry out natural hair.

One tester said: "Detangling is a dream with this shampoo. My fingers were able to glide through each strand!"

Courtesy of Olaplex

Use a clarifying shampoo, like this one from Olaplex, when you’re in need of a deeper clean. It works to remove excess product residue and oil on your scalp, and a little goes a long way: Once a week is plenty for a (luxurious) reset.

One tester said: "I was a total newcomer to Olaplex before testing this. It does everything a clarifying shampoo should do, with a delightful lather that left my hair feeling light and blissfully clean."

Courtesy of Biolage Professional

Anyone with dry or damaged hair understands the never-ending journey to eliminate frizz, flyaways, and split ends. Well, your journey may end here, our testers say: This Biolage shampoo is packed with gentle ingredients like vegan squalane and keeps hair feeling healthy and strong.

Bonus points, per the experts: Salicylic acid gently exfoliates the scalp without drying it out.

One tester said: "The shampoo smells great—calming yet energizing. It lathered really well in my hair, ensuring it felt clean without stripping or drying. I felt like I could let my hair go a little longer between washes than I typically do, and upon air drying it felt slightly smoother and my breakage was less visible."

Dyed hair often requires at-home maintenance to help your color last and look fresh. Our testers recommend this shampoo from Ceremonia—it works for most hair types (thanks to its sulfate-free formula) and smells like guava.

Bonus points, per the experts: This product contains aloe vera, which both soothes and exfoliates the scalp.

One tester said: "This shampoo is wonderful. I love the scent, and it made my hair feel silky, strong, and healthy. I’m a big fan!"

Courtesy of Dae Hair

Yes, the aesthetically pleasing, pastel-colored packaging of this Dae shampoo will make you go, "Ooooh!" But our testers really loved what was inside: The product imbues a glossy, salon-like finish with the help of ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil, which restores hair's natural luster and shine.

By Kayla Blanton

By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.

By Ashia Aubourg

Bonus points, per the experts: This shampoo contains deeply hydrating jojoba oil, making it great for natural or dry hair types.

One tester said: "I love the way my hair looks and feels! After washing it was soft, but not too soft to the point where my waves and curls couldn't hold their shape. It's shinier and essentially frizz-free!"

Courtesy of Nécessaire

Our testers with dry scalps loved this simple, no-frills option from Nécessaire. It's hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic—the perfect choice for sensitive hair and skin—and it even earned a stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association.

Bonus points, per the experts: Infused with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and avocado oil, this shampoo contains a plethora of derm-approved ingredients to bring some moisture back into dry or damaged hair.

One tester said: "My hair and scalp felt clean and moisturized after using this shampoo. It seems to have helped with my dandruff too. I’m going to keep using it for sure."

Courtesy of Head & Shoulders

Head & Shoulders dominates the dandruff market for a reason: It really, truly works. Its new Bare line shampoo only has nine ingredients, which all work to treat flaky scalps and offer much-needed relief.

Bonus points, per the experts: Zinc pyrithione targets the yeast that causes dandruff, stopping the issue at its root. (No pun intended.)

One tester said: "I tend to get dandruff easily, but this product did a really great job of keeping it at bay. It also had an amazing lather, which is something I really look for in a shampoo. My hair looked amazing after just one wash."

Courtesy of Snow Fox Skincare

2-in-1 products get a bad rap—and for what reason? In this case, you’re certainly not sacrificing quality for convenience. This innovative product from Snow Fox Skincare looks like a standard bar of soap, but it cleanses, moisturizes, and detangles all at once. Its compact size makes it perfect for small spaces, quick showers, and weekend getaways alike.

Bonus points, per the experts: You’re getting three excellent hydrating and conditioning ingredients here: shea butter, argan oil, and glycerin.

One tester said: "I have very coily-kinky type 4c hair that can be really dry. However, it felt extremely moisturized the minute I rinsed out this product. Go buy it now."

Courtesy of Hers

Hers's Full Volume Conditioner is just as award-worthy as its accompanying shampoo: It offers a nice lift for flat hair with ingredients like glycerin and hydrolyzed rice protein.

Bonus points, per the experts: It's also infused with argan oil and biotin, which help achieve all-day hydration.

One tester said: "Dare I say this is one of the best conditioners I’ve ever used? My hair felt bouncier and more voluminous than it usually does, especially when I let it air dry. It's a new staple in my routine, and now I’m dying to try the rest of the Hers's products."

Courtesy of Alterna Haircare

Testers loved this milky, creamy formula that added shine and definition to their kinky curls. It's vegan, silicone-free, and smells candy-sweet too.

By Kayla Blanton

By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.

By Ashia Aubourg

Bonus points, per the experts: To keep curls tight and bouncy, this conditioner is locked and loaded with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and rosemary oil.

One tester said: "This is great—lightweight but super moisturizing. It leaves my hair so soft and manageable, and it definitely delivered on its promises."

Just so you know: Coconut oil is great for adding moisture to natural hair but can weigh down fine or thinning hair.

Courtesy of Pantene

Once again Pantene has made its way onto our Healthy Beauty Awards list—and it's no wonder, because this new conditioner is an instant staple. It's especially good for people looking to bring some life into dehydrated, color-treated, or brittle hair.

Just so you know: Many alcohols can be drying and strip your hair of moisture. However, cetearyl and stearyl alcohol (both found in this conditioner) can actually be moisturizing and are generally okay to use.

One tester said: "I used Pantene a lot as a kid, and this felt like the more ‘grown-up’ version. The packaging also felt elevated, or fancier than I remembered. I really like this product!"

Courtesy of Nécessaire

Nécessaire's conditioner detangles and softens hair for an immediately hydrating result. If you’re looking for an everyday, back-to-basics option, our testers can assure you this one is fresh and lightweight.

Bonus points, per the experts: Avocado oil gently hydrates hair and scalp.

One tester said: "It's 10/10 for me. This conditioner left my hair feeling soft, smooth, and silky after each wash, and because it's fragrance-free, there was no overbearing scent to deal with."

Just so you know: This product also contains coconut oil, which can weigh down fine or thinning hair.

Courtesy of Mielle

Mielle's Rosemary Mint conditioner impressed testers by delivering thickening and lengthening results without a hefty price tag—a bottle costs less than $10. Curly-haired folks especially appreciated how well it tamed flyaways and frizz.

Bonus points, per the experts: Not only does rosemary oil smell fantastic, but it's also known to promote hair regrowth.

One tester said: "This Mielle product is one of my favorites. The rosemary mint smell is heavenly, and it really feels like a breath of fresh air on your scalp."

Courtesy of bondbar

Coily, mixed-textured, or curly hair types tend to require extra moisture—and that's where a pre-shampoo treatment can come in handy. This one works almost like a mask; you leave it in for 10 minutes before rinsing it out and going through your usual wash day routine. Testers new to "pre-poo" were wowed by the difference it made in protecting their hair from humidity for hours on end.

Bonus points, per the experts: Our pros say that aloe and jojoba oil are great for nourishing the scalp and repairing damage. (That said, jojoba oil may weigh down looser curls, so use with caution!)

One tester said: "The Bonding Pre-Shampoo by Bondbar has completely changed the game for me, and it's now an important part of my hair care routine. This treatment leaves my hair feeling super strong, and there's been considerably less breakage while detangling my hair, even when I have a lot of knots."