Some of us are blessed with smooth, bouncy strands that require bare-minimum maintenance…and then the rest of us have hair that takes on a life of its own. Frizz, over-processing, oily scalps, limp locks and more daily struggles can only be addressed at the root, and that’s where the best shampoos at Target come into play. The superstore has a top-notch selection of shampoos with just the right ingredient mix to address your issues and restore the health of your hair.
Related story Amazon Has an Unbeatable Prime Exclusive Deal on a Set of UGG Cooling Bed Sheets for Just $19Buying the right shampoo all comes to down to what it says on the label — and to help hdecipher the ingredients list, we turned to Sharon Dorram, celebrity colorist and owner of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon, who recommends generally seeking out “gentle cleansers that effectively clean the scalp without stripping its natural oils.” Keep an eye out for moisturizing ingredients, too, such as aloe vera, glycerin, coconut oil and argan oil, which add and maintain hydration. “Proteins like keratin and collagen are great for building strength for hair strands while also preventing damage,” adds.
What you should avoid, Dorram warns, are harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens, fragrances and artificial colors. “These kinds of ingredients can lead to irritation, dryness, redness and even allergic reactions,” she told SheKnows.
Aside from shampoos to suit your particular hair type, you’re probably also choosing formulations for kids, babies and even men, who tend to have their own lathering needs (no, you shouldn’t all be sharing the same shampoo!). “For babies and young children, look for gentle formulations that are designed for their sensitive skin. Tear-free shampoos are also a plus! Look for keywords on the bottles such as hypo-allergenic and fragrance free,” advises Dorran. “For teens, you can begin looking for formulas that maintain hydration and work well with sensitive/acne-prone skin.”
We rounded up nine of the best Target shampoos for every type of hair and every family member. We factored in formulation: many of these shampoos contain zero sulfates, parabens or any of the icky stuff that strips your hair if its natural sheen. We also considered price and bang for your buck: these Target shampoos start at $3.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Target is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Best Target Shampoo for Babies
This shampoo by Target’s house brand Up & Up is as gentle as you want your baby’s hair care to be. No sulfates or toxins of any kind, a no-tears formula and essential oils to leave her locks smelling like sweet vanilla.
Up & Up Baby Shampoo$2.99
Best Shampoo for Teens: Kristin Ess Fragrance-Free Daily Cleansing Shampoo
This Kristen Ess shampoo is as clean as it gets, devoid of anything that might dry out or irritate your teen’s skin. It also has nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and glycerin to promote shine and silkiness.
Kristin Ess Fragrance Free Daily Cleansing Shampoo$13
Best Target Shampoo for Men
Your guy will go wild for the masculine smell of this shampoo by beloved Target house brand Goodfellow & Co. Hints of mint, cedar and coconut make it almost delicious enough to eat. This formula contains no toxins and specializes in hydration.
Goodfellow & Co Moroccan Mint & Cedar Shampoo$5.99
Best Shampoo for Dry Hair: Love Beauty and Planet Argan Oil & Lavender Sulfate Free Shampoo
Constantly battling dry locks? Dorram advises looking for “ultra-hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, and hyaluronic acid to seal in moisture into the hair.” This Love Beauty and Planet formulation with argan oil also omits drying sulfates, another Dorram recommendation.
Love Beauty and Planet Argan Oil & Lavender Sulfate Free Shampoo$6.99
Best Shampoo for Frizzy Hair: Pantene Sulfate and Silicone Free Baobab Shampoo
This clean Pantene shampoo gently cleanses your hair without stripping it of its natural oils, keeping the hair shaft silky and smooth and preventing frizz. It has a blend of vitamin B5, plus antioxidants and nutrients from the baobab tree, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids.
Pantene Sulfate and Silicone Free Baobab Shampoo$8.99
Best Shampoo for Coarse Hair
If you’re hair is beynd dry and frizzy and venturing into coarse territory, extreme hydration is necessary. “Look for hydrating ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil to nourish and soften. Avoid drying products such as alcohol or harsh sulfates,” says Dorram. We’re al about this intensive hydration shampoo by Shea Moisture, which uses natural Manuka honey and Mafura oil, as well as Fair Trade Shea Butter, to hydrate and repair.
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo$11.99
Best Shampoo for Damaged Hair
If your hair has split ends and breakage, try ingredients like keratin and biotin “to strengthen and repair damaged strands,” says Dorram. Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Shampoo has no sulfates or alcohol “that can further strip and damage hair.” What it does include is nourishing jojoba oil and other nutrients.
Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Shampoo$5.29
Best Target Shampoo for Normal Hair
If you don’t struggle with any hair issues in particular and are just looking for a great go-to formula this Biotin and collagen packed shampoo by renpure is the sulfate-free paraben free non-toxic winner you’re looking for; it’s even pH balanced. Even if packaging is biodegradable so it does no harm to hair or the planet.
Renpure Biotin & Collagen Shampoo$7.99
Best Target Shampoo for Dandruff
Tell those famous dandruff shampoo brands to move over because Target’s in-house brand, Daily Clean, gets the job done with ease according to hundreds of Target customers, who say “it has been performing on par with other name brands at a very affordable price.” This one can safely be used on a daily basis without drying out your scalp either. Smells pretty sweet too.
Daily Clean Dandruff Shampoo$5.99
Best Target Shampoo for Fine Hair
For fine hair, “look for volumizing and strengthening ingredients” and “avoid heavy silicones,” says Dorram. This high-quality shampoo by Odele uses a vegan formula that contains all natural fragrances and none of the toxic stuff that causes buildup and weighs down fine hair. If volume is what you’re after it’s best to go the clean route. “This product is a game changer ” wrote one fan.
Odele Volumizing Shampoo$11.99
Best Target Shampoo for Oily Hair
For oily hair, Dorram recommends “clarifying ingredients such as tea tree oil, salicylic acid, or aloe vera that all work to balance sebum production without stripping the natural oils from the scalp.” We’re on board with another clarfying ingredient: apple cider vinegar. If you’re not yet familiar with the purifying benefits of ACV it’s time to get informed. Let this top-rated shampoo by Aveeno be your introduction. The brand, known for its soothing formulas, has included similar properties in this shampoo for calming your scalp and regulating oil production.
Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Sulfate Free Shampoo$8.19
Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
If you’re hair is dyed or highlighted, look for “color-safe formulas with antioxidants and gentle cleansers…to preserve color and stave off fading,” says Dorram. “Avoid sulfates that can strip color.” Noted! That’s why we love Hair Biology Biotin Color Brilliance Sulfate Free Shampoo.
Hair Biology Biotin Color Brilliance Sulfate Free Shampoo$9.99
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