Reach sky-high levels of body and fullness with these dermatologist-approved shampoos.
Thin hair is nothing to be ashamed of — it’s a fact of life shared by many, but we suggest checking out the best shampoos for thinning hair to support healthy hair function. Many women experience thinning hair and hair loss for a multitude of reasons: age, changes in diet, and product alterations, to name a few. Modifying your hair-care routine with some of these shampoos can add volume, thicken strands, and possibly improve hair density for the long haul.
Below, read about the 16 best shampoos for thinning hair for all hair types. Best of all, you don’t need a prescription to scoop any of these fortifying formulas up.
Best Overall: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Dr. Sadick is a fan of this color-safe Paul Mitchell shampoo, which is chock-full of antioxidants (such as ginseng and turmeric) to hydrate your scalp and hair while gently cleansing. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Arash Akhavan, MD, says that tea tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory benefits to rid your scalp of excess oil, sweat, and product build-up.
Luxe and Effective Ingredients: Alterna Caviar Clinical Densifying Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Stacy Chimento, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, recommends this hair density-boosting formula because of its effective, jam-packed formula. It contains strengthening biotin and keratin; antioxidant-rich alma Indian gooseberry oil to fight free radical damage; amino acids that help thinning hair build new strands; and moisturizers like glycerin and caviar to keep hair shiny and silky. As a bonus, you won’t find any synthetic colors and dyes in this formula.
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Olaplex’s line of strengthening hair-care essentials has long been an Allure editor favorite but the brand’s Best of Beauty-winning No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo in particular has earned high praise from Annie Gonzalez, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, for its protective qualities. Whether your hair is ultra-damaged or not, No. 4 is a great product for maintaining the look and health of your hair on a daily basis.
Best-Smelling Shampoo: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: In addition to smelling like absolute heaven (or a blend of rose, Italian lemon, jasmine, and white musk, to be exact), Ouai’s Fine Hair Shampoo comes highly recommended by New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD. (We think it’s a perfect pick for your everything showers.) This sulfate-free formula is notably safe for color-treated hair and produces a satisfying lather.
Dry-Scalp Soother: Art Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Here’s a budget-friendly shampoo that doesn’t skimp on nourishing ingredients for dry scalps and thinning hair. It has a light scent (you can choose from aloe vera, rosemary, and avocado) and it’s color-safe. Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City says the Art Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo’s star ingredient is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, two compounds that moisturize and soothe dry scalp and hair. “Argan oil is a good option for those who experience thin, brittle, and dry hair and want to repair damage while protecting against additional damage from heating tools, harsh chemicals, or the sun,” she says.
Best for Dandruff-Prone Hair: Nizoral Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: While this shampoo’s main claim to fame is its ability to reduce dandruff and flaking, Dr. Green says its ketoconazole-spiked formula is also helpful in promoting hair growth.
Best for Greasy Scalps: Kérastase Spécifique Bain Divalent
Why It’s Worth It: This Kérastase pick is a favorite of Dr. Mariwalla, specifically for “strengthening hair, especially as we age,” she says. It’s also formulated for people who are dealing with greasy scalps but have brittle, dry hair.
Allure Editor Favorite: Andrew Fitzsimons Body Volume Boosting Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: A Best of Beauty Award winner, the Body Volume Boosting Shampoo is the work of hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, whose clients include the Kardashians, Adele, and J.Lo, just to name a few). For the quite reasonable $16 price point, you get a lightweight formula packed with caffeine and hydrolyzed rice protein to strengthen hair, improve elasticity, and give your hair an overall “oomph.”
Trusted Hair Loss Brand: Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Nioxin’s clarifying Cleanser shampoo is another Dr. Sadick-approved pick that’ll leave your hair feeling refreshed and clean from dirt, buildup, and sebum — but not stripped. The ingredients boost volume and strengthen hair follicles for a healthy scalp.
Most Hardworking Drugstore Formula: OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: It’s all about that texture with this OGX pick that Dr. Sadick stands behind. This paraben- and sulfate-free shampoo helps each hair feel thicker immediately post-wash day. The affordable drugstore price can’t be beaten, especially if you go through shampoo quickly.
For a Grease-Free Finish: Isdin Lambdapil Hair Loss Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Dr. Mariwalla also recommends this strengthening shampoo because of its nourishing formula, which “really makes the hair look and feel thicker and fuller.” Ginseng promotes scalp circulation, and you’ll also find hydrolyzed wheat protein, a quiet superhero for strengthening hair inside and out.
Rosemary-Infused: L’Oréal Paris EverStrong Thickening Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Those looking for an affordable option will be glad to know that Dr. Green gives the L’Oréal Paris EverStrong Thickening Shampoo her seal of approval. The key ingredient in this drugstore formula is rosemary leaf oil, an additive that Dr. Green says has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties that will promote scalp health.
Best for Graying Hair: Arey Wash Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: There’s nothing wrong with sporting gray hair, but if you’d rather put that off a little longer, Arey’s Wash Shampoo is a great option to pick up. Scientists have identified that genetic or hereditary loss in hair pigmentation only accounts for 30% of greys. The other culprit? Oxidative stress and decrease in melanogenesis (the process of creating melanin, or pigment). This shampoo combines ingredients that promote pigmentation and hair restoration. It’s chef’s kiss for anyone dealing with aging hair.
Bounce-Inducing: R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Everything’s bigger in Texas. This aptly-named shampoo from R+Co might just bring your hair to new heights, too, thanks to its formulation with advanced polymers that help add more body and bounce to your style.
Best Clean Shampoo: Briogeo Blossom Bloom Ginseng Biotin Volumizing Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Does your hair-care routine revolve around building volume? Say no more. We love Briogeo’s formula on all hair types, plus, the refreshing citrus scent is the perfect pick-me-up on groggy mornings.
Best for Straight or Wavy Hair: Bumble and Bumble Bb. Thickening Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Dr. Sadick recommends a super lightweight formula that won’t weigh finer hair down like this Bb. Thickening Shampoo from the popular, hairstylist-founded brand. Best for straight-to-wavy hair, this aloe-infused shampoo builds lots of volume. Not to mention, aloe vera also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can be especially beneficial for soothing an itchy, dry scalp.
What Causes Hair Thinning?
Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, says that thinning hair can be linked to many things. “It could be from over-processing color, medication, medical conditions like anemia and vitamin deficiency, menopause, or it could just simply be your genetics,” she says.
And more recently, your hair loss may be due to COVID-19, according to Papri Sarkar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who is based in Brookline, Massachusetts. “Everyone whom I’ve had any contact with throughout the pandemic has seen a huge, huge increase in hair loss,” she says, referring to the many primary care physicians, allergists, and pediatricians who have reached out to her for consults on their telogen effluvium cases.
Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss from excessive shedding due to a shock to the system, and it “does not discriminate,” says Corey L. Hartman, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. “It can be seen across races, ethnicities, skin types, and hair textures,” he affirmed.
What Ingredients Should I Look For?
New York City board-certified dermatologist Neil Sadick, MD, says an ideal shampoo for thinning hair needs to not only improve the volume of your strands but also encourage the growth and circulation of hair follicles. “Amino acids provide the building blocks to build new strands, while biotin, part of the B-vitamin complex, is required by hair to metabolize amino acids and can help strengthen hair,” he says. Additionally, Dr. Sadick notes that antioxidants, such as vitamin E and ginseng, are beneficial for promoting hair growth “because they reduce free radicals from sun, stress, or overprocessing and have anti-inflammatory properties.”
Ginger King, a New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist and founder of Grace Kingdom Beauty, also recommends looking for shampoos that tout their “styling” capabilities as they work more like styling hairsprays. These shampoos typically contain what King refers to as film formers, which are ingredients like acrylate copolymer. “There are also silk proteins and keratin proteins that can help to add a moisturizing layer for hair to look thicker,” says King.
Lastly, King cautions against products containing silicones if your main concern is thinning hair. “Personally, I am not opposed to the use of silicones in hair care, but for people who have thinning hair, silicones can build up and weigh hair down,” she says.
When Should I See a Doctor About Thinning Hair?
The short answer? As soon as you notice something’s off. It’s pretty normal to lose between 50 to 100 or a little bit above 100 hairs a day,” New York-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry previously told Allure. “Much more than that becomes concerning, and that’s really important to let your dermatologist know.” Try a hair count test, where you count your hair fall each day to see if it’s within that 50 to 100 range.
But even if you haven’t done that, it’s okay to make an appointment with your board-certified dermatologist as soon as you wish. They can look at your scalp, administer relevant blood tests (typically hormone, nutrient, and thyroid panels), and talk to you about your symptoms to see if they align with different types of alopecia.
The sooner you talk about it openly with your medical provider — whether that’s a derm, OB/GYN, primary care provider, or endocrinologist — the sooner they can help get you to a diagnosis and regrowth treatment plan.
In case you need a reminder: Your concerns are valid, and hair loss is connected to so many hormonal and autoimmune conditions that it’s always worth seeking out a medical professional.
