The 17 best shampoos for thinning hair, according to experts (2024)

Best overall

Fight frizz — and thinning hair — with the BIOLAGE Advanced Full Density Thickening Shampoo. Its innovative formula features biotin and zinc PCA to help rebalance the scalp and eliminate impurities, all while gently cleansing the hair (without stripping it of essential oils) so that it looks and feels healthier.

Best drugstore

L'Oreal Paris' Ever Strong Sulfate-Free Thickening Shampoo clocks in at under $9 per bottle. This drugstore haircare staple features rosemary leaf oil, which is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties. (It's also worth noting that several studies, including this one from 2015, have also found that rosemary oil can help protect against hair loss.)

Best for dandruff

Tea tree oil is the obvious hero ingredient in Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo. According to Dr. Green, tea tree oil is "antimicrobial and antifungal, which allows it to soothe the scalp and address any itchiness, redness, swelling, or pain." The shampoo is also infused with glycerin and ginseng, the latter of which can help with hair growth. Check out our guide for more of the best dandruff shampoos.

Best for color-treated hair

Revitalash's Thickening Shampoo is a favorite of stylist, colorist, and salon owner Paul Labrecque of Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa in New York City. This volumizing, color-safe shampoo is even spiked with panthenol, which can help hair appear smooth and shiny. One study also found that panthenol may help mitigate the effects of thinning hair.

Best preventative

The PURA D'OR Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo comes highly recommended by Shelly Aguirre, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. Per the stylist, the shampoo — which she says is "great for thinning hair" — helps promote thickness and combat breakage with its impressive formula, which is enriched with ingredients (including rosemary oil, argan oil, and tea tree oil) "that assist with promoting hair growth."

Best conditioning

Aveda Invati Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo Rich features a 94 percent naturally derived formula to nourish thinning hair. It's also chock-full of exfoliating ingredients like lactic and salicylic acids to keep your scalp looking (and feeling!) healthy and clean. Other staples include ginseng root extract (which has been shown to promote hair growth) and antioxidant-laden caffeine.

Best luxury

Per its product description, Miriam Quevedo's Black Baccara Hair Multiplying Shampoo helps reverse damage caused by chemical, thermal, and environmental damage. Not only will the shampoo make your hair look stronger and thicker, but it'll also improve scalp help. We especially love its versatile formula, which features a slew of beneficial ingredients like glycerin, panthenol, and niacinamide (known for its anti-inflammatory properties).

Best strengthening

Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City, tells Business Insider that the R+CO Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo is "packed with incredible ingredients," including hydrating glycerin, moisturizing coconut oil, panthenol, and saw palmetto berry extract (which may prevent hair loss). All in all, Toth deems the shampoo "amazing for anyone with fine hair looking for thickening benefits from roots to tips."

Best for volume

Pump up the volume with Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Volume Shampoo, which helps lift even the limpest, thinnest, and most delicate strands. It's also spiked with panthenol and vitamin- and fatty acid-rich aloe, which is known for its cleansing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Best for sensitive scalps

For stronger, healthier hair, look no further than the Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo. Its uber-gentle formula (which is fragrance-, phthalate-, paraben-, and sulfate-free!) helps strengthen and nourish strands while also preventing shedding and breakage. Ingredient highlights include moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid, camellia extract (which is spiked with fatty acids and antioxidants), and panthenol.

Best for curly hair

According to Kenji Ishimoto, a stylist at Salon YOSHIKO at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, Mielle Organics' Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo is especially ideal for curly and coarse trends. Per the pro, the shampoo — which contains biotin "to provide intense moisture" — is formulated to nourish, cleanse, and strengthen weak and brittle hair. Check out our guide to the best shampoos for curly hair for more top-notch recommendations.

Best for oily hair

OUAI's Fine Hair Shampoo revitalizes thin, flat, and dull hair. Its lightweight gel formula, enriched with a slew of nourishing staples like biotin, glycerin, and panthenol, won't weigh down your hair or scalp. Bonus: Not only is this volumizing shampoo suitable for color-treated hair, but it also has hydrating properties to heal dry strands, damage, split ends, and breakage. This is also one of the best sulfate-free shampoos out there.

Best for dry hair

Aartnaturals' Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo is formulated with — you guessed it — argan oil, which, per Dr. Green, helps condition and protect hair thanks to an abundance of fatty acids. The dermatologist also credits the shampoo with "help[ing] repair any damage while protecting against additional damage that can [result from] free radicals, heating tools, and/or harsh chemicals."

Best for damaged hair

"For damaged finer hair, I recommend the Kerastase Bain Force Architecte Shampoo," explains Aguirre. She continues, telling Insider: "This protein-balanced shampoo will give finer hair the strength it needs to go on and grow." Plus, this uber-hydrating shampoo is even enriched with conditioning ceramides.

Best for fine hair

Even the finest hair is no match for the Act + Acre Stem Cell Shampoo, which works to combat thin, dull, and dry strands. With ingredients like its signature H-2 Grow Complex (featuring apple stem cells to protect from damage), hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-packed caffeine, nourishing niacinamide, and moisturizing glycerin, this shampoo is truly the jack of all trades. Gently remove buildup and excess oil, increasing the look and feel of hair density and boosting hydration.

Best for frizz

What is the best weapon for fighting frizz and flyaways? The Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo for Thinning Hair, of course. This color-safe shampoo is infused with vegan keratin to protect, smooth, and add shine. Other highlights include soothing aloe, biotin, panthenol, ceramides, glycerin, and caffeine.

Best for men

The Hims Thick Fix Hair Shampoo — which just so happens to be vegan, cruelty-free, and sulfate-free — was specially formulated for men with thinning hair. The budget-friendly shampoo is also loaded with glycerin and saw palmetto to help boost moisture and volume. Meanwhile, the refreshing eucalyptus scent adds a nice touch.

What to look for

Ingredients:

When shopping for the best shampoos for thinning hair, Dr. Green recommends picks formulated with ingredients like "minoxidil, biotin, niacin, argan oil, and coconut oil." Per the pro, the former is "an FDA-approved topical medication" that promotes "thicker and stronger hair growth. However, please note that minoxidil is toxic to animals and can lead to death, so only use it with the utmost precaution.

Toth, meanwhile, recommends looking for shampoos formulated with "ceramides, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and protein [to] help fortify and strengthen your hair." He continues, telling INSIDER, "Natural plant extracts and oils can decrease scalp inflammation and increase scalp circulation, which will stimulate hair growth."

Finally, regarding which ingredients to avoid, Dr. Green advises steering clear of ingredients like parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and diethanolamine "since they can damage hair follicles and irritate your scalp."

Hair type:

Your specific hair type can dictate what kind of shampoo you should use. For example, explains Dr Green, "Individuals with oily hair may want to look for thinning hair shampoos with clarifying ingredients, such as salicylic acid, to clear the scalp and hair strands of residue." Similarly, those with dry hair "will benefit from a thinning hair shampoo that is packed with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients such as coconut oil or shea butter."

FAQs

What causes thinning hair?

"The most prevalent cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, also known as male- and/or female-pattern baldness," says Dr. Greene. Androgenetic alopecia, as its name suggests, derives from your genetic makeup. Then there's alopecia areata, a similar autoimmune response that can be related to genes or stress. Other variables that affect hair loss include: "hormones, nutrient deficiencies, and medical conditions [like menopause, hypothyroidism, and PCOS, to name a few]," says Dr. Greene.

Can hair grow back from thinning?

"If the hair loss or thinning is from a cause other than genetics, such as stress, illness, pregnancy, and nutrient deficiencies, the likelihood of regrowth is high," says Dr. Green. However, if you have always had thin hair, "you can't grow thicker hair because the size of the hair follicle cannot be changed."

How often should you shampoo your hair if it's thinning?

Dr. Green advises on wash routines, stating, "the frequency of shampooing does not affect how much hair is shed because the amount of hair shedding for each day is already determined by the body." However, she does note how important it is to "keep the hair and scalp clean," as "shampooing too infrequently can lead to irritation, redness, inflammation, scaling, and flaking." She tells Business Insider that her rule of thumb is to limit yourself to about 3 washes per week.

When should I see a doctor for thinning hair?

"Some initial signs of thinning hair include excessive shedding after brushing the hair or taking a shower, the appearance of bald patches, or a noticeable change in hair density in the hairline," explains Dr. Green. With that in mind, "It is best to consult with a board-certified dermatologist as soon as you notice any of these changes to identify any underlying causes and determine a treatment plan to correct the thinning."

Do shampoos for hair thinning really work?

In short, says Dr. Green, yes — so as long as you select shampoos with the right ingredients such as "minoxidil and argan oil." The dermatologist says these staples "can be very effective for maintaining hair and scalp health."

How do thinning hair shampoos work?

Dr. Green explains: "Thinning hair shampoos with the right ingredients, such as argan oil, rosemary, and tea tree oil, can help maintain hair and scalp health, which can be beneficial in combination with minoxidil and other hair loss treatments." Dr. Green reports that minoxidil is instrumental in "increasing hair follicle size and stimulating the growth phase of the hair."

We consulted experts on their suggestions for the best shampoos for thinning according to a wide range of needs (including stylist recommendations and best-selling hair-care brands) and compiled them here, so you can find the best one to suit your treatment plan.