- April 6, 2025
Did you know that using the wrong shampoo and conditioner can make or break your routine? I’m sharing my top 8 regular shampoos and conditioner pairs for wavy or curly hair, including drugstore and high-end.
What I look for in Shampoo & Conditioner
I’m actually not that picky when it comes to “regular” shampoos and conditioners. By “regular,” I mean your standard shampoo and conditioner that you use on a regular basis, not clarifying shampoos or deep conditioners. Watch here for examples.
There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting products:
❌ Avoid shampoos that are too mild, like co-washes.
❌ Avoid shampoos and conditioners that contain a lot of oils and butter ingredients. This will impact your hold, especially if you have fine, thin, or overly soft hair which is more prone to getting weighed down.
✅ Medium to strong cleansing shampoos
✅ High lather
✅ Sulfate-free formulas
✅ High slip in conditioner
Products
You don’t need to spend a lot on shampoo and conditioners, and a lot of them will work with most hair types. Below are some of my favorites:
Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- No oils or butters
- Protein-free
- Low moisture
- Great for all hair types, especially fine
Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Conditioner
- Lightweight moisture
- High slip
- No oils or butters
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
- Great for all hair types, especially fine
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- No oils or butters
- Contains proteins & peptides
- Medium moisture
- Great for damaged hair or fine hair
- Medium weight moisture
- High slip
- Coconut oil
- Protein-free
- Contains silicone
- Great for damaged hair
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Shampoo
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- 3 oils
- Contains amino acids
- Medium moisture
- Great for damaged hair
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Conditioner
- Medium weight moisture
- High slip
- 3 oils
- Contains amino acids
- Silicone-free
- Great for damaged hair
Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Shampoo
Buy from Amazon
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- No oils or butters
- Protein-free
- Medium moisture
Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Care De-Frizz Conditioner
- Medium weight moisture
- High slip
- No oils or butters
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
MopTop Gentle Shampoo
Buy from Amazon
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- No oils or butters
- Contains amino acids
- Medium moisture
MopTop Light Conditioner
Buy from Amazon
- Lightweight moisture
- High slip
- 7 oils
- Contains amino acids
- Silicone-free
AG Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Buy on AmazonBuy from Retailer
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- 7 oils (but not too heavy)
- Contains peptides
- Low moisture
- Scalp balancing
- Hard water compatible
AG Balance Apple Cider Vinegar Silicone-Free Conditioner
Buy on AmazonBuy from Retailer
- Medium weight moisture
- High slip
- 12 oils (but not too heavy
- Scalp balancing
- Contains proteins & peptides
- Silicone-free
Innersense Clarity Hairbath
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- 1 butter
- Protein-free
- Medium moisture
- Fragrance-free & hypoallergenic
Innersense Clarity Conditioner
- Medium weight moisture
- High slip
- 4 oils & butters
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
Tootilab Gentle Shampoo
- Strong cleanse
- Not stripping
- 2 oils
- Protein-free
- Medium moisture
Tootilab Detangling Conditioner
- Medium weight moisture
- High slip
- 2 oils & butters
- Protein-free
- Silicone-free
Don’t know which hair type you have?
If you need help choosing the right products for you, my free Hair Type Quiz asks you a series of questions to determine your hair’s texture, porosity, water type, and more. After, you’ll receive a personalized report sent to your email with links to the shop page on my website. There you’ll find filters applied based on your hair’s needs.
Comment and let me know what your results were, and if they surprised you!
Watch the full Product Reviews & Guides playlist for more.
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