The single most important to know about the best shampoo for thinning hair: It’s not going to magically grow your hair back. “In general, given the short contact time that shampoos have with our hair follicles and our hair, [shampoos] are much less likely to have major effects when it comes to growing hair in cases of androgenetic alopecia,” says board-certified dermatologist Mona Mislankar, MD, founder of Cincinnati Skin Center and co-founder of Oathology Skincare.
The best shampoo for thinning hair will, however, help volumize your strands, and as Dr. Gary Linkov—a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert based in NYC—notes, “a good hair care routine, one that thoroughly cleanses the scalp, reduces inflammation, and complements medical therapy, can help accelerate visible results and improve hair thickness.” So, here are our top picks, informed by expert advice and tested by GQ editors.
The Best Shampoos for Men with Thinning Hair, at a Glance
Looking for Something Specific?
Best Overall Shampoo for Thinning Hair: R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo
We’ve spotlighted R+Co’s Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo more than once over the years, and for a good reason—it’s tough to beat as an all-around thickening shampoo for thinning hair. This indie-luxe favorite is packed with proven ingredients that not only boost volume but also promote scalp health. Vitamin B5 coats the strands for thickness and shine, while saw palmetto, a natural DHT-blocker, helps minimize hair loss. Coconut oil repairs the scalp’s moisture barrier, and various vitamins and minerals support healthier follicles. Is this shampoo the ultimate solution for triggering new growth? Probably not. But it does deliver a reliable, effective formula with noticeable thickening results.
Best Shampoo for the Scalp: Act+Acre Stem Cell Shampoo
We can’t stress it enough: Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, and Act+Acre’s Stem Cell Shampoo redefines what a scalp cleanser can do. The skin under your hair tends to be more sensitive to environmental triggers, disrupting the growth cycle and causing thinning, shedding, and even premature hair loss. Act+Acre’s proprietary H2 complex uses apple stem cells to protect follicles from stressors and stimulate growth, a bamboo and pea sprout blend to enhance elasticity, caffeine to improve blood flow, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate. This shampoo cleansed my skin and left my hair incredibly soft after each wash. All this while continuously working to boost thickness from the foundation up. How ’bout them apples?
Best 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner: Nutrafol Scalp Microbiome 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
We’re not usually fans of 2-in-1 shampoos and conditioners as they often feel chemical-laden and rarely perform as well as separate cleansers. But Nutrafol’s latest launch (yes, that Nutrafol, the brand behind the game-changing hair health supplements) has changed our perspective on the genre. This 2-in-1 is a seriously research-backed formula, and after a few weeks of testing, it’s earned a spot in my rotation. Unlike the usual shampoo-disguised-as-conditioner, this formula’s MO is all about nourishing your strands and, importantly, cleansing your scalp. Nutrafol knows that healthy, thicker hair starts at the root, so this sulfate-free cleanser unclogs pores and sets the stage for thriving hair. Lightweight conditioners like konjac root leave your hair soft and voluminous and the twist-top dispenser is a thoughtful touch. Pair it with their supplements, and you have a powerhouse foundation for thicker, healthy hair.
Best Volumizing Hair for Thinning Hair: Sachajuan Thickening Shampoo
Sachajuan’s shampoos are staples that you’ve probably seen on a few “best-of” lists. This thickening shampoo skips the frills but delivers where it counts—volumizing fine hair. While it might sound gimmicky, their proprietary Ocean Silk Technology, a blend of two cold-water algae extracts, is no snake oil. Rhodophycea boosts elasticity and strengthens strands, while chondrus crispus coats follicles with calcium and zinc for thickness and shine. Together, they’re a top-tier duo for hair care, enhancing your strands and setting the stage for growth, leaving fine hair noticeably fuller after just a few washes. Bonus: The formula includes UV protectants to shield hair from heat and sun damage, and the minimalist auburn bottle with its clean typeset adds instant style to any bathroom.
Best Exfoliating Shampoo: Aveda Invati Ultra Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo
An exfoliating shampoo? Hear us out. The new Invanti Ultra Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo with salicylic acid—the same powerhouse ingredient found in many facial exfoliators—clears oil and residue from your pores, creating a base for stronger, thicker hair over time. While it might sound unconventional, this cleanser is formulated for frequent use, and Aveda claims that as part of its four-step system, it can “reduce hair loss by 77%” and boost follicle thickness. Whether or not that’s the case, I personally loved how its frothy lather left my scalp feeling squeaky clean.
Best Shampoo to Halt Falling Strands: Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo
When it comes to thinning hair, a few clinical-sounding options always make the list, and Nioxin, one of the OGs of clinical hair care, deserves its laurels. With a loyal fan base since its inception in 1987, the brand continues to innovate, and its new Hair Fall Defense Shampoo is practically a serum for your scalp. Formulated to reduce hair loss and promote thicker, fuller hair over several weeks, this shampoo combines proven and progressive ingredients. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) nourishes the follicles, caffeine boosts blood flow, and the brand’s proprietary Sandalore (a synthetic sandalwood derivative) stimulates hair growth through olfactory receptors. After a few washes, I noticed less shedding and loved its fresh scent, making it easy to leave on for two minutes and let it work its mojo.
Best Separate Shampoo & Conditioner: Feel Confident Thickening Shampoo & Thickening Conditioner
Feel Confident is a no-nonsense, science-backed hair and skin care line created by an MD and hair restoration surgeon who saw a lack of said, no-frills solutions for guys. Their approach is simple: reliable products that prioritize results over hype. The shampoo and conditioner duo is a tag team that thickens hair and promotes growth. The shampoo cleanses without that harsh, stripped feeling, while the conditioner nourishes without making hair feel overly fine—a common issue for those with thinner strands like myself. They’re formulated with proven ingredients including pumpkin seed oil to strengthen, caffeine to boost scalp circulation, and saw palmetto and turmeric root to combat DHT (a significant factor in hair loss). After repeated use, my hair felt noticeably fuller and stronger. Pro tip: The conditioner doubles as stand-alone nourishment when daily shampooing isn’t necessary.
The Best Anti-DHT Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo
As Dr. Mislankar points out (and as some studies support), the dandruff-neutralizing active ingredient ketoconazole is probably one of the best active ingredients for countering DHT), a the hormonal byproduct that shrivels up hair follicles in male-pattern baldness. Because of this, derms frequently recommend it for hair loss and dandruff, and I’ve had success using it; however, like most products with this active ingredient, I find it to be drying, so I always chase it with conditioner to help ward off frizz.
Still, I think every guy should own this shampoo and deploy it once a month or every two weeks to mitigate flakes and help mitigate DHT-induced hair loss. Always, always follow it with a nourishing conditioner (and a thickening or volumizing one, should you want those results, too).
The Best Shampoo for Thin Hair: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
If you landed here because your hair is “thin” or “fine” as opposed to actively “thinning,” then don’t worry—this one is for you. It’s also a great pick if your hair is both thin and thinning. OUAI’s recipe coats your hair with chia seed oil to leave it visibly plumper upon rinsing and promises not to weight down your strands despite that extra coat. It’s the absolute favorite of my fine-haired partner, and it’s a great base for anyone with hair loss who wants their shampoo to work in tandem with other hair-densifying efforts.
The Best Stimulating Shampoo for Thinning Hair: The Grey Stimulating Shampoo
Why we love it: One of the best things you can seek out in a shampoo for hair fortification is a stimulating active ingredient, like the camphor and rosemary oil that flood The Grey’s formula. These ingredients improve circulation to the follicles, which fortifies their growth environment. Thanks to a healthy dose of creatine, hair appears fuller in a single rinse. It’s worth noting that this top pick has long been beloved by our grooming editors for its ability to help hair look thicker in the immediate and long term.
What to Look for in a Shampoo for Thinning Hair
To find the best men’s shampoo for thinning hair, frame your search around the factors below.
Remember, shampoo is scalp care, first and foremost.
Honestly, just keeping on top of your scalp hygiene is one of the best things you can do for your hair loss. “A healthy scalp means balanced oil production and ideally no irritation or inflammation at the level of the hair follicle,” explains Dr. Mislankar. “This ensures increased blood circulation and less buildup around the hair follicles.” So, if your shampoo has a calming and balanced formula, you’re on your way to success.
Consider thickening and volumizing formulas.
While most shampoos’ task is to cleanse the scalp and hair, some formulas also provide momentary thickening and volumizing benefits after each wash. (These aren’t lasting remedies, but rather ways of giving your hair the appearance of more fullness in the short term.) “While they have somewhat similar effects—generally speaking, volumizing shampoos are going to provide a lift to the hair, while thickening shampoos are going to add width to each hair [strand],” says Dr. Mislankar.
One of the best targeted solutions you can use in a thinning-hair shampoo is a familiar foe of dandruff, too: ketoconazole, the antifungal ingredient. “Ketoconazole has anti-androgenic effects [case], which means it can block the effects of hormones such as testosterone via DHT [dihydrotestosterone] that contribute to hair loss,” says Dr. Mislankar. “It does this by affecting the process of DHT binding to receptors,” thus the DHT doesn’t stick around to shrink the follicles.
Try a few other active ingredients
Dr. Mislankar also recommends niacinamide and glycerin in shampoo formulas to help boost hydration levels around the scalp. And some familiar exfoliating acids can help many guys, too: “If there is any level of scale at the follicles, ingredients such as glycolic or salicylic acid can help remove the excess scale,” to prevent dandruff or itching.
Regular Shampoo vs. Preventative Care
To kick off your search for the shampoo best equipped to put a halt to hair loss, it’s worth laying out that a general, all-purpose shampoo that simply rids your hair of built-up grime will likely not cut it. Like many hair products, some shampoos can aim to give more volume, and the illusion of texture. Or, they might coat each strand while cleaning to provide an overall boost in fullness. (Many conditioners do the latter especially well.) If you want to target the hair loss itself with your shampoo, know that this isn’t going to be your primary defense against going bald, but using a special shampoo can certainly boost the effort.
In this case, look for formulas with saw palmetto or pumpkin seed oil, the two primary ingredients that are known to inhibit the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is the hormonal byproduct that steadily shrinks hair follicles and leads to recession, thinning, and overall loss. Point your shampoo search towards products that balance, purify, and fortify the scalp. A scalp-focused regimen can create an optimal environment for your follicles, which means they stay better anchored and experience prolonged growth. Lastly, opt for light to mid-weight formulas that won’t weigh the hair follicle down. Sudsing up a super-thick shampoo may make you feel squeaky clean—however, a dense formula is likely to take away a lot more than the daily filth you’ve accumulated.
Who Actually Needs This?
If your hair is thinning or experiencing extensive breakage (two very separate things that can occur at once), then a specialized shampoo could be the first step in taking back your hair narrative–or the solution. Strengthening your hair at the root with increased elasticity will prevent strands from easily breaking off, which can lead to the appearance of balding. For hereditary hair loss, the right shampoo won’t be the end-all-be-all, but it will provide the added boost you need after talking with your board-certified dermatologist to build a hair retention plan that works for you. Our roundup of the best thinning hair shampoos covers all of these approaches. Have a look, and see which option best suits your needs.
How We Test Shampoos for Thinning Hair (And Chose the Winners)
In the 11 years I’ve been a grooming writer and editor, I have been to the brinks of hair sparseness and back (hey, the hair transplant is a story for another article). So trust me—every hair thickening and volumizing solution has been top of mind. My partner and I have both had to turn to these shampoos for an overall plumping and volumizing effect; to this day, even with his hair loss treatments deployed, he still uses thickening shampoos and conditioners because his hair strands are naturally fine. I’ll go on testing the new ones as they hit the market to see which of them deserve to sit atop the “Tested Best” with the picks on this list.
FAQ
What should we expect of a shampoo that aims to help thinning hair?
Dr. Linkov emphasizes that for men with thinning hair, the priority is ensuring their shampoo promotes and maintains hair health. He explains that “hair coated with oil, styling products, and grime, can lead to inflamed, irritated hair follicles,” which may impact overall hair growth. A good shampoo, he notes, should cleanse effectively but gently, as harsh surfactants like SLS and SLES can cause irritation. Finding the right formula can be a “Goldilocks game—not too mild, not too harsh, but just right.” Additionally, shampoos with ingredients known to support overall hair health can offer extra benefits (more below).
It’s also worth laying out that a general, all-purpose shampoo that simply rids your hair of built-up grime will likely not cut it. Like many hair products, some shampoos can aim to give more volume, and the illusion of texture. Or, they might coat each strand while cleaning to provide an overall boost in fullness. (Many conditioners do the latter especially well.) If you want to target the hair loss itself with your shampoo, know that this isn’t going to be your primary defense against going bald, but using a special shampoo is certainly a good idea.
How important is scalp care?
Keeping on top of your scalp hygiene is one of the best things you can do for your hair loss. “A healthy scalp means balanced oil production and ideally no irritation or inflammation at the level of the hair follicle,” explains Dr. Mislankar. “This ensures increased blood circulation and less buildup around the hair follicles.” So, if your shampoo has a calming and balanced formula and/or focuses on scalp care, too, (plenty of those above) you’re on your way to success.
What are some natural ingredients to look for?
Not all shampoos for thinning hair are created equal, and varying ingredients, from green tea to proprietary apple stem cells, have their benefits. Dr. Linkov suggests natural ingredients for combating hair loss/improving density such as curcumin (from turmeric), caffeine, saw palmetto, and pumpkin seed oil as examples. “These are supported by robust research and, while not as potent as medical therapy, can help inhibit the effects of DHT—the primary hormone responsible for androgenic alopecia. Additionally, caffeine can stimulate the growth cycle, promoting hair elongation and thickening.”
Dr. Mislankar also recommends niacinamide and glycerin in shampoo formulas to help boost hydration levels around the scalp. And some familiar exfoliating acids can help many guys, too: “If there is any level of scale at the follicles, ingredients such as glycolic or salicylic acid can help remove the excess scale,” to prevent dandruff or itching.
Does hair type play a role in how often you should cleanse thinning hair?
Dr. Linkov notes how hair type helps inform how often you should shampoo. “Curly hair often benefits from less frequent washing to prevent dryness, while finer, thinner, or oily hair typically responds well to more frequent cleansing.” Beyond that, it’s all about experimentation and personal preference—everyone’s hair is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. “If a shampoo designed for a different (thinning) hair type works well for you, there’s no reason not to keep using it!”
What is the difference between thickening and volumizing formulas?
While most shampoos’ task is to cleanse the scalp and hair, some formulas also provide momentary thickening and volumizing benefits after each wash. (These aren’t lasting remedies, but rather ways of giving your hair the appearance of more fullness in the short term.) “While they have somewhat similar effects—generally speaking, volumizing shampoos are going to provide a lift to the hair, while thickening shampoos are going to add width to each hair [strand],” says Dr. Mislankar.
How important is the conditioner?
Remember, sometimes shampoo just needs to be shampoo and to cleanse your scalp and strands gently. Meanwhile, conditioner is the best way to keep your hair strong, healthy, and nourished—and it helps “rebound” those strands from the drying nature of shampoo. If you use a stimulating or ketoconazole shampoo, pair it with a thickening or plumping conditioner. “I like my products to work in synergy with each other,” Dr. Mislankar says.
What ingredients should folks potentially avoid?
Dr. Linkov warns that harsh surfactants, or detergents, can strip too many oils and cause problems for certain hair types—comparable to how overusing soap can dry out your hands. He also notes that some synthetic fragrances and essential oils can lead to irritation or allergic reactions for some people. “For the record,” he adds, “I am not a fan of rosemary oil, despite its popularity as a natural product for hair growth. The research isn’t convincing, and undiluted rosemary oil has the potential to irritate your scalp and follicles.”
Can a shampoo be a substitute for medical hair loss treatment?
A substitute? No. Complimentary? Yes. Dr. Linkov explains that topical shampoos, even those formulated for thinning hair, function more like health and growth supplements. “Shampoos will boost your results from medical therapy,” he says, “but they’re not the same thing.” While they can support hair health and growth, they won’t deliver the same results as medical treatments. For those experiencing hair loss or androgenetic alopecia, Dr. Linkov advises starting with medical therapy and then incorporating supplementary products to enhance your regimen.
About the Experts
Adam Hurly (that’s me) has been a grooming writer and editor for 11 years, with eight of them spent as GQ.com’s go-to grooming expert.
Dr. Mona Mislankar is a Cincinnati-based board-certified dermatologist. She is the founder of Cincinnati Skin Center, and co-founder of Oathology Skincare.
Dr. Gary Linkov is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert.
Michael Stefanov, in addition to writing for GQ, has covered topics ranging from grooming, menswear, fragrances, and watches for InsideHook, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Esquire, and Men’s Health. He also served as the market editor at Esquire for several years. “Whether it’s about coats, colognes, or shampoos, people recognize that I’ve done the legwork,” he says. “In testing these shampoos, I found that each excelled in its respective category. I also consulted with friends with various hair types for feedback, as well as a renowned dermatologist.”
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