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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 Brendan 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.
Paul Mitchell Scalp Care Regeniplex Shampoo – Best Overall
Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Scalp Care Regeniplex Shampoo thickens hair in two ways: it renews scalp health and makes 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, leaving 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.
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Tea tree, Kakadu plum, pea peptides, clover flower, turmeric, ginseng | Size: 10.14 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Briogeo Destined For Density Shampoo – Best Overall Runner-Up
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.
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Biotin, caffeine, copper peptides, zinc | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Kérastase Densifique Shampoo – Best for All Hair Types
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.
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, gluco-peptide | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
BondiBoost HG Shampoo – Best for Oily Hair
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 bouncy and full, and we could even go longer between wash days. This gentle shampoo 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.
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, peppermint, rosemary, saw palmetto | Size: 10.14 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo – Best for Curly Hair
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo is a fan favorite among dermatologists and trichologists, along with the rest of Mielle’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.
Key Specs
Key Ingredients: Biotin, rosemary, mint, babassu seed oil | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Color Safe: Yes