A good thickening shampoo is essential for achieving volume and taking your hair to new heights, especially if you have fine or thin hair. According to a recent study published in The International Journal of Trichology, shampoos with the right ingredients can be effective in adding volume to hair.
According to hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader, the best shampoos for fine hair are those that remove all product build-up, plump up the hair shaft, and leave strands light and full-bodied. You should also thoroughly cleanse the scalp with a non-irritating formula, as excess oils and grease can weigh hair down. Finally, to achieve maximum volume, texturize your hair with a shampoo free of sulfates and silicones, which are harsh on delicate shafts.
We spent hours researching the best shampoos for fine hair, comparing active ingredients, results, and how manageable each formula leaves fine hair. The results were then combined with our own research of fan favorites and stylist-recommended picks.
Find the best shampoos for fine hair below.
Best Shampoos For Fine Hair In 2023
1. L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo is the best drugstore shampoo.
What We Like
- Boosts radiance
- Color-treated hair is protected.
- Frizz is reduced.
What We Don’t Like
- It has the potential to be a little drying.
Those with colored hair will know that a sulfate-free product is often a wise choice, and thankfully, this option from L’Oreal checks all the boxes. Apart from preserving color and shine, it provides a deep but nourishing clean, resulting in glossy, bouncy, and full hair. In our opinion, it is good enough to compete with the majority of the luxury options available.
2. Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo is the best natural option.
What We Like
- It smells fantastic.
- Increases volume
- Available in value size
What We Don’t Like
- It is difficult to create a lather.
With no sulfates and 93% natural ingredients, this is a shampoo you can trust. It claims to add volume while purifying, nourishing, and refreshing the hair with ginseng, biotin, maltodextrin, and a proprietary NOVA Complex®. Even though it’s sulfate-free, it lathers up beautifully.
3. OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo is ideal for dry hair.
What We Like
- Hair is full and soft.
- Inexpensive
- Hair is strengthened.
What We Don’t Like
- It contains protein and should be used with caution.
It’s difficult to find a volumizing shampoo that also hydrates the hair, which is why we’re smitten with OGX’s unicorn formula. This formula, rather than coating the hair, claims to penetrate the hair shaft, leaving it full and plump from the inside out. You’ll be left with a layer of thickness that feels soft and hydrated.
4. R+Co Dallas Thickening Shampoo is the best for bouncing.
What We Like
- Boosts radiance
- It smells fantastic.
- Hair is strengthened.
What We Don’t Like
- A little pricey
This is the shampoo to use if you want big, bouncy, old-Hollywood blow-out hair. Dallas by R + Co contains biotin, vitamin B5, and saw palmetto and claims to add touchable volume and serious shine. It’s also one of those rare formulas that seems to add volume while also nourishing the hair, so it’s ideal if your hair is prone to damage or dryness. Plus, the smell is out of this world.
5. Christophe Robin Volume Shampoo Paste is ideal for oily hair.
What We Like
- Aids in oil absorption
- Make a good lather.
- Increases volume
What We Don’t Like
- Sulfates are present.
Because of the cleansing and purifying properties of rassoul clay, this shampoo treatment is a game changer for limp, oily strands.
4 It’s thick when applied, but it emulsifies well with water, resulting in a beautiful, frothy lather that removes grease and leaves an airy volume in its wake. It’s an intense shampooing experience, but if you’ve tried traditional formulas without success, this could be the solution. It can also help to preserve color, which is a nice added bonus.
6. Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume is the best luxury.
What We Like
- Make a good lather.
- Hair appears to be thicker.
- Repairs damaged hair.
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
Yes, Oribe is pricey, but there’s no denying it always provides a supremely luxurious hair washing experience. This Magnificent Volume version is fantastic: it’s frothy, light, and smells like a designer fragrance. It contains body-building polymers instead of sulfates to plump up the hair shaft and create light, bouncy volume. 5
7. The Doux Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo is the best moisturizer.
What We Like
- Increases volume
- Formula for hydration
- Protects against heat
What We Don’t Like
- PEGs are present.
Shea butter and silk contribute to The Doux’s Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo formula being ultra-hydrating without weighing down hair. These ingredients are also great for heat protection for those who use hot tools and are safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair.
What Should You Look For When Purchasing a Shampoo for Fine Hair?
If you have fine hair and want to add volume, there are several ingredients to look for, according to hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader. He recommends a formula containing vitamin B5, polymers, biotin, or hyaluronic acid. Botanicals such as ginseng and ginger are also beneficial, according to him.
What Ingredients Should You Avoid?
What is left out of the formula is equally significant. While it is not a hard and fast rule, silicones (such as dimethicone) can sometimes contribute to build-up, so if you have fine hair, it may be worth avoiding them. Sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, triclosan, and mineral oil are also ingredients to avoid. According to Nader, these aren’t necessarily bad ingredients in general, but they can aggravate thin hair, so if you’re looking for serious volume, it might be worth avoiding them.
What is the best shampoo brand for fine hair?
Living Proof is one of the best shampoo brands for fine hair. Living Proof Full Shampoo is our top pick because it adds body while rinsing clean and is free of sulfates and silicones. This means it does not contribute to product buildup, which can cause fine hair to become weighed down.
What are the ingredients to look for in a fine hair shampoo?
A shampoo for fine hair should include volumizing ingredients rather than heavier ones, such as silicone, which will weigh the hair down. Shampoos with strengthening ingredients will help prevent further thinning and breakage.
Look for biotin, vitamin B5, polymers, and hyaluronic acid, according to Nader.
Should fine hair be washed more frequently?
Because daily washing can dry out fine hair, you should only wash it every other day. Waiting more than every other day, on the other hand, may result in build-up that weighs hair down and makes it look flat and greasy. Experiment with different washing schedules to see which one works best for you.
