10 Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair, According to Hair Loss Experts

The Good Housekeeping Institute did not evaluate these shampoos for any claims of growing new hair (since that’s not a thing!) or for breakage prevention, but our Beauty Lab experts did consider other factors. “We gathered products that we’ve found to counteract the undesirable appearance of fine and limp hair, as well as sulfate-free shampoos for those who feel that sulfate-based surfactants are drying to their scalp or strands,” says Aral. Each of the products on our list was chosen for one or more of the following reasons:

✔️They are formulated to volumize and so make hair appear fuller.

✔️They are formulated with gentle ingredients for the scalp and hair.

✔️They contain conditioning ingredients that, when used with their corresponding conditioners, may help prevent hair breakage.

✔️The products represent a wide price range and are easily available online or at stores.

“To be blunt, be wary of shampoos claiming to boost hair growth, grow new hair, regrow hair, grow hair faster,” says Jeni Thomas, Ph.D., Principal Scientist at Proctor & Gamble Beauty. P&G makes Pantene, Aussie and Head & Shoulders, among other hair care lines, so you can bet if there were a magical growth ingredient to put in shampoo, they’d be bringing it to market. Hair growth from shampoo “has yet to be scientifically proven, at least in published research or to FDA’s standards,” says Thomas.

The only treatment that is FDA-approved and proven to stimulate hair growth is the drug minoxidil, the main ingredient in the topical leave-in Rogaine, which is thought to work by dilating the blood vessels to your follicles, increasing their nutrient source and keeping them in the “growth” phase of the cycle longer, says Dr. Benham, a hair loss treatment subscription service based in Los Angeles. But even a shampoo containing minoxidil isn’t likely to help, because the drug needs to be left on the scalp to be absorbed into the skin, rather than rinsed off. “A shampoo by itself is not going to make hair grow, as it usually doesn’t address the root of the problem,” says Dr. Benham — that is, what’s causing you to lose your hair in the first place.

Hair loss can be a symptom of many issues, says Dr. Benham, which is why before you shell out for any product or treatment, you should visit a dermatologist to figure out what’s going on and how to treat it. Some big reasons for hair loss? Stress is a common one, says Dr. Benham, as it can lead to telogen effluvium. That’s when, three to six months after a shock (say, a death in the family, giving birth, a physical shock like COVID or a surgery), a person can lose a lot of hair at once.

Another common reason for hair loss is a high level of testosterone (this can happen in women, too!) or particularly sensitive testosterone receptors. Androgenic alopecia (that is, hair loss resulting from a hormonal issue) is genetic, and doctors typically treat it with medications that block testosterone receptors. Other reasons can include:

• Thyroid issues
• Nutritional deficiencies (not having enough iron, vitamin D or other nutrients)
• Anxiety, especially if the sufferer twirls or otherwise pulls on their hair
• Autoimmune problems
• Traction alopecia from wearing too tight hairstyles

The short answer is ASAP. “The earlier you do this, the better,” says Dr. Benham. “I see patients four or five years after they start losing their hair, and they’ve already lost a significant amount. It is much easier to save hair than to grow hair back,” he says. That is because of the way hair grows — and how it sometimes stops growing. Hair typically grows in three phases over roughly six months — the growth, or anagen phase; the catagen phase, a short transitional phase; and the telogen, or resting phase, where it naturally falls out. You normally lose between 50-100 hairs a day during this cycle, which is nothing to worry about. But for various reasons, follicles can start to miniaturize, which leads to thinner individual hairs, and eventually none at all being pushed out of the follicle. There are medications, depending on what is causing the miniaturization, that may prevent further miniaturization, says Dr. Benham, keeping the hair follicle out of retirement, and the sooner you start taking them, the better for keeping your hair.

A nutritious diet is key, says Dr. Benham, who says he sees a lot of hair loss among vegans and vegetarians, who may need to take supplements to be sure they get enough iron and vitamin D, to name a few important nutrients. If you are prone to heavy periods, you also may need to supplement with iron, or perhaps go on a hormonal contraceptive that can regulate your periods. And of course, if you have any of the above medical problems that cause hair loss, says Dr. Benham, treating the underlying issue is key to arresting hair loss.

It’s also important to treat the air you do have with care. Brush gently, vary your hairstyle (tight buns worn every day can lead to traction alopecia) consider skipping heavy hair weaves or braids and don’t over-process or style hair. “Use a quality shampoo and conditioner, minimize damaging treatments that can increase hair breakage and hence make it look like less hair, such as permanent dyeing and waving,” says Dawson.

Dr. Benham favors hair products that contain argan oil, keratin (the same protein that constitutes hair itself), B vitamins and collagen. “These can help nourish the follicle, keeping it healthier,” he says. Using shampoos that moisturize and condition also helps. “Imagine if your skin is very dry — you’re more likely to get cuts, infections and sores,” he says. “The same thing happens with your hair. So when you use a moisturizing shampoo with things like rice silk and wheat proteins and panthenols, it coats the outer part, so it looks shinier and gets less damaged.” These can also make the scalp feel less dry and flaky, he says.

A bit of advice to keep in mind, whatever shampoo you use: “Shampoos and conditioners are developed and tested for breakage efficacy in pairs,” says Aral, so if you're hoping to prevent further hair damage (which contributes to the appearance of thinning) you would get the full benefits when you used the matching duo. Mixing and matching or skipping the conditioner may not give you as much of a benefit, she adds.

By and large, shampoos that are on the market have been tested and do not contain ingredients known to cause hair loss. “However, from time to time we see certain ingredients being called out for causing hair loss. The most recent one is DMD hydantoin, a formaldehyde-releasing preservative in cosmetics, which is actually the subject of an ongoing lawsuit,” says Aral. But that is an anomaly, she says.

In addition to being a health editor and writer for decades, writer Stephanie Dolgoff experienced hair loss firsthand after an incredibly stressful series of life events and going off the pill 12 years ago. She used her reporter brain to learn everything there is to know about hair loss, the reasons behind it and treatments — legit and not-so-legit. "I know how desperate you can feel when you see handfuls of hair coming out, so it's important to me personally to help people not waste their money or their time on things that won't work," she says.

Birnur Aral, who holds degrees in both mechanical and chemical engineering, has led the GH Institute's Beauty Lab for 15 years, overseeing hands-on tests for myriad health and beauty products we use every day. Prior to that, she spent seven years in R&D at Unilever, which owns several cosmetic brands that make shampoo. She is Good Housekeeping's go-to for understanding the science behind beauty products and debunking misconceptions.