The best affordable haircare for 2026, as tested by the GHI

Score: 88/100

Perfectly packaged in hot pink, this sulphate-free shampoo will brighten your shower routine even before you get lathering. Curly-haired testers praised how well it detangled and softened, helped by moisturising vitamin B5, while simultaneously strengthening and nourishing their hair follicles.

Some found the jelly texture a little off-putting at first, but this wasn't a dealbreaker, especially when they saw the bouncy, defined curls it gave them.

Read our full shampoos for curly hair roundup here.

Score: 88/100

We all know a little apple cider vinegar a day is just what the doctor ordered for our gut health, and although it may not be the most glamorous ingredient, it also offers botanical benefits for our hair.

Said to intensify shine and banish bacteria, it left our testers with greasy hair impressed with their cleaner, smoother, softer and altogether more nourished lengths. Many mentioned the nice scent, too.

Read our best shampoo oily hair round-up at the link.

Score: 82/100

Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause, and getting older in general, can all lead to hair thinning — it’s something most of us face at some point in our lives. Happily, the GHI rated this shampoo for helping to thicken lengths and stimulate further growth. Our panel preferred it over almost all others they tried in the hair growth shampoo category; it sat comfortably in third place despite its lower price point.

Testers loved their thicker, hydrated hair, with many noting a difference in the look and feel of their fine ends. The brand claims to reduce breakage by 90%, and sure enough, those who tried this formulation reported less breakage and extra volume. Many were fans of the “fresh” scent but wished it would linger for longer.

Read our full best hair loss shampoo round up at the link.

Score: 87/100

Shampoo bars are generally better for the planet — saving on water, plastic packaging and carbon footprint — so this is a good option for those who don’t want their pampering routine to cost the earth, in every sense.

When you think of Head & Shoulders, your mind may not shoot straight to this solid bar, but it came top of our test, beating the likes of popular eco brands Lush and Faith in Nature.

Our panel reported healthier-looking hair, thanks to the formulation’s nourishing, moisture-locking coconut oil, and said their roots felt clean and refreshed. They also gave a special mention to the cloth rope that let them hang it up to dry (a must for preventing crumbling).

Read our full best shampoo bars round-up at the link.

Score: 94/100

Together with its coordinating shampoo above, this duo earned a near-perfect score in our tests. Panellists commented on the conditioner’s ability to control wayward strands and leave hair feeling silky, soft and smooth.

It wasn't the easiest to dispense – some found it tough to get every last drop out, but this didn’t pose a problem for everyone. If dehydration is getting you down, add this bargain to your basket.

Score: 88/100

Keeping curls under control can be tricky, as wavy hair can be prone to frizz. Formulated to enrich curly textures and revive ringlets, our testers all said they'd continue to use this jelly curl enhancer after the test period.

The unusual texture proved divisive at first, but it soon lathered up and left hair feeling softer, which helped when styling, while almost everybody loved the fresh floral fragrance.

Score: 86/100

As with oily skin, greasy roots can have us swapping ultra-conditioning products for lathering, often harsh solutions that claim to deep clean. But, it’s time for a rethink, because bolstering the strength and shine of your lengths not only minimises dry ends but also slows excess sebum production, as your follicles aren’t trying to compensate for stripped oils.

In the GHI lab, our experts found this conditioner reduced oiliness by almost everyone when combined with the same brand of shampoo. It was a hit with our panel too, who praised their soft, silky lengths after using both products together.

Score: 80/100

We’ve seen Cat Deeley swish her blonde locks across our screens in the adverts, and our testers were equally pleased with their Pantene Pro-V results. They rated this conditioner highly when it came to hair growth, shine and cleanliness, although those with ultra-fine lengths found it slightly tricky to rinse out.

It also caught the attention of our curly-haired panellists. They noticed a reduction in frizz and breakage and were impressed by their boosted bounce and volume.

Score: 86/100

Perhaps even more exciting than its seemingly magnetic middle aisle, Lidl’s CIEN haircare range is an own-brand success story. Testers said their hair was left less tangled and softer than after use, although some bemoaned how little the shampoo lathered when massaging it into the scalp.

However, this shampoo (together with its conditioning partner) was among our top performers in the lab for smoothing, reducing frizz and flyaways and improving the hydration of the scalp.

Score: 87/100

Nourishing Argan oil is a famous ally of dehydrated skin, so you may be confused by this shampoo and conditioner scoring highly for those with oily roots. However, this impressed our testers with both dry and greasy hair, rinsing easily and thoroughly. So, it's a good choice if you struggle with oil-trapping product build-up.

Everyone agreed that it was also easy to distribute throughout the hair (a common point of contention for many formulations). Only around half the panel said their hair felt more hydrated after use, so look elsewhere if locking in moisture is your main priority. But if it’s a great value everyday duo you’re after, stock up.

Score: 87/100

If you’re in pursuit of silkier lengths (who isn’t?) and gravitate towards holiday scents, this Garnier oil is a must. It claims to hydrate dry, damaged ends, and our lab testing substantiated this.

Compared to other hair oils, it stood out for improving smoothness, and most testers said it gave curly hair a bouncier definition. Everyone found it left their hair softer and almost all agreed they’d swiftly pick it up again. Oh, and like everything on this list, its price tag is very tempting...

Score: 80/100

This treatment has an easily spreadable gel-oil texture, which sets it apart from the competition. It’s designed for those with afro hair and didn’t disappoint our testers with tight ringlets. It tamed flyaway curls with a nourishing, frizz-softening effect, leaving hair hydrated, soft and bouncy without any residue or heaviness.

Most of our panel found it kept breakage at bay and helped them create a full and bouncy style, with many planning to keep using it post-trial.

Score: 81/100

This growth-enhancing scrub is formulated with the brand’s patented “caffeine-gro complex”, which is said to strengthen ends and stimulate the hair root.

This not only worked to fortify thinning hair, but also helped our testers with dry, itchy or flaky scalps. Plus, it satisfied those with colour-treated hair, which often leads to thinning or breakage. Overall, it's a great product to grab if your fine hair is feeling lacklustre.

Read our full best scalp scrubs round-up at the link.