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Keratin is one of those buzzwords that’s been stamped on shampoo bottles for so long, it’s easy to forget it actually means something. But the best keratin shampoos can be a lifesaver if your hair has been feeling especially strawlike lately—dry, brittle, frizzy, or all of the above.
Unlike an in-salon Brazilian keratin treatment (which can leave your hair super shiny but costs a small fortune and several hours of your life), a keratin shampoo is more of a day-to-day support system. Hairstylist Rogerio Cavalcante, founder of Second Floor Salon in New York City, says it helps to smooth rough cuticles, strengthen fragile strands, and generally make your hair look and feel like a shinier, sleeker version of itself. And if you’ve already had a keratin treatment, the right shampoo can actually help maintain the results longer, without stripping away all that hard-earned silkiness.
Of the dozen-plus keratin shampoos we researched (with the help of hairstylists, ingredient experts, and testers), our favorite overall is Chi’s Keratin Silk Infusion Shampoo. It smells expensive, leaves hair feeling as if you’re actually hitting your daily water intake goals, and smooths frizz without weighing anything down. If you just want one bottle to smooth out your strands and mood, this is it. But different hair types (and budgets) need different things, so check out our favorite picks below.
The best keratin shampoos, at a glance:
- Best Overall: Chi Keratin Silk Infusion Shampoo, $42
- Best for Frizzy Hair: Keratin Complex Color Care Smoothing Shampoo, $30
- Best for Curly Hair: It’s a 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin, $55
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Joico K-Pak Color-Protecting Shampoo, $24
- Best for Fine Hair: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo, $32
- Best for Textured Hair: Davines Naturaltech Nourishing Shampoo, $37
Best Keratin Shampoo Overall: Chi Keratin Silk Infusion Shampoo
- What we love: Leaves hair soft and silky without heaviness; noticeable frizz control after just one wash; a little goes a long way
- What’s worth considering: Strong scent is not suitable for sensitive noses.
This shampoo topped our list after rave reviews from hair stylist Julie Dickson, owner of Joon Drop Salon, and Cavalcante, as well as Glamour contributor Neha Tandon. “This one’s a classic for a reason,” says Cavalcante. “It’s packed with keratin and silk proteins, so it smooths and strengthens in one go. It also helps protect against future damage, especially great for regular heat styling users.” He’s referring to the formula’s inclusion of silk protein and jojoba oil, which coat the hair to lock in moisture and add flexibility—key for preventing the kind of breakage that comes from daily brushing, blow-drying, or flatironing.
“I used to swear by this back in the day when I’d fry my hair with a straightener every single day,” says Tandon. “It was the only thing that made my hair feel soft and look super healthy during that phase of my life.” Add hydrolyzed keratin to the mix, and you’ve got a shampoo that not only fixes what’s broken but also acts like a protective buffer against whatever damage might be coming next.
Best Drugstore Keratin Shampoo: OGX Keratin Oil Shampoo
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- What we love: Great frizz control at a budget price; subtly sweet scent
- What’s worth considering: Can build up with frequent use if your hair leans oily
There are drugstore shampoos you use once and never again, and then there are the ones you end up recommending to everyone you know. This one’s firmly in the latter category. It’s infused with keratin and argan oil—two heavy hitters for smoothing and strengthening—which makes it surprisingly good at taming flyaways and keeping frizz at bay even in muggy weather. It won’t totally overhaul severely damaged hair, but if your strands are mostly healthy and just need a little extra polish, it gets the job done for under $11.
Best Keratin Shampoo for Fine Hair: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
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- What we love: Gives noticeable lift without drying; doesn’t weigh down roots
- What’s worth considering: Not rich enough for very damaged hair
People with fine hair need to be especially picky, because keratin shampoos can overly coat or flatten hair. This one hits that perfect middle ground, according to Tandon, Cavalcante, and Dickson. It uses keratin and biotin to strengthen and add just enough structure, without turning your roots into a helmet. “My hair actually feels fuller after using it. Not just thicker, but lighter too,” says Tandon. “It’s as if I finally found a shampoo that knows I want volume and shine. I’ve been using it regularly for years, and while it isn’t the heavy-duty option I’ll choose when my hair is feeling particularly damaged, it’s a solid go-to for regular use.” Chia seed oil and hemp extract add moisture and movement. It’s a formula that treats fine hair like the delicate balance it is.
“This is a fine-hair dream! It cleans the hair, but strengthens and hydrates it too,” says Dickson, who specializes in fine hair at her salon. “That’s very hard to do without weighing the hair down. It’s perfect, and it smells great.”
Best Keratin Shampoo for Curly Hair: It’s a 10 Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin
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- What we love: Leaves hair soft and silky without heaviness; noticeable frizz control after just one wash; a little goes a long way
- What’s worth considering: Relatively steep price for the size
There’s a reason this has miracle in the name. “Since I was recommended this shampoo by my favorite YouTube vloggers back in the day, I’ve been reaching for this shampoo anytime my hair feels totally fried, especially in the summertime or after a vacation on which I’ve been blow-drying and heat-styling my hair more than usual,” says Tandon. “Paired with the accompanying serum, it leaves my ends smooth without making the roots on my fine hair limp, which feels like witchcraft.” The formula is loaded with keratin, panthenol, and sunflower seed extract, which work together to smooth, strengthen, and moisturize. It’s especially clutch for anyone who heat-styles regularly or just came back from vacation with crispy ends.
Best Keratin Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair: Joico K-Pak Color-Protecting Shampoo
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- What we love: Helps preserve color vibrancy; leaves hair soft and bouncy
- What’s worth considering: Accompanying conditioner can be a little heavy, so use sparingly or choose another
Color-treated or keratin-treated hair is already fragile—and throwing a protein-heavy shampoo on top can sometimes do more harm than good. Joico figured out the balance here. Its signature keratin blend strengthens just enough, while guajava fruit extract and antioxidants shield against UV damage and fading. “I admittedly do not have color-treated hair anymore, but I used to, and this was a product I’d always use to leave my hair feeling really healthy afterwards,” says Tandon. “Now I reach for it every now and then when I just want my hair to have a little extra shine.”
Best Keratin Shampoo for Breakage-Prone Hair: Monday Haircare Repair Shampoo
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- What we love: Strengthening without leaving hair stiff
- What’s worth considering: Strong fruity scent isn’t for everyone
If you’re here, your hairbrush may look as though it’s been through a breakup every morning. In that case, this trending option is for you. Monday Haircare’s Repair Shampoo is specifically made for brittle, breakage-prone strands that snap with minimal effort. The keratin here works like a filler, plugging gaps in the hair cuticle, while vitamin E and coconut oil bring moisture and flexibility back into the picture. It’s also in a cute pink bottle that'll look nice in your shower.
Best Keratin Shampoo for Frizzy Hair: Keratin Complex Color Care Smoothing Shampoo
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- What we love: Helps prolong in-salon smoothing treatments; excellent humidity control
- What’s worth considering: On the pricier side
Keratin Complex’s salon favorite is a good choice for people who’ve had keratin treatments and want to stretch the results as long as humanly possible. It’s sulfate-free and loaded with keratin and wheat protein, so it doesn’t just clean—it smooths and seals the cuticle to prevent that halo of frizz from creeping back in. If your hair tends to puff up the second you step outside (hi, me), this shampoo gives you a fighting chance—especially if you pair it with the matching conditioner. Just beware if you have a wheat allergy or celiac, since this is made with protein derived from the plant.
Best Keratin Shampoo for Textured Hair: Davines Naturaltech Nourishing Shampoo
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- What we love: Deeply nourishing for curls without heaviness; great detangling
- What’s worth considering: Bottle design is a little bulky for small showers
Textured hair needs moisture and protection. Loved by Tandon, Dickson, Cavalcante, and Los Angeles hairstylist Elizabeth Rexroat, Davines offers a formula that’s creamy and rich, yet somehow still lightweight enough to rinse clean without residue. “It leaves my curls feeling moisturized and defined, not puffy or frizzy,” says Tandon. “And the smell is luxe without being too much—it feels like I’m borrowing the expensive stuff from a fancy friend.” Keratin and rice proteins strengthen, while grape phytoceuticals bring antioxidant protection, making this one of the most well-rounded options for curls, coils, and waves. “Gentle yet rich, this one’s ideal for dry or damaged hair,” says Cavalcante. “It deeply hydrates and strengthens thanks to a blend of proteins and natural oils.”
Best Keratin Shampoo for Damaged Hair: Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo
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- What we love: Deeply reparative for chemically processed or fried hair
- What’s worth considering: May be too heavy for fine or low-porosity hair types
There’s damaged hair, and then there’s post-bleach, multiple hot tools, maybe even extension-damaged hair. Nexxus Keraphix is made for the latter. A special “ProteinFusion” blend—keratin and black rice—that targets the kind of internal structural damage you can’t fix with a leave-in spray alone. If your hair feels gummy when wet or constantly tangles on itself, this helps restore strength and elasticity without making hair feel stiff or overloaded.
Best Keratin Shampoo for Scalp Care: Virtue Recovery Shampoo
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- What we love: Repairs hair and calms scalp in one step; noticeably strengthens over time
- What’s worth considering: Pricey
This one’s a bit of a unicorn in that it takes your scalp into account too. Virtue’s star ingredient is a bioidentical protein that mimics what your hair is actually made of. It binds to damaged areas to restore strength, but the formula also includes baobab seed oil and hydrolyzed quinoa for moisture and soothing benefits. If you’re dealing with dry hair, flaking, or general scalp irritation and you want smoother hair, this clarifying shampoo checks both boxes.
Best Vegan Keratin Shampoo: Vegamour Hydr-8 Hydrate and Repair Shampoo
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- What we love: Vegan and cruelty-free without sacrificing performance; deeply hydrating
- What’s worth considering: Less smoothing than traditional keratin formulas
Traditional keratin is animal-derived, which can be a deal-breaker if you’re vegan. Vegamour’s Hydr-8 line uses a plant-based protein alternative that mimics the strengthening effects of keratin, paired with marula oil and murumuru butter for serious softness. You won’t get the same ultrasleek finish as a salon-grade formula with hydrolyzed keratin, but if you’re looking for a cleaner, cruelty-free option that still smooths and strengthens, this is a standout.
Best Sulfate-Free Keratin Shampoo: Keratherapy Moisture Shampoo
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- What we love: Safe for post-treatment hair; gentle yet effective cleansing
- What’s worth considering: Ultrahydrating formula may be too heavy for fine or oily-prone hair
If you’ve had a keratin treatment, or just want to baby your hair with as little harshness as possible, a sulfate-free shampoo is nonnegotiable. Keratherapy’s Moisture Shampoo is specifically designed to extend the life of in-salon smoothing treatments, using keratin and argan oil to reinforce damaged strands while locking in shine. It lathers more than you’d expect for a sulfate-free formula, and it leaves your hair feeling clean but not squeaky. Think of it as the shampoo equivalent of a cashmere sweater: soft, protective, and kind to sensitive types.
All your keratin shampoo questions, answered
What is keratin?
Keratin is the stuff your hair is literally made of—structurally speaking. When your hair starts to feel weak, frizzy, or just…off, a keratin-infused product can help fill in the gaps where that natural protein has worn down. “Keratin is a protein component in hair that is the structural basis for healthy hair,” says hairstylist Elizabeth Rexroat, owner of STRND Premium Hair Studio. “Keratins in our products provide strength, improve elasticity, and can reduce frizz and damage.”
Do keratin shampoos really work?
Short answer: Yes—but like most things in hair care, it depends on the formula. “Keratin smooths and strengthens the hair. It also adds so much shine,” says hairstylist Lona Vigi. In other words, keratin can be transformative—but as with protein in your diet, more isn’t always better. “Yes, keratin shampoos really do work, but not all are created equal,” says Rexroat.
“Some are only going to give you a strengthening element, which isn’t always the best for the hair,” she explains, saying that too much strength and not enough moisture will harden the hair to the point that it can’t bend and move in its natural way. “That will actually leave you with more breakage.”
This isn’t an everyday shampoo for everyone. Unless your hair is particularly fragile or processed, you’re better off alternating a keratin shampoo with a moisturizing formula to keep everything balanced. “Keratin shampoos are best used in rotation with moisturizing shampoos, especially if your hair isn’t severely damaged or chemically treated. Balance is key when it comes to protein care,” says Cavalcante.
Who is a good candidate for keratin shampoo?
If your hair feels as though it’s been through something—frequent coloring, heat styling, weather-induced puffiness, thinning—you’re probably in the target demographic. “Keratin shampoos are especially great for damaged, frizzy, or chemically treated hair,” says Rogerio Cavalcante, hairstylist and founder of Second Floor Salon.
“I will recommend a keratin shampoo to a client who just had a blonding service and needs to replenish the moisture and strength that the color service altered,” says Rexroat. “I will also recommend it to the client whose hair breaks while brushing and has a ‘snowing’ effect [dandruff] even when taken the best care of.”
