10 Best Keratin Shampoos of 2020

1. Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Keratin shampoos are usually seen as specialized hair products. Typically, people expect such shampoos to be loaded with keratin in all its forms along with a wide array of other compatible proteins. However, this is a misconception. Keratin is an incredibly popular ingredient that many mainstream brands have started incorporating in their products’ formulae.

Garnier Fructis is a prime example with its Damage Eraser Shampoo. It isn’t solely based on keratin but incorporates phytokeratin along with many other ingredients such as fruit extracts and vegetable proteins. Incidentally, phytokeratin is an amalgamation of free plant amino acids. It is used because it mimics keratin amino acids very well.

Therefore, while it doesn’t rely solely on keratin, it offers the same kind of benefits that most keratin-focused shampoos do. The foremost of these benefits is damage repair. Garnier says that this shampoo repairs damage in one use. We don’t believe that but we do think that, over time, this shampoo can repair damaged hair.

In terms of smell, this shampoo, like all Garnier Fructis products, has a fruity scent. The smell is clean, fresh, and, very similar to oranges. It is also light and neither overpowers nor lingers, making this shampoo suitable for people with sensitive noses.

Even though it contains keratin and several other good ingredients, this is still a mainstream shampoo in that it contains both sulfates and silicones. The sulfates in its formula ensure that the shampoo produces a lot of lather. You don’t even need to use a lot to get sufficient lather. A little bit will suffice.

In fact, you should avoid using too much in a single session. It is easy to take too much as well because the shampoo bottle doesn’t come with a pump. If you do get too much in your palm, though, we suggest getting rid of the extra instead of using too much in your hair. If you do, it may end up drying your hair too much.

Getting rid of the extra shampoo shouldn’t be a problem either because this is one of the cheapest keratin shampoos available in the market, regardless of which bottle size you get. You’ll have two choices – a 12.5-ounce bottle and a 22-ounce bottle.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a mainstream shampoo with keratin on a budget, get this one from Garnier.

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2. Nexxus KeraphixShampoo for Damaged Hair

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Nexxus is a well-known brand, particularly recognized for its affordably priced salon-grade hair products. Its products are particularly popular amongst men and women who undergo salon treatments regularly.

The Keraphix Shampoo from this brand is one such product. It is specifically designed for people with damaged or brittle hair since it not only contains keratin but also a slew of other proteins, which the company calls “ProteinFusion”.

Like all keratin shampoos, the repairing benefit of this one also accrues over time i.e. the longer you use it, the better the results. Further, like all protein-based shampoos, this one can also weigh down the hair and leave it very greasy. Its heaviness means that this shampoo isn’t ideal for people who already have very oily hair.

Apart from keratin and other proteins, this shampoo contains black rice. While the black rice helps nourish and smooth the hair, it is further responsible for this shampoo’s scent. This shampoo has a very distinct rice smell. The rice smell, unfortunately, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, which is why so many of its users complain about it.

People who like their shampoos to lather will love this shampoo because it produces the same amount of lather that mainstream shampoos do. This is because it contains sulfates. However, the presence of sulfates is a flaw too because it makes this shampoo unfit for people with colored or chemically-treated hair.

While it may contain sulfates, it doesn’t have any other artificial ingredients like silicones. However, although silicone-free, this is a very thick shampoo. It is thick enough to hinder the pump that it comes with. The fact that it comes with a pump is great because it makes dispensing the shampoo easier.

This shampoo is one of the cheapest keratin shampoos available in the market right now and should fit most people’s budgets.

Who’s it for: If you have damaged, brittle hair along with limited funds, get this salon-grade keratin shampoo from Nexxus.

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3. OGX Anti-Breakage + Keratin Oil Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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The Anti-Breakage + Keratin Oil Shampoo from OGX is an excellent option for people who want to repair their heavily-processed hair while reducing the number of hair products they use.

The reason for this is that this shampoo not only repairs damaged hair and prevents future breakage but also conditions the hair. As a result, it makes the conditioner redundant for everyone except those with the driest of hair.

This is a creamy shampoo whose highlight ingredients are keratin oil and argan oil. Keratin oil performs the primary function of repairing and strengthening brittle hair so that they resist breakage, while argan oil offers a lot of nourishment and conditioning to the hair.

Apart from these two primary ingredients, this shampoo’s formula also incorporates silicones in large quantities. For extremely damaged, heavily-processed, and extra-dry hair, these silicones prove to be perfect because they condition and coat every hair strand.

The coating protects the hair from external damage and also makes them look healthier. At the same time, silicones are very heavy and can weigh down the hair. Therefore, if you already have oily hair, you should avoid this shampoo because it will make your hair greasy and grimy.

This shampoo’s argan oil content is partly responsible for its scent too. The shampoo has a mixed scent of argan oil and coconut. Argan oil gives the scent an herbal note and the coconut scent makes it slightly tropical. Unfortunately, the overall scent of this shampoo is a bit too strong, which means that it might not suit people with sensitive noses.

The coconut part of the scent from a series of cleansers derived from coconuts. These cleansers perform the same function that sulfates do in other shampoos i.e. producing lather. While they’re not as effective as sulfates synthesized in a lab, the lather they produce should be sufficient for most people. In fact, you won’t even need to use a lot of this shampoo to get the lather you need because a little of it will go a long way.

However, since this shampoo doesn’t come with a pump, it is very easy to get more than you need when tipping the bottle. If you do get too much in your hand, though, we suggest just getting rid of the excess because you don’t want your hair to get too greasy.

Getting rid of the extra shampoo in your hand won’t hurt your pocket either because this is an incredibly cheap shampoo.

Who’s it for: If you want a budget keratin shampoo that will smooth your hair while repairing it, go for this one from OGX.

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4. Giovanni 2chic Ultra Sleek Shampoo (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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The Ultra Sleek Shampoo from Giovanni 2chic is one of the best keratin shampoos available in the market right now, irrespective of which price bracket you look into. The best part is that this shampoo offers exceptional qualities without being expensive.

In fact, its price puts it well within the budget market segment. Even if the company decides to increase the price of this shampoo, it will remain the best option in the market. Yes, it is that good.

The Giovanni 2chic brand is Italian and was established as far back as 1979. The company says that its objective is to “bridge the gap between natural and salon-quality hair care”. This shampoo typifies this objective.

It offers repairing, smoothing, nourishing, and conditioning benefits only through natural ingredients. The two most important ingredients in this shampoo argan oil and keratin. The argan oil is sourced from Morocco, while the keratin is a type of phytokeratin derived from Brazilian cocoa. The two work exceptionally well together, leaving the hair stronger, smoother, and more attractive than before.

The formula of this shampoo is based only on natural ingredients. The effectiveness of argan oil and keratin means that silicones are redundant and absent from the formula. Sulfates, on the other hand, are used in shampoos to create lather.

This shampoo doesn’t have sulfates because it is replaced by naturally derived cleansers. These cleansers do a very good job because this shampoo produces a lot of lather and cleanses the hair well.

The primary source of these cleansers is coconut, which also happens to be the reason for this shampoo’s coconut smell. The coconut smell is distinct but, at the same time, very subtle and mild. This means that it will dovetail well with other hair products and even suit people with sensitive noses. This shampoo also comes with a pump so it is fairly easy to use.

In terms of flaws, this shampoo doesn’t really have any except for the fact that it is maybe a little too effective. The argan oil and keratin combo is very heavy and can end up making hair excessively oily or greasy. Therefore, if you already have oily hair, this may not be the shampoo for you but then most keratin-based shampoos won’t suit you.

Who’s it for: If you want the best keratin-based shampoo without breaking the bank, get one from this Italian brand, Giovanni 2chic.

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5. Luseta Keratin Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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This Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner set is manufactured by Luseta Beauty, an American company with a domestic manufacturing unit. It is different from most other keratin shampoos available in the market because of its unique scent.

Typically, keratin shampoos have an herbal or nutty smell but this shampoo has a strong floral scent instead. While the strength and artificialness of this scent may be a problem for some people, people who like flowery smells will love this shampoo.

Both the shampoo and conditioner in this set are based heavily on keratin and various hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, which means that they do a good job repairing damaged hair, moisturizing it, and protecting it from further damage. In fact, when used in conjunction, they deliver even better results over time as is the case with all shampoo and conditioner combos.

At the same time, when used in conjunction, the two hair products can be very heavy. This means that they can make all but extremely dry hair very oily and greasy. Additionally, the conditioner in this set contains silicones too. Silicones take this greasiness even further by adding another layer to the hair.

All this means that you’ll have to be very careful that you don’t use this combo too much. In effect, you can neither use this shampoo too frequently nor in large quantities as you’ll end up with grimy hair in both these scenarios. Fortunately, both bottles come with pumps that you can use to control how much product is dispensed.

You won’t even feel the need to use too much of the shampoo in this set because it produces a good amount of lather. This is particularly surprising for us because a good lather in a shampoo is a sign that it contains sulfates. However, there’s no sign of sulfates in this shampoo.

Since you don’t have to use a lot of this shampoo and conditioner set, you can buy a smaller set comprising two 16.9-ounce bottles. At the same time, the bigger 33.8-ounce bottles turn out to be more pocket-friendly. The smaller bottles will also be a better pick if you’ve never tried this product before.

All in all, this isn’t a very expensive combo. It falls in the mid-level price bracket.

Who’s it for: If you like floral scents and are looking for a keratin shampoo from a domestic brand, try this one from Luseta Beauty.

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6. WOW Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Since keratin is a heavy and oily protein, keratin shampoos almost always leave the hair oily and greasy. This is why keratin shampoos are rarely suitable for people who already have oily hair. However, WOW seems to have found a way to create a keratin shampoo that doesn’t weigh down the hair.

The Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo can be used by people with oily hair because it doesn’t weigh the hair down. In fact, it is a cleansing shampoo that helps repair damaged hair because of its keratin content. The keratin has been incorporated in this shampoo’s formula in the form of hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

The amount of keratin in this shampoo is also not as much as you’ll find in other keratin shampoos. Fortunately, this doesn’t affect the shampoo’s repairing properties because it also contains provitamin B5.

The cleansing aspect of this shampoo comes from its activated charcoal content. The activated charcoal is very potent and can facilitate full scalp detoxification. However, it is a bit too powerful and can leave the hair too dry because of that.

This especially happens if you use too much of this shampoo, and it is very easy to do that because this bottle doesn’t come with a dispensing pump. Without a dispensing pump, you’ll have to tip the bottle to get the shampoo and that will result in more shampoo being used than normal.

The charcoal also gives this shampoo its fresh and clean scent. However, the scent is a bit too strong and comes off as very masculine. This can put off many women from using this shampoo.

Apart from the aforementioned natural ingredients, this shampoo doesn’t contain any synthetic substances such as silicones and sulfates. Even though it doesn’t contain sulfates, it still manages to produce a lot of lather, which should appeal to people who like suds.

Who’s it for: If you have oily but damaged hair with buildup in the scalp, get this WOW shampoo to deal with all the problems at one time.

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7. Alfaparf Milano Keratin Therapy Lisse Design Maintenance Shampoo

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Most keratin shampoos are developed to repair damaged and brittle hair. Along the way, they also prolong the effects of keratin treatments. The Keratin Therapy Lisse Design Maintenance Shampoo from Alfaparf Milano is the exact opposite.

This Italian, salon-quality keratin shampoo is designed to prolong the effects of keratin treatments first. As a result, even though it helps repair damaged hair too, its real value is in how it helps maintain keratin treatment benefits. In fact, it is easily the most effective keratin shampoo in the market purely from that perspective.

It is a very gentle and mild product that still manages to cleanse the hair without stripping away any proteins. This allows the hair to remain strong and smooth while appearing glossy and pin-straight. The second major ingredient in this shampoo is babassu oil which supports keratin’s strengthening qualities by keeping the hair moisturized.

This shampoo’s formula also incorporates silicones which provide even more protection for the keratin treatment by coating the hair strand. Silicones may harm the hair in the long term but they do contribute greatly in prolonging the effects of the keratin treatment.

Apart from silicones, this shampoo doesn’t contain any other synthetic ingredients such as sulfates. Despite this, it produces a lot of lather, which should appeal to people who like suds in the shower.

This shampoo is also fairly unobtrusive in terms of scent too. It has a slight vanilla smell that will gel well with other hair products that you may be using. While it would’ve been nice if this bottle came with a pump, it isn’t a dealbreaker in our eyes.

A slightly more concerning aspect is the cost of this shampoo. It straddles the divide between mid-level and premium price brackets and can be easily included in either of those categories.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a keratin shampoo to extend the life of your keratin treatment, get the Alfaparf Milano’s offering.

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8. It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Most keratin shampoos either contain sulfates or silicones. Both these ingredients can be harmful to the hair. Sulfates can strip the hair of its natural oils, color, and keratin treatments, while silicones can weigh them down and even cause buildup over time.

Even though these flaws of such ingredients are commonly known, there aren’t many keratin shampoos in the market without them. In fact, this product from It’s a 10 Haircare is the only keratin shampoo we could find that was free of all synthetic ingredients.

The absence of silicones and sulfates, however, neither impacts the Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin’s primary purpose of strengthening and protecting hair nor its secondary benefits such as moisturizing and conditioning.

For example, because of the amount of keratin, other types of proteins, and natural oils it contains, this shampoo manages to repair damaged hair, prevent breakage, and restore elasticity.

In fact, these ingredients are so effective that they can end up making your hair greasy if you already have oily hair. Further, each of these ingredients coats the hair, protecting it from external harmful influences such as humidity, sunlight, and even hot tools.

The only problem is that this shampoo doesn’t produce as much lather as the majority of its counterparts because of the absence of sulfates. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t clean the hair, however. Even so, if you like your shampoo to produce suds, you should look elsewhere.

The smell of this shampoo is also positive because it is fresh and clean. At the same time, the scent is neither too strong nor overwhelming. It is mild enough to play well with the scents of other hair products.

The biggest flaw of this keratin shampoo is its cost as it is very expensivelypriced but this is something that you should always expect from a completely natural shampoo. The only saving grace is that because you only need to use a little bit of this product in each sessionthe bottle lasts a very long time.

The shampoo is very viscous but still spreads in the hair freely. Moreover, the bottle comes with a pump which should prevent wastage.

Who’s it for: If you want a natural keratin shampoo completely free of silicones and sulfates, get this It’s a 10 Miracle Shampoo.

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9. Keranique Shampoo and Conditioner Set

Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

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This is the second shampoo and conditioner set in this guide. The reason why we’ve included this set in our guide instead of the individual shampoo is that a combo turns out to be more cost-effective than buying individual bottles of both the items. The cost of Keranique products is so high that money is always a major consideration when buying them.

Another reason why we’re reviewing the set is that this shampoo and conditioner individually don’t amount to much. In other words, they’re far more effective when used together than when used separately.

For example, even though both these products are based around the company’s proprietary Keratin Amino Complex, when used individually the shampoo leaves the hair too dry and the conditioner weighs the hair down.

Even though the company says that the shampoo is “ultra-mild” while cleansing the scalp, it is strong enough to dry your hair and scalp. Similarly, even though the company says that this conditioner is “lightweight”, it is strong enough to weigh the hair down. We can only think this happens because these two products are designed to balance each other out.

The shampoo is specially formulated to nourish and stimulate the hair follicles in the scalp. For the most part, it manages to do this based on how well it cleanses the scalp. You’ll feel this happening too as the shampoo will make your scalp tingle most wonderfully while delivering “squeaky” clean hair.

Incidentally, the shampoo achieves these results without the help of sulfates. The absence of sulfates doesn’t affect the cleansing but does mean that this shampoo doesn’t lather as well as many of its counterparts.

The conditioner is specially formulated to volumize the hair and give it more body, making it perfect for thinning and limp hair. It does this on the back of the Keratin Amino Complex but also because it contains a lot of silicones. The silicones prove to be crucial when it comes to balancing the shampoo’s cleansing powers but can be harmful in the long term too. Of course, they coat the hair and protect it from harmful external influences too.

The Keratin Amino Complex, included in both the products, consists of keratin in its various forms along with a slew of proteins of different types. In addition, a series of natural extracts and essences have been incorporated into the formulae.

Both the shampoo and conditioner have similar medicinal scents. People who are not used to such smells will probably not like it. For instance, most new users complain about the smell of these hair products. Even so, the scents are mild and disappear fast if you can tolerate them for a bit.

Cost is going to be your biggest concern if you’re considering this pair of hair products. They’re not only expensive to buy but also fairly expensive to use. The reason for this is that the bottles don’t come with pumps and tipping them every time to get the product can result in considerable wastage.

One way around the price problem is to buy the larger eight-ounce bottles as, ounce for ounce, they turn out to be cheaper. If you’re a first-time user, though, you’ll be better off buying the smaller 4.5-ounce bottles to minimize your overall commitment.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a shampoo and conditioner set with strong keratin ingredients, get this pair from Keranique.

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10. Pure Biology Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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This product from Pure Biology is much more than just a keratin shampoo. Like its name says, the Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo is an anti-hair loss shampoo that boasts of keratin as one of its ingredients. As a result, this shampoo approaches the problem of hair loss and hair thinning from multiple different angles, with keratin being just one of them.

The first is that it contains ingredients such as biotin and various vitaminsthat nourish the hair follicles. As a result, nourished follicles produce healthierhair that is not only stronger but also more resilient against breakage and damage.

The second is that it stimulates stem cells in the follicles and the scalp through its 3HC Stimulation Complex. The stimulation of these stem cells results in the hair follicles becoming stronger, and more efficient with longer lifespans. The 3HC Stimulation Complex comprises different plant-derived ingredients.

Another is that this shampoo contains different anti-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) agents. Blocking DHT can be very beneficial since it is responsible for the most common cause of hair loss i.e. androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

In terms of keratin, this shampoo boasts of the company’s proprietary Amino Kera NPNF Keratin Complex. This complex consists of amino acids broken down from keratin protein chains.

The company says these keratin-derived amino acids are absorbed better in the scalp because of their low molecular weight. Pure Biology even says that the benefits of Amino Kera NPNF have been proven scientifically. They citetrials that showed an initial 10 percent increase in strength and a 41 percent increase over time.

The fact that this shampoo contains so many amino acids, proteins, and oils means that it is a little on the heavier side. In practice, this means that you’ll have to be careful about how much of it you usein a single session. If you don’t, you’ll end up with very greasy hair. Fortunately, the bottle comes with a pump. This pump should help you control how much shampoo you take every time you showerbetter.

The shampoo’s formula is exhaustive and includes every possible ingredient scientifically proven to be beneficial for hair and scalp. The vast majority of these ingredients are natural, which is why this shampoo has such a strong herbal note to its scent. The herbal note aside, the scent is quite mild and fairly reminiscent of lemongrass. The presence of ingredients like lemongrass also means that the shampoo will leave your scalp tingling.

However, despite how many natural ingredients it boasts of, this shampoo is neither organic nor completely natural. It contains sulfates which means that it may not be the best option for people with colored hair. The sulfates do give this shampoo the ability to produce a lot of lather, though. Incidentally, the sulfates are the only synthetic ingredient in this shampoo. It is even free of silicones.

Apart from the fact that it contains sulfates and can make your hair greasy, this shampoo’s biggest flaw is its price. It is easily one of the most expensive shampoos in the market right now. It may be incredibly effective but it will blow a hole in your bank balance.

Who’s it for: If you’re dealing with hair damage along with hair loss and are willing to pay whatever is needed to deal with these problems, get this shampoo from Pure Biology.

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