Our Top 10 Hair-Thickening Shampoos for Luscious Tresses (2024)

Hair-thickening shampoos can take limp and lifeless tresses and transform them into lifted and voluminous locks. Whether your hair is color-treated, dry, or damaged, there is a thickening shampoo formula that can tackle all your hair concerns.

"Some thickening shampoos contain properties that make the hair 'swell' so that it feels plumper and more full when styling, whereas others target the scalp with nourishing ingredients that stimulate the follicles to increase hair growth and density," says celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan.

We spent hours researching formulations, ingredients, and compatible hair types to determine the best hair-thickening shampoos on the market. Our final list has a product for every hair type and concern, whether you want a thickening shampoo with natural ingredients or one formulated for thinning hair.

Our Top Picks

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Best Moisturizing Hair-Thickening Shampoo:

Kérastase Densifique Shampoo at Amazon ($42)

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Best Clarifying Hair-Thickening Shampoo:

JVN Volumizing Shampoo at Amazon ($21)

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Best Hair-Thickening Shampoo for Hair Growth:

Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo at Vegamour.com ($14)

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Best Hair-Thickening Shampoo for Damaged Hair:

Virtue Full Shampoo at Amazon ($42)

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Best Hair-Thickening Shampoo for Oily Hair:

Nioxin System 1 Shampoo at Amazon ($26)

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Best Hair-Thickening Shampoo for Natural Hair:

Sienna Naturals H.A.P.I. Shampoo at Siennanaturals.com (See Price)

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Best Hair-Thickening Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair:

R+Co Dallas Thickening Shampoo at Amazon ($38)

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What Stands Out

  • It volumizes while removing oil and debris from your scalp.

What Could Be Improved

  • It might cause irritation if you have sensitive skin.

Formulated for fine and thin hair, the L'Anza Healing Volume Thickening Shampoo is packed with ingredients to create bouncy fullness. The formula includes bamboo, which has lightweight silica to boost volume, keratin, a protein that can strengthen limp hair and give it rigidity, and meadowfoam flower seed oil for moisture and shine. Plus, it has no harsh sulfates that can strip your locks of essential moisture. This shampoo cleanses oil and debris from your hair without damaging it for healthy, shiny volume.

Size: 10.1 ounces | Hair Type: Fine and flat | Key Ingredients: Bamboo, cactus flower, meadowfoam flower, pea extract

What Stands Out

  • This shampoo strengthens damaged hair follicles and comes at a budget-friendly price.

What Could Be Improved

  • The bergamot, jasmine, and vanilla scent may not be for everyone.

Individuals with fine or thin hair will find the affordability of the OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo unbelievable, especially considering the quality of the formula. Biotin, collagen, and wheat protein work to strengthen hair strands over time, leading to fuller-looking locks with continued use. Unlike some other shampoos, this one won't weigh your hair down and is perfectly safe for color-treated hair. Plus, it has a lovely scent with notes of bergamot, jasmine, and vanilla.

Size: 13 ounces | Hair Type: Fine| Key Ingredients: Biotin, hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed wheat protein

What Stands Out

  • This thickening shampoo is organic and cruelty-free.

What Could Be Improved

  • It has a medicinal scent due to the essential oils.

The Avalon Organics Therapy Thickening Shampoo is EWG Verified, NSF Certified Organic, and certified cruelty-free through the Leaping Bunny Program. The formula is also free from GMOs, parabens, harsh preservatives, synthetic colors, artificial fragrances, and phthalates so you can lather away knowing this biotin-infused shampoo will have you on your way to thicker hair without any potentially harmful chemicals in the mix.

Size: 14 ounces, 32 ounces | Hair Type: Fine | Key Ingredients: Biotin, aloe, rosemary

What Stands Out

  • This hydrating shampoo removes scalp buildup while adding shine.

What Could Be Improved

  • The formula contains sulfates, which give your hair and scalp a deep clean but aren't ideal for everyone.

An essential part of thick and healthy hair is adequate moisture, and the Kérastase Densifique Thickening Shampoo is the perfect solution for quenching dry strands. This formula is suitable for all hair types, with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and gluco-peptides to gently cleanse the scalp and remove buildup. According to the brand, your hair will appear thicker over time and visibly sleek after each use.

Size: 8.5 ounces, 34 ounces | Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Ceramide, hyaluronic acid, gluco-peptides

What Stands Out

What Could Be Improved:

  • The fragrance may be too strong for some.

Thicker and healthier hair starts at the scalp, so if your roots are congested with dry shampoo and styling products, you won't have the healthy hair you crave. A clarifying shampoo, like this option from JVN, cuts through impurities to leave your hair follicles refreshed and promotes hair growth.

With ingredients like caffeine, aloe leaf juice, and sugar cane–derived hemisqualane, the JVN Embody Volumizing Shampoo is a nutrient-dense drink for your hair. With the benefits of strengthening, detoxifying, and thickening ingredients, it works with all hair types and is color-safe, too. Just note that the scent is quite powerful, with jasmine, cassis, bergamot, sandalwood, and amber that leave your hair fresh and fragrant.

Size: 10 ounces | Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Caffeine, aloe leaf juice, hemisqualane

What Stands Out

  • This shampoo enhances the fullness, shine, and density of your strands while encouraging hair growth.

What Could Be Improved

  • You might not see results until after three months of use.

Even though an over-the-counter shampoo can’t make your hair grow, there are products that can help promote hair growth. The Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo contains star ingredients that can stimulate the scalp and hair follicles to encourage growth. Using the brand’s proprietary vegan keratin known as Karmatin, and a blend of marula, baobab, and ximenia oils, this shampoo can make your hair appear more lustrous and dense.Just keep in mind that it can take three to four months to see results.

Size: 1.6 ounces, 8 ounces | Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Karmatin, baobab butter, red clover

Best Hair-Thickening Shampoo for Damaged Hair

Virtue Full Shampoo

Our Top 10 Hair-Thickening Shampoos for Luscious Tresses (7)

What Stands Out

  • This reparative formula improves chemically processed hair that feels limp.

What Could Be Improved

  • It's not designed for people with thick or curly hair.

The Virtue Full Shampoo can heal damaged, over-processed, and brittle strands, making this hair-thickening shampoo an impressive product to add to your routine. The formula gently cleanses the hair to remove built-up oil and product, while ingredients like biotin and phospholipids enhance shine and alpha keratin repairs damage. This shampoo is better suited for those with straight and fine hair, so consider your hair type before purchasing a bottle.

Size: 2 ounces, 8 ounces | Hair Type: Fine| Key Ingredients: Phospholipids, biotin, alpha keratin

What Stands Out

  • The minty scent adds some aromatherapy to your shower.

What Could Be Improved

  • You may need to pair it with a scalp and hair treatment for best results.

If you have oily hair, Nioxin is a brand to keep stocked in your shower. The company has six hair-thinning solutions, with System 1 targeted to natural hair with light thinning. The detoxifying formula helps remove sebum, oil, and other buildup like minerals and pollutants from your scalp, which encourages healthy hair growth in the long term. The Nioxin shampoos are most effective paired with their accompanying conditioners and scalp and hair treatments.

Size: 33.8 ounces | Hair Type: Thin, oily | Key Ingredients: Peppermint oil, biotin, panthenol, citrus extract, leaf extract

What Stands Out

  • The formula nourishes curls for healthy volume.

What Could Be Improved

  • This product may be too moisturizing for thinner hair types.

Natural hair needs a hydrating shampoo that can provide it with plenty of nutrients while gently cleansing the scalp. The Sienna Naturals H.A.P.I Shampoo is a favorite for its ability to do just that, leaving soft and voluminous hair in its wake. This formula is suitable for high-porosity and low-porosity textured hair (even if it's relaxed or color-treated), with a slightly acidic formula that specifically targets the scalp by gently cleansing without stripping natural oils. According to the brand, this shampoo stimulates hair growth right at the follicle, allowing hair to grow stronger and fuller. The shampoo also contains aloe to hydrate and soothe the scalp, coconut derivatives to protect the scalp's moisture barrier, and baobab oil to nourish the scalp with fatty acids and Vitamin C. Plus, we love the subtle lavender and geranium scent.

Size: 10 ounces | Hair Type: Curly, textured, relaxed, and color-treated | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera juice, coconut derivatives, baobab oil

What Stands Out

  • This volumizing shampoo only contains ingredients that are safe for color-treated hair.

What Could Be Improved

  • It won't provide as deep of a cleanse as some other formulas.

Color-treated hair can be tricky to work with, as ingredients like sulfates and surfactants can strip moisture levels and color. The R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo will keep your hair as fresh as the first day you had it done. Moringa seed extract, biotin, and saw palmetto berry extract work hand-in-hand to give hair volume that rivals even the top salon blowout. The formula excludes mineral oils, parabens, sulfates, and gluten, so you know it's working to keep color-treated hair vibrant and full of bounce.

Size: 1.7 ounces, 8.5 ounces, 33.8 ounces | Hair Type: Fine| Key Ingredients: Moringa seed extract, biotin, saw palmetto berry extract

What Stands Out

  • This shampoo clears product build-up for refreshed, voluminous hair.

What Could Be Improved

  • It may take more than one wash to get all the benefits.

If your hair is thin or thinning, the BosleyMD Revive Non Color-Treated Nourishing Shampoo (or its color-safe equivalent) can revive your tresses with volume and scalp-stimulating ingredients.

This shampoo targets the scalp by removing buildup with pumpkin seed extract and saw palmetto, which are natural DHT-blocking ingredients (too much DHT causes hair loss). In addition to its invigorating cleanse, the shampoo also has rosemary extract, an antioxidant to reduce inflammation and increase circulation in your scalp, and panthenol, which strengthens and thickens your tresses.

Size: 10.1 ounces | Hair Type: Fine | Key Ingredients: Pumpkin seed extract, rosemary extract, saw palmetto, panthenol

Final Verdict

The L'Anza Healing Volume Thickening Shampoo is our top choice for hair-thickening shampoos. The formula is chock-full of nourishing ingredients, like bamboo for boosted volume and meadowfoam flower seed oil for moisture and shine. This fine hair-friendly shampoo gently cleanses while providing shine, resulting in bouncy and soft tresses post-shower.

How to Shop for Hair-Thickening Shampoos Like a Pro

Formula

"Hair thickening shampoos are specially formulated to create the appearance of fuller, thicker hair," says Friese. "They work by targeting individual strands of hair with key ingredients."

Marjan recommends formulas with B vitamins, tea tree oil, biotin, keratin, and collagen in the ingredients list if your goal is thick, fuller-looking hair. She also highlights rosemary oil extract, which can promote hair growth through scalp stimulation. Friese likes the ingredients neem, bamboo, saw palmetto, and fatty acids for thick, luscious locks.

If you have color-treated hair, avoid added sulfates and harsh surfactants, which can cause damage and breakage. Similarly, if you prefer a clarifying scalp treatment to tackle product buildup or oil, look for a formula with detoxifying ingredients and acids that promote thicker hair.

Hair Type

When selecting a hair-thickening shampoo, consider your hair type and underlying concerns. Product formulation will vary depending on your hair type.

Thickening shampoos for curly or textured hair will have more nourishing, moisturizing ingredients like aloe and hemisqualane to support healthy locks. Products for thin, fine hair, on the other hand, will avoid heavy moisturizers or oils that can cause flatness or excess sebum. “Look for shampoos with key ingredients such as keratin for body, caffeine as a stimulant, clay fibers for thickness, and saw palmetto to prevent further miniaturization,” says Dr.

We included the main hair types in our key product specs, so you can easily find an option suited to you.

Hair Concerns

There are two major hair concerns to consider when shopping for thickening shampoos: fine, limp hair and hair loss. If your locks are lacking body, opt for a thickening shampoo that temporarily adds volume through ingredients like keratin or clay fibers. “Thickening shampoos primarily enhance the cosmetic appearance of hair by adding volume, but they do not address the root causes of hair loss,” says May.

For people with hair loss, look for invigorating ingredients and formulas that promote scalp health and hair growth. "If the shampoo has ingredients that help combat hair loss, such as DHT inhibitors or botanicals that help circulation to the scalp, it can help prevent thinning," says Friese. Other scalp-targeting ingredients to consider include caffeine, saw palmetto, and biotin, according to May.

In some cases, a thickening shampoo may target both concerns. "I love when shampoos meet a variety of hair needs," says Marjan.

Questions You Might Ask

Does hair-thickening shampoo actually make your hair thicker?

According to Marjan, the concept of products to create thicker hair is complex. Thickening shampoos fall into two categories—those that make the hair “swell” with particular ingredients, and those that target the scalp for healthy hair follicles. If you want long-term results, a thickening shampoo that targets the scalp is your best bet.

What is the difference between hair-thickening and volumizing shampoo?

Volumizing shampoos don't offer much hydration to prevent hair from becoming weighed down, according to Marjan. This weightlessness is what creates a fuller, voluminous appearance to the hair. Meanwhile, thickening shampoos "can often target the scalp to help hair grow stronger," she adds.

Unfortunately, the terms volumizing and thickening are often used interchangeably, despite their distinct differences. Both shampoo types "may contain ingredients that adhere to the strands and are designed not to rinse out—giving the hair a temporary feel of thicker, fuller hair," Marjan says. That is why it is crucial to read the product label in detail to understand the expected benefits.

What are some other ways to make hair thicker?

Marjan recommends protecting your hair in the shower and after for improved thickness. To promote hair health and thickness, Marjan uses non-damaging hot tools, sleeps with a silk pillowcase, utilizes heat protectants, and brushes her wet hair gently with a tool designated for the task. For anyone favoring DIY hair treatments, Marjan loves "a regular scalp treatment with castor oil and rosemary essential oil to prevent hair fallout, increase circulation in the scalp, and encourage new growth." This treatment, on top of regular trims, helps to keep her strands healthy and strong.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Samantha Parsons, a beauty industry veteran and writer with experience across the cosmetics, skin, and wellness industries, and Stefanie Waldek, a travel and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. They researched countless products and brands to find hair-thickening shampoos that were efficacious in formulation, easily accessible to consumers, and offered multiple benefits. They also consulted celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan, BosleyMD trichologist Gretchen Friese, and Dr. Michael May, medical director of Wimpole Clinic, to solidify their decisions.

Our Top 10 Hair-Thickening Shampoos for Luscious Tresses (2024)
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