Most people view shampoos as glorified soaps for their hair. As a result, when buying shampoos, they only consider whether it suits their hair type, whether it has harmful ingredients, and whether they can afford it.
However, a shampoo can be so much more than just a cleansing agent. It can be a styling instrument. If you’re looking for a hair straightening shampoo, then you’ve already realized this.
It’s even likely that you already know how to maintain your hair and get it into the style you want at home. Now, you’re reaching for refinement and sophistication in hair care and hairstyling. This guide is designed to speed you towards that expertise.
Here, you’ll learn everything from how hair straightening shampoos work to what their advantages and disadvantages are. Further, we’ll arm you with information about the best hair straightening shampoos currently available in the market through our detailed reviews. Here’s a quick-click panel to help you navigate through this page.
Budget |
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Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo |
4.25/5.0 |
Item Type: Shampoo |
Weight: 12.5 x 3 ounces |
Active ingredients: Coconut oil and cocoa butter |
A surprisingly effective hair smoothing shampoo available at an incredibly low-price range. |
Check Amazon |
Best Value |
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Hairgurt Smoothing Yogurt Shampoo |
4.25/5.0 |
Item Type: Shampoo |
Weight: 8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Amodimethicone, Quinoa, etc |
A unique smoothing shampoo based around yogurt proteins and natural fruit that also smells deliciously divine. |
Check Amazon |
Top Pick |
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Agave Healing Oil – Smoothing Shampoo |
4.5/5.0 |
Item Type: Shampoo |
Weight: 33.8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Agave sugar extracts |
A completely natural smoothing shampoo that has virtually no flaws and loads of qualities, excellent agave smell. |
Check Amazon |
- How Does A Hair Straightening Shampoo Work?
- Are Hair Smoothening and Hair Straightening Shampoos Same?
- What Are the Advantages of Using A Hair Straightening Shampoo?
- What Are the Disadvantages of Using A Hair Straightening Shampoo?
- Top 10 Hair Straightening Shampoos Comparison Table
- Top 4 Budget Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Premium Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
- What Should You Do to Get the Best Out of Your Hair Straightening Shampoo?
How Does A Hair Straightening Shampoo Work?
Don’t be confused by its name. A hair straightening shampoo will never be able to replace your flat iron. Even the best straightening shampoos are, at the end of the day, only rinse-out products and you can’t expect so much from a product that stays in your hair for a few minutes.
Besides you can’t do away with frizz and natural curls without serious chemical or heat application. It just isn’t possible. However, the fact that hair straightening shampoos exist and are becoming popular is a testament to their usefulness.
So, what do hair straightening shampoos do and how do they do it? A hair straightening shampoo will make it easier and faster for you to straighten your hair either with a hair dryer or a flat iron. They work by coating your hair shafts and sealing it from the inside and outside.
These types of shampoos contain a lot of heat-activated substances such as silicones and polymers. These substances can be found in the ingredients list. Their names will usually have a suffix -cone, but others like -xane and -conol can also be seen.
Further, they also contain high quantities of heavy-duty conditioning agents to deal with frizz and flyaway hair. All these substances create microfilm around your hair shafts.
The microfilm doesn’t only lock-in moisture and seal hair cuticles, but also prevents the hair from absorbing moisture from the surrounding environment. Because of this property of the microfilm hair straightening shampoos are very effective in high humidity regions.
In addition to sealing the hair shaft, the microfilm smooths the hair too, making them shinier and more vibrant. It even prevents them from getting tangled by ensuring that they’re well lubricated.
However, its most important task is to improve the effectiveness of your hair dryer or flat iron. The microfilm, once activated by heat, facilitates the hair straightening process. It increases how long the hair stays straight and reduces the amount of time it takes to straighten the hair.
Are Hair Smoothening and Hair Straightening Shampoos Same?
Hair straightening shampoos and hair smoothening or smoothing shampoos are similar. They work in the same way and contain the same ingredients, i.e., silicones, polymers, and heavy-duty conditioners.
The difference between the two is intensity. A hair smoothening shampoo will be developed in a way that it will smoothen better than help with straightening. Similarly, a hair straightening shampoo will facilitate hair straightening way more than focusing on smoothening.
Therefore, you can use both types of shampoos to straighten your hair and counter frizz. You just have to be aware that some shampoos will be more accomplished at doing one thing while the others will be better at others.
What Are the Advantages of Using A Hair Straightening Shampoo?
It isn’t difficult to figure out the multiple benefits of using a hair straightening shampoo, once you know how it works. Most of these advantages, after all, are a result of how hair straightening shampoos coat hair shafts. Here’s everything you can expect to gain by using a hair straightening shampoo.
- Reduces and even removes frizzy and flyaway hair.
- Makes it easy to detangle hair.
- Adds luster and shine to hair shafts.
- Smooths hair.
- Makes hair stay straight longer.
- Reduces the risk of heat damage by reducing the amount of heat required in the straightening process.
- Reduces the amount of time it takes to straighten hair with a hair dryer and flat iron.
What Are the Disadvantages of Using A Hair Straightening Shampoo?
The hair coating action of hair straightening shampoos isn’t only responsible for its advantages. It is also behind its main flaws. Here is a list of the problems you may face by using a hair straightening shampoo.
- The coating created by hair straightening shampoos is so impermeable that it prevents moisture from reaching hairs. This is good when there’s excess moisture in the air, but not that good if you live in a dry, hot region. It often leads to hair getting very dry.
- Similar to moisture, the coating also prevents key nutrients from reaching the hair. This could cause the hair to seem lifeless and dull.
- The coating will also prevent hair treatments from reaching the hair shaft.
- If you try to dye your hair after using a hair straightening shampoo, it will be tougher for the dye to take hold.
- Because the coating is water-resistant, it can be particularly difficult to wash it out. This could result in product buildup in the hair, making them feel extra-greasy, oily, and icky.
- To remove the coating, you will have to use very strong sulfate-based shampoos. Exposure to too much sulfate can cause the hairs to become dry and damaged.
Even with these disadvantages of hair straightening shampoos, they can be very useful if you like to straighten your hair regularly. You just need to find a reliable one. We’ve found not one but ten of the best hair straightening shampoos and reviewed them in detail to help you make a wise decision.
Top 10 Hair Straightening Shampoos Comparison Table
Product Name | Item Type | Volume | Cost | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
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Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo | Shampoo | 12.5 x 3 ounces | $10.04 | $0.26 per ounce | Check Price |
John Frieda Frizz Ease Flawlessly Straight Shampoo | Shampoo | 8.45 ounces | $3.99 | $0.47 per ounce | Check Price |
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo | Shampoo | 22 ounces | $16.95 | $0.77 per ounce | Check Price |
L’Oréal Paris Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Bundle | Shampoo & Conditioner Set | 12.6 x 2 ounces | $21.89 | $0.86 per ounce | Check Price |
PURA D’OR Smoothing Therapy Anti-Frizz System | Shampoo, Conditioner, & Styling Set | 16 x 2 + 8 ounces | $47.49 | $1.18 per ounce | Check Price |
It’s A 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin | Shampoo | 33.8 ounces | $41.68 | $1.23 per ounce | Check Price |
Hairgurt Smoothing Yogurt Shampoo | Shampoo | 8 ounces | $12.00 | $1.50 per ounce | Check Price |
Agave Healing Oil – Smoothing Shampoo | Shampoo | 33.8 ounces | $90.00 | $2.66 per ounce | Check Price |
Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo | Shampoo | 8.45 ounces | $28.00 | $3.31 per ounce | Check Price |
R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo | Shampoo | 8 ounces | $30.00 | $3.75 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 4 Budget Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
1. Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Garnier is one of the more recognizable personal care brands in the world today. The brand has been around since the turn of the last century, making it more than 100 years old.
With so much experience behind them, it isn’t surprising that they have one of the most effective yet affordable hair straightening shampoos in the market right now.
This hair straightening shampoo is built around coconut oil and cocoa butter extracts, which the company says are sustainably sourced from the South Pacific and Africa, respectively.
The combination of these two ingredients naturally keeps frizz away and even allows for the hair to be smoothed. However, despite containing these natural ingredients, this shampoo’s formulation isn’t all-natural because it contains sulfates.
As a result, it lathers up well and cleanses the scalp of all but the clingiest of buildups. Further, the sulfates in its formula make the shampoo quite strong.
However, this strength also means that this shampoo may not be the best option for people with color or chemically treated hair. At the same time, some users of this shampoo do say that it doesn’t strip away the color from their hair.
Despite that genuine feedback from actual users, we will still recommend avoiding this shampoo if you have color or chemically treated hair or even if your hair is slightly damaged.
Incidentally, its sulfate content is its main flaw because sulfates tend to strip the hair of all its natural oil. This causes the hair to become very dry. This shampoo does that too. On the positive side, this shampoo doesn’t contain carcinogenic parabens that everyone wants to avoid these days.
You can get this shampoo in four sizes, with the smallest being a single bottle of 12.5 ounces. While you the single bottle is affordable, you can get real value for money by buying the larger packs. What makes this shampoo even more pocket-friendly is that a little bit of it goes a long way and the bottle lasts a very long time.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a cheap but effective hair straightening shampoo, get this three-pack from Garnier.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 12.5 x 3 ounces |
Active ingredients: Coconut oil and cocoa butter |
The Pros |
---|
Made with coconut oil and cocoa butter extracts |
Ingredients sustainably sourced |
Likable coconut smell |
Deals with frizz well |
Comes in four sizes |
Lathers well |
Parabens-free product |
Incredibly affordable |
The Cons |
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Contains sulfates |
Can dry the hair a bit too much |
Maybe too strong for color and chemically treated hair |
2. John Frieda Frizz Ease Flawlessly Straight Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 3.75/5.0
Keratin is a major ingredient of many hair straightening shampoos. It is a protein that is a major building block of human hair. It is used in hair straightening shampoos because it complements hairs’ makeup and naturally boosts their health.
The John Frieda Frizz Ease Flawlessly Straight Shampoo is one of those shampoos whose formula is built around keratin. The company describes this shampoo as a straightening shampoo that is particularly good at dealing with frizz and flyaway hair.
It works by coating the hair shaft with keratin. The keratin blocks off the porous portions on the hair shaft by creating microfilm around the entire shaft. This brings frizz under control and also makes the hair smooth and shiny.
This shampoo does all this while cleansing the hair and scalp. It cleanses so well because its formula contains sulfates. On the one hand, this means that the shampoo is good at producing lather, but on the other, it means that it is a bit too strong for color or chemically treated hair. However, we feel that you can probably use it if you’ve had keratin treatment because it contains keratin.
It is also a strong holding shampoo. This means that it is capable of holding styles in place for a long time. However, because it has such tremendous staying power, you need to be careful about how you use it. If you use too much of it or use it too often, you’ll end up with sticky hair that will feel greasy, dirty, and icky.
It has a very interesting and pleasant smell too. Its scent is floral with an alcoholic note. The shampoo is competitively priced, but its low cost is reflected in its packaging. The tube this shampoo comes in tends to leak even if you stand it up in a corner of your bathroom. This doesn’t only cause wastage, but also makes things very messy.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a hair straightening shampoo with strong holding qualities, get this one from John Frieda.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 8.45 ounces |
Active ingredients: Dimethicone and Cocamidopropyl Betaine |
The Pros |
---|
Formulation includes keratin |
Deals with frizz well |
Good at holding the style in place |
Has a nice flowery scent with a tinge of alcohol in it |
Lathers well |
Affordably priced |
The Cons |
---|
Contains sulfates |
Can make hair feel sticky, greasy and dirty |
Packaging leaks sometimes |
3. TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 3.75/5.0
Like the John Frieda shampoo we reviewed above, this Smooth Shampoo from TRESemmé is also based around keratin. The difference here is that this shampoo’s formula includes marula oil as well.
Marula oil is known for its hydrating and conditioning properties. However, what people don’t know is that it is also good at sealing the hair shaft. Since sealing the hair shaft is primarily how a smoothing and straightening shampoo works, marula oil is an excellent natural addition to the inherent process.
Keratin and marula oil work together to nullify frizz and seal the hair shaft from external moisture. The result is vibrant hair that has a unique shine to it. However, you need to be careful about how you use this shampoo. If you’re not careful about how much you use in every wash, you may end up with excessively greasy and oily hair.
Apart from being an effective hair straightening shampoo, this product even takes user preference into consideration by offering them choices. You can choose from three sizes and two different variants of this product. The three sizes are three ounces, 22 ounces, and 32 ounces, while the variants are bottles with or without a pump.
The smell of this shampoo, while exceptional, is very difficult to describe. The majority of its users love its scent, but there are a few that feel that it is a bit too strong for them. What you will think about its smell will depend on your particular preferences and how well you can handle strong scents.
The shampoo lathers quite well, but that is expected because its formula contains sulfates. This also means that this shampoo is very strong. Owing to the sulfates, people with colored or chemically treated hair may not be able to use this shampoo. It might just strip the color off their hair.
In terms of costs, it is competitively priced and is well worth a try to see how your hair responds to it.
Who’s it for: If you’re careful and know how to use a hair straightening shampoo, this one from TRESemmé may work wonders for you.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 22 ounces |
Active ingredients: Keratin and marula oil |
The Pros |
---|
Formulation based on keratin and marula oil |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Comes in three sizes and two variations |
Likable smell |
Lathers well |
Affordably priced |
The Cons |
---|
Contains sulfates |
Can make hair feel too greasy |
Not ideal for color or chemically treated hair |
The smell may be a bit too strong |
Can dry the hair a bit too much |
4. L’Oréal Paris Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Bundle
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
One of the side effects of using a hair straightening shampoo is that it can dry up your hair over time, leaving it listless and limp. The easiest way to negate this potential problem is to use the shampoo in combination with a good conditioner.
This combo product from L’Oréal is a good option because it contains a hair straightening shampoo and a conditioner that is specifically formulated to work with the shampoo.
Since there are fewer complaints of this shampoo making hairs extra-dry from its users, we’re inclined to believe that the conditioner does make a difference. Even so, the conditioner doesn’t eradicate the dry-hair problem. There are still a few users who’ve admitted to having that problem.
Another point to note is that the conditioner in this combo is incredibly intense. It can help people with extra-dry hair greatly, but it can also cause grease in people with already oily hair. You’ll have to moderate the amount of conditioner you use according to your specific hair type.
In terms of its core function, this combo product straightens hair well and is competent against frizz also. According to the company and even some reports from actual users, it helps hair remain straight for up to two days without intervention.
The smell of this shampoo-conditioner combo is excellent and the formulation is free of sulfates. This means that you can freely use it on color and chemically treated hair.
Surprisingly, this combo isn’t priced too expensively. You may feel the list price is a bit too high, but if you calculate it’s price on a per-ounce basis, you’ll find it quite affordable.
Who’s it for: If straightening shampoos dry your hair excessively, then get this shampoo-conditioner combo from L’Oréal.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 12.6 x 2 ounces |
Active ingredients: Amodimethicone and pro-keratin |
The Pros |
---|
Shampoo and conditioner combo |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Can straighten hair for up to two days |
Smells excellent |
Sulfate-free product |
Suitable for color and chemically treated hair |
Affordably priced |
The Cons |
---|
Can make hair feel too greasy |
Can dry hair too much for a few people |
Top 3 Value Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
5. PURA D’OR Smoothing Therapy Anti-Frizz System
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Hair straightening shampoos don’t always have to have silicones to deliver frizz-free, straightened hair. It is possible to achieve the same results with natural ingredients too, albeit with slightly reduced efficiency.
If you’re used to silicone-based hair straightening shampoos, then you may even notice the difference between those shampoos and the effectiveness of a naturally straightening shampoo.
Even with that difference, though, the health benefits of using a natural formulation are enough to justify using such a product. This is why this smoothing therapy, anti-frizz system from PURA D’OR has garnered such a following. It is a system that comprises a shampoo, a conditioner, and a cream.
As mentioned, each of these products is free of artificial chemicals. They’re still capable of countering frizz and leaving the hair sufficiently smoother and straighter than non-straightening shampoos.
The formula of each of these products revolves around naturally occurring ingredients such as chia seed and linseed extracts along with other things like geranium oil, rosemary oil, lemongrass oil, and aloe vera.
The chia seed and linseed extracts in the formula are responsible for negating frizz and adding volume and shine to the hair. The purpose of geranium oil along with those other oils is to supplement the hairs’ natural oils, leaving the hair conditioned and moisturized.
The increased moisturization helps improve appearances as well, with your hair becoming more vibrant and voluminous. However, you have to make sure that you don’t use too much of it in a single session. If you make this mistake, you’ll end up with very greasy and oily hair.
This shampoo has a predominantly lemongrass smell. The smell is lemony and we can confidently compare it to black licorice if you’ve smelled it before. Whether you like its scent or not depends on what you think of the black licorice smell.
It is important to note that this product is completely free of artificial substances. It has no sulfates, parabens, or silicones. This means that you can use it on colored, chemically treated, and even heavily damaged hair without worrying about side-effects.
However, while the absence of artificial substances is hugely beneficial for your health, it has a few downsides too. For example, the absence of sulfates means that this shampoo won’t create as much lather as you may be used to with your shampoos.
However, the lather isn’t a prerequisite to a proper cleansing. This shampoo will clean your hair as well as standard shampoos. Also, we suggest that you don’t try to get a lot of lather by using a lot of this shampoo. As we said earlier, you’ll end up with very icky hair.
In fact, these items are so effective that you should use lesser amounts than what you may be used to with other products. Smaller quantities of these items go a long way. In terms of pricing, you’ll find this product in the midrange.
However, the fact that it lasts a long time makes it even more financially attractive. To ensure that you don’t end up wasting the product, the bottles come with pumps. Also, the company offers a satisfaction guarantee.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a natural straightening and anti-frizz shampoo, then get this PURA D’OR combo.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 16 x 2 + 8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Chia seed, linseed extracts, geranium oil, rosemary, lemongrass oil, and aloe vera |
The Pros |
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Shampoo, conditioner, & cream combo |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Doesn’t contain silicones |
Has a likable lemony smell |
Sulfate-free product |
Parabens-free product |
Suitable for color and chemically treated hair |
Lasts a long time |
Bottles come with pumps |
Backed by a satisfaction guarantee |
The Cons |
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Can make hair feel too greasy |
Doesn’t lather much |
Some people may not like the smell |
6. It’s A 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
If a product has “miracle” in its name, you can’t help but expect great things from it. For the most part, this product from It’s A 10 will match your expectations. It is as effective at dealing with frizz as it is at smoothening hairs.
The formula in this hair straightening shampoo is particularly strong. Its strength translates directly into the microfilm it creates around each hair shaft. The microfilm is very effective at locking out moisture from the surrounding environment.
In fact, it is strong enough to handle high humid regions too. Further, it offers the added benefit of protection from the sun and its ultraviolet rays. It even has a very thick, heavy, and creamy consistency.
Because it is such a strong shampoo, it has a very strong smell. However, the actual smell is quite pleasant. If you can handle the strength of the smell, it comes off as very fresh, clean, and invigorating.
Like many great hair straightening shampoos, this one also depends heavily on keratin to deliver results. However, unlike its competitors, this one doesn’t contain sulfates and parabens, making it suitable for sensitive hair. You can use this shampoo confidently on damaged hair, colored hair, and even chemically treated hair.
Despite not containing sulfates, this shampoo still manages to produce a rich lather. Between it’s thick consistency and the fact that it creates lather freely, you don’t have to use too much of it in every wash. You can use a little bit and it will deliver results.
In fact, we suggest not using too much of it. If you do, it will quickly buildup in your hair, making it very oily, greasy, and unattractive. This means that the bottle you buy will last you a long time.
The shampoo is also priced in the midlevel price bracket. Therefore, we believe this shampoo offers good value for money.
Who’s it for: If you live in a humid region and want a very strong hair straightening shampoo, get this one.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 33.8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Keratin, acai fruit, noni fruit, vitamin C, comfrey, sunflower extract, red tea extract, and ginger |
The Pros |
---|
Formulation includes keratin |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Has a fresh, clean scent |
Lathers well |
Sulfate-free product |
Parabens-free product |
Suitable for color and chemically treated hair |
Lasts a long time |
Affordably priced |
The Cons |
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Can make hair feel sticky, greasy, and oily |
The smell may be a bit too strong |
Very heavy consistency |
7. Hairgurt Smoothing Yogurt Shampoo (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Many hair straightening shampoos focus more on dealing with frizz and flyaway hair. This one from Hairgurt, however, is more about softening and straightening the hair than combating frizz.
This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t help against frizz, though. It does. It’s just that it is more of a softener and very accomplished at its primary objective. While an excellent straightening and smoothening shampoo, this isn’t even what makes this shampoo stand out.
This shampoo’s unique quality is its smell. There aren’t many shampoos in the market that can boast of smelling like this one does. Its scent or flavor is fruity and most of its users describe it as “delicious” or “yummy.”
In fact, the smell is so alluring that the company specifically adds “do not eat” to its safety warnings. Further, there is more than one smell or flavor to choose from.
You’ll be able to choose from strawberry banana, coconut acai, and almond honey. Even though most people like the smells of these shampoos, it is possible that you may not if you’re not a big fan of fruity flavors and smells.
The formula that these shampoos are based on is also unique. They revolve around yogurt proteins along with prebiotics, quinoa, and a six-oil botanical blend. There aren’t many shampoos with yogurt proteins in them, but they play a huge role here.
Even the consistency of this shampoo will remind you of yogurt. It is on the thicker side, but you don’t have to use a lot of it. Just a little bit will work wonders in your hair. The formulation is completely free of artificial substances. You won’t find any parabens or sulfates in this shampoo.
Despite the absence of sulfates, the shampoo manages to produce a considerable amount of lather. In fact, it is gentle enough to be used on color or chemically treated hair. Used in the right amounts, this shampoo will leave your hair smooth and soft. It will even counter frizz.
The formula doesn’t depend on artificial flavors either. It uses actual strawberry, banana, acai, coconut, almond, and honey and you’ll be able to make that out when you use this shampoo.
Who’s it for: If you like fruity scents and are looking for a different kind of hair straightening shampoo, get one from Hairgurt.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Amodimethicone, Quinoa, and one of almond honey, coconut acai, or strawberry banana |
The Pros |
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Formulation based on yogurt proteins, quinoa, and botanical blends |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Comes with multiple fruity smells |
Sulfate-free product |
Paraben-free product |
Suitable for color and chemically treated hair |
Lathers well |
The Cons |
---|
A bit on the expensive side |
Fruity smells may not appeal to everyone |
Top 3 Premium Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
8. Agave Healing Oil – Smoothing Shampoo (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
When people buy all-natural products, they do so with the expectation that they will be slightly less effective than their artificial counterparts. This is established and widely-accepted wisdom when buying products.
However, the Agave Healing Oil – Smoothing Shampoo flouts these rules by delivering better results than its artificial competitors. As a result, it is easily one of the best hair straightening shampoos available in the market right now.
As its name suggests, its formula revolves around agave plant sugars. However, the formula is also completely free of artificial ingredients. This means that it doesn’t contain the usual suspects such as phthalates, parabens, and sulfates.
This shampoo is very accomplished and will leave your hair smooth and ready to be straightened after every wash. It will make the task of flat ironing or drying your hair after wash significantly easier and considerably faster too.
Even if you’re going for the natural look, this shampoo will tame unruly and frizzy hair for you. Incidentally, this is a pH-balanced shampoo which means even more protection for your hairs and scalp and no side-effects.
It will do all this while cleansing your hair and scalp both. It will remove product buildup, dry skin cells, and even any dust and debris that your hairs may have gathered since your last wash. Unlike other all-natural products, this shampoo will do this with lather. We don’t know how it does it without sulfates, but this shampoo creates a very rich lather.
There is only one real flaw of this shampoo and it is a result of how effective this shampoo is. It can really dry out your hair if you don’t ensure regular conditioning. This is a problem that afflicts all hair straightening shampoos, however. So, we won’t make a big deal of it here.
The shampoo even smells wonderful. It derives it’s scent from agave plant sugars. It isn’t too strong either as is the case with most shampoos.
You can get this shampoo in two sizes. One is an 8.5-ounce bottle, while the other one is a 33.8-ounce bottle.The bigger bottle is obviously more pocket-friendly.
In fact, we recommend buying the bigger bottle because this is one of the most expensive shampoos we’ve ever come across. It will burn a huge hole in your pocket. However, we still believe that it is worth all that spending because it is, by far, the best all-natural hair straightening shampoo you’ll find anywhere.
Who’s it for: Whether you’re looking for an all-natural option or not, this is the best hair straightening shampoo you’ll find anywhere.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 33.8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Agave sugar extracts |
The Pros |
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Formulation based on agave sugars |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Comes in two sizes |
Sulfate-free product |
Paraben-free product |
Phthalates-free product |
Excellent agave smell |
Suitable for color and chemically treated hair |
Lathers really well |
The Cons |
---|
Very expensive shampoo |
Can really dry out the hair |
9. Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
This is an award-winning shampoo. It has won the Best of Beauty Award twice in 2011 and 2014 along with The Coveter’s Luxury Beauty Awards. If you use this shampoo, you’ll be able to tell why too. It is simply an exceptional hair straightening and smoothing shampoo.
Davines’ LOVE shampoo is based on Olive extracts sourced from their natural environment in Messina, Italy. The formulation is such that this shampoo is not only capable of eliminating frizz, but also smoothing your hair to the point that it becomes incredibly easy to straighten.
Further, this shampoo is also very good at moisturizing and conditioning hairs. However, like all hair straightening shampoos, you need to be careful about how you use it. If you use it in large quantities or too frequently, you can end up with very dry hair.
It has a very pleasing smell too. Its smell is fresh and clean but has floral notes to it. At the same time, the smell does have a slightly artificial feel to it which may put you off.
The shampoo has a creamy consistency and lathers fairly well. Its lather isn’t as thick as you find in other more standard shampoo formulations, but it is enough for cleansing purposes. Moreover, you don’t have to use a lot of this shampoo to get that lather going. You only need a little, which is probably why this shampoo tends to last so long.
You can get this shampoo in two bottle sizes. The first is a sample size bottle containing about 2.54 ounces of shampoo, while the other is bigger with an 8.45-ounce capacity. The smaller bottle is good to try out the shampoo, but if you want to save money, you want the bigger one.
You may want to save money too because this is easily one of the most expensive shampoos out there. In fact, without seeing its numerous benefits, you’ll most probably think its pricing is insane. However, this is an award-winning shampoo for a reason and its benefits are worth the expense.
However, you might want to prepare an empty bottle after ordering this shampoo. The bottle this shampoo comes in is very weak and flimsy. It is so flimsy, in fact, that we suggest you avoid traveling with it. Don’t worry if the bottle you receive isn’t full, though. If you weigh it, you’ll find that it contains the amount you ordered.
Who’s it for: If you want an award-winning, premium-quality hair straightening shampoo, get the LOVE from Davines.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 8.45 ounces |
Active ingredients: Olive extract and amodimethicone |
The Pros |
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Formulation based on Italian olive extracts |
Multiple award-winning shampoo |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Comes in two sizes |
Likable floral smell |
Sulfate-free product |
Lathers moderately |
Lasts a long time |
The Cons |
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Very expensive shampoo |
Some people find the smell too artificial |
Can dry the hair a bit too much |
Low-quality packaging |
10. R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
This is a professional quality hair straightening shampoo. It was developed by professionals for other professionals. More specifically, it was developed by a group of hairstylists for the media industry.
It is designed to deliver television-perfect hair and it does an excellent job of it too. It nullifies frizz and flyaway hair before smoothing it and making it more amenable to straightening with a flat iron or hair dryer.
This shampoo even adds shine and body to the hair to make it suitable for the camera. Its formula is based around juniper berry extract, babassu seed oil, and glycerin. Each of these three primary ingredients plays a specific role in the formula.
The juniper berry extract is excellent for moisturizing the hair without adding too much weight to it, while the babassu seed oil softens and relaxes the hair shaft. The purpose of glycerin is to act as the humectant that keeps the moisture in place.
The juniper berry extract and babassu seed oil, together give this shampoo a wonderful scent that is neutral enough to be liked by everyone.
Apart from all these qualities, this shampoo is also a good cleanser. It produces sufficient lather to strip away product buildup and even dead skin cells that may clog up the hair follicles. It can do this because it contains sulfates. This is a paraben-free shampoo, though.
The biggest problem with this shampoo is its cost. It is one of the costliest shampoos available in the market. The saving grace here is that even though the bottle is on the smaller side, it lasts a long time.
This is because you don’t have to use a lot of the shampoo to get the desired results. In fact, you shouldn’t use too much of it because if you do then your hair will become weighed down and lose all their natural bounce and effervescence.
A minor complaint that is pretty common about this shampoo is that the bottle is never delivered full. However, that is because the bottle can hold more than eight ounces. Therefore, even if the bottle is slightly empty, you do get your eight ounces of product.
Who’s it for: If you want the kind of smooth, straight, and vibrant hair that women have on TV, get this R+CO shampoo.
Tech Specs |
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Product weight: 8 ounces |
Active ingredients: Juniper berry extract, babassu seed oil, & glycerin |
The Pros |
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Formulation based on juniper berry extract, babassu seed oil, and glycerin |
Deals with frizz well |
Does smoothen the hair |
Smells amazing |
Sulfate-free product |
Parabens-free product |
Cruelty-free product |
Lathers well |
Lasts a long time |
The Cons |
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Very expensive shampoo |
Can weigh down the hair a bit too much |
What Should You Do to Get the Best Out of Your Hair Straightening Shampoo?
Every shampoo we’ve reviewed has a tremendous following. Each of them can make your hairs frizz-free while also ensuring that they respond better to your straightening regime, whether it involves a flat iron or hair dryer.
However, any product, no matter how good, will only be as good as the user’s technique. In order to get the most out of your chosen hair straightening shampoo, you’ll need to learn how to use it properly.
First, you’ll have to pay special attention to the quantities you use them in. In most cases, hair straightening shampoos are thick and creamy in consistency. Whether they contain silicones, polymers, or their naturally-occurring counterparts, ingredients of these types are viscous in nature.
Because they’re so viscous, you may be tempted to use more product. Instead of doing this, you should spend more time massaging and spreading the product in your hair.
If you use too much of the product or don’t spread it well, you’ll end up be clumps in your hair and product buildup will become your constant companion. On the other hand, if you massage your scalp enough, you’ll realize that you need to use fewer amounts of these products than other more standard shampoos.
To ensure that the hair straightening shampoo spreads in your hairs well, we recommend using a wide-toothed comb in the shower or even a detangling brush. The comb will help the shampoo spread all across your scalp and coat every hair shaft properly.
You also need to remember that this coating seals the hair shaft from the surrounding environment completely. It even blocks off the oils in your own scalp from reaching the hair shaft. As a result, using hair straightening shampoos can dry your hair really fast.
Because of this disadvantage, hair straightening shampoos should be used with hair straightening conditioners and smoothing serums or creams. The conditioners will keep the hair shafts hydrated while the smoothing creams will make them even more conducive to being straightened.
Finally, it is good to remember that the coating hair straightening shampoos leave on your hairs is heat activated. While you can use these shampoos to counter frizz and flyaway hairs, you won’t get the best out of them if you don’t use a hair dryer or a flat iron.
Contents
- How Does A Hair Straightening Shampoo Work?
- Are Hair Smoothening and Hair Straightening Shampoos Same?
- What Are the Advantages of Using A Hair Straightening Shampoo?
- What Are the Disadvantages of Using A Hair Straightening Shampoo?
- Top 10 Hair Straightening Shampoos Comparison Table
- Top 4 Budget Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Premium Hair Straightening Shampoos: Detailed Reviews
- What Should You Do to Get the Best Out of Your Hair Straightening Shampoo?