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Combating reduced hair density can feel like quite the uphill battle; luckily, experts say turning to the best shampoo for thinning hair can aid your journey—alongside powerhouse hair growth products and supplements, that is.
Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair
- Best for Hair Growth: Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo, $48
- Best for Mature Hair: Isdin Lambdapil Hair Density Shampoo, $44
- Best for Fine Hair: Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo, $40
- Best for Scalp: Nutrafol Root Purifier Scalp Microbiome Shampoo, $44
- Best for Damaged Hair: Redken Extreme Shampoo, $25
- Best for Curly Hair: Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo, $10
- Best for Volume: Briogeo Blossom Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo, $28
- Best for Daily Washing: Living Proof Full Shampoo, $34
- Best for Bond Repair: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, $30
In This Article
- Do shampoos for thinning hair actually work?
- What are causes of hair thinning
- What are solutions for hair thinning
- Meet the Experts
Best for Growth
- Why We Love It: Hairstylist Laura Rugetti is partial to Vegamour’s assortment: “They have an abundance of serums and capsules to help alleviate hair loss and help promote hair growth,” she says, citing this shampoo as a great addition.
- Key Ingredients: This is powered by vegan silk keratin, microencapsulated silk proteins, marula, baobab, and ximenia oils to promote thicker, longer-looking hair.
- Best for: Quenching dry, frizzy hair that lacks shine.
Best for Mature Hair
- Why We Love It: Crafted for men and women, Isdin’s Lambdapil takes a three-pronged approach to revitalizing thinning hair. The shampoo promises to improve volume, aid hair growth, and control oil production at the scalp for overall healthier hair.
- Key Ingredients: This supports hair health through a blend of Serenoa serrulata fruit extract, biotin, zinc, and vitamin B.
- Best for: Adding volume to limp, oily hair.
- Why We Love It: Get the look of denser hair with this Alterna treatment. The gentle shampoo promises to remove impurities from the scalp while protecting against stressors that make hair appear older—from dullness to dryness.
- Key Ingredients: Caviar is the leading ingredient in Alterna’s Densifying Shampoo for its elasticity and moisture-boosting properties. Here, the fatty acid-rich ingredient works alongside red clover and amla Indian gooseberry to treat mature hair types.
- Best for: Hydrating dry scalp and nourishing gray hair.
Best for Fine Hair
- Why We Love It: “[Ouai’s Fine Hair Shampoo] makes the hair feel very light, which gives you the perfect canvas to create volume with,” explains Onuoha.
- Key Ingredients: Safe for color-treated tresses, the formula is enriched with hydrolyzed keratin, biotin, and chia seed oil to promote stronger, bouncier hair that appears fuller.
- Best for: Adding weightless volume to fine hair.
- Why We Love It: The goal of this Philip Kingsley shampoo is thicker, stronger strands for those with fragile hair. Expect reduced breakage, improved hair health, and hydrated strands after working this into a luxurious lather.
- Key Ingredients: Onuoha is a fan of this shampoo because it “contains pea peptides which have a thickening effect, [plus] BHAs to gently exfoliate the scalp.” These work in tandem with hyper-branched polymers and strengthening molecules, too.
- Best for: Reducing breakage and adding volume.
Best for Scalp Health
- Why We Love It: Rugetti also recommends Nutrafol’s Scalp Microbiome Shampoo, which can also be used in tandem with its Hair Growth Supplements. The cleanser is designed to balance oily production for improved volume in two weeks.
- Key Ingredients: Free of sulfates and parabens, the formula is enriched with vegan proteins, prebiotics, and a biosurfactant for optimal scalp health and hair moisture.
- Best for: Creating the perfect environment to encourage healthy hair growth.
- Why We Love It: Burkhill recommends Nioxin’s range of shampoos for those experiencing thinning. Just choose the formula depicted for your hair type. For example, this option, step one of the brand’s three-part regimen, is suitable for fine, natural hair experiencing light thinning.
- Key Ingredients: Peppermint oil is the essential ingredient here, which helps keep the scalp fresh.
- Best for: Refreshing the scalp and adding volume.
For Damaged Hair
- Why We Love It: “Redken Extreme Shampoo has a protein technology that nourishes the hair from root to tip,” says pro-Venner James. It is lightweight, which is needed for fine hair but also rejuvenates and hydrates each strand.”
- Key Ingredients: The formula uses a strengthening complex featuring amino acids, arginine, and citric acid to revive damaged hair and prevent future breakage.
- Best for: Reducing breakage and strengthening weak hair.
- Why We Love It: “This is great for maintaining hair health and is not too heavy for thinning hair,” says hairstylist Glenn Ellis.
- Key Ingredients: The buzzy shampoo is known for its bond repair technology that seeks to repair broken bonds to reverse damage, split ends, and breakage. Not to mention, it’s vegan, cruelty-, sulfate-, and paraben-free.
- Best for: Treating damaged strands and preventing future breakage.
Best for Curly Hair
- Why We Love It: Venner James recommends Mielle’s shampoo for curly, thinning hair types. As the name suggests, it expertly delivers moisture for brittle and coarse strands.
- Key Ingredients: “This shampoo is infused with biotin, which strengthens and thickens, and also rosemary, which helps to stimulate the scalp,” says the pro. There’s also a handful of botanical oils (coconut, peppermint, castor, and babassu seed, to name a few) for additional nutrients.
- Best for: Dry, curly hair.
- Why We Love It: As Onuoha previously mentioned, a lightweight shampoo is key for cleansing thinning hair. The formula works into a moisturizing lather that leaves coils bouncy and ready for styling.
- Key Ingredients: Free of harsh surfactants (SLS and SLES) and parabens, Pattern’s shampoo features a nourishing blend of aloe vera leaf juice, coconut oil, castor seed oil, shea butter, and honey.
- Best for: Thorough cleansing that won’t dry out thirsty curls.
Best for Volume
- Why We Love It: Briogeo’s volumizing shampoo seeks to promote long-term fullness by not only coating the hair shaft with a natural starch but boosting blood flow and the vitamins that spur hair growth.
- Key Ingredients: Ginseng, biotin, maltodextrin, and witch hazel are just a few of the 94% naturally derived, vegan ingredients that make up this formula.
- Best for: Adding volume and encouraging hair growth.
- Why We Love It: For Ellis, the draw to Davines Volu Shampoo is because it’s “great for adding volume while hydrating and nourishing [the hair].” With its light and foamy texture, this surges softness, shine, and body to limp hair.
- Key Ingredients: Led by Caprauna turnip extract harvested from Italy, this shampoo is rich in iron, calcium, and vitamins to keep hair in tip top shape.
- Best for: Body and supreme shine.
Best for Daily Washing
- Why We Love It: Dubbed one of the best hair-thickening shampoos, Living Proof’s Full formula is a Vogue editor favorite. “I love how voluptuous and full my hair looks after every wash,” commerce producer Clarissa Schmidt previously said. This is known to energize flat and fine hair types, while expertly removing residue and hydrating for your daily wash.
- Key Ingredients: Vegan, color-safe, and free of parabens, sulfates, and silicones, this features slip modifiers that reduce surface friction along the hair shaft, as well as lightweight sugarcane to reduce frizz and damage.
- Best for: Giving new life to fine, damaged hair and preventing future breakage.
- Why We Love It: Smelling of fresh bergamot, lemon, and honeysuckle, Rhyme Reason’s shampoo is an aromatherapy treatment in a bottle that also manages to boost flat hair.
- Key Ingredients: This vegan, 92% naturally derived shampoo is another favorite of Onuoha’s. “[It] contains Bamboo fibers; these fibers give the hair texture and help to lift the hair from the scalp creating more volume,” she says. Moisturizing lilly pilly and oat-derived peptides also make up the formula.
- Best for: Some extra body and bounce.
More Solutions for Thinning Hair
If after three to six months, you have yet to notice a difference in hair density, you may need to switch up your regimen. Dr. Doshi suggests speaking with a specialized MD who can develop a treatment plan that includes a mix of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription products. “OTC options, like minoxidil-based topicals and ketoconazole shampoos, enhance blood flow and scalp health,” Doshi explains.
This over-the-counter solution contains two percent minoxidil, while prescription-strength versions typically have up to 5%. Nevertheless, the FDA-approved serum delivers on its growth-inducing promise. “By extending the length that hair remains in the anagen phase of the growth cycle, it can slow the pace of thinning and can even help to thicken hair after using the product consistently for about one year,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Christine Shaver previously told Vogue. The set shown here offers a three-month supply of the serum—no prescription required.
Looking for a more botanical solution? At this point, minoxidil and finasteride are the only FDA-approved ingredients proven to treat hair loss. Nevertheless, rosemary oil shows promise. The buzzy herbal salve may “fortify hair by improving moisture and strength [while] delivering nutrients and antioxidants, which protect hair follicle cells from oxidative stress,” Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist, previously shared with Vogue. A study has also suggested that rosemary oil and minoxidil have comparable effects on hair.
This viral, herb-garden-scented oil gave Vogue contributor Veronica Cristino a new lease on life (and hair length.) After experiencing hair thinning, she picked up a bottle of the TikTok-beloved salve—intrigued, in part, by its affordable price. “After just two months of applying daily, my hair feels reborn,” she wrote. “It s stronger, fuller, and much more shiny. I m so happy with the results, I’ll definitely keep it up.”
Nutritional supplements with ingredients like biotin, vitamin D, and iron can also support overall hair health—and kickstart hair growth. Dr. Jennifer Gordon, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas, previously told Vogue: “If you are deficient in any of the amino acids, omega acids, or other vitamins, then [supplements] are necessary to provide you with the building blocks to grow hair.”
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Vegamour’s strawberry-flavored gummies are sweet (and heart-shaped) enough to double as a Valentine’s Day gift. Infused with biotin and stress-relieving MCT oil, the vegan supplements are loaded with antioxidants including vitamin D. “They’re easy to take—just one daily—and are designed to be clean,” Gordon said.
Nutrafol’s physician-formulated supplement is “plant-based and science-backed,” Dr. Gordon previously told Vogue. The supplement has different versions designed for men, postpartum women, and more. The women’s nutraceutical, shown here, comprises of minerals, vitamins, and other natural ingredients designed to tackle hair thinning in women aged 18 to 44. “It gives you the building blocks for hair growth but also affects other systems that affect hair growth and well-being,” Gordon said. The ashwagandha-infused capsules can also decrease stress and help with sleep.
Do shampoos for thinning hair actually work?
According to Dr. Omer Ibrahim, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, shampoos formulated for thinning hair can work, but not necessarily on their own. Instead, he says, “They complement a hair-thinning treatment plan,” which—as mentioned above— may also include prescription products. For thinning hair, Ibrahim stresses that first and foremost, it’s important to use a mild and sulfate-free shampoo that cleanses the scalp and removes buildup without stripping off natural oils, thus creating an ideal environment for hair growth. Nutrafol’s sulfate-free formulation is one of his favorite shampoos for thinning hair; he also notes that Briogeo’s shampoos are sulfate-free.
Marie Nino, a New York City-based hairstylist and colorist, offers this perspective: “Shampoos for thinning hair can help create the appearance of fuller hair and a healthier scalp,” she says. “But if you’re dealing with something like alopecia or severe hair loss, I always recommend seeing a dermatologist to get to the root of the issue. Combining professional guidance with targeted products can make all the difference.”
Hair-thinning solutions can also be found behind the pharmacy counter and at the doctor’s office. “Prescription medications like finasteride for men and topical spironolactone for women inhibit DHT, [a protein] linked to hair thinning,” Doshi says. You can also opt for in-office treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to help stimulate growth.
What are the causes of hair thinning
To start, it’s helpful to address why you might be experiencing thinning in the first place. “A big cause nowadays of telogen effluvium (diffuse temporary hair loss) is stress,” says trichologist Angela Onuoha. She additionally cites COVID, chronic infections, certain medications, metabolic changes, hormonal irregularities, postpartum, and diet as potential causes. “It occurs due to a disturbance of the hair cycle; this causes the hairs to fall out prematurely,” Onuoha explains. “The positive thing is that, in the short term, telogen effluvium is rarely permanent, meaning that the hair will grow back eventually.”
What are solutions for hair thinning
Onuoha explains that identifying the cause of thinning can inform your treatment. “The priority is to normalize the hair cycle again,” she says. “Regrowth usually begins three to six months after treatment.” Essentially, you want to ensure your hair is in the best health possible—this means alleviating signs of damage. According to her, this can happen through bond repair treatments or ingredients like peptides (which have been “shown to help with slowing down hair loss and improve both the quality and density of the hair over time”), azelaic acid (“which helps reduce inflammation”), pyridoxine HCL, and zinc PCA. Celebrity hairstylist Peter Burkhill recommends anything that can encourage hair to grow back faster and thicker—from DHT blockers for men or iron, biotin, and caffeine supplements for women. “You want to avoid anything with silicone or sulfates as they suffocate the scalp; it’s a little bit like wearing a hat!” he says.
That being said, Onuoha details that the best shampoo for thinning hair is often lightweight so as not to weigh the hair down and is enriched with exfoliants to remove excess buildup on the scalp. These properties combined allow for hair that looks fuller and healthier. Here, we’ve tapped five hair experts for the best shampoos to consider based on your hair type—plus a couple of favorites that have earned Vogue editors’ stamps of approval. Read on to find the best one for you.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Brendan Camp is a double board-certified dermatologist in New York.
- Dr. Jennifer Gordon is a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas.
- Dr. Omer Ibrahim is a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago.
- Marie Nino is a hairstylist and colorist in New York City.
- Dr. Christine Shaver is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon in New York.