Shampoo buyers usually fall into one of two camps: they revel in luxurious products that are beautifully packaged and smell glorious (yes, they actually open the cap and take a whiff mid-aisle). Or, they grab the first bottle off the shelf without considering the brand – as long as it costs under £3. Which type are you? iVillage staffers chose a variety of the most popular brands and tested them head-to-head. Here’s how the various shampoos shook out, taking into account such qualities as lather potential, scent and how well they cleaned.

1. Origins Clear Head Mint Shampoo (£8.50 for 250ml). This product is great for every day use (the label even says so). I felt like it got my hair really clean – it washed away all product residue and had a nice, mild tingling effect. Don’t get it in your eyes, though, as it has the same result. This shampoo smelled good enough to eat, and I was intrigued by the exotic ingredients listed on the label: Brazilian mint, spearmint and mentha piperita. The minty freshness is a definite plus when you need some extra motivation waking up in the morning.

2. Botanics Normal Shampoo (£2.99 for 250ml). This shampoo had a soft and smooth consistency. It was quite herby – ingredients included plant extracts and fennel seeds, which smelled gorgeous. I did need to use quite a bit to lather up properly, but I do have long hair. One wash was sufficient to make my hair feel squeaky clean, and it didn’t dry out or strip my hair so I didn’t need a conditioner. It was also quite fresh and light and didn’t leave any build up. I’d buy this shampoo again – it smelled brilliant and made my hair shiny and clean. Plus, it’s not too expensive.

3. Clarins Re-Vital Shampoo for frequent use (£9.50 for 200 ml). This shampoo was coloured so it looked more like a conditioner. I really liked the way it smelled, which was similar to the posh products they use on you in the salon. One wash was enough, and I only had to use a small amount to get a lather going. When I used it the first time it got my hair that really squeaky, intense kind of clean where you can’t get your fingers through it. I suppose that was because it was getting rid of the build up from my old shampoo. I definitely needed conditioner, but I didn’t mind because my hair felt so clean. I would buy this product again, but it’s a bit too pricey.

4. Clinique Hair Care Gentle Wash Shampoo (£8 for 200ml). This thick shampoo smelled citrusy and had a very soft and subtle smell – not at all overpowering. It was very fresh and lathered up well, but not to the point of suds going everywhere. I really felt like it was getting to the roots of my hair and cleaning thoroughly. It rinsed out well leaving no residue, and I didn’t need a conditioner. The other great thing: a small amount went a long way. My hair looked fab afterwards – not greasy at the roots or dry at the ends – and it was much easier to style than usual. My hair also felt soft, manageable and very shiny. On a purely superficial note, the packaging was second to none and would look fantastic in anyone’s bathroom The only thing that might deter me from buying this shampoo is the price.

5. Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Energizing Shampoo (£8 for 250ml). This shampoo was thin and a bit runny, but a little went a long way. I really loved the way it smelled – it had a refreshing green tea scent. It made my hair feel very clean, shiny and revitalised, and although I needed a conditioner it left no build-up. My hair was very manageable and easier to style after using this shampoo. I’d definitely buy it in the future.

6. Fructis Normal Shampoo (£2.49 for 250 ml). This shampoo felt quite smooth and smelled deliciously fresh and fruity. It lathered up well, and you didn’t need too much to get it going. However, it felt too sticky on my hair to clean it effectively. It was quite bad for build up – I had a good scrub but couldn’t seem to get all of the shampoo out. It left my hair feeling greasy, so I didn’t use a conditioner. My hair was easier to style, but only in the sense that it stayed in position because it was sticky. I wouldn’t buy this product as it didn’t do much for my hair – maybe because it’s quite fine – and I found it too heavy.

7. Superdrug Honey & Banana (£1.39 for 350ml). I didn’t like this product as it felt cheap on my hair – not what you want from a shampoo. The smell came across as very artificial and too strong. Having said that, the scent didn’t linger after I washed it. The consistency was a bit thickish and too gloopy; the lather was adequate, but the suds felt quite thin and non-luxuriant. Two washes were necessary to make my hair feel clean, and I still needed to use conditioner because my hair felt very wiry – it wasn’t significantly easier to style. I wouldn’t buy this shampoo, as there are better products at the inexpensive end of the market.

8. L’Oréal Elvive Nut Vit Shampoo (£2.99 for 300 ml). This shampoo looked quite thick, but it actually felt very light. It was fresh smelling and I needed a lot of shampoo to effectively cover my head and develop a good lather. It definitely cleaned my hair well and rinsed out quickly. As I have quite dry hair, I used a conditioner and there wasn’t any greasy build-up at all. Afterwards my hair felt very clean, light, smooth and easy to manage. Overall, I think it’s good value.

9. Pantene Classic Shampoo (£2.99 for 200 ml). This product has a thick creamy consistency and is almost a cross between a shampoo and conditioner, which is perfect for my dry hair. It had a clean scent, which I prefer, rather than fruity or sweet-smelling shampoo. It never got really frothy, and I felt I needed quite a lot to start a lather. It did clean my hair effectively, though, and I only needed to rinse once. The shampoo didn’t leave any residue – I think it would have if I hadn’t rinsed it a couple of times. I’d buy this product because it made my hair manageable, easier to style and the price is right.

10. Tommy Hilfiger’s ‘Clear Favorite’ Daily Shampoo (£8 for 250 ml). Although totally transparent, this shampoo felt surprisingly thick and creamy. I liked it, but it felt a bit like glue. It was very fresh smelling, sort of citrusy, and although people actually commented on how nice I smelled early in the day, it didn’t last long – my boyfriend couldn’t notice the difference that evening. The shampoo produced a thick, creamy lather and one wash did the trick. I normally use conditioner but this time I didn’t, and my hair still felt quite soft. It did need quite a bit of rinsing, though. I would buy this product as it made my hair feel nice and smell good.