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10 best shampoos for afro and multi-textured hair that nourish and cleanse

From hydration masks to oil infused formulas, these hero products are moisturising and gentle on the scalp 

Ataowaji Victor
Friday 11 September 2020 07:51 BST
We picked products that avoid sulphates which dry out hair
We picked products that avoid sulphates which dry out hair (The Independent/ iStock)

Wash day can be a complex moment for anyone with afro, curly or multi-textured hair. Whether you have undergone “the big chop” or love to heat style your curls, finding products that work for what is likely to be three or more hair strand structures on your head used to feel almost impossible. 

Luckily, over the last decade the online curl care community has come out in force with techniques and tricks on pretty much all things kinky, coily and curly hair. 

Do I have to swear off heat completely? Which heat tools can I use? What exactly is the L.O.C method? 

For those of us with deliciously textured hair, the rise of the natural hair movement has given answers to these questions and pushed forward the conversation about product accessibility. 

Nonetheless, when it comes to the basics, like a great shampoo, this plethora of online knowledge can sometimes feel overwhelming or even worse, you find the perfect fit only to see that it’s not available for purchase in the UK. 

To ease this dilemma, we tried the best shampoos on the market right now with formulations packed with moisture to get in and around coils, leaving them clean but equally nourished as well as formulas that cleansed the scalps of even the most dense head of curls. 

We focused on looking for a shampoo with all of the suds minus the sulphates that are typically drying for both afro and multi textured hair.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

The verdict: Shampoo for afro and multi-textured hair

We adored the Charlotte Mensah manketti oil shampoo. Its manketti oil shaped nod to Accra and ability to hydrate even the driest of coils made it the obvious favourite.  Close second however, is Boucleme’s hydrating cleanser, as it’s a super handy buy due to its versatility.

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