Shampoo for thinning hair includes ingredients to promote scalp health, such as saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil. While it’s generally best to use these shampoos along with hair loss care, selecting the right shampoo can help make your hair look and feel fuller.
When you’re a busy professional darting between meetings, you probably don’t have time for a 10-step hair routine. Shampoos for thinning hair can be easy to add to your routine if you’ve noticed changes in your appearance and want to look office-ready without extra time or effort. Read on for our top picks for a variety of needs.
Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair 2026
- Best Shampoo to Prevent Hair Loss: Nutrafol Root Purifier Shampoo
- Best Men’s Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Hims Thick Fix Shampoo
- Best Hair Growth Shampoo for Women: Hers Triple Threat Shampoo
- Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Thinning Hair: MDhair Customized Hair Care Shampoo
- Best Biotin Shampoo for Hair Growth: Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo
Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Comparison Table
Best Shampoo to Prevent Hair Loss: Nutrafol Root Purifier Shampoo
Nutrafol Root Purifier Shampoo
Price
$44Key Ingredients
Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, Australian wild berries, vegan proteinsHair Type
Suitable for most hair types including color-treated hair
The subtle citrus scent
Our Thoughts on Nutrafol
Nutrafol’s Root Purifier Shampoo is our pick for the best shampoo to prevent hair loss, because it helps to deeply clean your scalp, reduce excess sebum and clear clogged hair follicles to allow for more hair growth.
Riley tested Nutrafol, rating her first impression a 4 out of 5. “The bottle is very minimalist—it’s all white with black lettering and a black logo. It’s very sleek and compact,” she said. The bottle is a bit smaller than an average bottle of commercial shampoo. “Pantene is usually 12 fluid ounces, Nutrafol is 8 fluid ounces,” Riley added.
She rated the feel of the product a 4.5 out of 5. “The texture is sort of silky, but a bit sticky. It’s more sticky than slimy, but it has a decent amount of thickness to it, so it doesn’t pour out too quickly.”
Riley likes the scent of Nutrafol, rating it a 5 out of 5 and saying, “The scent reminds me of lemon grass. It’s pretty subtle, but still noticeable and pleasant.”
The main ingredients of Nutrafol are prebiotics, vegan protein, biosurfactant, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, and Australian wild berries. It’s made without sulfates, parabens, and silicones.
Best Men’s Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Hims Thick Fix Shampoo
Hims Thick Fix Shampoo
Price
$19Key Ingredients
Saw palmettoHair Type
Generally suitable for all hair types, aside from very dry hair
The silky and smooth texture
Our Thoughts on Hims
Hims Thick Fix Thickening Shampoo is our pick for the best men’s shampoo for thinning hair because it includes saw palmetto, which is well known for reducing hair loss. It may help to make your hair look thicker almost immediately, which is a nice way to boost your confidence while figuring out what additional hair loss treatment is appropriate.
Riley tested Hims shampoo, rating her first impression of the product a 4.5 out of 5. “The bottle is neutral in design and almost masculine. It has a beige color on the bottle with black lettering; the cap is white. It’s very sleek and fits comfortably in my hand,” she said.
She rated the scent a 4.5 out of 5, saying, “It smells very minty, like a candy cane.” When it comes to texture, Riley rated it a 5 out of 5. “The shampoo is silky and smooth. I like how it doesn’t feel sticky in my hand, and it suds up very well,” she noted.
The full ingredient list is on the bottle and also available online. The brand encourages you to use other Hims products for hair loss in conjunction with this shampoo for men’s hair loss, as our tester noted: “The directions say to lather into damp hair and gently massage into your scalp. Let sit for one minute and then rinse thoroughly. Follow up with Hims conditioner and finish with Hims minoxidil hair regrowth treatment.”
Check out our full hands-on review of Hims hair loss treatment products.
Best Hair Growth Shampoo for Women: Hers Triple Threat
Hers Triple Threat
Price
$38 for two bottlesKey Ingredients
Saw palmetto and salicylic acidHair Type
Normal, fine, or oily hair that’s starting to thin
It lathers up nicely without being sticky
Our Thoughts on Hers
Hers Triple Threat Shampoo is our pick for the best shampoo for women with thinning hair, because it’s easy to add into your routine and helps improve your scalp health and overall hair growth. It includes saw palmetto, salicylic acid, pumpkin seed oil, plus biotin and green tea extract to help your hair look healthier.
Riley tested Hers shampoo, rating her initial impression a 4.5 out of 5. “I like the look of the mint green bottle with the white cap—it’s fun and girly. The bottle is small and sleek, and fits nicely in my hand,” she said.
She rated both the feel of the product and its scent a 5 out of 5, observing: “It’s silky and smooth. I like the way it feels on my hands. It lathers up quite nicely without being overly sticky.” She praised the scent, noting that it’s very light and smells like roses.
The full ingredient list is on the bottle and the brand’s website. Hers shampoo is vegan, color-safe, paraben-free, and cruelty-free.
Check out our full review of hair loss treatments.
Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Thinning Hair: MDhair Customized Hair Care Shampoo
MDhair Customized Hair Care Shampoo
Price
$22Key Ingredients
Keratin, rosemary oil, pumpkin seed oilHair Type
Suitable for any hair type, especially color-treated or frizzy hair
Its scent is very subtle
Our Thoughts on MDhair
MDhair’s Restore Shampoo is our pick for the best shampoo for color-treated hair that is thinning, because it has a gentle formulation that is sulfate-free, but still includes Reishi mushrooms, argan oil, biotin, and ginger extract to help support scalp and hair health. This shampoo is designed by dermatologists, too, and it fits well with MDhair’s hair loss routine products.
Riley tested MDhair’s shampoo, rating her first impression a 4 out of 5. “The blue bottle is a really beautiful, pleasing color. The overall aesthetic is very clean and minimal, with simple white text in a professional-looking font. It’s pleasing to the eye,” she said.
She rated the texture and feel of the shampoo a 4 out of 5. “The formula of this shampoo feels like gel. It’s a tiny bit sticky, but it lathers up pretty well and creates some nice suds,” Riley noted. There is a subtle fragrance that Riley noticed, saying: “It’s a little bit minty but not overpowering.” She rated this scent a 4.5 out of 5.
The key ingredients of MDhair’s shampoo are listed on the website, and the full ingredient list is available on the bottle.
Best Biotin Shampoo for Hair Growth: Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo
Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo
Price
$48Key Ingredients
Biotin, vegan keratin, caffeineHair Type
Suitable for all hair types, including color-treated hair
The bottle and branding are elegant
Our Thoughts on Vegamour
Vegamour is our pick for the best biotin shampoo for hair growth, because it combines a science-backed dose of biotin along with peptides and caffeine to help strengthen hair and reduce strand breakage. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
Riley tested Vegamour, rating her first impression a 5 out of 5. “I really like the way the bottle looks,” she said. “It’s elegant and feminine. It’s a beautiful pink bottle with gold lettering. It seems very luxurious, and definitely marketed towards women,” Riley noted.
She rated both the feel and scent of Vegamour a 4.5 out of 5. “The texture is slimy and slightly liquidy,” Riley observed. “It comes out of the bottle pretty quickly—I was surprised. It seems to suds up well in my hand.” She really liked the scent but thinks some users might find it to be a little too strong. Riley described the scent as flowery, citrusy, and very perfumy.
The full ingredient list is listed on the bottle and the brand’s website. Vegamour’s shampoo does not include sulfates or any chemicals that affect hair color, per the brand.
How We Tested and Selected the Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair
We tested shampoos for thinning hair by considering the ingredient lists, the absence of harmful chemicals and ingredients, scent, texture, and overall value. Here’s a little more about how we tested each aspect.
Feel
Before using the shampoo on their hair, our testers first put some of the product on their hand, examining the feel (sticky, smooth) and the texture (thick, thin, watery).
Formula
We looked closely at each shampoo formula, checking the main ingredients and their effectiveness, along with the types of ingredients that were left out, such as sulfates. We also check to see that the full ingredient list is available either on the bottle or on the brand’s website.
Value
When considering value, we look at the price per ounce along with the value that the entire bottle provides.
Absence of harmful ingredients
We pay close attention to the entire ingredient list of the shampoo, focused especially on products that are vegan, silicon-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and more.
How to Find the Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair for You
The best shampoo for thinning hair will depend on your scalp, hair type, and the goals you have.
Your Hair Goals
If you’re managing shedding, we recommend looking for a shampoo that will help reduce sebum buildup and balance your scalp for healthier growth. If you’re experiencing breakage, we recommend a strengthening shampoo. And, if your goal is to see more volume in your hair, there are thickening formulas that can help support more growth.
Key Ingredients
When checking shampoo labels, look for ingredients that help to exfoliate and keep your scalp healthy, as well as hair growth support ingredients like saw palmetto and biotin.
Scent
If you are sensitive to scent or have sensitive skin, you may want to look for shampoos that leave out fragrance altogether or have a very subtle, natural scent.
Cost
Shampoos can be pricey, especially ones formulated to manage hair loss or thinning hair. Before purchasing a shampoo for thinning hair, think about how often you’ll wash your hair. Some shampoos also come in different size bottles, so you could get a smaller version of the shampoo you’d like to trial to save some money and ensure that it’s a good fit for you.
Benefits of Shampoo for Thinning Hair
Shampoo for thinning hair isn’t a cure-all, but there are some benefits to using it. Here are a few:
- Helps to exfoliate dead skin cells and help balance the oil on your scalp for healthier hair growth
- Strengthen existing hair strands, reduce breakage
- Reduce inflammation and calm skin on your scalp
- Increase volume and hair thickness at the root
What to Avoid in a Shampoo for Thinning Hair
When shopping for a shampoo for thinning hair, here are a few aspects to avoid:
- Harsh ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and more, which can irritate your scalp and weaken your hair
- Silicone or wax which can build up on your scalp and make it harder for hair to grow
- Strong fragrances or ingredients that might irritate sensitive skin
Frequently asked questions
What are the best ingredients in shampoos for thinning hair?
Some of the best ingredients in shampoos for thinning hair are saw palmetto, caffeine, salicylic acid, pumpkin seed oil, and green tea extract.
What vitamins are you lacking if your hair is thinning?
If your hair is thinning, you might be lacking vitamin D, vitamin B, iron, or zinc. We recommend talking with your doctor and getting bloodwork done if you are concerned about possible vitamin deficiencies.
How long does it take to see results with hair growth shampoos?
Hair growth products typically take at least three to six months of consistent use before you might see results. Hair thinning shampoos can help your hair look and feel fuller right away.
