Jamie Allison Sanders is a contributing writer for PEOPLE with 20+ years of experience in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She loves researching the latest and greatest beauty products and ingredients, and can always squeeze in one more product on her already cluttered vanity. She’s based in Los Angeles.
It’s normal to lose anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs per day, per the American Academy of Dermatology Association. But if you’ve clocked more strands lurking in your hairbrush or noticed patchy spots along your scalp, it may be time to consider whether your hair has started thinning. And that’s where shampoo for thinning hair comes into play.
There are many underlying causes of hair loss, like genetics and hormonal changes. If you’re wondering how to make your hair grow faster, you may find your favorite hair growth products waiting in the shampoo aisle. Shampoo for thinning hair helps promote a healthier scalp environment, which can lead to enhanced thickness, volume, and fullness.
With these benefits in mind, we set out to determine the best shampoo for thinning hair, focusing on products that support overall hair thickness, reduce shedding, and create the best possible conditions for healthy growth — without requiring a prescription. We prioritized hair growth shampoos featuring proven ingredients like biotin, caffeine, saw palmetto, and peptides, all of which are commonly associated with strengthening hair and promoting a healthier scalp environment.
It’s also worth noting that while minoxidil is one of the few FDA-approved treatments for hair regrowth, it’s typically not included in shampoos. This topical treatment needs to stay on the scalp for several hours to be effective, whereas shampoos are rinsed out after just a few minutes.
During a three-month period in which our testers took a whopping 205 showers, they tried 43 different hair growth shampoos. From there, we narrowed the list down to the eight best shampoo for thinning hair formulas. Ahead, our picks.
Our Stars
What to Know, According to a Board-Certified Dermatologist and Trichologist
When it comes to picking the best shampoo for thinning hair, it really starts at the scalp. We tapped Dr. Craig Ziering, a board-certified dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon, and Dr. Sanjay Batra, a hair loss and regenerative expert and co-founder of WeThrivv, for their expertise.
- Ingredients to look for: The right shampoo starts with the right ingredients. Ziering recommends high-quality shampoos that strengthen, moisturize, and balance the hair and scalp. Think ingredients like caffeine or biotin for hair growth, which can support scalp health while also strengthening and revitalizing your strands.
- Scalp health is paramount: “The scalp is skin and deserves the same attention that your face and body needs,” Ziering says. “Your hair and scalp regimen and the products you use are the foundation of having healthy hair and, even more so, if you are experiencing hair thinning and hair loss.”
- Pick a multi-tasking formula: Hair health, thickness, luster, shine …why not pick hair growth shampoos that do it all? “Depending on the ingredients, they play a key role in cleansing your scalp, removing built-up sebum, excessive oil, and dirt, and some might stimulate hair growth,” he says.
- Some bacteria is good for the scalp: “Disinfectant molecules such as carnosic acid from rosemary or terpinene-4-ol from tea tree oil help to control microbial overgrowth and promote good bacteria so that the balding scalp is free from issues of bad microbes,” says Batra. “If your shampoo contains these disinfectant ingredients, it will become a medicine for your scalp.”
Best Overall: Briogeo Destined for Density Peptide Shampoo
Of all the shampoos we tested, this Briogeo shampoo, with copper peptides and biotin, was the absolute standout. Our tester with dry and thinning hair used this product three times a week for 12 weeks and said her hair was transformed to its “bombshell glory days.”
She noticed more body in her hair “almost immediately,” adding, “The few spots that I was worried about have filled in — my hair looks smoother and shinier than ever.” The shampoo “lathers up perfectly” and “a little goes a long way,” and our tester said it smells like “galloping in a field of daisies.”
Size: 8 ounces ($4 per ounce) | Targets: Hair density and fullness | Safe for: Color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically-treated, and relaxed hair
Best for Hair Shedding: Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo For Thinning Hair
After using this Nécessaire shampoo two to three times per week for four weeks, our tester with 1A/B straight hair noticed a quarter-inch of hair growth, as well as thickened strands. “I didn’t notice as much hair in the drain while showering,” she said. “It helped to make my hair feel healthier and repair the damage.” She also noted that the shampoo, which was “easy to lather and spread on the scalp,” helped “decrease hair fallout.”
She didn’t experience any scalp irritation or dryness and said “consistency is key” to seeing results. Her one issue with the shampoo was the overpowering rosemary scent, though she recognized its hair-strengthening benefits.
Size: 8.4 ounces ($4 per ounce) | Targets: Hair fullness and strength | Safe for: Color-treated hair
Best Strengthening: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo
“From the first wash, I noticed less hair came out in the shower, and I think it looks thick and shiny now,” raved our tester, who described her hair as curly and very long. She used this Paul Mitchell tea tree shampoo a total of 13 times, especially loving that it “washed out very well without any residue left behind” and that there were “less strands [and] clumps” while detangling. “I think it looks healthier and more voluminous,” she shared.
The shampoo gave our tester’s scalp a “gentle, tingly feel” that “felt great” and “wasn’t drying or irritating.” She loved the prominent tea tree scent and noted it “wasn’t overpowering.”
Size: 10.14 ounces ($3 per ounce) | Targets: Hair fullness and strength | Safe for: Color-treated hair
Best for Long-Term Thickening: Kérastase Densifique Thickening Shampoo
Our tester has very fine, thin hair and noticed significant fullness after using this Kérastase shampoo three to four times a week for 12 weeks. “My hair felt and looked much more full — my hairdresser even commented on how thick it felt,” she said, adding that her hair and scalp felt “clean and conditioned” and it “healed” dry patches on her scalp.
Overall, her hair felt “lightweight and more healthy” at the end of the testing period. While it took a few washes for her to start noticing a difference in thickness, she said her hair felt great on “day one,” and that it was “shiny, clean, and thicker.” The “thick and creamy” formula lathered well and washed out easily. While the floral scent was appealing to our tester, she noted some people might find it “overpowering.”
Size: 8.5 ounces ($5 per ounce) | Targets: Hair fullness and shine | Safe for: Color-treated hair
Best for Sensitive Scalps: Vegamour Gro+ Advanced Balancing Shampoo
This Vegamour shampoo for thinning hair was a hit with our tester. After using it three times a week for 12 weeks, she noticed an inch of hair growth, and loved how it felt from the first wash. “It felt like my hair and scalp were clean,” she said. “It felt healthier and smoother and had more bounce.” While she didn’t notice a huge change in shedding, her hair health and appearance noticeably “improved.”
She also appreciated how little product she needed — a quarter-sized dollop was “perfect” for her long, thick hair and washed out “easily and completely.” Even though the shampoo didn’t specifically reduce shedding, she liked that it “effectively cleansed [her] scalp and hair without stripping.”
Size: 8 ounces ($7 per ounce) | Targets: Hair density, fullness, and strength | Safe for: Color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically-treated, and Brazilian-treated hair
Best for Volume: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
This Ouai shampoo created “more texture and bounce” for our tester’s straight, fine hair, which she noticed “right away.” While she didn’t notice any difference in hair growth or shedding, she said the shampoo made her hair “look fuller” at the end of the testing period — “I had others ask me what I was using as they could notice a difference,” she said.
Our tester didn’t notice any dryness or irritation while using this shampoo, and liked that it gave her hair “more texture and [it] looked fuller without the use of additional products.” She noted that it made her hair feel greasy if she used it in conjunction with the Ouai conditioner two days in a row, but not when washing every other day.
Note: This shampoo is also an editor favorite, one who has more oily hair, and she’s found that it provides shine without looking too slick. She uses it every other or every few days and recommends a similar hair-wash cadence.
Size: 10 ounces ($3 per ounce) | Targets: Hair fullness, nourishment, and strength | Safe for: Color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically-processed, and Brazilian-treated hair; extensions, wigs, and synthetic hair
Best Hair Growth Support: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo
Our tester with fine, curly hair has seen thinning along her hairline from excessive heat damage and slicked-back hairstyles, so she was especially interested in how this Mielle shampoo would perform. While she didn’t see dramatic results immediately after using the shampoo — “I do feel like it leaves my hair feeling clean …but I haven’t really noticed any new hair growth” — she was interested to continue using it beyond the testing period.
She washed her hair three times a week for 12 weeks, and noticed “some new growth” and “new baby hairs” at the front of her scalp. Overall, she liked that her hair felt “super clean” and enjoyed the “light mint scent.”
Size: 12 ounces ($1 per ounce) | Targets: Hair strength and nourishment | Safe for: Chemically-treated hair
Best for Hair Loss: Nioxin System 2 Scalp + Hair Cleanser Shampoo
“My hair looks so much fuller — I seem to have more hair, and it’s [grown] so long because it’s not breaking as much,” raved our tester who described her hair as thin, wavy, dry, and slightly sun-bleached. She used this Nioxin shampoo four to six times a week for 12 weeks, and while she had gaps and stringy, broken strands beforehand, she noticed a difference around four weeks. “The gaps are so much more filled in now — it’s clear that I have more hair as well as more full-length strands,” she said.
While she didn’t mind the peppermint smell, she said she would “prefer another scent,” though it didn’t last “outside of the shower.” Her hair was “shinier, less frizzy, [and] more voluminous” even on “day two,” and the shampoo’s lather was “really good.”
Size: 10.1 ounces ($3 per ounce) | Targets: Hair density and fullness | Safe for: Unlisted
Other Shampoos for Thinning Hair We Liked
Our testers tried many different hair growth shampoos, including formulas from Pura D’or, Ogx, Bondi Boost, and Fable & Mane. While these shampoos for thinning hair didn’t make our list, they still get top marks for thickening, fullness, and overall cleanliness.
How We Tested
We sent a variety of shampoos formulated for thinning hair to our testers who incorporated each product into their haircare routines over a three-month period. Testers had diverse hair types and thinning concerns — including shedding, postpartum hair loss, heat damage, and genetic alopecia — to ensure real-world feedback across different needs.
Each tester was asked to use the shampoo regularly, averaging about three times per week, resulting in more than 205 collective uses over the test period. Some testers used their shampoo every other day, while others used theirs every few days, reflecting realistic variations in personal routines. Throughout the testing period, we gathered both quantitative ratings and qualitative insights on each product. Testers evaluated the shampoos based on:
- Ease of use: Application, lather, and rinse experience
- Effectiveness: Visible changes in shedding, thickness, or new growth
- Cleansing ability: How clean the hair and scalp felt after use
- Overall value: Whether the results justified the price).
We also captured detailed notes at the two-month mark, allowing us to assess both immediate and longer-term effects. While some testers observed reduced shedding or the early appearance of baby hairs, others noted little to no change in hair density — highlighting the importance of consistency and individualized results when it comes to hair growth products.
This mix of daily-use context, consistent tracking, and candid feedback enabled us to evaluate not just what the shampoos promised, but how they performed in real life.
Complete Your Routine
Want to take your hair routine to the next level? We’ve rounded up a variety of other PEOPLE tested products and tools that are winners in their respective categories, like hair growth oils and purple shampoos. From a strengthening conditioner to a revitalizing scalp massager, here are just a few of our favorites to get you started.
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