Black Friday Deal
- Nioxin System 1 Scalp + Hair Shampoo, $20 (was $26)
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.
Ingredients To Look For and Avoid in Shampoos for Thinning Hair
To improve the length, thickness, and strength of your hair, look for ingredients like niacin, biotin, saw palmetto, and rosemary oil as they help drive blood circulation to the scalp and promote growth. Likewise, histidine, ceramides, and keratin nourish your strands and resist damage.
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.
What Healthcare Experts Want You to Know
- Efficacy: 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. 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.
- Best use practices: 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.
- Hair loss: If you're experiencing thinning hair, it’s recommended to shampoo two to three times a week, according to Camp. Board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD. 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.
Our Top Picks
Best for Sensitive Scalps:
Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic Rice Water Shampoo at Shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com
Best for Volume:
Best for Color-Treated Hair:
Superzero Strengthening & Scalp Stimulating Shampoo at Superzero.com$28
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Paul-Mitchell-Tea-Tree-Scalp-Care-Regeniplex-Shampoo-c6ef4ee2652842bd9ded9f7437abde6b.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (1)")
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 and makes hair feel stronger and fuller. These are ideal benefits to look for if you notice hair thinning, says Garshick. 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.
Keep in Mind
The powerful scent of tea tree oil might be too strong for those sensitive to smells. It can also cause a tingling sensation on your scalp, irritating some people.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-paul-mitchell-tea-tree-scalp-care-taylor-fox-02-adb86932d2a8451bb41168fd9b987fe0.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (2)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-paul-mitchell-tea-tree-scalp-care-taylor-fox-01-f928d43ceb49444cae4d5dcb5a8a259e.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (3)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-paul-mitchell-tea-tree-scalp-care-taylor-fox-02-adb86932d2a8451bb41168fd9b987fe0.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (4)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-paul-mitchell-tea-tree-scalp-care-taylor-fox-01-f928d43ceb49444cae4d5dcb5a8a259e.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (5)")
Best for Dandruff
Briogeo Destined For Density Caffeine + Biotin Density Shampoo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Briogeo-Destined-for-Density-Caffeine--Biotin-Peptide-Density-Shampoo-30aba35cd2114b7d9753fce6903c510b.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (6)")
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 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.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-briogeo-destined-destiny-peptide-jaclyn-mastropasqua-01-7b097a26fe984da4b2b3c0159c47b46c.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (7)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BondiBoost-HG-Shampoo-for-Thinning-Hair-70844fdd755f4b8e927ac61354c825ea.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (8)")
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 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.
Keep in Mind
This might not be the pick for you if you prefer a shampoo that lathers up a lot. 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 needed to shampoo twice to get that squeaky clean feeling.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-bondiboost-hg-nellah-mcgough-01-63e259f3d61a40e2b810ebe7aa1e474e.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (9)")
Best for Sensitive Scalps
Shu Uemura Izumi Tonic Rice Water Shampoo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Shu-Uemura-Izumi-Tonic-Strengthening--Thickening-Rice-Water-Shampoo-037501158d12443c920c67ca870a0d6e.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (10)")
Pros
Strengthens hair
Hair looks noticeably shinier
Lathers well and leaves hair feeling clean
Cons
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 noticed these benefits once we incorporated this shampoo into our routine. As an added bonus, our scalp 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
We didn’t see much difference in overall thickness or volume. Also, if you’re looking for fast results, this might not be the product for you. Another gentle option that's fast-acting and mild enough for daily use isArkive Headcare All Day Shampoo. The combination of baobab protein and baobab oil moisturizes while cleansing, making our hair shinier, less frizzy, and more resilient. We had a noticeable reduction in breakage and shedding and started to see promising new growth along our hairline near the end of testing. The only downside is that it doesn't lather as much as other options during use.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-shu-uemerua-izumi-tonic-strengthening-thickening-rice-water-ciara-o-grady-01-03b7f10822b245fdb3faaa69f8a7b4cd.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (11)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Fable--Mane-HoliRoots-Hydrating-Shampoo-12ab08e0981b4c038e44a77b9b54bc36.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (12)")
Pros
Improves hair volume and shine
Helped us stay go longer between hair wash days
Gentle on scalp
Cons
Didn’t reduce 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 could 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
Getting a good lather going with this shampoo can take a lot of product and water. In turn, washing out can be a little tedious, especially if you have thick or curly hair. And while it was definitely hydrating, it didn’t tame our frizziness.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-fable-mane-holiroots-hydrating-kelly-meehan-brown-01-81340d62017c48c5aab3bd11165d90a0.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (13)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/nioxin-system-1-shampoo-c27ff76444244d89bb5781b902bd62b0.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (14)")
Pros
Strengthens and thickens 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. 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 easily cleared oil and product build-up 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.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-nioxin-cleanser-amanda-klein-01-b04c223c28ea4a1a8a7061625c460233.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (15)")
Best for Color-Treated Hair
Superzero Strengthening & Scalp Stimulating Shampoo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/superzero-Strengthening--Scalp-Stimulated-Shampoo-for-Thinning-Hair-9d1a4ca5b9984232a2b5c7e627345ea9.jpg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (16)")
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.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-shampoo-thinning-hair-test-superzero-strengthening-scalp-stimulated-chantia-murphy-01-08e3233d96e64ba08613208f819e3b15.jpeg "Editors With Thinning Hair Tested Shampoos for Stronger Strands—These 7 Actually Worked (17)")
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.
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
- Erum N. Ilyas, MD, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group
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.
