Allure

Hair

10 Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Dry Hair to Get Instant Shine

 

Suds your way to softer, glossier strands.

If you're currently mending brittle strands, lather up with the best shampoos and conditioners for dry hair. There are so many daily wear-and-tear factors that can leave your hair feeling drier than hay (seasonal changes, color treatments, and your heated hair tools are just a few of them), so give your strands some softening solace in the form of these in-shower duos.

The key to these moisturizing shampoos and conditioners is their formulations, which gently cleanse hair of product buildup (another root cause of dry hair) while smoothing it with a blend of hydrators and conditioners you might be familiar with—do vitamin E and coconut oil ring a bell? They're not hard to find, either; even drugstore shampoos deliver. Below, we're talking all things dry hair, including hairstylist tips on minimizing dryness and editor-approved shampoos and conditioners to enhance texture and shine.

 

Best Overall: K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Allure editors and professional hairstylists are fans of K18’s Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo and Conditioner, which won a 2024 Best of Beauty Award. Los Angeles-based hairstylist Clayton Hawkins and New York City-based hair colorist Kimberly Ruszczyk call out the brand’s proprietary peptide, K18, which works at a molecular level to support bond maintenance and reduce protein loss while leaving strands with a softer texture and more vibrant shine. “It strengthens and repairs dry, damaged hair from the inside out, leaving it healthier, smoother, and more manageable without weighing it down,” says Hawkins.

Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva

“I use half a dozen hair products on a weekly basis; dry shampoo, hairspray, gel, you name it. To give my hair a reset, I use the K18 shampoo and conditioner once a week and like to keep the shampoo on for at least five minutes to really cleanse my scalp before moving on to the conditioner.” —Kassidy Silva, social director

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: K18 (peptide), plant-derived surfactants (sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate)
Key conditioner ingredients: K18, ceramides, polysaccharide
Scent: citrus

Best for Shine: Oribe Supershine Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it's worth it: While product buildup and chemical treatments can be common culprits that zap your hair’s shine, it’s the lack of moisture that really makes dry hair look lifeless and blah. When hair is dehydrated, the cuticle doesn’t lie flat, so instead of reflecting light, your hair looks dull. Thirsty hair will guzzle up the moisture from Oribe Supershine Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner: “It’s perfect for reviving hair that feels dry or looks dull—the formula adds intense moisture and enhances shine, making your hair look instantly more vibrant,” says Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, Illinois. Packed with amino acids, shea butter, and cranberry extract, this combo nourishes dry hair, bringing back bounce, softness, and a silky shine.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

“I have long, dry, frizz-prone hair, and this duo just might be my Holy Grail. The shampoo has that signature scent (fellow Oribe stans know the one), and while it’s on the thicker side—it takes a bit of work to lather—you can already feel how hydrating it is in the shower without stripping your natural oils. The conditioner absorbs instantly, but I did need a decent amount, so I can already see myself finishing the bottle way before the shampoo. Still, the payoff was worth it: my hair looked shiny, healthy, and so boundy.I usually have to finish off my heat styling with a hair oil to smooth frizz and add shine—but with this Oribe shampoo and conditioner, I didn’t need the extra step in my hair-care routine.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: cranberry extract, amino acids, pro-vitamin B5
Key conditioner ingredients: cranberry extract, shea butter, marula oil, pro-vitamin B5, rice complex
Scent: watermelon, lychee, edelweiss flower

Best for Breakage: Nécessaire The Shampoo and The Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Dry hair can lead to breakage, so if you're dealing with broken strands (and the inevitable split ends they create), swap your usual in-shower routine with Nécessaire’s The Shampoo and Conditioner. The minimalist, fragrance-free formulas are packed with skin-care ingredients for your scalp, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, to hydrate, smooth, strengthen, and reduce breakage without weighing hair down. The Shampoo gives you a gentle, sulfate-free cleanse while The Conditioner softens dry ends with a silky finish.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

“This shampoo and conditioner hit it out of the park for both my scalp and my hair. For one, they're among the few formulas that don't dry out my scalp and cause flakes. The same goes for my hair: Together, they leave it soft, shiny, and and clean, but never straw-like—which is especially noteworthy since I'm a daily hair-washer.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: hyaluronic acid, aloe, niacinamide, celery extract, avocado oil
Key conditioner ingredients: hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, avocado oil, aloe, niacinamide, ceramides
Scent: fragrance-free

Best for Curly Hair: Curlsmith Frizz Control Cleanser and Duo Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Curly hair needs all the texture-defining moisture they can get—hence, we present Curlsmith's Frizz Control Cleanser and Duo Conditioner. This Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning bundle has all of our curly-haired editors in a trance through the brand’s frizz-reducing, bounce-enhancing combination of coconut butter, sunflower seed oil, and argan oil.

Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards

"I thoroughly enjoy how this dynamic curl duo helped whip my curls into shape and tame them without adding additional product after washing out a blowout. The scent is super tropical with notes of milky mango, creamy coconut, and sweet papaya, which all remind me of visits to Puerto Rico." —Bianca Richards, social media manager

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: coconut butter, sunflower seed oil, argan oil, cocamidopropyl betaine
Key conditioner ingredients: coconut butter, sunflower seed oil, argan oil
Scent: mango, coconut, papaya

Best for Thick Hair: Kérastase Elixir Ultime Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: If your thick hair is constantly dry no matter what you slap on it, Kérastase Elixir Ultime Shampoo and Conditioner might be the hydration you’ve been searching for. “It’s one of my favorite moisturizing pairs to smooth hair and tame frizz,” says stylist Raven Hurtado. “It contains ingredients like marula oil, camellia oil, and argan oil to nourish, provide hydration, and shine.” This luxurious duo makes detangling easier, fights frizz, and leaves your hair feeling soft, swishy, and glossy. Perfect for thick or coarse hair that needs extra TLC, both the shampoo and conditioner are infused with the same nourishing oil blend, giving your hair a double dose of hydration without any heaviness or greasiness.

Editor's tip

For even more shine and softness, layer on a drop or two of the matching Kerastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil post-shower to seal in moisture and smooth frizz.

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: marula oil, camellia oil, argan oil
Key conditioner ingredients: marula oil, camellia oil, argan oil
Scent: fragrance-free

Best for Deep Moisture: Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: Sometimes products that promise deep moisture can leave your hair feeling heavy or flat, but Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner strike the right balance. “They’re packed full of plant-based oils, blue algae, hyaluronic acid, and coconut water to hydrate, protect, and lock moisture in,” says Cody Renegar, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist. The shampoo gently cleanses without stripping, while the conditioner deeply nourishes and detangles, leaving dry, coarse hair soft, smooth, and manageable for up to several days before your next wash. However, “if your hair is on the thinner or finer side, the rich, hydrating ingredients in this pair might feel a bit heavy,” says Renegar. “That’s something to keep in mind with any ultra-moisturizing formula.”

Editor’s tip

If your hair is seriously parched, you’re in luck: The conditioner can double as a hair mask. Leave it on for five to 10 minutes before rinsing for an extra boost of hydration.

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: squalane, hyaluronic acid, coconut water
Key conditioner ingredients: squalane, hyaluronic acid, coconut water
Scent: seabuckthorn and coconut

Best for Frizzy Hair: Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Not-so-fun fact: Dryness is one of the main causes of frizz. If you're trying to quell the look and feel of frizzy strands, Los Angeles-based hairstylist Bradley Leake says Redken’s Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner is a great add-in to your hair routine. Its gentle formula is free of sulfates and sodium chloride, two surfactants that can be harsh on dry, color-treated, and damaged hair types. As it gently yet effectively washes away buildup and oil, babassu oil plumps hair strands for a smoother look and softer texture.

Editor's tip

Babassu oil comes from the babassu palm and it’s rich in lauric acid (similar to coconut oil), but you’ll find it’s lighter in texture.

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: babassu oil, sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate
Key conditioner ingredients: babassu oil
Scent: coconut

Best for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Bleaching and coloring hair can take a toll on your strands, but you should be discerning with your shampoos and conditioners to maintain your expensive hair treatments. Our editors love Pureology's color-safe Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner so much that we gave them a Best of Beauty Award in 2023 and another in 2024 for their pigment-boosting and softening effects. Each bottle has a creamy jojoba oil-infused formula that enhances the shine and feel of your hair.

Tester feedback from content director Kara McGrath

“Every time I use this duo, my hair feels almost impossibly soft and looks shampoo-commercial levels of shiny.” —Kara McGrath, content director

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: jojoba oil, green tea extract, sage extract, sodium cocoyl isethionate
Key conditioner ingredients: jojoba oil, green tea extract, sage extract
Scent: lavender, bergamot, patchouli

Best for Fine Hair: Shu Uemura Urban Moisture Deep Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Fine hair types need lightweight moisture, and Ruszczyk says the Shu Uemura Urban Moisture Deep Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner provides exactly that. Each formula features moringa oil and red algae, two ingredients Ruszczyk recommends for moisturizing hair without leaving behind a greasy finish. "With this line’s blend of hydrating nutrients, you’ll rebalance moisture levels and prolong hydration, leaving a healthy glow without weighing down the hair," she says.

Editor's tip

Moringa also helps shield your fine, dry hair from pollution (which can dull shine and suck out moisture).

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: moringa oil, red algae, sodium laureth sulfate
Key conditioner ingredients: moringa oil, red algae
Scent: camellia, white freesia, heliotrope, musk

Best for Brittle Hair: Davines Momo Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner

Why it's worth it: New York City-based hairstylist Jerome Lordet says very few shampoos and conditioners live up to the strand-softening powers of the Davines Momo Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. "The moisturizing formulas are designed to promote silky-soft hair with lasting hydration," Lordet says. This deep-conditioning duo features cartucciaru melon extract, which is rich in moisturizing and shine-boosting antioxidants.

 

Editor’s tip

Cartucciaru melon extract (straight from Italy!) is loaded with hydration, plus vitamins A and C to help lock in moisture and keep strands juicy.

More to know

Key shampoo ingredients: cartucciaru melon extract, sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate
Key conditioner ingredients: cartucciaru melon extract, glycerin, jojoba oil
Scent: fig leaves, florals, amber, cedar

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes dry hair?

Dry hair is caused by lack of moisture, according to Hawkins, which can be attributed to a long laundry list of factors. Our delicate strands come by a lot on a daily basis, including overexposure to harsh chemical treatments and environmental stressors like cold weather and dry heat at your home or office, according to Ruszczyk. "Frequent washing or using products that strip moisture can deplete the scalp's natural oils," adds Lordet. According to all three experts, your hairstyling tools can also cause dryness. "Heat-styling tools, like flatirons and blow-dryers, can damage the hair cuticle, leading to moisture loss," says Hawkins.

How can I minimize dry hair?

Both Lordet and Hawkins agree that incorporating hair treatments and products with moisture-replenishing ingredients is key to enhancing the look and feel of your hair. "To combat dry hair, look for ingredients that hydrate and restore moisture balance like argan oil, coconut oil, aloe vera, glycerin, panthenol, and honey to help restore moisture, reduce frizz, and keep hair looking healthy and shiny," says Lordet. Hawkins is also a fan of shea butter, which he calls "incredibly moisturizing and helps to smooth frizzy, brittle hair."

Meet the experts

Clayton Hawkins, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist
Kimberly Ruszczyk, a New York City-based hair colorist
Jerome Lordet, a New York City-based hairstylist
Cody Renegar, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist
Raven Hurtado, a Chicago-based hairstylist at Maxine Salon

How we test and review products

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?