Trust Issues Start With Shampoo
Everyone acts like shampoo is no big deal. Just wash and go. But your hair knows better. One wrong product, and suddenly, it's a bad week and 43 extra minutes with the flat iron. Meanwhile, that bottle on the shelf just sits there, pretending to help. It's time to call things what they are. Because the truth is, only a handful of shampoos are truly nourishing. The rest can quietly destroy your hair. So, let’s start with 10 risky shampoos you should never use.
In My House - Johnson's Baby Shampoo by In My House
1. Suave Essentials Daily Clarifying Shampoo
With sodium C12-13 pareth sulfate as its cleaning muscle, it strips your scalp of natural oils like a dish soap on a mission. Add in the absence of moisturizing agents like panthenol or glycerin, and you've got a formula that does more drying than clarifying.
Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo by Yarisma V
2. Tresemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo
Behind that salon-style branding hides sodium laureth sulfate and DMDM hydantoin—two ingredients that might leave your scalp irritated and your hair thinning. In fact, users with sensitive skin weren't imagining things—class-action lawsuits brought the spotlight onto this bottle.
Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner| Personal Review by Glam with Fatima
3. Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Shampoo
Pantene's volumizing trick lies in its silicone-heavy formula, which builds up on the scalp, blocking follicles and drying the roots due to the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate. The "lift" you see is just an illusion to hide hair that's becoming weaker with every wash.
Does This Pantene Volumizing Shampoo Actually Work? by ConsistentAsh
4. Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo
It fights flakes like a champ, but Head & Shoulders Classic Clean doesn't know when to stop. Zinc pyrithione may help your dandruff dilemma, but paired with synthetic fragrances and color-stripping power, it removes protective sebum (natural skin oil), ultimately leaving the scalp exposed.
Head & Shoulders 'Classic Clean' Shampoo Review by RandomTopicsWithHumor
5. Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo
Starting strong with aloe vera juice—not water—it jumps straight into moisture mode, reviving thick or coarse hair with every wash. Shea butter brings the bounce back, restoring elasticity and adding that glossy, healthy finish.
Maui Moisture Review | Maui Moisture by Teertha Anil
6. Johnson's Baby Shampoo
Sure, it's gentle enough for babies, but that doesn't mean it's the adult hair savior, people assume. Johnson's Baby Shampoo has a pH tailored for infant eyes, not mature scalps. It skips the nourishing ingredients your grown-up strands crave, making regular use a one-way ticket to dull, unhappy hair.
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo Original Vs Fake Johnson’s Baby Shampoo Fake by Bachat Kar Yar
7. Prell Classic Shampoo
Loaded with sulfates and boasting a pH closer to laundry soap than scalp care, it was once praised for its deep-clean magic. But what it really removes is your hair's moisture barrier. So, this one's fine for once-in-a-blue-moon emergencies, not for everyday use—unless you're trying to recreate the crunchy hair trend of 1994.
Prell Classic Clean Shampoo by BudgetGlam Babe
8. VO5 Herbal Escapes Kiwi Lime Squeeze Shampoo
With high alcohol content and very few nutrients, this one also makes false promises. It’s harsh on scalps and leaves hair feeling tangled and straw-like after every wash. You get a short-term clean, though the long-term damage is all too real.
New & Improved VO5 Kiwi Clarifying Shampoo & Conditioner by Tiff Temperance
9. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo
Garnier's "Sleek & Shine" sells the dream of glossy hair, but delivers weighty buildup and silicone slick. Sodium laureth sulfate and artificial scents do the cleansing job, but at the expense of your hair's bounce. The shine isn't from hydration—it's synthetic.
Review: Garnier Fructis Sleek And Shine by BeautywithGeraldine
10. Pert Plus 2-In-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
The ultimate convenience trap! This shampoo tries to play double roles—and fails at both. The shampoo scrubs the surface while the conditioner coats the hair, leaving a residue on the scalp. Marketed for guys on the go or time-crunched mornings, it ultimately sabotages your hair's texture over time.
The Best 2 in 1 Shampoos by BudgetGlam Babe
So, those were the top villains in the lineup. Now, let's talk about the good shampoos worth keeping around.
1. OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo
OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo blends the nourishing magic of coconut oil with the strength-building power of egg white proteins. This sulfate- and paraben-free formula is a dream for dry or color-treated hair, turning dull strands into soft and bouncy locks.
OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner Review by Yana Irbe
2. Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo
Pure Renewal Shampoo is sulfate-free, infused with seaweed extract, and gentle enough for daily use. It's a quiet powerhouse, ideal for anyone with sensitive skin or oily tendencies who doesn't want their shampoo picking a fight with their scalp.
BEST Shampoo For OILY Hair! Review: Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo by Lee Perez
3. Biolage HydraSource Shampoo
This salon-favorite formula leans on aloe vera and a low-pH design to give your hair the hydration therapy it regularly needs. This shampoo has been clinically shown to help balance moisture, which means you're not just masking dryness—you're solving it.
4. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special delivers that tingling rush thanks to its trio of tea tree oil, peppermint, and lavender. It deep cleans, stimulates circulation, and makes your shower smell like a spa. More than a feel-good moment, it actually removes buildup and supports scalp health.
One Minute Product Review: Tea Tree Special Shampoo by One Minute Reviews
5. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
With shea butter and argan oil at the heart of the blend—and zero sulfates—you get nourishment without the nasty extras. It's a favorite among curly-haired users for a good reason: it restores elasticity and natural shine without weighing down the coils.
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Rentention Shampoo and Conditioner Review by Sheri - Leigh
6. Function Of Beauty (Custom Formula)
Function of Beauty crafts formulas based on your exact hair type and goals—courtesy of a quick online quiz. No harmful ingredients or dyes here—just clean and tailored care that fans rave about. Whether you want volume, hydration, curl care, or color protection, it's all built-in.
Function of Beauty Customized Shampoo & Conditioner | A Biochemist's Perspective by Kenna Whitnell
7. Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo
Designed to strengthen from root to tip, it tackles breakage while giving your shower a botanical upgrade. With quinoa protein and coconut-based cleansers, it is good for damaged strands that need rebuilding, not just rinsing.
HOW TO STYLE SHORT HAIR | AVEDA DAMAGE REMEDY | ELOISE MAE MAKEUP by Eloise Nowell
8. Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2 Shampoo
Kerastase's Nutritive Bain Satin 2 is a salon-loved secret, formulated for dry and sensitized hair that needs more than just a rinse. The shampoo’s gluco-active complex goes deep, ultimately replenishing hair fibers for long-lasting softness you can actually feel.
Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin Shampoo | Our Point Of View by WTI
9. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
This one backs its promise with serious science—think algae extract, biotin, and B vitamins. Clinical trials show its repair power is real, making it a favorite for dry, brittle, or overworked hair. Loved by curly and coily communities, it's also Black-owned and Clean-Beauty approved.
Chile, I Finally Tried A Briogeo Wash Day! | Don’t Despair, Repair by Faye In The City
10. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo
It restores shine and bounce using argan oil and keratin, two powerhouse ingredients known for rebuilding tired hair. The sulfate-free formula keeps color safe and strands strong, which makes it a top pick for anyone with processed or heat-damaged hair.
Moroccan Oil Shampoo Quick Review (Moroccanoil Hydrating) by Will Crawford
