Skip to content
If Frizz or Flyaways Aren't Your ThingTry These 12 Shampoos
ishonest / Chloe Jeong
Frizzy hair is cute in small doses—but when things get unmanageable, it’s essential to employ a few styling tricks in order to tame frizz. Jamie Wiley, Global Artistic Director of Pureology, tells us that seven out of 10 people will have challenges with frizz at some point in their hair journey, no matter their hair type.
Shampoo is perhaps the most important step because the way you wash your hair is the first line of defense. You want a formula that’s nourishing, smoothing, and softening but still cleansing enough to remove build-up and give you that fresh hair feeling—all things that are achievable given you have the right product on hand.
And lucky for you, haircare just so happens to be our area of expertise. So we’ve curated the best formulas for every budget and hair type, the common denominator being smooth, shiny hair.
- Our Picks
- Final Verdict
- What to Look For
- Why Trust ishonest?
Best Overall: Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo
Sulfate-free and color-safe
Suitable for all hair types
Lathers well
Expensive
Living Proof has amassed a cult following of fans since it launched, and it’s because their formulas consistently deliver. The No Frizz Shampoo contains a patented molecule that protects against humidity and reduces hair friction for sleeker, shinier hair.
Hair Type: All hair types and textures | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Fruity citrus | Size: 8 fluid ounces
Best Budget: Dove Nutritive Solutions Anti-Frizz Oil Therapy Shampoo
Rich in nourishing oils
Lathers well
Contains sulfates
This budget-friendly formula is packed with nourishing oils to soften and smooth the hair, resulting in shiny, frizz-free hair. It lathers well, so it works great for thick, coarse hair types where lighter shampoos might not cut the mustard. Plus, we love the classic shampoo scent—it definitely lingers well after wash day.
Hair Type: Thick, coarse, dry | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Clean | Size: 12 fluid ounces
Best for Damaged Hair: Kerastase Discipline Smoothing Shampoo
Polymer blend smooths the hair
Sulfate-free
Expensive
This shampoo has a sulfate-free formula that works to smooth the hair, seal the cuticle, and reduce frizz without weighing it down. It also contains a special polymer blend that coats each strand, keeping them shiny, sleek, and tangle- free. This feature is great for damaged hair that knots easily.
Hair Type: Fine to thick, straight, wavy, or curly | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Powdery floral | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces
Best for Curly Hair: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo
Contains rosehip, argan, and coconut oils
Suitable for all hair types
Expensive
Briogeo does clean but efficacious hair care really well, and Farewell Frizz is a standout formula for unruly, fluffy, flyaway hair. What’s unique about this product is that it deeply cleanses the hair, but the inclusion of argan, rosehip, and coconut oils will leave hair shiny and hydrated.
Hair Type: All hair types and textures | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Fruity | Size: 8 fluid ounces
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo
Sulfate-free and color-safe
Contains nourishing shea butter
Expensive
This shampoo is rich in shea butter, an ingredient Wiley tells us is useful for trapping moisture in the hair shaft (thus preventing frizz and flyaways). It’s also gentle, sulfate-free, and is safe for color-treated hair, so you can get that sleek, shiny feeling without losing out on vibrance.
Hair Type: Medium to thick, color-treated | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Woody and sweet | Size: 9 fluid ounces
Best Drugstore: MONDAY Haircare SMOOTH Shampoo
Affordable
Easy-to-use pump bottle
Made from recycled plastic
Contains sulfates
Monday Haircare is a New Zealand-founded brand that is taking over the world one baby pink shampoo bottle at a time. The Smooth formula, in particular, is really nourishing thanks to the inclusion of shea butter, panthenol, vitamin E, and coconut oil, so it will slightly weigh down fluffy, unruly hair (no more frizz halo). The price point is excellent as well when you consider the volume of the product.
Hair Type: Medium to thick | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Soft, clean | Size: 12 fluid ounces
Best Splurge: Oribe Moisture & Control Shampoo
Smells amazing
Designed to smooth curls and waves
Expensive
Oribe is the embodiment of luxury. From the signature fragrance to silky foam to the way it makes your hair all swishy and wonderful, this shampoo is seriously good stuff. This formula is rich in amino acids and a microemulsion smoothing system to soften, define, and smooth out wavy, curly, and coily hair.
Sydney-based hairstylist Anthony Nader also recommends this to clients as it “really nourishes and softens the hair, leaving it silky and glossy."
Hair Type: Wavy, curly, coarse, thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces
Best for Dry Scalp: R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo
Contains juniper berry and glycerin to hydrate
Sulfate-free
Scent may be overpowering for some
The name Television Perfect Hair speaks to us on so many levels, and thankfully the formula inside truly does deliver soft, glossy, and voluminous hair. Enriched with juniper berry, glycerin, and babassu seed oil, it nourishes the scalp and hair shaft, leading to healthier hair.
Hair Type: Medium to thick, wavy and curly | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Musky and sweet | Size: 8 fluid ounces
Best for Humidity: Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Shampoo
Protects against humidity
Suitable for all hair types
Strong scent
Whether you have straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair, you’ll find Amika’s top- rated shampoo will keep frizz and flyaways at bay—even in the face of heat and humidity. The secret is an ingredient called phenyl trimethicone, a silicone that works overtime to protect the cuticle from swelling (and thus, frizz). It’s also really nourishing overall, making it a top pick for dry or damaged hair.
Hair Type: All hair types and textures | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Sweet, fruity | Size: 8 fluid ounces
Best for Dehydrated Hair: Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo
Smells beautiful
Contains humectants to hydrate
Expensive
Fun fact: Your hair shaft can become dehydrated, leaving it dull, frizzy, and flat. Amp up water content with Pureology’s Hydrate Shampoo, a quenching blend of sage, jojoba, amino acids, and glycerin to soften and care for thirsty hair. Wiley tells us that by replenishing the hair’s water content, you’ll notice reduced frizz and flyaways.
Hair Type: Medium to thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Lavender, patchouli, bergamot | Size: 9 fluid ounces
Best for Curls: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
Contains shea butter, neem oil, and coconut oil
Sulfate-free
Shea butter may overpower fine hair
Kinky, coiled, curly hair is dry by nature, meaning frizz and flyaways are hard to avoid. SheaMoisure gets this, which is why the Coconut & Hibiscus shampoo is light and cleansing but contains all the nourishing ingredients needed to smooth things over. Pair it with the matching conditioner for good hair days only.
Hair Type: Thick, coarse, wavy, curly, coiled | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Coconut and hibiscus flower | Size: 16 fluid ounces
Best for Fine Hair: Drunk Elephant Cocomino Glossing Shampoo
Lightweight
Color-safe
Expensive
Drunk Elephant’s launch into hair and body was one that went off with a bang. The Cocomino Glossing Shampoo generates a really light, silky foam that deeply cleanses, builds volume, but also smooths and nourishes the hair thanks to ingredients like sacha inchi oil and coconut aminos.
Hair Type: Fine to medium hair types | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Coconut | Size: 8 fluid ounces
Final Verdict
Your shampoo of choice will depend on your budget and hair type, but Team ishonest unanimously agrees that Living Proof’s No Frizz Shampoo (view at Sephora) and Pureology’s Hydrate Shampoo (view at Sephora) are two standouts. Living Proof is so hydrating and softening and leaves the hair looking shiny, whereas Pureology Hydrate is light enough to encourage bounce but smooths over flyaways.
What to Look for in a Shampoo for Frizzy Hair
Ingredients
Wiley tells us some of the best anti-frizz ingredients to look out for when buying a shampoo include shea butter, vegetable protein, coconut oil, camellia oil, and soy protein. She also suggests steering clear of sulfates, drying alcohols (including isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and propyl alcohol), and silicones, as they can cause build-up and damage the hair over time.
Interestingly, Wiley explains that some anti-frizz shampoo formulas contain anti-humectants that work by preventing the hair from absorbing too much moisture, thus preserving its natural texture. This is usually useful for smoothing out thick, coarse, curly, and coiled hair or for those who experience excess frizz when humidity levels are high. On the flip side, you might also be experiencing frizz and flyaways because your hair lacks moisture, in which case a humectant will be your best friend. Wiley tells us this is more common in dry hair that’s prone to frizz and flyaways all the time. When in doubt, look for a formula that has both.
Like most beauty products, shampoo formulas do generally have an expiry date. See your individual product for details. But if you notice a weird change in scent, color, or texture, we suggest you get rid of it.
Wiley tells us they are definitely safe, but for best results, it is useful to look for one specifically geared towards your hair type and texture. Lighter, clarifying options will smooth finer hair without weighing it down, while rich formulas with ingredients such as shea butter are great for coarse, porous hair.
Why Trust ishonest?
Emily Algar is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, and POPSUGAR. For this article, she tapped experts Jamie Wiley and Anthony Nader to share their expertise and top recommendations.
Meet the Expert
- Jamie Wiley is the Global Artistic Director at Pureology, the founder of Hairboss, and an acclaimed stylist with numerous Fashion Weeks under her belt.
- Anthony Nader is a hairstylist and the founder of Raw Hair by Anthony Nader, a Sydney-based salon.
Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: An overview. Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1): 2. Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: An overview. Int J Trichol. 2015;7(1): 2.
Oshimura E, Abe H, Oota R. Hair and amino acids: the interactions and the effects. J Cosmet Sci. 2007;58(4): 347-357.