6 Best Shampoo Bars We Tested 2026, Approved by Hairstylists

If you’ve noticed more hair shedding at the bottom of your bathtub, we recommend giving this biotin shampoo bar a go. It contains a blend of rosemary seed extract, amaranthus extract, and activated charcoal to thicken hair, stimulate growth, and deep-clean the scalp. The combination of protein and biotin help nourish and strengthen hair, making it look denser and more voluminous. The smell is pleasantly fresh too.

Best for: Lifeless and thinning hair that needs volume and thickness
Key ingredients: Biotin, rosemary oil, proteins, activated charcoal
Scent: Rosemary

Testing notes from Glamour’s Kilkeary, who has oily, straight hair

“I’m always looking for thinning hair products to help fill sparse areas on my crown. I found that this shampoo bar has done a good job of making the hair I do have look stronger and fuller. The shape of this one is unique but purposeful—the S allows you to grip it well and apply it all over your scalp and hair easily. The smell is nice, and I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in its texture after using this for about a week— my typically very limp and lifeless strands look plumped and abundant,” she says.

Best for Fine Hair: Ethique Volumising Solid Shampoo Bar

Ethique Volumising Solid Shampoo Bar

Original video from Falak Khoja testing Ethique Volumising Solid Shampoo Bar

Pros: Lightweight; contains caffeine to stimulate growth; energizing scent
Cons: A bit slippery

Fine hair types should opt for a shampoo bar that thoroughly cleanses and volumizes without weighing hair down. This pick gives a deep clean, feels lightweight during and after application, and doesn’t cause product buildup or greasiness. It also contains caffeine, biotin, and epsom salt to gently exfoliate and “wake up” the scalp and hair. Pair it with the brand’s conditioner bar, which also contains biotin and caffeine, to further boost volume and leave strands thick and shiny.

Best for: Fine and flat hair types
Key ingredients: Biotin, epsom salt, caffeine
Scent: Orange and ginger

Testing notes from Glamour designer Falak Khoja, who has fine hair

“I loved the volumising solid shampoo. I normally don’t use shampoo bars, but this was really easy to use, and I liked how it didn’t have an overpowering scent. After doing my blow-out routine, my hair felt soft and refreshed. I also loved how my hair didn’t fall flat but was full of volume,” says Glamour designer Falak Khoja.

Best on Amazon: Anihana Shampoo Bar

Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Anihana Shampoo Bar for Regular Normal Hair

Pros: Smells good; gentle; affordable
Cons: Lathers less than other bars on this list

Manuka honey is known to hydrate and soften skin and hair, and you’ll find the typically pricey ingredient in this $10 shampoo bar from Amazon. It has lentil extract to clarify a congested scalp, almond oil to nourish strands, and glycerin to lock in moisture and restore shine. The bar itself is easy to grip but does lather less than some of the other picks on this list. It’s also top-rated by users with a variety of hair types, from straight and thin to coarse and curly.

Best for: Dry and damaged hair
Key ingredients: Manuka honey, lentil extract, almond oil
Scent: Honey and vanilla

Testing notes from Glamour’s Kilkeary, who has oily straight hair

“My hair gets really dry and knotty during the wintertime, so using a very hydrating shampoo is nonnegotiable to help breathe life (and moisture) back into it. This bar was one of my favorites I tried because it left my hair feeling extremely soft after the cleanse. This one definitely didn’t lather as well as some of the others on the list, but the results made up for that,” she says.