In 1994 a Chicago stylist named David Raccuglia launched American Crew with six products, and one of them was a daily shampoo. American Crew's About page says he foresaw a future when men would pay as much attention to their looks as anyone else. He put it more bluntly in a 2022 company release: "When I started American Crew, the men's grooming category was virtually non-existent."

It exists now. Walk down any hair aisle and there is a men's section full of cologne-scented shampoos, natural formulas, thickening shampoos and 2-in-1s, and it can be hard to tell what is actually different and what is just the label.

Here is the plain version. The best shampoo for men is mostly the best shampoo for your scalp. Men's hair is usually shorter, so the scalp matters more, and the main question is simple: is your scalp oily, dry, flaky or thinning. Scent is the fun part, and it is fine to choose on it once the formula fits.

The first grid is eight everyday shampoos, from the American Crew classic to cologne-inspired and natural options. The second is for specific jobs: thickening, dandruff and 2-in-1s for a faster shower.

My tip: shampoo your scalp, not your hair. Short hair gets clean with a small amount worked into the roots, and using too much is one of the most common reasons men's hair feels dry.

American Crew Daily Cleansing Shampoo is the descendant of that 1994 bottle. It washes away excess oil and leaves hair soft and manageable, and it is a good default for normal to oily hair. The Daily Deep Moisturizing Shampoo is its partner for a dry scalp, and it does not leave buildup or greasiness.

Dr. Squatch is the natural option, and its two here, Fresh Falls and Coconut Castaway, cleanse and refresh with a plant-based blend. Every Man Jack Premium Moisturizing Shampoo in Caribbean Coconut delivers deep moisture to hair and scalp, and it is one I would pick for a dry winter scalp.

For scent, the Old Spice x The Spice Alchemist Velvet Sage & Driftwood shampoo is cologne-infused, so it smells like a real fragrance rather than a generic fresh scent. SheaMoisture Men Raw Shea Butter & Mafura Oil is a sulfate-free hydrating shampoo made for dry hair. Goodfellow & Co Moroccan Mint & Cedar is a scented moisturizing shampoo with hops extract and glycerin, and it is the easiest one here to find on a regular errand.

A test that helps: touch your scalp an hour after a wash. Tight and itchy means you need more moisture. Slick means you need a cleaner formula.

What I would skip: a heavy moisturizing shampoo if your scalp gets oily by afternoon. Stay with American Crew Daily Cleansing instead.

This grid is for men who have a specific problem or very little patience.

For thinning, Every Man Jack Premium Thickening Shampoo with Rosemary Oil in Redwood Forest cleanses deeply while helping hair look thicker and fuller. Nioxin System 2 Shampoo is part of a salon system for natural, untreated hair with progressed thinning, and it is clinically and dermatologically tested.

For dandruff, American Crew Anti-Dandruff + Dry Scalp Shampoo keeps the scalp clean and flake-free. Harry's Extra Strength Anti-Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner is a 2-in-1 that the brand says shows results in as little as one week. The Dove Men+Care 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff uses pyrithione to protect the scalp while it conditions hair. The Head & Shoulders Pure Sport 2-in-1 pairs a classic dandruff formula with a familiar sporty scent.

For speed, American Crew 3-In-1 cleanses hair and body from one bottle, and Every Man Jack 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner in Mountain Air delivers a deep clean with a rich lather.

A tip on dandruff formulas: leave the lather on your scalp for a minute or two before rinsing. The active ingredient needs contact time to work.

What I would skip: a 3-in-1 as your only product if your hair is longer than a few inches. It is great for the gym bag, but longer hair needs a real conditioner.

I think the best shampoo for men is the one that fixes the problem you actually have. Start with American Crew Daily Cleansing if nothing is wrong, switch to a moisturizing formula if your scalp feels tight, and move to a thickening or dandruff formula if that is your issue. David Raccuglia built a whole category on the idea that men care about their hair. The shower is a good place to prove him right.

Once you know your scalp, the shelf gets easier, and these are the extra bottles I would look at for specific jobs. For flakes, I would start with Oribe Serene Scalp Anti Dandruff, Briogeo Scalp Revival MegaStrength+ and the Barberino's Purifying Anti Flake. For thinner hair that needs body, Jack Black True Volume Thickening, Bumble and bumble Thickening Volume and the NatureLab TOKYO Perfect Volume are the ones to compare. If your hair is dry, Moroccanoil Moisture Repair and R and Co Atlantis Moisturizing are the gentler direction, while Kiehl's Amino Acid is a plain daily option. The Jack Black Double-Header covers shampoo and conditioner in one bottle. What I would skip: the Kitsch solid shampoo bar if you rarely travel, since a bottle is easier to use in a hurry. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together The Best Shampoo Is the One That Does Less and A Harlem Sidewalk, a Grandmother's Recipes and SheaMoisture Shampoo.