These Keratin Shampoos Will Transform Your Hair...Trust Me

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One of my favorite ways to minimize frizz and flyaways is with a keratin shampoo. Once I added one to my hair care routine, the difference in my hair's smoothness and softness was honestly dramatic. Of course, keratin shampoos aren't as powerful as in-salon keratin treatments, but they can absolutely help strengthen strands, reduce frizz, and add shine to hair, explains hair stylist Danielle Keasling.

Keratin shampoos work by supplementing your hair's natural keratin proteins and repairing bonds along the hair shaft, which can be damaged or broken due to things like heat styling and chemical treatments, Keasling says. But not all keratin shampoos are created equal, which is why I tested and reviewed a ton of options and consulted three expert hair stylists to create this list of the 11 best keratin shampoos. Here's a sneak peek:

Keep reading for the full list of keratin shampoos that'll help strengthen and smooth your hair, plus tips on how to use them and what to look for in a formula.

Bond Therapy Sulfate-Free Shampoo

This shampoo contains citric acid and coconut oil, both of which help repair keratin bonds in the hair, says Keasling. “It's a great choice for over-processed, weak, or fragile hair," she adds. And IMO, the cool thing about this keratin shampoo is that the results are pretty much instant. After washing my hair with this keratin shampoo just one time, my strands felt *so* much softer and smoother.

• Size: 33.8 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "After using this shampoo my hair definitely felt "smoother" but not in a way that was greasy or heavy. A common issue with repair shampoos is that I'm left feeling like my hair isn't really clean, but this product did a good job of giving me a clean feeling while making a difference in the texture of my hair.”

Keratin Smooth Shampoo 4-Count

As someone with super long hair, I need more shampoo than the average person to get my hair fully clean. If you're in the same boat, this drugstore shampoo from TRESemmé is a great choice. The bottle is gigantic—one lasts me at least three months—and it's one of the cheapest options on our list too. Not to mention, this shampoo is formulated with quality ingredients like keratin, amino acids, and ceramides to repair, smooth, and strengthen hair for up to 72 hours post-wash.

• Size: 28 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? No

Glowing customer review: "I have thick, wavy hair. When it's not hydrated it gets so frizzy, but because I don’t have intense curls many products weigh it down too. I’ve tried this keratin shampoo and after one use my hair was full of volume, looked shiny, and most importantly was hydrated. I am so happy."

Keratin-Infused Hypersilk Color-Treated Shampoo

This keratin-infused shampoo is hydrating, strengthening, and gives hair amazing shine, says hair stylist Stephanie Angelone. “The shampoo itself isn't harsh on your hair and won't get your strands all tangled or knotty in the shower,” she adds. What’s also great about this shampoo is that it's safe for color-treated hair and provides some UV protection to prevent your dye job from fading or dulling in the sun.

• Size: 12.34 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? No

Glowing customer review: "This product is great for color treated hair. Color stays and hair is soft and silky. I would recommend this to anyone with color treated hair! I won’t use anything else!”

Recovery Shampoo

The first time I heard about this shampoo from Virtue Labs, I totally geeked out on the science behind the formula. It contains a proprietary ingredient called Alpha Keratin 60ku, a protein that’s identical to the protein that comprises 90 percent of our hair. This protein is key for repairing damage and helping minimize signs of breakage. It's also got baobab oil, hydrolyzed quinoa, and grapefruit extract to boost each strand's moisture level and shine. It’s on the pricier side, but if your hair is in need of some serious TLC, you won't be disappointed with this shampoo for damaged hair.

• Size: 8 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “My wavy 2B hair is recovering from a year of bleaching. I lost a lot of my wave pattern and my hair has been dry for months now. After just two uses I can already see and feel the difference in my waves. This product is fantastic. I really wanted to hate it because of the price but it is 100 percent worth it. Also worth mentioning I use this with the matching conditioner! Give it a try!”

Unbreak My Blonde Strengthening Shampoo

I've been highlighting my hair for years. It’s true, once you start lightening your hair, you constantly want to go blonder and blonder, which isn’t always optimal from a hair health POV. That's why I started using this keratin shampoo from Matrix. Keasling says that the sulfate-free formula is “perfect for over-processed or damaged hair and helps build back the keratin in the hair to make it stronger and more resistant to future breakage.” I can personally attest that this pick has made my brittle hair softer and smoother and even minimized my split ends too.

• Size: 10.1 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “My over-processed hair felt like straw with my previous shampoo. My hairdresser used this on my hair and it felt soft again. I have been using it ever since. The scent is light and pleasant. My hair no longer feels or looks dried out. I highly recommend it."

Moisture Repair Shampoo

NGL, I'm so obsessed with the smell of this Moroccanoil shampoo that I'd prob still use it even if it did nothing for my hair. Luckily the moisture-boosting formula not only smells incredible, it has hair-repairing properties (thanks to argan oil, keratin proteins, and fatty acids) that my color-treated strands love too. Since it’s on the pricier side, I like to save this shampoo and use it as a little treat when I know I’ll be going out and really want my hair to shine and smell amazing.

• Size: 8.5 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "Several years ago, my hair was like straw from highlighting it. It would just crumble. I started using the Moroccanoil shampoo and conditioner and within six months my hair was completely repaired and grown out. I have been using it ever since—at least a decade.”

Argan Oil Shampoo with Keratin

This lightweight keratin shampoo gives hair instant hydration without weighing it down, so you still get some enviable movement and body once your hair is dry. It contains just the right amount of keratin, which is important because an overabundance of keratin can leave hair brittle and susceptible to breakage.

• Size: 8.45 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "My hair became very dry and fragile after highlighting it, but after using this shampoo for a few weeks I've seen a great improvement."

Keratin Care Smoothing Shampoo

The OG keratin shampoo, Keratin Complex's Smoothing Shampoo is perf for anyone who is looking to maintain the results of their in-salon keratin treatment or just trying to smooth and strengthen their natural hair at home. The proprietary blend of keratin, wheat, and soy proteins in the formula work to strengthen and condition hair while smoothing down any unwanted frizz.

• Size: 13.5 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “Fave shampoo and conditioner by far. I’ve done keratin treatments for a few years now and tried different products and this is just it for me. When I go to the salon to redo the keratin (for the roots, no way around this) they’re always surprised at how well I’ve managed to upkeep the treatment and how much my hair has grown! I can get away with just touching up instead of paying for the whole head."

Keraphix Shampoo

If your hair is seriously damaged—i.e. dry, brittle, straw-like, and full of split ends—this is the keratin shampoo for you. It uses a blend of keratin proteins and black rice extract to penetrate hair fibers and repair damage from within for dramatic smoothing and strengthening results. I also love the pump on the jumbo bottle—there's no messy squeezing or leaking in the shower.

• Size: 33.8 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? No

Glowing customer review: “Highly recommend this if you have damaged hair from either bleaching or just over processing your hair. This helps keep my blonde hair from breaking, made it more manageable, and smooths it out so it doesn't look so damaged. This has protein in it which is perfect for damaged hair."

Moisture Shampoo

If you’ve gotten a keratin treatment in a salon, then you likely know you need to maintain results by using a sulfate-free shampoo at home. Sulfates and other strong surfactants can accelerate the speed at which your keratin treatment washes out, leaving hair feeling brittle and damaged. Angelone recommends this sulfate-free shampoo because it’s easy to find at mass beauty retailers and won’t break the bank. “It's super hydrating,” she adds, “I use this one personally—it really helps make your treatment last longer.”

• Size: 12 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “My hair is so much more luxurious from using this—no longer bone dry throughout the day and much, much fuller too. Without any styling product at all, my hair has enough natural moisture left in it to comb and move it around where I want, whereas before it would pretty much stand very stiff unless I put product in it."

Anti Frizz Shampoo

Angelone says this protein-packed formula is her number one favorite shampoo for after an in-salon keratin treatment. “It's one of the few sulfate-free shampoos that actually feel cleansing and gives a good suds,” she says, adding “and it's anti-frizz so it helps amplify the results of your keratin treatment.”

• Size: 12 fl oz.

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “My hairdresser recommended this to smooth my frizzy texture from dyeing my gray hair. It's so nourishing—I really like it!”

Do keratin shampoos really work?

Yes, keratin shampoos really do work and have amazing benefits, especially if your hair is color-treated, damaged, or frizz-prone. Beyond cleansing your hair, a shampoo with keratin (or proteins that repair keratin bonds) can help leave hair looking and feeling healthier, stronger, smoother and shinier,” says stylist Marilisa Sears.

Can you use a keratin shampoo everyday?

While keratin shampoos offer plenty of benefits, the saying “too much of a good thing” rings true here. Keasling warns the importance of not overdoing it with keratin shampoos. “It's generally recommended to use them two or three times a week, depending on your hair type and needs,” she explains.

So if you’re washing daily, it would be wise to rotate between a keratin shampoo and a different shampoo to prevent keratin buildup or protein overload. As a rule, if your keratin shampoo is making your hair feel dry, brittle, or waxy, it's a sign you may be over washing with the formula.

How to choose a keratin shampoo:

Keep an eye out hydrolyzed keratin on the ingredient list.

Sears say this is the ideal type of keratin to look for in your keratin shampoo."Hydrolyzed keratin means that the molecule is small enough to fill the cracks on the bits of my hair that could be weak, while also getting into the hair shaft to give some love to the cortex as well."

Consider your hair type.

Keratin shampoos come in varieties for all hair types and texture, so it's important to keep yours in mind when choosing a formula. If your hair is on the finer side, something that boasts hydrating and moisturizing properties may be too heavy for you. “This can add unwanted product to your hair and weigh it down,” explains Angelone. So try a volumizing shampoo with keratin. On the other hand, if your hair is super thick or coarse you’re going to want to look for those super emollient and moisturizing formulations to keep hair hydrated.

Meet the experts:

• Danielle Keasling is the artistic director for Biolage and Matrix and an Ulta Beauty Pro Team Member.

• Stephanie Angelone is a master stylist at RPZL Hair Extension & Blowout Bar in NYC.

• Marilisa Sears is the artistic director for Marc Anthony and MAV Beauty.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Lisa DeSantis is a freelance writer who has been in the beauty industry for nearly ten years. She began her career in beauty and fashion at QVC and has since written for and contributed to top women's magazines and digital brands such as Health, Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, Motherly, Byrdie and more. She has tested thousands of products and considers herself a professional guinea pig who's always on the search for the next big trends in beauty, wellness, and beyond.

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