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Verywell Health / Brian Kopinski
While thinning hair can be a shock to the system, everyone experiences hair loss to some extent. In fact, most people shed somewhere between 50 and 100 hairs a day, says Brenden Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. If you find yourself suddenly losing more hair than usual or feel like your hair is becoming much thinner than you’re used to, a quality shampoo for thinning hair can restore thickness and volume in a pinch.
Thinning hair can have many causes including aging and changing hormones. While seeing an expert is always your best bet to identify underlying causes and find a solution, a shampoo with specific ingredients to boost hair growth, strength, and thickness is a great place to start.
To help you find the right product, we spoke to experts and tested 21 popular shampoos. We carefully evaluated each product based on criteria such as ease of use, effectiveness, cleansing ability, scent, and overall results. These are our top picks.
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Ulta
Pros
- Lathers well and leaves hair feeling clean
- Improves hair strength and volume
- Smells great
Cons
- Slight tingling sensation
- Strong scent may be overpowering for some
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Tea tree, Kakadu plum, pea peptides, clover flower, turmeric, ginseng | Size: 10.14 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Scalp Care Regeniplex Shampoo thickens hair in two ways: it renews scalp health while also making hair feel stronger and fuller. These are ideal benefits to look for if you notice hair thinning, says board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD. While the ingredients won’t directly impact your hair loss, they will help your hair appear fuller and healthier while you wait for new growth to come in.
This shampoo checked all our boxes. The powerhouse ingredients made our hair more voluminous and shiny, and it left our hair and scalp feeling clean and refreshed. We also love how fast-acting this pick is. It was so effective that we noticed less breakage and hair fallout from the first shower. Plus, the tea tree gives off a clean, invigorating smell with every use.
Keep in Mind
Tea tree oil’s powerful scent might be too strong for those sensitive to smells. It can also cause a tingling sensation on your scalp, which may irritate some people.
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Sephora
Pros
- A little goes a long way
- Improves hair volume
- Hair looks smoother and shinier
Cons
- Doesn’t lather as well as others we tested
- Strong scent may be overpowering for some
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Biotin, caffeine, copper peptides, zinc | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
A favorite among the experts we interviewed, Briogeo Destined for Density Peptide Shampoo is full of ingredients that boost hair growth and strand thickness. The caffeine in this shampoo is perfect for increasing blood flow and oxygen to the scalp, says Dr. Camp. Additionally, biotin is great for nourishing hair. It made ours smoother and shinier during testing.
If you suffer from dandruff and flaking, this shampoo is a great choice. It contains zinc, which is known for reducing scalp scaling and itchiness. We noticed our normally dry scalp looked and felt better between washes.
Keep in Mind
One of our editors noted this shampoo scent made her feel like she’s “been galloping in a field of daisies,” but the strong floral scent may not be something everyone enjoys. It also didn’t create as much of a lather in the shower as other shampoos we tried, although our hair still felt clean after use.
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Sephora
Pros
- Left our scalp feeling moisturized
- Lathers well and leaves hair feeling clean
- Hair looks fuller and thicker
Cons
- Strong scent may be overpowering for some
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, gluco-peptide | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
Full of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and gluco-peptides, Kerastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo is a surefire product to both cleanse and strengthen your hair, Dr. Garshick says. It removes product buildup and increases strand density almost immediately. This shampoo worked so well that our hair stylist even commented on how much fuller and thicker our hair felt.
If you’re looking to upgrade your shower experience, this pick is for you. This thick, creamy shampoo lathers well and is easy to wash out. Our hair and scalp felt clean and moisturized after every use, and it even healed some dry patches. It’s so moisturizing that you may not even need to follow up with conditioner, depending on your hair type.
Keep in Mind
This shampoo has a strong floral scent, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
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Sephora
Pros
- Reduces hair fallout
- Improves shine and reduces frizz
- Great, mild scent
Cons
- Doesn’t lather as well as others we tested
- May need to wash twice to get that really clean feeling
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, peppermint, rosemary, saw palmetto | Size: 10.14 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
The proprietary blend of ingredients in BondiBoost HG Shampoo for Thinning Hair, which includes aloe, peppermint, rosemary, and saw palmetto, will help you battle thinning hair and protect against environmental stressors. It’s also free of sulfates, which are important to avoid as they can dry out your hair, leading to a brittle feeling and more breakage, says certified trichologist Tiffany Young.
We noticed less hair fallout in the shower and when brushing while testing this shampoo. It also left our hair looking bouncy and full, and we were even able to go longer between wash days. This shampoo is gentle and has a delicious, mild scent of rosemary and peppermint. It reduced frizz and left our hair shinier and softer without causing any issues, even on an oily scalp. The best part? We noticed these results after just a couple of washes.
Keep in Mind
If you prefer a shampoo that lathers up a lot, this might not be the pick for you. We had to use a decent amount of product to get a good lather, and even then it wasn’t very sudsy. Along the same lines, we sometimes felt the need to shampoo twice to get that squeaky clean feeling.
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Sephora
Pros
- Strengthens hair
- Hair looks noticeably shinier
- Lathers well and leaves hair feeling clean
Cons
- We didn’t see much difference in hair thickness or volume
- Takes consistent use to notice a real difference
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Rice water | Size: 10 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
We appreciated how much stronger Shu Uemerua Izumi Tonic Strengthening Rice Water Shampoo made our hair feel during testing thanks to its key ingredient—rice water. Rice water is the starchy water that comes from cooking or soaking rice, and it’s known for being full of vitamins and nutrients. Young recommends it for strengthening strands and preventing breakage, and we certainly noticed these benefits once we incorporated this shampoo into our routine. As an added bonus, our scalp also started filling in with new growth.
This shampoo is particularly gentle on thinning hair. It takes little scrubbing to lather, but the lightweight formula won’t weigh hair down and can also help reduce split ends.
Keep in Mind
If you’re looking for fast results, this might not be the product for you. While some of the other shampoos we tried showed results almost immediately, it took a few weeks for us to notice results from this one. We also didn’t see much difference in overall thickness or volume.
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Sephora
Pros
- Improves hair volume and shine
- We were able to go longer between hair wash days than usual
- Gentle on scalp
Cons
- Didn’t make a difference in frizziness
- Takes a bit more effort to fully wash out
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Tiger herb, coconut, aloe | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
Fable and Mane HoliRoots Hydrating Shampoo added tons of moisture back to our damaged, thinning hair. Despite the deep hydration it gave us, our hair still felt lightweight and looked more voluminous after every wash. It was also gentle and left our hair looking shiny and healthy. Plus, we were able to go longer between hair wash days than usual.
The ingredients in this pick are unique among the other products on this list. It’s important to note that this sulfate-free shampoo focuses more on soothing and moisturizing your hair and scalp to support growth, rather than thickening or strengthening. However, this works to your benefit by preventing brittleness and breakage, a primary concern for those with thinning hair.
Keep in Mind
It can take a lot of product and water to get a good lather going with this shampoo. In turn, it can be a little tedious to wash out, especially if you have thick or curly hair. And while it was definitely hydrating, it didn’t tame our frizziness.
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Ulta
Pros
- Hair looks fuller and thicker
- Strengthens hair
- Improves shine and reduces frizz
Cons
- Peppermint smell might not be for everyone
- Takes consistent use to notice a real difference
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Peppermint oil | Size: 16.9 fluid ounces | Color Safe: No
Why We Recommend It
Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo System 1 was a top choice among our experts, who praised its use of proteins, amino acids, and antioxidants for strengthening hair. Dr. Garshick notes that if used with the full Nioxin System 1, this shampoo makes the perfect base for an effective hair and scalp treatment. However, even using the shampoo alone had us swooning over our thicker, fuller hair.
This invigorating peppermint-scented shampoo gave us stronger hair, and we noticed a lot less breakage throughout the testing period. It greatly improved our hair’s shine and reduced frizz. Formulated to purify the scalp before using the other System 1 products, this shampoo cleared oil and product build-up easily and helped our hair grow long and strong.
Keep in Mind
While some of us love minty scents, the strong peppermint smell of this shampoo might not be a hit for everyone. It’s also worth noting that this shampoo isn’t formulated for colored hair. If you have colored hair and you’re looking for something similar, Nioxin’s System 3 is made particularly for colored thinning hair.
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Amazon
Pros
- A little goes a long way
- We saw new hair growth in thinner spots
- Easy to rinse out, even with tight curls or coils
Cons
- Slight tingling sensation
- We didn’t see much difference in hair thickness or volume
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Biotin, rosemary, mint, babassu seed oil | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo is a fan favorite among dermatologists and trichologists, along with the rest of Mille’s Rosemary Mint collection. Rosemary is a standout ingredient when it comes to aiding new hair growth, says Young. We certainly saw the benefits, with new hair growth coming in by the end of testing. The shampoo also contains biotin, which Dr. Camp notes is great for nourishing your hair and scalp.
This shampoo made our hair feel stronger, and we noticed much less shedding. This is also a great budget pick, as you’ll get a lot of washes from just one bottle. It lathers and spreads through hair easily, and we only needed a small amount each time. If you have tight curls or coils, you can rest assured that this shampoo will rinse out easily, too.
Keep in Mind
Although this shampoo definitely boosted our strand strength, we didn’t notice much difference in thickness or volume. And while the added mint creates a pleasing scent, it also causes a slight tingle during use that might be irritating for a sensitive scalp.
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Bloomingdale's
Pros
- Noticeably decreased breakage and shedding
- Improves shine and reduces frizz
- Gentle on the scalp
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Baobab protein, baobab oil, betaine | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
Arkive Headcare All Day Shampoo is the perfect everyday pick. If you find yourself washing your hair frequently because of an oily scalp or daily sweat sessions, you’ll love that it gently cleanses without causing added stress to your hair. The combination of baobab protein and baobab oil moisturizes while cleansing and made our hair shinier, less frizzy, and more resilient.
We had a noticeable reduction in breakage and shedding while using this pick. We also started to see promising new growth along our hairline near the end of testing. Our favorite benefit, though, is that our hair feels and looks so much healthier. With consistent use, our friends and family started commenting on how shiny and frizz-free our mane looked.
Keep in Mind
You may need to use more product than you’re used to for a good lather with this shampoo. We also didn’t notice much difference in overall hair thickness, but our hair improved in many other ways.
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Amazon
Pros
- Improves hair volume
- Hair looks fuller and thicker
- We saw new hair growth in thinner spots
Cons
- Minty smell might not be for everyone
- Using a shampoo bar can take some getting used to
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Triolein, vegan keratin, caffeine, rosemary oil, menthol, amla extract | Size: 2.15 ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Why We Recommend It
The only shampoo bar on our list, the superzero Strengthening and Scalp Stimulating Shampoo Bar greatly improved our hair volume and thickness. Thanks to ingredients like caffeine and rosemary oil, our scalp felt clean and our hair felt stronger after a few weeks of use. One of its ingredients, rosemary oil, is especially beneficial if you’re suffering from hormone-related hair loss, Young says.
We weren’t familiar with using a shampoo bar, but we found that this one lathered easily with little effort on our part. By the end of testing, this sulfate-free shampoo made our hair full and voluminous. We also saw new hair growth in spots where our hair had been particularly thin.
Keep in Mind
The minty smell of this shampoo bar might irritate those with sensitive noses, but we found it fairly mild compared to other minty shampoos we’ve tried. And, if you’re new to shampoo bars, it can take a few washes to get the hang of it.
We Also Tested
- hers Triple Threat Shampoo Set: This shampoo has a great scent and is very lightweight, but it didn’t seem to make our hair softer or thicker. And despite double cleansing with this shampoo, we still didn’t feel like our scalp was clean.
- RevitaLash Thickening Shampoo: This shampoo was slightly irritating, and we didn’t notice much difference in thickness or smoothness by the end of the testing period.
- Pura D'Or Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo: We found this shampoo difficult to spread through our hair, and it didn’t make a noticeable difference in thickness. It also had an overpowering tea tree smell that lingered after our shower.
- ISDIN Lambdapil Hair Density Shampoo: While this shampoo made our scalp feel clean, using it didn’t have the results we were hoping for. Our hair was smooth and shiny, but it didn’t get thick or full like the product promised.
Where We Stand
After testing 21 thickening shampoos, Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Regeniplex Shampoo was our clear favorite. Not only did it increase our hair strength and volume, but we also noticed less shedding after just one use. As we continue to test shampoos for thinning hair, we’ll update our recommendations with anything noteworthy.
How We Tested Shampoos for Thinning Hair
To find the best shampoos for thinning hair, we tested 21 shampoos regularly during the eight-week testing period. We carefully watched for changes in our hair and scalp and took notes on our experience from the first wash. To narrow down our list of top picks, we considered the following factors during testing:
- Ease of use: We examined how well the shampoo lathered and spread, how easy it was to wash out, and whether any residue was left behind.
- Effectiveness: We noted whether we had thicker, fuller hair by the end of testing and also reported other benefits like hair appearing shinier, smoother, less frizzy, or more voluminous. We also factored in whether the shampoo was irritating or drying.
- Cleansing ability: We paid attention to how clean our hair and scalp felt after the first use. We also noted whether or not we needed to double cleanse and if the shampoo seemed to strip our hair of its natural oils.
- Scent: Because certain scents can be bothersome to individuals, we noted what each shampoo smelled like, whether we liked it or not, and if it seemed overpowering.
- Overall results: We compared our hair at the beginning and end of testing and noted if each shampoo lived up to its claims and how long it took to see results. We also paid attention to any adverse effects like faded color-treated hair or locks that felt weighed down.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Shampoo for Thinning Hair
- Ingredients to look for: Niacin, biotin, saw palmetto, and rosemary oil help drive blood circulation to the scalp and promote growth. Histidine, ceramides, and keratin nourish your strands and resist damage.
- Ingredients to avoid: Stay away from harsh ingredients like sulfates, phthalates, and anything else that strips your hair of natural oils. These ingredients can cause dryness, brittleness, and breakage.
- Hair type: Your hair texture and type can impact whether or not a shampoo is effective for you. Consider how fine your hair is, whether it’s damaged or color-treated, and whether you need shampoo for straight, wavy, or curly hair.
Our Experts
- Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York Presbyterian Medical Center
- Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist at MDCS Dermatology
- Tiffany Young, CEO at Thin Hair Thick and certified trichologist
- , MD, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do shampoos for thinning hair really work? When formulated with the right ingredients, shampoos for thinning hair can enhance hair thickness and volume while encouraging new hair growth. For the best results, look for ingredients that target your specific problem areas and hair type.
- What shampoos do dermatologists recommend for thinning hair?
- How often should you use a shampoo for thinning hair? You can generally use a shampoo for thinning hair in place of your regular shampoo, using it as often as you feel necessary. Follow the instructions on your particular shampoo for the best results.
- How long does it take to see the effects of shampoo for thinning hair? Because hair only grows at an average rate of around 1 centimeter per month, you should consistently use products for thinning hair for at least three or four months, advises Camp. This will give you enough time to accurately determine if your shampoo is making a difference in your hair loss.
- How often should you wash your hair if you’re experiencing hair loss? In general, it’s recommended to shampoo two to three times a week, according to Camp. Garshick says you shouldn’t need to change the frequency of hair washing because of hair thinning. Make sure you’re not being aggressive when washing your hair, since this could irritate your scalp and cause breakage.
Why Trust Verywell Health
Cara Milhaven has spent years testing health, home, and beauty products, including shampoos for multiple hair care concerns. She’s passionate about finding the best products for readers to improve their lives, from the right shampoo to the perfect kitchen towel. She understands what it’s like to be frustrated by beauty products that don’t live up to their claims, and strives to help readers make the best choices when it comes to personal care.
What is the very best shampoo for hair loss?
Our Top Picks.
Best Overall: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo, $25..
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, $30..
Allure Editor Favorite: Andrew Fitzsimons Body Volume Boosting Shampoo, $16..
Best-Smelling Formula: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo, $32..
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