Dealing With Thinning Hair? Experts Swear By These Shampoos (2024)

Beauty editor Beth Gillette has been lathering up her fine, thin hair with this shampoo since it launched earlier this year, and she admits that she has had just about the best hair year of her life. She constantly gets compliments on how thick and full her hair looks, which is pretty much the opposite of how she perceived it a year ago (and she's even cut and bleached her hair since!). The reason? The combo of caffeine-rich coffee seed oil in this formula, which is filled with antioxidants that help stimulate blood flow to the scalp to help optimize scalp health and hair growth, says Dr. Rodney.

• Key ingredients: Coffee seed oil, biotin
• Sulfate-free? Yes (but still contains some strong surfactants)
• Hair type: Dry, normal

Glowing customer review: "I have been using this shampoo for a few months and love the way that my hair feels fuller. As someone who has noticed their hair has been thinning over the years, this has been a positive experience. The smell is also very pleasant too!”

This gentle shampoo is one of my favorite products after I experienced post-Covid-19 related hair loss. It contains sulfates, so it has the ability to fully remove stubborn buildup that tends to clog hair follicles and create a less-than-ideal environment for your hair to grow. After using this shampoo, my hair felt thicker, but it also looked healthy and shiny. Not to mention, it's safe for color-treated hair, so rest assured, your $$$ dye job won't fade in the process.

• Key ingredients: Sulfates, zinc PCA, menthol
• Sulfate free? No
• Hair type: Oily, normal

Glowing Customer Review: "I really like this shampoo and I feel like it has made my hair appear visibly thicker, especially near the root," reads one review. "I'm losing less hair too. Love that this is a vegan product as well!"

Dr. Rodney is a huge fan of this hair-loss shampoo because it's loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients (hi, niacinamide, and zinc) that "help improve skin barrier function, which can potentially reduce inflammation that can lead to hair fall," she previously told Cosmo. Personally, my thinning hair and oily scalp love this formula because it makes my roots look lifted and voluminous. FYI: It does contain sulfates, which I love for deeply cleaning and degunking my scalp, but they are drying for some hair types. If your hair is on the drier side, try using this once a month as a "reset" wash, and then make sure to follow it up with a deep conditioner.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc, hydrolyzed soy protein
• Sulfate-free? No
• Hair type: All (but could be a bit drying for very-dry hair if used too often)

Glowing customer review: "My dermatologist prescribed this shampoo, and I have been using it. This is my second order, and my hair has improved enormously.”

When you need a liiittle bit more oomph in your formula to help boost your scalp health and improve scalp thinning, try this advanced shampoo from Vegamour. It kicks their O.G. Gro Revitalizing Shampoo up a notch with the addition of gently exfoliating lactic acid, stimulating caffeine, and soothing niacinamide.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, lactic acid, marula seed oil, rhubarb extract
• Sulfate-free? Yes, but contains other strong surfactants
• Hair type: All, but might be drying for very-dry hair

Glowing customer review: "Currently nine months pregnant and have been experiencing hair loss. I was very happy to stumble across Vegamour and try out both the shampoo and conditioner. Not sure if it's a placebo effect, but I feel like the products has been helping with my hair."

I have the RevitaLash's eyebrow serum to thank for my thick brows as of late, so I was intrigued to see if the brand's thickening shampoo would also be able to help encourage some blood flow to my scalp to help my ultra-fine, thin hair look a bit fuller. It's chock full of good-for-scalp ingredients that help support a healthy scalp environment (FYI: a thriving scalp = thriving hair, k?!). A few of the standout ingredients? Soothing niacinamide, strengthening proteins and amino acids, and skin-barrier supporting peptides.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides, arginine, hydrolyzed soy protein, wheat amino acids
• Sulfate-free? Yes *(but contains some other strong cleansers)
• Hair type: All

Glowing customer review: "This product definitely gives body to my fine hair which has felt even thinner as I age. Highly recommend."

So, we've determined that a healthy scalp = healthy hair. Enter: Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo that's specifically formulated to help treat dandruff and flaky scalps, thanks to a mix of calming ingredients and—most importantly—salicylic acid, an MVP at gently exfoliating flakes and grease. The result? Softer, more airy hair and a healthier scalp.

• Key ingredients: Piroctone olamine, climbazole (controls dandruff); salicylic acid (exfoliates); caffeine (stimulates)
• Sulfate free? No
• Hair type: All* (*but could be slightly drying for dry hair)

Glowing customer review: "I am firm in the philosophy 'take care of your scalp, your hair will take care of itself. And it doesn't strip the hair or make it look lifeless, either—it's actually light and bouncy!"

Other than the fact that this shampoo bottle would look cute AF in your shower, it'll also give you volumized hair, which will essentially camouflage your hair loss and/or thinning. Not only that but it's packed with antioxidants to help protect and repair, as well as coconut oil and shea butter to ensure that the hair stays moisturized.

• Key ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Hair type: All* (*but may be too moisturizing for very-oily scalps)

Glowing customer review: "I really like this shampoo! It has helped with my thinning out hair from postpartum; great neutral scent, awesome value."

Volumizing products can be tricky for super-fine hair textures. Use the wrong formula, and you'll be left with a crunchy, greasy finish. Cue this lightweight cleanser from Ouai, which calls on a blend of moisturizing chia seed oil and strengthening keratin proteins to leave fine hair stronger and smoother, without any heavy residue. So while your derm is working on your hair growth from the inside out, this formula can help give you immediate results on the outside.

• Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed keratin, chia seed oil
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Hair type: Oily, normal

Glowing customer review: "Great product for fine hair. Leaves my hair shiny and voluminous without being weighed down. My hair smells amazing up until wash day."

This hair-growth shampoo packs a seriously powerful punch, thanks to ingredients like Jamaican black castor oil (which is loaded with vitamin E, fatty acids, and minerals), moisturizing shea butter, and clarifying peppermint. Not only is it great for heat-damaged hair, but it's also a godsend for textures that require extra moisture (hi, curly hair!).

• Key ingredients: Peppermint, shea butter, castor oil
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Hair type: Normal, dry, very dry

Glowing customer review: "Love the smell and feel of the product, it makes my thin hair feel thicker and softer. Fine, thin, and brittle hair sufferers, this product is for us!!!"

I may sound like a broken record here, but if you want your hair to be healthy, you gotta make sure that your scalp is healthy first. If you begin to notice that your hair is particularly dry, brittle, weak, and prone to breakage, you (1) need to lay off the heat and coloring, and (2) get yourself a moisturizing, strengthening shampoo. This one by Mielle will gently cleanse the hair while adding moisture to dry and over-processed hair. Massage it through your wet hair, rinse it all out, then follow with a hydrating conditioner.

• Key ingredients: Rosemary oil, peppermint oil, babassu oil
• Sulfate free? Yes* (*but contains some strong surfactants)
• Hair type: Normal, dry, very dry

Glowing customer review: "This has grown out my hair at double the speed! I have never had a problem with this and it has worked wonders in reviving my curly hair!"

If you have damaged, thinning hair, chances are you've heard of the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. This cult-favorite shampoo is a staple in the beauty world for healing damaged and over-processed hair by actually rebuilding the broken bonds in your hair strands. But it also helps moisturize and smooth your hair, which can make fine, thin hair look a bit plumped up and thicker. The best part is that literally anyone—with any hair type—can use this product.

• Key ingredients: Grapeseed oil, glycerin, panthenol
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Hair type: All

Glowing customer review: "This stuff is seriously amazing; I balked at the price for a long time but couldn't believe how well it worked once I finally bit the bullet and bought it. My hair feels so soft and smooth afterward, and it's been bleached a lot. My bangs fall in just the right way, my hair has tons of volume, and it somehow just looks exactly how I want it to look.

If you want a product that will work for both straight and curly hair, this here is your bb. Not only is this shampoo good for dry, flaky scalps, but it is also great for hydrating damaged hair that has split ends and breakage—over-processed hair types, I'm talkin' to you.

• Key ingredients: Keratin, peptides, hyaluronic acid
• Sulfate free? Yes
• Hair type: All* (*but might be a bit too moisturizing for some oily scalps)

Glowing customer review: "I always had thick hair but after getting COVID-19, I started losing my hair and it lacked its luster. It was gentle on my hair and I noticed I didn’t lose as much in the shower. My hair is getting thicker again and I think this shampoo is working its magic."

Hair thinning shampoos don't necessarily work to grow your hair longer and thicker, per se, shampoos are not clinically proven to cause hair growth. In reality, nothing that sits on your scalp for 30 seconds will do anything to make your hair grow faster. But—but!—if your hair loss is due to scalp conditions such as dryness, dandruff, or psoriasis, then yes, a shampoo may help create a healthier, more hospitable environment for your hair to grow.

Dr. Gohara compares shampoo to a coach on an athletic team: The coach can't play for the team, however, they can offer advice and support. It's the same for shampoo—shampoo can't grow the hair back, but it can create the best and most optimal environment for healthy hair. They also can temporarily add volume to your thin hair or potentially treat or calm down scalp conditions that may be contributing to your thinning hair.

The shampoo dermatologists recommend for hair loss is entirely dependent upon the cause of your hair loss and the rest of your treatment plan. For example, if you're currently massaging your scalp every night with minoxidil, which can be v irritating, you prob should be using a very gentle shampoo, versus a medicated one for dandruff. Dr. Gohara says that when she treats patients for hair loss, she views her approach as a "treatment ladder." The first step is to determine the root cause and then "make sure your scalp is in the best, and healthiest, condition as possible," noting that this is where shampoo comes in. "Shampoos for thinning hair can hydrate dry scalps, ensure good cuticle health, and clear any clogged hair follicles."

However, in general, Dr. Rodney is a big fan of a shampoo filled with anti-inflammatory ingredients for hair loss and thinning. This can help soothe your scalp and curb irritation, which overall leads to a healthier scalp, leading to hopefully some hair growth.

Dr. Gohara explains that everyone's hair thins naturally with age: "If you consider everyone's hair densities in their thirties, forties, fifties, and so on, you'll see that it doesn't look the same as it did in their teens and twenties." She says you must consider genetics, explaining that when and how quickly your hair will thin is genetically predetermined, just like your eye and hair color.

And then, Dr. Gohara explains that there are many other issues that can organically cause hair thinning: Stress, eating habits, hormonal changes, post-pregnancy, and even over-processing the hair. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium—a ~fancy~ way of saying temporary hair loss—and if you correct the issue at its core (i.e., proper nutrition, less stress, seeing a doctor), the hair loss will gradually stop after a period of time.

Determine if you have a scalp condition.

Reason #780 to go see a dermatologist: There are a ton of inflammatory scalp conditions that can contribute to hair thinning and hair loss, such as dandruff, dryness, psoriasis, and more.

If you have dandruff, an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo containing the active ingredient ketoconazole will help kill the dandruff-causing yeast on your scalp. If you have an irritated, dry scalp, a scalp-oil treatment, a moisturizing and gentle shampoo, and a soothing scalp serum should be your go-to. As for a shampoo specifically for thinning hair, look for a gentle, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory formula that can potentially aid in healing your scalp.

Consider your goals.

If you just want to mask your thinning or hair loss, look for volumizing shampoos with strong surfactants that remove oil and buildup on your scalp and weigh down your hair. But if you actually want to strengthen your damaged ends to make them look a bit fuller, try a bond-building shampoo (I love Olaplex No. 4 Shampoo). And ofc, if you want to boost your scalp health, look for all those skincare ingredients we love for our faces: peptides, niacinamide, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid.

• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, Connecticut, president of the Women's Dermatologic Society, and associate clinical professor at Yale. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and skin of color.
• Dominic Burg is a trichologist and chief scientist at Evolis Professional. His expertise includes hair cycles and how they are impacted by inflammation and age-related diseases. Dr. Burg has talked to Cosmo in the past about hair loss in young women.
• Ife Rodney, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Fulton, MD, where she runs her own practice, Eternal Dermatology and Aesthetic Center. She specializes in hair loss and hair growth treatments. She previously spoke to Cosmopolitan about hair-growth shampoos.

Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the best shampoo for a dry scalp and the best hair-growth oils, and feels especially knowledgeable in shampoo for thinning hair, thanks to her own struggles with—what she believes—was post-Covid-19-related hair loss. She regularly tests and analyzes shampoos on her own hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than six years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from hair-growth devices to the best hair extensions. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to shampoos for thinning hair, after noticing her own hair thinning at age 25 and constantly bugging dermatologists and hair-loss experts for products, ingredients, and lifestyle changes to help grow her hair.