15 best shampoos for Afro hair - for a delicate and nourishing wash

RRP: £20 

There aren't many people that I don't recommend this shampoo to. It's such a crowd-pleaser thanks to its light and low lather, which is created from coconut, not SLS, plus it contains aloe vera and babassu oil for a smooth and tangle-free wash day. 

Buy if: You want an easy wash routine 

Avoid if: You prefer inexpensive shampoos

RRP: £24

However you wear your coils, this shampoo is the start of a softer wash day. The sulphate-free formula helps to lift off build-up, but the focus is on drenching the hair in moisture while doing so. Glycerin plays a big role, too, so if you wear your coils and curls naturally you’ll benefit from a more defined finish when you team this with the matching conditioner.

Buy if: Softness is key

Avoid if: You have fine hair

RRP: £6.95

If you have had your hair done at a traditional Black hair salon, chances are you’ve had this used on your hair. While many, many things have had a needed upgrade from Y2K era salons, this shampoo remains a firm favourite for great reason. It cleanses hair thoroughly without leaving it feeling stripped, which makes for a good canvas for a deep treatment. Those with shorter styles will love its efficacy, especially as you only need a little to create a good lather, meaning a bottle will last a decent amount of time.

Buy if: You want a simple, classic shampoo

Avoid if: You want to treat a specific hair or scalp concern

RRP: £30

Of the two shampoos available from Cécred, Beyoncé’s new haircare line, this is the one I would recommend across the board. It lathers well despite being free from harsh sulphates and gives a nice slip even before applying the conditioner, despite not containing any silicones. With ingredients like phyto-collagen and hyaluronic acid, this is for you if you want your shampoo to be souped up with skincare ingredients.

Buy if: You have porous hair

Avoid if: You're looking for budget beauty products

RRP: £8.99

If you’re after an affordable shampoo that will cleanse your hair and scalp without leaving it dry, look no further. This one is sulphate-free and enriched with coconut extract to step coils and curls towards the natural lubrication that this texture can sometimes lack. The brand prides itself on gentle formulas that are suitable for the whole family to use, too.

Buy if: You want a family-friendly shampoo

Avoid if: You have bleached or chemically-treated hair 

RRP: £26

Sometimes you just need to wash your hair. Nothing particularly fancy, with no claims for extra add-ons, just a good wash that isn’t going to risk the softness of your strands. That’s exactly what this shampoo from Color Wow’s curl range delivers. It’s perfect for a mid-week wash day when you aren’t necessarily going to do a big deep treatment but have maybe been to the gym a few times and gelled your hair more than you want to admit; it’s a light reset.

Buy if: You need to wash your hair post-sweaty gym sesh

Avoid if: You like fancy-smelling shampoos 

RRP: £20.65

The stand-out ingredients in this formula – glycerin, urea H and hibiscus seed extract – work together to keep coils and curls soft and moisturised while cleansing. The creaminess of the shampoo (and the conditioners that match) suggests that if you have finer Afro-textured hair you might want to give this one a miss, but thicker hair types will lap up the richness.

Buy if: You have thicker, drier hair 

Avoid if: You have fine coils

RRP: £13

With our hair type being on the weaker side to begin with, and prone to more porosity (the ease with which hair lets in moisture and, therefore, frizz but the inability to hold onto needed hydration), colouring it can be a bit of a haircare disaster. This shampoo from Bleach London was created for hair that has been stressed by the colouring process and works well for all hair types, including textured hair. It contains creatine to help build electrostatic bonds, micro proteins and amino acids for stronger hair and longer-lasting colour.

Buy if: You have bleached your hair 

Avoid if: You have no colour concerns 

RRP: £25.70

If you relax your hair or straighten it in any way, you need to try this range from Redken. It's infused with citric acid to help restore lost strength from any harmful processes including bleach, straightening chemically and heat styling, for example. With regular use alongside the conditioner and treatment, it promises up to 56% less breakage and we can vouch for how strong our hair feels when we use this consistently after having a Texture Release treatment at the salon.

Buy if: You get chemical hair services

Avoid if: You wear your hair completely natural 

RRP: £18

A complete sensorial treat, from the tactile packaging to the subtly sweet smell to the rich, creamy consistency, this is a go-to for moisturising wash days. If you are an avid co-washer or if you are easing yourself into low-foam wash days, you’ll love this texture. After use, your coils look and feel springy and softened.

Buy if: You prefer co-washes

Avoid if: You want a deep cleanse

RRP: £25

Often, Afro hair types are bracketed as thick and coarse by default. While many of us do have thick hair, it’s not always the case and if you have finer hair you might feel like a lot of textured hair products weigh your hair down. This cleansing foam from R+Co is the perfect way to kick off a weightless wash day. It’s enriched with green tea for its antioxidant benefits and argan oil for nutrients, resulting in a light and cleansed feel.

Buy if: You have fine hair

Avoid if: You have coarser hair

RRP: £32.40

Hard water is the term for tap water that contains a higher volume of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which can build up. If you have to descale your kettle, you live in a hard water area. Now just imagine what that build-up can do to our hair. Often it can leave it feeling and looking lank and exacerbate the damage of styling our hair. This formula contains citric acid to remove said build-up from strands and glycerin to replenish lost durability.

Buy if: You live in a hard water area

Avoid if: You live in a soft water area

RRP: £7 

A cream shampoo sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but there is no other way of describing this Cantu pick. There's a real creaminess to the texture but it is firmly a shampoo, so while it's "sulphate free" it does contain foaming agents. The lather is low, through, and doesn’t leave the hair feeling stripped, so it’s a good pick for a weekly wash.

Buy if: You're on a budget

Avoid if: You only co-wash

RRP: £18 

When your coils need a complete scalp reset and refresh, this needs to be your shampoo of choice. For an overhauling wash day after removing your braids or weave or returning from holiday, for example, this gives a clarifying cleanse that invigorates the scalp without leading to dryness. Peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus oils are all at play for a truly scalp-reviving wash.

Buy if: You're doing a reset wash 

Avoid if: You don't like minty scents

RRP: £30 

Our scalps can go through it every week thanks to styling, the weather and the environment. While things like scalp scrubs are great to incorporate into our routines, an easy-to-use shampoo that will keep scalp health in check is a good addition. This shampoo by disruptor brand The Steam Bar offers a gentle formula with an expensive-smelling scent. It contains vitamin B5, baobab and prebiotic inulin to attract hydration and protect the scalp from styling damage.

Buy if: Scalp care is on your agenda

Avoid if: You're sensitive to fragrance