There is no single best shampoo for every man: choose for your scalp first—oil and buildup, dryness or dandruff—and then for your hair’s texture and styling needs. The ten picks below are recommendations named in GQ’s 2026 guide, organized by use rather than presented as a shared or independently tested ranking. “Men’s” is a shopping category, not a separate shampoo requirement.
How these ten shampoos were selected
GQ’s February 10, 2026 guide names more than ten category picks. This selection uses ten of those named products to cover common needs—oily or buildup-prone scalps, dandruff, dry or damaged hair, fine or thinning-looking hair, and textured hair—rather than implying that GQ ranked these ten in this order. The products are source recommendations, not results of testing by this publication. GQ’s full guide is at The Best Shampoo for Men, According to Experts.
For context, Men’s Health published a separate 2026 list and says its editor, dermatologist, and grooming panel spent two years testing more than 75 shampoos. That is its reported testing process, not evidence that the products below were tested by the writer of this article. Its picks should not be merged with GQ’s into a purported joint ranking. See Men’s Health’s 2026 guide.
The 10 best shampoos for men in 2026, by need
| Need | GQ pick | What it is recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday all-around use | Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo | GQ’s best-overall pick |
| Oily scalp or buildup | Sachajuan Clarifying Shampoo | GQ’s clarifying pick |
| Dandruff | Vichy Dercos Selenium Sulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | GQ’s dandruff pick; selenium sulfide is the named active ingredient |
| Dry hair or scalp | Act+Acre Daily Hydro Hydrating Shampoo | GQ’s dry-hair pick |
| Damaged hair | Davines NOUNOU Shampoo | GQ’s damaged-hair pick |
| Fine hair | Verb Ghost Shampoo | GQ’s fine-hair pick |
| Thinning-looking hair and volume | Ulo Thickening Shampoo | GQ’s volumizing pick for thinning hair |
| Curly or coily texture | Frederick Benjamin Invigorating Cleanser Shampoo | GQ’s textured/coily-hair pick |
| Thick hair | Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo | GQ’s thick-hair pick |
| Curly hair | Aveda Be Curly Advanced Shampoo | An additional curl-focused GQ pick |
The guide identifies these recommendations and categories, but the information available here does not establish comparable prices, bottle sizes, full ingredient lists, or directions for every product. Check the current label and retailer listing before buying; formulas and availability can change.
#1 Best Overall
Choose by what your scalp and hair need
If your roots get oily or products build up
A clarifying shampoo such as Sachajuan’s is the category-specific pick. Clarifying formulas are intended to remove excess oil and residue; that stronger cleansing can be useful when buildup is the problem, but frequent or overly aggressive washing may leave the scalp and hair feeling dry. Celebrity groomer Sonia Lee told GQ that clarifying shampoos can include ingredients such as salicylic acid, acetic acid, and sulfates. Those ingredients are not a guarantee that every formula suits every scalp. GQ dermatologist Marisa Garshick recommends regular washing to manage excess oil while cautioning against over-drying. See GQ’s oily-hair guide.
If you have dandruff
Vichy Dercos is GQ’s selenium-sulfide pick. The active ingredient matters: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) lists zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, sulfur, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, and coal tar among dandruff-shampoo ingredients. They are not interchangeable instructions for use, so read the specific bottle. AAD says some formulas need to remain on the scalp for 5–10 minutes before rinsing. Apply treatment shampoo to the scalp and follow its label; for curly or coily hair, take care to keep it on the scalp because dandruff actives can dry the hair. AAD’s dandruff guidance also advises consulting a board-certified dermatologist if symptoms are severe or do not improve with home care.
Rank #2
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If your hair is dry, damaged, or textured
Act+Acre Daily Hydro is GQ’s dry-hair recommendation, Davines NOUNOU its damaged-hair pick, and Frederick Benjamin its textured/coily pick. These categories point to different concerns: a dry scalp is not the same thing as dry hair lengths, and damage does not by itself identify a scalp condition. Hair texture is useful when deciding how much conditioning or cleansing your routine can tolerate. Men’s Health notes that curly and textured hair tends to need more moisture, while too much can weigh down straight hair. Look for a formula that cleans the scalp without leaving your lengths difficult to manage, and assess the result rather than relying on the label alone.
If your hair is fine or looks thinner
Verb Ghost is GQ’s fine-hair pick; Ulo Thickening Shampoo is its volumizing recommendation for thinning hair. These serve cosmetic goals: a shampoo may make strands look fuller or add manageability, but it should not be represented as a proven hair-regrowth treatment. Men’s Health distinguishes volumizing effects from hair-loss treatment and states that minoxidil is the only proven over-the-counter way to stimulate hair growth. Fine hair can be naturally fine; visible or progressive loss of density is a different concern.
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GQ’s picks include Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo for thick hair and Aveda Be Curly Advanced Shampoo for curls. Choose according to your actual texture and how your hair responds: thick hair is not automatically curly, and curls may need more moisture than straight hair. The category labels are starting points, not a substitute for checking the product’s directions and ingredients.
If you want a general-purpose starting point
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo is GQ’s best-overall pick. Treat “overall” as a guide recommendation, not a claim that it is optimal for every scalp or hair type. If you have a specific concern—particularly persistent dandruff, an easily irritated scalp, or hair that is weighed down—selecting for that need is more useful than choosing a universal winner.
Rank #4
How often should men shampoo?
There is no one schedule that fits everyone. AAD says people with fine or straight hair, or oily scalps, may need to shampoo often; coarse, curly, or coily hair can be washed as needed. For dandruff, follow the product’s directions and adjust to your hair type. AAD notes that dandruff-shampoo frequency varies by product and hair type, and that treatment ingredients can dry curly or coily hair. Shampoo the scalp rather than needlessly scrubbing the lengths, then condition the hair as appropriate for its texture.
Quick Recap
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What to check before you buy
- Scalp concern: Decide whether you are addressing oil, residue, dryness, irritation, or flakes; do not assume all flakes are ordinary dandruff.
- Hair texture: Consider whether your hair is fine, thick, straight, curly, or coily and how much moisture it needs.
- Active ingredient: For dandruff, check the specific active and label directions, including any wait time before rinsing.
- Sensitivity and preferences: Review the current ingredient list for fragrance or other ingredients you prefer to avoid. “Natural” or “sulfate-free” alone does not establish that a shampoo is safer or better for you.
- Practical details: Compare current bottle size, price, availability, and use directions on the retailer listing and product label; these details are not established consistently for the ten picks here.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
