15 Best-Smelling Shampoos of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Consider your fragrance preference
Not to state the obvious, but what smells good to your bestie may not smell great to you. If you can, do a sniff test before investing in a shampoo to make sure it speaks to you before lathering up—otherwise, you might be stuck smelling it for days. Not sure what shampoo scents people find attractive? Koestline says tropical scents (like the one in the Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian Joia Shampoo) are the most popular, followed by floral scents (like the one in Ouai's Detox Shampoo).
Decide between synthetic or natural fragrance
Again, fragranced products are not inherently bad...but if you do go with a synthetic fragrance, then you'll want to make sure it's free from lilial, phthalates, or any other potentially harmful ingredients. All of our selects contain fragrance from synthetic perfumes, but they're all hypoallergenic and both lilial- and phthalate-free, so most folks can feel pretty confident using 'em. That said, if you are allergic to fragrances, have a v sensitive scalp, or would rather steer clear of synthetic fragrances all together, then stick with a formula that's only scented with essential oils, such as a tea tree shampoo.
Keep your hair type and texture in mind
When choosing a new shampoo, it's always helpful to understand your hair porosity (aka your hair's ability to absorb and retain hydration). For instance, those with low-porosity hair will typically wanna stick with formulas that use lightweight serums to moisturize and soothe (like Verb's Ghost Shampoo), while those with high-porosity hair can usually handle heavier oils and butters (like the ones in SheaMoisture's All Day Frizz Control Shampoo). Not sure about your hair porosity? Take the Curls Bot porosity quiz.
Likewise, it's also good to know your hair type and determine what kind of formula will work best for your texture. (Did you know there are 12 distinct hair types??) Cosmo's got a helpful hair type guide to get ya started, 'cause knowledge is power.
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