As someone who washes their hair every day, finding the right shampoos for my fine, damaged hair has been a game-changer. I know it’s better to not wash your hair every day, but between daily workouts, extra time outside, and lots of puppy snuggles, I just prefer to shampoo daily and have acclimated my hair to it.

My fine, straight hair is also highlighted, so I need a mix of shampoos in my arsenal - clarifying, hydrating, and toning. I don’t want anything that will dry out my hair, cause scalp irritation, or that will leave a moisturizing film instead of genuinely hydrating it from the inside out. Keep reading for my favorite shampoos that I can’t live without.

the best shampoos for fine, damaged hair

Amika The Kure Bond Repair Shampoo - Intensely hydrating without weighing your hair down, this smells incredible and is easy to wash out. It’s also clean beauty-certified, which is something I really keep in mind when it comes to anything that close to my scalp. This is the #1 shampoo I travel with, especially since hotel water can be extra-drying or cause frizziness.

Davines NouNou Shampoo - This is the shampoo I recommend to everyone because it’s gentle, doesn’t dry out your hair/scalp, and keeps your hair color looking fresh. You can find it online (no need to go into a salon), but the person who does my hair allows me to buy it in a jumbo size which makes it worth it. I also like the Melu formula, which is a little lighter (but still hydrating).

Ouai Detox Shampoo - If you need a detox shampoo, this is the best one for fine, damaged hair. I’ve tried so many different brands, and they’ve all left my hair feeling like dried out straw. For fine, damaged hair, I would not recommend using a clarifying shampoo more than 2x a month to minimize dryness. Ouai’s formula is effective yet gentle and worth the money; I won’t use anything else.

UNITE Hair BLONDA Purple Shampoo - If you need a toning shampoo, this is great. I personally prefer using toning conditioners instead of shampoos because they’re less harsh, but this one is hydrating and really pulls all yellow and brassy tones out. If you’re looking for a blue toning shampoo instead, I like Aveda’s Blue Malva Shampoo.

Amika 3D Volume & Thickening Shampoo - Fine, damaged hair can sometimes look limp and lifeless. If you want to add extra volume, I really like this shampoo. I used to think volumizing shampoos were a little gimmicky, but this does add a little extra bounce to my hair. Amika’s products are clean-beauty and smell great without being overpowering; I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t liked at least a few of their products.

the best budget shampoo for fine, damaged hair

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo - This is what my boyfriend uses, so I use it anytime I’m over there. Truthfully, I was a little scared to use it the first time because I’ve heard so many horror stories of the product adding a film, drying your hair out, and stripping it of its color. I’ve used it on and off for months now, and haven’t noticed any difference. Because it has sulfates, I would not use this daily, but if you’re someone who only washes your hair 1-2x a week, I don’t think it would be damaging, especially if you followed it up with a hydrating mask (this one is less than $12 and my personal favorite).

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo - Great shampoo; I used this for years and still use it when I forget to pack my Amika shampoo or need the convenience of picking something up at Target. You hear a lot about how some drugstore products damage your hair, but I don’t think that’s true for this product.