If you have very fine strands, a sparser head of hair or both, the best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair will work well with your strands. These formulas are designed to deeply cleanse strands and help to amplify volume – not weigh things down and leave your hair looking flat or limp.
You don't need to be a trichologist or a hairdresser to know that the key to a good hair routine is using products that suit your hair type and tend to its unique needs, from the best shampoo and conditioner through to styling products. Before so much as picking up the best hair dryer, it's vital to have your haircare regime down to a fine art.
Several factors can contribute to fine or thinning hair, including genetics, ageing and hormones. I have personally experienced hair thinning, plus mine is slightly wavy, bleached and gets greasy super quickly – so I'm all too familiar with what to look for in a good shampoo for fine hair. Here I've reviewed products that are the solution to achieving thicker hair, helping to give your scalp and haircare routine a boost, support healthy growth and inject volume. (When you're done here, I've also written this guide the best conditioners for fine hair to pair with your new shampoo.)
The best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair, tested by our beauty experts
RRP: £30
With nourishing ingredients like rice amino acids, shea butter and aloe vera leaf extract, this shampoo made our hair feel super silky and instantly thicker. The formula is light as a feather and formed a lovely lather, which made our hair and scalp feel squeaky clean – and it smells truly delicious.
Although this shampoo isn't very budget-friendly, we loved the instant lifting effect it had on our hair. Even while it was wet our hair felt thicker and, after testing it both before air drying and blasting hair with the best hair dryer for fine hair, the results were incredible. We also found our scalp and hair still fresh as a daisy the morning after we used it, plus strands had a whole lot of bounce, volume, density, and thickness.
Reasons to buy: Deep cleansing, adds volume
Reasons to avoid: Not budget-friendly
RRP: £55
Those who like shopping "clean beauty", sulfate-free shampoos and eco-friendly beauty products will love how New Wash cleans and conditions the scalp and hair without harsh detergents. At first, we thought it felt a little unusual as it's got quite a thick consistency, almost like conditioner, so we had some concerns that it might weigh our hair down initially.
Washing it out took slightly longer – Hairstory suggests using its Massaging Scalp Brush, which was also a lovely treat. The product smells lovely and clean, with a subtle, baby powder-esque aroma. It left our hair voluminous and with enhanced texture both when we blow-dried it and after allowing it to air dry. There wasn't a hint of oiliness in our scalp until the evening of day two after washing, a first for our tester.
Reasons to buy: Shampoo & conditioner in one
Reasons to avoid: Expensive
RRP: £10.99
Shea butter can easily weigh finer hair down, but having used this product many times over the years we can testify that we didn't experience this at all. There's a lovely clean smell from this product, which we enjoy.
The shampoo itself is medium density and a little goes a long way, yielding a lovely lather that gently cleaned our scalp. Our hair was left feeling hair super soft and feeling lifted from the inside out. The conditioning properties also help avoid stripping curly hair types – so if you've got a bit of a wave or tight curls, this formula should be a good fit.
Reasons to buy: Affordable, great for coloured hair
Reasons to avoid: Packaging isn't very luxe
RRP: £29
Living Proof's volume-boosting formulas often feature on lists of the best hair styling products – with good reason. Not only do they smell great, they seriously pack a punch, too, and the Full Shampoo is a great example of why they're worth the investment. Yes, this shampoo expensive but a little goes a long way, meaning it lasts well.
This particular formula has an almost gel-like consistency, which was very gentle and light on our fine hair. It also smells lovely and fresh, leaving our hair feeling smooth and not at all weighed down – though it's recommended for use alongside the matching conditioner for best results.
Reasons to buy: Smells great, refillable bottle
Reasons to avoid: More affordable options available
RRP: £27
Creators of some of the industry's best scalp treatments, the trichologists at Philip Kingsley are extremely well acquainted with the needs of both our scalp and our hair.
Although this shampoo contains sulphates which can often leave hair feeling overly cleansed and brittle, this particular product is still among the best shampoos for thin hair thanks to ingredients like keratin and natural cellulose. It's the latter that helps to plump the surface of every hair strand, giving it a more luscious, bouncy and shiny appearance. This formula is super light and has a subtle floral scent, something we also enjoyed. Not only is the fragrance mild, the shampoo was also really gentle on our scalp while cleansing.
Reasons to buy: Volumising, smells great
Reasons to avoid: Contains sulphates
RRP: £39
Shout out to our fellow greasy-haired beauty fans who load up on the best dry shampoos for oily hair. While our beauty editor's K18 review examines the brand's hero hair mask, the deep-cleansing Peptide Prep Detox shampoo is a lesser-known buy from the brand – but it's a real godsend.
When we tested this one, it cleared all excess oils, product residue and sebum and we were amazed that it achieved such intense clarifying without stripping our scalp and hair of moisture. Remarkably, it didn't affect our hair's colour, either. Due to its clarifying formula, to help prevent your hair from becoming too dry, the brand recommends using it once a week - but if you've got a lot of build-up you may want to trial using it more frequently. Either way, it's the best deep cleansing product we've ever used.
Reasons to buy: Good for coloured hair
Reasons to avoid: Not for everyday use, expensive
RRP: £6.99
OGX's Biotin and Collagen Shampoo harnesses the power of biotin for hair (AKA vitamin B7) and collagen to swell the hair from the inside. This shampoo is very much on the thicker side, unlike the gel-like consistency of Living Proof's Full Shampoo, for example. We found this one's texture to be very nourishing and noticed it imparted a slight extra bounce, which is always a delight.
That said, having hair that gets greasy quickly, this shampoo wasn't the best on our list for scalp cleansing; by the end of the day, our hair already had a bit of oiliness to it. However, if you're on a budget and looking for the best drugstore shampoo for fine hair that will deliver bounce to your locks, this is a solid option at a very reasonable price.
Reasons to buy: Affordable, sulphate-free
Reasons to avoid: Thicker texture may not suit everyone
RRP: £27.15
Kérastase's Densifique Bain Densité is an ultra-nourishing shampoo that we found really locked moisture into our hair, thanks to the lightweight-yet-nourishing power of hyaluronic acid. It cleansed brilliantly and left out hair with a great amount of lift.
It's also one of the few shampoos for fine hair we tested that left us feeling like we could skip conditioner – which may be a plus to those with particularly oily hair like us. The only issue we could potentially see with this product is its perfumed scent, which some may find overpowering or not to their tastes.
Reasons to buy: Instantly adds volume
Reasons to avoid: Scent may be too overpowering
RRP: £39
Philip B's haircare line is powered by botanicals such as green tea leaves, aloe extracts and rosemary. The Weightless Volumizing Shampoo treated our scalp to a great refresh, scrubbing away all of that pesky build-up and working wonders on our hair – even when we'd used a lot of dry shampoo the day before.
It works into a lovely lather and, of all the products we tested for this guide, this one has the most glorious fragrance. It's subtle, androgynous, fresh and just smells so clean. Our ends definitely needed conditioner for some detangling after rinsing, but our hair felt so healthy after using it – think bouncy, shiny and fresh-feeling.
Reasons to buy: Smells great, cleans thoroughly
Reasons to avoid: Leaves hair tangled pre-conditioner, expensive
RRP: £44
This paste contains super fine sugar crystals that gently exfoliate, while rassoul clay and rose extracts work to detoxify and nourish the scalp and hair. It's got quite an unusual texture and appearance (it looks like mud), but when we rubbed it in our hands with a little water it foamed up nicely. All that clay absorbed excess oil and gave our hair a lovely boost.
It also smells absolutely heavenly and thoroughly cleansed our scalp, leaving our hair feeling as clean and healthy as can be. However, we definitely needed to use conditioner alongside this particular shampoo, particularly as our hair has dry ends. We stayed loyal to the brand and used the Christophe Robin Delicate Volumising conditioner, which is divine and left our hair silky smooth but not weighed down.
Reasons to buy: Exfoliating, foams well
Reasons to avoid: Not great for dry hair
RRP: £69
We'd call Sisley's Revitalising Volumising Shampoo with Camellia Oil the best shampoo for fine hair if you can and want to make a real splurge, as it comes with quite a high price tag. However, if you want to invest in your hair health, then this product is absolutely worth considering.
We were wowed by the way this light, thin shampoo quickly foamed into a kind of mousse, which was an absolute joy to massage into our scalp. With a light scent, this really helped to rid it of build-up, leaving our hair feeling light and bouncy. As with most formulas on this list, using it without conditioner wasn't possible, but when used with the matching Sisley formula our hair was left feeling gorgeously clean, volumised and strong.
Reasons to buy: Incredibly light yet hydrating
Reasons to avoid: Very expensive
RRP: £24.50
Dallas has more than earned its spot on our list of the best shampoos for thin hair. The brand claims this popular product will yield "big bouncy hair" and they're not kidding. This shampoo contains biotin, a vitamin that can help improve your hair's keratin infrastructure.
The texture is a little thicker than we expected, so it's best to rub it between your hands before massaging it into the hair – however, a little goes a long way, so exercise caution when squeezing out the product. Not only did our hair feel voluminous after using it, it was silky smooth, too, and we loved the added strength it seemed to impart on our brittle strands. The results weren't instant, but after three washes we noticed our hair not only looked fuller, it felt stronger, too.
Reasons to buy: A little goes a long way
Reasons to avoid: You have to wait to see results
How we tested the best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair
A selection of the shampoos tested for this guide
Well versed as I am in choosing the best hair products for very fine hair, I took on the task of testing several shampoos for consideration for this guide. To truly compile a refined guide to the best of the best, I tried dozens of products from various price points.
I tested each formula for several days, both with and without conditioner, to get a clear idea of how they made my hair look, feel and behave. I also paid attention to each product's packaging, how much of the formula I needed to cleanse my entire scalp and all of my hair and how well the results lasted until my next wash.
Many shampoos for fine and thinning hair are a little more expensive than other formulas, so you might be wondering if expensive shampoo is better. In my honest opinion, if you have thin hair and can spend a little extra on your haircare products, it's an investment you won't regret. Pricier shampoos sometimes stretch further and therefore last longer, but these brands may also be more transparent about the ingredients used, while many formulas are gentler on your strands.
How to choose the best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair
When testing these formulas for consideration for this guide to the best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair, as well as elements like the price and packaging, I considered the following factors.
- Cleansing: It's important for your chosen product to cleanse thoroughly to help remove any build-up on the scalp. As fine hair can show an excess of grease more easily, deeply clarifying and removing build-up is one of the most important parts of your haircare routine.
- Consistency: Anything with oils, butter or simply a heavier consistency in general is a huge no-no for very thin and/or fine hair. These can weigh down strands and also cause more scalp build-up, which can even impact healthy hair growth.
- Ingredients: It can be as important to consider what's in the shampoo as it is to consider what's not in it. Ingredients like protein, vitamin B5, lactic acid and hyaluronic acid can all benefit fine hair. However, silicones are film-forming and can be heavier on the hair. Although sulphates give a very thorough cleanse, they can also strip more moisture from weaker strands, so shopping for the best sulphate-free shampoo for fine hair might be worth bearing in mind if you want to avoid that weighed-down feel.
What ingredients can boost fine hair and thinning hair?
If you're wondering 'How can I improve my fine hair?', it's worth starting by looking at the ingredients of the products in your haircare routine. "Specific ingredients like caffeine are linked to hair growth and can provide invigorating effects," says Tyler Moore, expert stylist at Live True London. "Lighter moisturising ingredients like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid can [also] provide hydration without weighing your hair down."
Leading trichologist Ricardo Vila Nova tells us that there are many volumising products on the market containing polymers, which build density and texture. But when it comes to rebuilding and strengthening the internal bonds of the hair, he says: "I always suggest products with protein or lactic acid if we’re dealing with fine, dry hair."
While choosing a shampoo filled with all the right ingredients for thin hair is helpful, healthy growth comes from within, says Lauren Marr, artistic colourist at Gielly Green. She suggests a healthy diet that is "high in proteins, leafy greens and vitamins to naturally increase hair volume."
Tyler Moore is an experienced hair stylist working for Live True Salons in London.
Ricardo Vila Nova is a trichologist and former biochemist. Known around the world as "the hair whisperer", he has clinics in London, Portugal and Bahrain and is the only trichologist who uses DNA profiling.
Lauren Marr is an experienced colourist based at London's Gielly Green salons. As well as colour, she also specialises in hair extensions.
What ingredients should you avoid with fine hair and thinning hair?
"Avoid deep-cleansing shampoos containing salicylic acid as it may tangle the hair," advises Vila Nova. Moore recommends avoiding ingredients such as oils and butter if your hair is on the fine side. "These can work well in hair masks and oil treatments, but in daily use shampoos and conditioners, these will weigh your hair down and cause it to become oilier faster," he explains. "These include coconut oil and argan oil."
Another potential concern for those with more delicate hair is sulphates. "They strip the hair of its natural oils, which can make your hair dry and [result in] flyaways," Marr says. "This can also cause scalp irritation."
What's the best way to shampoo and condition fine hair and thinning hair?
According to Vila Nova, when washing fine hair you should distribute the shampoo evenly on the scalp and massage, "thoroughly yet gently so as not to tangle middle lengths and ends."
Incorporating a little scalp massage into your cleansing routine is not only a nice bit of self care, it can also increase blood flow to the scalp and, in turn, can benefit hair health and support growth. The best way to massage your scalp is to use the fingertips of both your hands and apply gentle pressure on your scalp, moving them in small circles.
Moore notes that temperature is also important, noting that it's best to wash and rinse with lukewarm water to avoid damage and breakage. "First, make sure to wet your hair thoroughly before applying shampoo to ensure the hair shaft [or] follicles will be open enough to absorb the product and also to create a good lather," he says. "After one-to-two minutes, rinse your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water."
How often should you wash fine hair and thinning hair?
The answer to the age-old question, how often should you wash your hair, varies depending on your hair and scalp type – whether you're more oil-prone or have a dry scalp – as well as your lifestyle and the kinds of products you use. "There is no set rule on how often one should wash the hair, but fine hair usually requires more frequent washing to help build structure and volume," Vila Nova confirms.
"Those with finer hair might find their hair getting oiler quicker due to product build-up," Moore adds. "Products can weigh down fine hair, causing it to look greasy faster, even if you are prone to a drier scalp. Oil build-up will also look heavier on finer hair, meaning you might need to wash every one to three days depending on your personal preference."
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