6 Hair Care Heroes for Dull, Damaged or Greasy Hair - All Under £20

Looking for the best drugstore hair products for dull hair UK shoppers actually rave about? You're in the right place. We've spent weeks pulling thousands of verified Amazon UK reviews, comparing ingredient lists, and weighing up what works against what only sounds good in the marketing copy. The result is this short list: six hair products, all under £20, each one earning its place for a specific reason.

This isn't a generic top-ten dump. Every product here addresses a clear concern, whether that's lacklustre hair that won't catch the light, frizz that survives the rain, an itchy flaking scalp, or roots that look greasy by lunchtime. Some are cheap and cheerful at £2. One sits at the upper end of the under-£20 bracket and earns it. We've kept the picks honest, including who each product isn't suitable for, because no shampoo flatters every head of hair.

If you've been burned by influencer hype before, the cons sections will be useful reading. We've kept them in.

At a Glance: Comparison Table

Here's how the six products stack up at a glance. Each name links through to our full long-form review with photos, ingredient breakdowns, and reader feedback.

Product	Price	Key Feature	Best For	Our Rating
L'Oreal Glycolic Gloss Shampoo	£6.49	Glycolic acid for cuticle smoothing	Dull, lacklustre hair	4.0/5
L'Oreal Glycolic Gloss Conditioner	£6.17	Pairs with the shampoo for added gloss	Dull hair that needs the full system	4.0/5
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray	£18.90	Heat-activated anti-frizz, water-repellent	Frizzy hair, humid weather	3.8/5
Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo	£5.46	Sulfate-free with colloidal oats	Hard-water buildup, itchy scalps	4.3/5
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo	£7.90	2% ketoconazole, medicated	Persistent dandruff	4.5/5
Got2B Extra Volume Dry Shampoo	£2.00	Volumising, no-white-cast formula	Greasy roots, second-day hair	3.8/5

1. L'Oreal Elvive Glycolic Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner

L'Oreal's glycolic acid duo is the closest thing to a salon gloss treatment at home UK shoppers can pick up for under £13 the pair. The shampoo and conditioner both carry Amazon's Choice badges and pull in well over a thousand ratings each. The active hook is glycolic acid, an exfoliating ingredient borrowed from skincare that smooths the cuticle and helps hair catch the light again.

Reviews call out a noticeable lift in shine after a few washes, with one user describing hair that feels "like silk" and another labelling it a "game changer" for limp, dull lengths. The scent gets repeat mentions too, with several reviewers happily admitting they buy it as much for how it smells as how it works. Best results come from using both bottles together as a system rather than mixing brands.

Worth flagging: this isn't a fit for every hair type. A vocal minority report dryness and even scalp itch after extended use, especially on already-fragile hair. If your hair leans dry or chemically processed, patch-test for a couple of washes before committing to the full bottle.

Pros:

• Visible shine boost after a handful of washes, with reviewers calling out silky, glossy results
• Affordable salon-style gloss treatment at home for less than £13 for both bottles
• Compliments on the scent appear in nearly every positive review

Cons:

• Some users report dryness, itch, or dandruff after several washes
• Doesn't suit every hair type, particularly very dry or fragile hair

Ideal for: Anyone with dull, lacklustre hair who wants a budget shine boost without a salon visit.

Skip this if: Your hair is already dry, brittle, or sensitive to acid-based actives.

Key specs: Shampoo £6.49, Conditioner £6.17, hydrogen peroxide and glycolic acid as headline actives, suitable for colour-treated hair per L'Oreal.

2. Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray

Dream Coat is one of the most-rated hair products on Amazon UK, with more than 105,000 reviews and a 4.3-star average. The pitch is simple: a heat-activated polymer spray that coats each strand, repels humidity, and leaves frizzy hair smooth and reflective for several days. It looks like clear water in the bottle, which has caused some confusion (and the odd accusation of "fakes") among new buyers, but that watery formula is the formula.

When it works, it works dramatically. Reviewers describe rain-proof smoothness through wet British weather, easier blow-drying, and shine that holds up wash after wash. Several call out that the larger 200ml bottle is the better value buy, since the smaller travel size disappears quickly when used on long or thick hair.

The split in the reviews is real. A consistent minority say it does nothing for severe frizz on coarse or curly textures and that fine hair feels stiff after application. Spray sparingly to start, distribute through damp lengths only, and always blow-dry to activate the polymer, otherwise it stays sticky.

Pros:

• Cuts frizz noticeably even in humid or rainy conditions
• Multi-day smoothness, with shine that holds through several washes
• Buyers consistently rate the larger bottle as a strong value pick

Cons:

• Doesn't tame the worst frizz on very coarse or curly textures
• Can leave fine, thin hair feeling stiff if overapplied

Ideal for: Medium-to-thick hair that frizzes in humidity and needs a heat-styling shield.

Skip this if: Your hair is fine and weighs down easily, or you don't blow-dry after washing.

Key specs: £18.90 for the standard 200ml bottle, key actives Polysilicone-29 and Silicone Quaternium-18, fragrance-free formula.

3. Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Shampoo

If hard water is the unofficial villain of UK haircare, Aveeno's apple cider vinegar shampoo is the budget answer. At £5.46 for 300ml it's the cheapest sulfate-free clarifier we tested, and Amazon UK reviews lean strongly positive at 4.3 stars. The combination of apple cider vinegar and colloidal oat targets two issues at once: mineral and product buildup on the strand, and a flaky or itchy scalp.

Buyers in hard-water postcodes (think London, the South East, much of the Midlands) consistently report softer, shinier hair after a single wash. Used once a week as a clarifying refresh between regular washes, it pulls out limescale residue without stripping colour, and the oat blend tones down scalp sensitivity rather than provoking it.

It's not a perfect score. A small number of users found their scalp got worse rather than better, particularly those with active eczema or sensitised skin. The scent is described as mildly tangy, which some love and others find odd in a haircare product.

Pros:

• Genuine clarifying lift for hard-water buildup at a low price
• Sulfate-free formula that's gentler than most clarifiers
• Colloidal oat soothes itchy or mildly flaky scalps

Cons:

• A small minority report increased scalp irritation rather than relief
• Vinegar scent isn't to everyone's taste

Ideal for: Anyone in a hard-water area whose hair has gone dull and weighed down.

Skip this if: You have active scalp eczema or you dislike apple cider vinegar's smell.

Key specs: £5.46 for 300ml, sulfate-free, apple cider vinegar plus colloidal oat as headline ingredients, paraben-free.

4. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Nizoral isn't a cosmetic shampoo, it's a medicated one, and the difference shows in the results. With ketoconazole 2% as the active ingredient, it sits at #1 in shampoos on Amazon UK with 32,000-plus ratings and a 4.6 average. Search any anti dandruff shampoo UK reviews thread and Nizoral is the name that keeps coming up after the cheap supermarket options have failed.

It works because ketoconazole is an antifungal that targets the yeast (Malassezia) responsible for most chronic dandruff, rather than just lifting flakes off mechanically. Reviewers describe the dramatic stretches between flares once they switch over: weeks of clear scalp from a single 60ml bottle when used twice weekly for the initial treatment phase, then once every two weeks as maintenance.

The drawbacks are textural rather than performance-related. The bottle is small (60ml), the formula doesn't lather like a regular shampoo, and the fragrance is medicinal. Most users keep it as a treatment shampoo rather than an everyday wash, alternating it with a gentler cosmetic shampoo on off-days.

Pros:

• Medical-grade active (ketoconazole 2%) actually treats the cause of dandruff, not just symptoms
• Long stretches between flares, reported by users with persistent dandruff
• A 60ml bottle lasts months when used as a treatment rather than daily wash

Cons:

• Small bottle and clinical scent feel less indulgent than typical haircare
• Not designed as an everyday shampoo, needs pairing with a gentler one

Ideal for: Anyone with persistent dandruff or a flaky, itchy scalp the supermarket brands haven't shifted.

Skip this if: Your scalp is healthy and you want a regular daily shampoo.

Key specs: £7.90 for 60ml, ketoconazole 2%, pharmacist-recommended, suitable for use up to twice weekly during active treatment.

5. Got2B Extra Volume Dry Shampoo

Looking for the best dry shampoo UK Amazon shoppers actually keep buying? At £2 a can, Got2B Extra Volume is the rare drugstore product where the cult following matches the price. With 8,000+ ratings, an Amazon's Choice badge, and a price tag that lets you keep one in every bag, it's the definition of low-risk volume insurance for greasy roots.

The rice starch and cellulose blend absorbs oil without leaving the white cast that ruins darker hair. Reviewers consistently flag two strengths: the volume lift at the roots is real, and the scent is pleasantly fresh rather than aerosol-perfumed. "No white marks" appears in dozens of five-star reviews, which is rare in this category.

The complaints centre on consistency, not performance. Some buyers report a faulty nozzle or a can that runs out faster than expected, with a few calling it unreliable batch-to-batch. For £2, most users shrug and pick up another can. If you want absolutely premium build quality, this isn't it.

Pros:

• Genuine root lift and oil absorption, easy and fuss-free to use
• No white cast, a standout in the budget dry shampoo category
• Pleasant scent without overpowering perfume

Cons:

• Some buyers report nozzle issues or cans running out quickly
• Performance can vary slightly between batches

Ideal for: Anyone with greasy roots who wants a no-white-cast refresh between washes.

Skip this if: You want a premium-feel can and you've had aerosol nozzle issues before.

Key specs: £2.00 a can, rice starch and cellulose absorbers, suitable for all hair colours, made by Schwarzkopf.

Which One Should I Buy?

Six picks is more than most people need, so here's how to narrow it down by what's actually bothering you:

• If your hair looks dull or lifeless: Start with the L'Oreal Elvive Glycolic Gloss duo. It's the closest you'll get to a hair gloss treatment at home UK shoppers can run for under £13, and the cuticle-smoothing actives bring real shine back.
• If you fight frizz in damp British weather: Color Wow Dream Coat is the answer. The water-repellent polymer is a different category of product than a shine serum and outperforms most cheaper anti-frizz sprays.
• If you live in a hard-water area: Pick the Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar shampoo. Used once a week, it strips out the mineral residue softening shampoo can't shift.
• If dandruff or scalp itch is the issue: Nizoral is the only medicated option here and the only one with a clinical active. Use it as a treatment shampoo, not an everyday wash.
• If you're on the tightest budget: Got2B Extra Volume Dry Shampoo at £2 buys you a week of decent-looking second-day hair without committing to a wash.
• If you want affordable hair care that works UK-wide: Build a small kit. The L'Oreal duo, the Got2B can, and one of the clarifiers (Aveeno or Nizoral, depending on your scalp) cover most concerns for under £30 total.

Quick Verdict

If we had to pick one product to buy first, the Color Wow Dream Coat is the standout. The 105,000-rating volume on Amazon UK isn't an accident, and the cumulative effect (rain-proof smoothness, blow-dry shield, shine that lasts wash after wash) is the kind of thing a basic shampoo can't replicate. At £18.90 it's the most expensive product in this guide, and it's the one we'd buy again first.

Runner-up: the L'Oreal Glycolic Gloss duo, which delivers the best shine-per-pound of anything we tested.

How We Review

Every product in this guide has been through our standard process. We analyse thousands of verified Amazon UK customer reviews per product, looking for repeated themes in praise and complaints rather than cherry-picking five-star quotes. We test products where possible, comparing performance across hair types and concerns. We compare prices across major retailers (Amazon, Boots, Superdrug) to make sure each pick is truly affordable. And we cross-check active ingredients against published dermatological research, particularly for medicated and acid-based formulas.

We're an independent affiliate review site. The Amazon links above earn us a small commission if you buy, but they don't influence which products make our guides. The picks here are the ones we'd actually recommend to a friend.