15 Cheap Shampoos That Are Just as Good as Expensive Ones, According to Editors Who Have Tried Hundreds

"I love Aussie shampoos," says Who What Wear UK Beauty Editor, Eleanor Vousden. "They leave my hair feeling really soft and shiny on a budget. The miracle moisture range is particularly good at hydrating my dry lengths while smoothing frizz." With Australian macadamia nut oil to deeply condition the hair, this shampoo will leave your roots feeling clean without stripping them of moisture.

Size: 300ml

Key ingredients: Australian macadamia nut oil

Pros: Super affordable and nourishes hair

Cons: Might not be best for those of you with oily roots

"I've been on a hair health journey recently, and this shampoo has been designed to improve scalp health and create the best environment for hair growth," explains Who What Wear UK Junior Beauty Editor, Grace Lindsay. "Pineapple extract and amino acids stimulate the scalp while vitamin B5 nourishes and strengthens. If you're also on a hair health journey, then I highly recommend giving this a go. It's suitable for all hair types and even offers anti-dandruff technology."

Size: 250ml

Key ingredients: Pineapple extract, amino acids and vitamin B5

Pros: Effective ingredients to cleanse and care for the hair

Cons: On the expensive side of affordable

"Another shampoo that has helped on my hair health journey is this shampoo from Charles Worthington," says Lindsay. "It works to keep your scalp healthy and reduce breakage, which is definitely something I suffer with. No, it won't magically reverse years of heat damage, but what it will do is cleanse your scalp and leave your hair feeling a little bit stronger."

Size: 250ml

Key ingredients: Pea sprout extract and nourishing proteins

Pros: Cleanses hair and leaves it feeling stronger

Cons: Not as hydrating as other options in this roundup

"I often get really dry hair, so I love how moisturised and nourished this makes my scalp and hair feel," says Who What Wear UK Editorial Assistant, Brittany Davy. "It's also so lightweight. It gives me the silky-looking hair I want without making it too greasy or feeling weighed down."

As the name suggests, this formula is packed with hyaluronic acid, so it's a great choice for dehydrated hair.

Size: 400ml

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid

Pros: Super hydrating formula while still being lightweight

Cons: If you don't have dry hair, this might not be the best choice for you

"I love the look of this shampoo and having a pump makes it so much easier in the shower," says Who What Wear UK social media editor, Megan Storey. "My hair smells great and always feels super healthy whenever I use this."

This hydrating formula gently cleanses the scalp and is full of naturally nourishing ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E.

Size: 800ml

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, hydrolysed rice protein, shea butter and vitamin E

Pros: Great value for money, looks cute and smells great

Cons: Slightly bulky packaging

"Neutrogena's T/gel shampoo is the unsung hero of shampoos - not only does it actually work as a gentle anti-dandruff cleansing shampoo, but it always leaves me with great smelling hair and doesn't break the bank," says Who What Wear UK affiliate manager, Jerrylyn Saguiped.

If you suffer with an oilier scalp, this is a great choice. This shampoo works to remove excess oil from the very first wash, and features salicylic acid to fight hair flakiness at the same time.

Size: 250ml

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid and piroctone olamine

Pros: Ideal for oily scalps

Cons: The formula might be a little stripping for those of you with dry hair

"I've used TRESemmé for years as it's one of the few brands that leaves my hair feeling hydrated and shiny, plus it's seriously affordable," says Who What Wear UK acting affiliates editor, Florrie Alexander. "Also they do smaller bottles which are great for travel!"

Size: 680ml

Key ingredients: Amino acids and ceramides

Pros: Great value for money and adds salon-worthy shine

Cons: Big bottle can be bulky (but can get smaller sizes)

"The aloe vera and panthenol in this formula counteract any dryness that shampoo can sometimes cause Afro-textured hair, and although it’s far from a cleansing cream, the texture is quite creamy for a shampoo," says Keeks Reid, Cosmopolitan Beauty Director.

Size: 370ml

Key ingredients: Olive oil and aloe vera

Pros: Great for detangling

Cons: Probably too rich for very fine hair or oily scalps

"Noughty formulas are free of silicones and sulphates, so you know that the soft feeling post-wash is thanks to the infusion of ingredients rather than your hair being coated in a faux-silkiness," says Reid.

Size: 250ml

Key ingredients: Sweet almond and sunflower seed extract

Pros: Deeply moisturising and perfect for dry hair

Cons: Probably best for curly or frizz-prone textures

"First, if you’re a fan of sugary-cocktail scents, you’ll love the smell of this shampoo," says Reid. "It’s marketed as a cleansing cream, but I would say it errs more on the side of a rich, creamy shampoo."

Formulated with 100% pure shea butter, you know that your hair is going to feel nourished after using this.

Size: 400ml

Key ingredients: Shea butter

Pros: So moisturising that you can skip the conditioner

Cons: Quite a heavy consistency so may weigh finer hair down

"I’m a huge fan of the Curl Jelly range, and this shampoo is great for wavy-to-curly hair to gently lift dirt without causing frizz," says Reid. Free from silicones, parabens and sulphates, this formula has been designed to work with your natural curls and leave you with a bouncy finish.

Size: 250ml

Key ingredients: Vitamin B5

Pros: Natural hair texture is left looking bouncy and vibrant

Cons: Beautiful light texture, but might want to pair with a more moisturising conditioner

"Created by renowned hairdresser Adam Reed, all of Arkive's affordable hair products are salon-standard, but it's this everyday shampoo that comes highly-rated from me," says Reid. "It removes grease and grime with ease, but never leaves hair feeling stripped thanks to moisture-restoring baobab protein."

Size: 250ml

Key ingredients: Baobab protein

Pros: Great all-rounder that will leave hair smelling and feeling like you've had your hair washed in a salon

Cons: I'd love a bigger bottle!

"I use this shampoo once a week when my hair needs a really deep clean," says Who What Wear UK managing editor, Poppy Nash. "I get a lot of product build up and I feel like this shampoo resets my hair for the week ahead. It has a lovely consistency and smell and although it cleanses the scalp, it doesn't strip the hair so I'm still left with soft, shiny ends."

Size: 300ml

Key ingredients: Colloidal oats and apple cider vinegar

Pros: Cleanses hair without stripping it of moisture

Cons: Probably wouldn't use every day

"I bought Aveeno’s Daily Moisture+ Oat Milk Blend Shampoo on the recommendation of my hairdresser, and as someone who usually only uses salon-grade hair products, I’m really impressed," says Who What Wear UK copy editor, Georgia Seago. "I have quite a dry and itchy scalp, and I find this to be really soothing whilst also leaving my hair feeling hydrated. A lot of shampoos for itchy scalps can strip the moisture from hair, but not this one."

Size: 300ml

Key ingredients: Colloidal oats

Pros: Soothing formula that leaves your hair feeling hydrated

Cons: Best suited for sensitive or dry skin

"I seem to change shampoos and conditioners often, but one of the few brands that I always come back to is Faith in Nature," says Who What Wear UK news writer, Natalie Munro. "Formulated with active natural ingredients, I find that the products are hydrating enough for my dry hair and always leave it feeling clean."

This vegan formula is paraben and SLS free and is made with 100% natural fragrance and essential oils. The lavender scent is perfect for soothing the mind and scalp.

Size: 300ml

Key ingredients: Organic rosemary, nettle and chamomile

Pros: Soothing scent and natural formula

Cons: Might not be as hydrating as other options