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If you have long hair, you probably know how hard it is to keep it looking great. You have to find the balance between taking care of it and allowing it to grow.
One issue that comes up often is split ends, which forces you to cut it more often. However, if you find the best shampoo for long hair, it will help make your hair healthier and stronger.
What’s the Best Shampoo for Long Hair?
It can be difficult to choose the best shampoo for long hair, but it is important if you want to keep your hair healthy. Long hair is more prone to damage, split ends, and breakage, so you want a shampoo that helps prevent these things from happening.
If you just use any shampoo on long hair, you might find that it leaves a residue that causes further damage to your hair. Shampoos for long hair need to be hydrating and lightweight, and they need to be color safe and protect your hair.
They should contain proteins to strengthen your hair, and they should be free of harmful ingredients such as parabens and mineral oils.
Our Top Picks for the Best Shampoos for Long Hair:
- Best Overall: Redken Extreme Shampoo
- Best for Damaged Hair: Herbal Essences Repairing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
- Best for Frizzy Hair: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
- Best for Dry Hair: Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo
- Best for Thick Hair: Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo
- Best for Fine, Thin Hair: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shampoo
- Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo
Although these shampoos are all good for long hair, different ones are best suited for different hair types. You will want a shampoo that protects, strengthens, and nourishes your hair, but different ones are also suited to help with dry hair, thick hair, fine hair, and other hair types.
Why You Need a Shampoo for Long Hair
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Shampoo is an important part of your hair care regimen. There are many shampoos that are made to clean hair, but you will get more out of your shampoo if you choose one that works well on long hair.
It is important to make sure that you keep your hair as healthy and strong as possible because the roots are carrying more weight.
It is important to use a shampoo that has the right ingredients to nourish your hair without weighing it down. It can revitalize and repair your hair while leaving it free of tangles and clean.
Shampoo will help you enjoy your long hair because it makes it stronger and keeps it looking great. Long hair is challenging because you need to work hard to make sure that it is hydrated without being heavy.
It should not contain harsh ingredients that can damage your hair, and it needs to have a natural scent that is pleasant and fresh without being overwhelming. Using the best shampoo for long hair will help your hair stay healthy.
The 7 Best Shampoos for Long Hair in 2023
When you are choosing the best shampoo for long hair, look for the one that is ideal for your hair type. They all nourish and strengthen your hair, but some are ideal for thicker hair, while others are better for thin hair.
Let’s take a look at our top seven picks for the best shampoo for long hair, why we love each one, a few pros and cons, and things to consider before buying.
1. Best Overall: Redken Extreme Shampoo
- pH balanced formula with protein and strength complex
- Strength repair for damaged hair
- Amino acids and arginine to prevent future breakage
- Some users find the scent too strong
- Can cause color-treated hair to fade
This shampoo by Redken is formulated to help repair damaged hair and strengthen it. It provides strength repair for damaged hair, and it is pH balanced with protein and strength complex.
It cleans your hair while it makes hairs stronger and protects against future hair breakage. This is made possible by the amino acids and arginine that they use to make the shampoo.
It will fortify the hair from the roots to the tips, and it works best when you use the complementary conditioner and leave it in treatment.
One of their lines in the Extreme shampoos is called the Extreme Length, and it is made for people who want length in their hair. It contains additional ingredients, including biotin and length care complex. It nourishes your hair while protecting it.
2. Best for Damaged Hair: Herbal Essences Repairing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
- 90% naturally sourced ingredients
- Repairs split ends
- Helps add moisture to dry, damaged hair
- Some users complain that the scent is too strong
- Can make fine hair limp
This shampoo by Herbal Essences is great for people who have long hair. It is 90% natural, and it is made with real botanicals and natural source ingredients. It has limited processing and uses purified water.
You can repair and smooth your hair with this argan oil of morocco product. It uses real botanicals and is endorsed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is made with multiple layers of scents, including citrus, exotic spices, and creamy vanilla.
It is free of parabens and artificial colors, but it does contain sulfates. It will repair any damaged hair, and it makes it softer. The argan oil makes it shiny, and it helps to make your long hair look great.
3. Best for Frizzy Hair: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
- Hydrating shampoo adds moisture to your long hair
- 100% vegan and free of sulfates, parabens, and mineral oil
- Uses natural ingredients and aromatherapy
- Some find the patchouli scent to be overwhelming
- Can be heavy if you have fine hair
This shampoo by Pureology is the best for frizzy, long hair. It is made to hydrate your hair and add moisture back in to quench every strand of your hair. It moisturizes all hair types, but it helps control frizz as well.
The shampoo is creamy and free of sulfates, and it is ideal for normal to thick hair. You can also use their conditioner, and they offer a hydrating superfood treatment that is a mask to nourish your hair. It is made with natural ingredients.
Jojoba adds moisture, while sage and green tea stipulate your hair follicles and support a healthy scalp. It also contains lavender, bergamot, and patchouli to put forth a scent that relaxes you.
It is best for people with thick to medium hair types, as it has a thick, creamy formula. If you have fine hair, you might find that it weighs your hair down.
4. Best for Dry Hair: Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo
- Gently cleanses and replenishes lost moisture
- Restores smoothness and elasticity to dehydrated hair
- Thickens hair as it strengthens it
- Some users found that it causes flaking
- Contains sulfates
If you have thick, dry hair, this shampoo from Joico is the best option. It is a moisture recovery formula that will fill each strand with the hydration it needs. As it does, it restores smoothness and elasticity to your hair.
It is gentle as it cleanses your hair, and it is great for all hair types. Whether your hair is curly, kinky, frizzy, or tangles easily, it will make it smooth and sleek. It has a scent that is clean and of salon quality. It won’t strip your hair, and it is great for everyone.
It will help your hair grow as it stays strong, and locking moisture in is the key to rehydrating your hair. Most of the time, dry hair needs moisture first because it is brittle and can break easily. This shampoo takes care of that, and it is great for long hair.
5. Best for Thick Hair: Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo
- Sulfate-free cleansing
- Fragrance-free for people who are sensitive to scents
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Too much moisture for some hair types
- Can feel heavy on fine hair
If you have thick, long hair, this shampoo does a great job. It is designed to handle curls, and it is gentle and won’t strip away your natural oils. This version contains no fragrances, which is great for some people.
Added fragrances are usually bad for hair, and you won’t have to worry about this. You can use the scent in your conditioner.
Whether your hair is color-treated, curly, thick, oily, or dry, this shampoo does a great job. It cleans your scalp and your hair, and it removes excess buildup of hair care products. It leaves your hair feeling clean and smooth.
6. Best for Fine Hair: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shampoo
- Color-safe and free of sulfates and parabens
- Cleans and protects dry, damaged hair
- Uses keratin protein technology to replenish hair
- Be careful not to use too much shampoo at once
- Some users dislike the ginger smell
This shampoo by Paul Mitchell is a high-quality shampoo. It is color-safe and free of sulfates, and it thoroughly cleanses your fine, long hair. It protects your color while repairing dry and damaged hair.
In addition, it is made with awapuhi extract that is harvested from Paul Mitchell’s farm in Hawaii.
This helps to balance moisture for manageability and shine, and their KeraTriplex keratin protein technology replenishes your hair to make it healthy. It has a fresh ginger tea scent, and it moisturizes your hair while making it smell fresh and clean.
7. Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo
- Enriched with apple and aloe extracts for protection
- Free of sulfates and parabens
- Alleviates frizz and preserves color
- Some users say that it has a strong scent
- Can be expensive
This is a great shampoo that nourishes and moisturizes your hair. The formula is enriched with apple and aloe extracts and it does wonders on chemically damaged hair. It also provides protection to give your hair that is soft and free of frizz.
It is also color-safe, and it works to soothe your scalp. It helps repair damage, and it is formulated with lavender and lemongrass to hydrate and detangle damaged hair.
This helps to prevent breakage as well. It works well for all types of hair, including curly and textured hair types. It doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, and it leaves your hair strong and beautiful.
Finding the Best Shampoo for Long Hair
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When you are choosing a shampoo for long hair, there are different factors to consider. You should look at the quality and ingredients, the hair type it is best for, how well it cleans, and the price.
Consider your specific hair type so that you can find a shampoo that is ideal for you. The following are important factors when you are choosing your shampoo.
Quality and Ingredients
The quality of your shampoo is always important because the ingredients can either help your hair or completely damage it. If you choose high quality ingredients, they will moisturize and strengthen your hair.
While the ingredients that help your hair are important, making sure that the shampoo is free of harsh chemicals is equally important. These ingredients will damage your hair and weaken it. Ingredients to avoid include parabens, sulfates, and mineral oils.
Hair Type
Although all of these shampoos are good for long hair, each one is different depending on the type of hair you have.
People with thick hair will want a shampoo with different ingredients from people with fine hair, and the same goes for curly hair, straight hair, oily hair, dry hair, damaged hair, and more. There are very few shampoos that work well for all hair types.
Look for a shampoo that is ideal for your hair type, as it will be able to address your specific needs. It will control frizz, plump up fine hair, detangle thick hair, hydrate dry hair, and more.
Ability to Clean
When a shampoo does a good job cleaning, it does more than clean your hair. It will also clean your scalp and promote better scalp health.
This is important because your hair follicles are located on the scalp, and when your scalp isn’t clean, there is a buildup of dirt, oils, and sebum. This can damage your follicles and cause your hair not to grow.
Make sure that you find a shampoo that cleans without leaving residue, and it should clean your scalp and help promote hair follicle health.
Price
The price is also important because you wash your hair at least a few times a week. You don’t want to spend a fortune on a shampoo that doesn’t do what it claims to do.
When you have long hair, you will use more shampoo, so affordability is important. Set a budget for shampoo, and then find one that you can afford.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How are shampoos for long hair different from other shampoos?
The main difference between shampoos for long hair and other shampoos is that they have ingredients that help strengthen your long hair. Long hair is heavier and needs a lightweight shampoo that will clean your hair without weighing it down.
Long hair is also prone to breakage and needs to be strengthened and protected. These shampoos will ensure that your long hair is healthy and doesn’t break.
Do you need a different shampoo for long hair?
You don’t necessarily need a different shampoo for long hair, but you do need a shampoo that can give long hair what it needs to be healthy.
The shampoos on this list are light enough that they won’t put too much stress on long hair, and they help to nourish it. They can repair split ends and damaged hair, and they are lightweight while still infusing moisture.
How can you keep long hair healthy?
There are several different things that you can do to keep your long hair healthy. First, you need to use the right shampoo.
If you don’t use a shampoo that is ideal for your hair type, you may find that your hair breaks or even falls out. Second, you need to use conditioner after you shampoo.
Conditioners are important because they help moisturize your hair and make it soft and silky. You can also use a hair mask once a week. It is an at-home treatment that helps to lock nutrients into your hair and removes excessive buildup.
Can you use heated styling products with long hair?
As long as you use a nourishing shampoo for long hair and heat protectant, you can use styling products that require heat. Heat can damage your hair and dry it out, but you do need to use a heat protectant to keep your hair safe and prevent damage.
So, What’s the Best Shampoo for Long Hair?
If you have long hair, you need to use shampoo that protects your hair while strengthening it and nourishing it. Long hair has a tendency to become heavy and any buildup will only add to the problem.
- pH balanced formula with protein and strength complex
- Strength repair for damaged hair
- Amino acids and arginine to prevent future breakage
- Some users find the scent too strong
- Can cause color-treated hair to fade
Our top pick is Redken Extreme Shampoo, as it is light and nourishes your hair. It is great for all hair types, and it moisturizes and cleans your hair.
However, we consider each of these shampoos the best for long hair, so any of the 7 products we’ve listed above are a solid choice. So what are you waiting for — put one in your cart and get softer, shinier hair today!