Everyone has different needs and goals when it comes to their hair. Some of us (ahem, me) need volume and damage repair thanks to a fine texture or perpetual color treatments, while others want anti-aging benefits or major curl TLC. Regardless, we feel confident saying that everyone wants their strands to reach their full, healthy, and, yes, expensive-AF-looking potential. We have some really great news on that front: You don’t actually have to pay a fortune to get hair that looks like a million bucks. Many of our favorite shampoos and conditioners are actually hiding away in the sparkling aisles of your nearest drugstore, and we’re here to guide you toward all of our favorites. Whether you’re seeking the best drugstore shampoo and conditioner to achieve beach-inspired mermaid waves or need an affordable, cult-classic purple elixir to bust your brass, we have your strands covered just ahead. Keep scrolling for the nine best drugstore shampoos and conditioners that are budget-saving dupes of our more expensive favorites.
Just like Moroccanoil’s cult-loved favorite, Tigi’s more affordable formula features a strategic blend of both moisturizing and strengthening components—a dream power couple for those with damaged, dry, color-treated, or breakage-prone strands. Hair is left feeling soft, shiny, and more vibrant in color thanks to the formula’s conditioning and moisture-balancing perks.
You probably should pay a lot for your color (you often get what you pay for in that industry), but let us be the ones to tell you that you don’t necessarily have to pay a lot for your color-protecting products. If you’re looking to save some money but still want the hydrating and shine-inducing benefits of a more expensive formula like Kérastase, we recommend opting for Biolage’s pH-balancing and color-safe formula instead. Not only does this duo keep your hair soft and tangle-free, but your strands will also retain their post-salon vibrancy up to nine weeks after your dye job.
Just like Earth Nectar’s essential oil– and botanical-based blend, Avalon Organics’ deep-cleansing shampoo and conditioner is fortified with nature’s best: natural tea tree oil to draw essential circulation, soothe the scalp, and gift strands with all the shine you’d expect from a way pricier option.
FYI: Shimmer Lights was one of the OG purple shampoos on the market, and it’s remained a brass-busting obsession ever since. Since a purple shampoo should be an enhancement (aka you’re not using a purple shampoo every single time you wash), it’s really not worth spending an arm, leg, and entire paycheck on your formula. Plus, they all do the same thing—truly.
Like Briogeo, Hask uses the loveliest ingredients from Mother Earth to elevate the look, feel, and overall health of your strands. While Briogeo’s beloved formula features ginseng, biotin, ginger, and maltodextrin, Hask’s more affordable option has equally luscious MVPs like biotin, coffee seed oil, and shea butter, which work harmoniously to volumize and plump a limp hair situation.
For the ultimate creamy, cleansing wash experience, we recommend Shea Moisture’s epic combo pack. Just like DevaCurl’s luxe formulas, the trio from Shea Moisture is intended to keep your natural oils and curls intact—with, of course, a helping hand from strand-loving ingredients like hibiscus, coconut, and crucial silk proteins for extra softness and strength.
Our hair is an extension of our skin, and just like we see noticeable shifts in our complexions as we age, the health and condition of our hair will also change. That’s why investing in an anti-aging formula that boosts density, moisture, and resilience is a great alternative if you’re looking to stave off brittle, weak, or thinning strands. We love Alterna’s cult-loved Caviar line, but if you need something that’s a tad less taxing on the bank account, Kenra’s shampoo-and-conditioner duo is seriously brilliant. Enriched with snail essence, it makes for a potent blend of proteins proven to combat dulling, thinning, breakage, frizz, dryness, elasticity, porosity, scalp irritation, unmanageability, and changes in texture.
Even though you don’t even need conditioner with Amika’s cheekily named texture shampoo, you’ll still save yourself about $10 dollars with Pacifica’s beachy wave–inducing pairing. All-natural, the formula boosts hair with moisture and control while key tropical additions like sea algae, banana, and chamomile deliver on your surfy mermaid hair dreams.
If a smooth, ultra-sleek finish is what you’re after Tresemmé’s iconic keratin-spiked shampoo and conditioner are practically legend (even among the brand’s non-drugstore competitors). Dripping with luxe ingredients like marula oil and silky texture–inducing keratin, it’s a steal for that low price point.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Up Next: Your Hair Is Only as Good as Your Scalp Routine—Start With These Key Products.
