Trust us, these are the 8 best shampoos for fine hair to help boost volume and support healthy growth

Tailored towards adding volume and encouraging healthy growth, our fine-haired writer shares detailed reviews of the best shampoos for fine and thinning hair

Collage of five of the best shampoos for fine hair from (left to right) Kevin Murphy, Living Proof, Kerastase, Philip Kingsley and K18, set against a warm beige painterly background
(Image credit: KEVIN.MURPHY/Living Proof/Kérastase/Philip Kingsley/K18/Future)

Most of us know that a shampoo optimised for our hair type is the one of the core pillars of a good routine. If you have very thin and fine strands or a sparser head of hair (or both), the best shampoo for fine hair helps to amplify volume, cleansing thoroughly without weighing finer hair down. But knowing which formulas will achieve this is another matter entirely – and that's where this guide comes in.

Several factors can contribute to fine or thinning hair, including genetics and hormones. Not only have I experienced thinning firsthand, my strands are slightly wavy, bleached and get greasy super quickly. In other words, I'm very familiar with what makes a good shampoo for fine and thinning hair. As any hair expert will tell you, key to good hair health is using products that are formulated to suit its unique needs, be they the best shampoo and conditioners or wider styling products.

If you, too, have fine strands or are noticing your hair getting increasingly thinner (or both), it's vital your haircare regime supports this. In the guide ahead, I've reviewed the best products to help boost finer strands, with a view to nourish your scalp, support healthy growth and inject volume – from luxury brands like Kérastase to affordable options like OGX. (And when you're done here, I've also reviewed the best conditioners for fine hair to pair with your new shampoo.) Without further ado, here are the eight best on the market...

Best shampoos for fine hair deals

Recent updates

These deals are checked daily and we will continue to do so to ensure that all of the products below are still in stock, still discounted and, most importantly, are the very best deals around at the moment.

OGX Volumising Biotin & Collagen Sulphate Free Hair Shampoo
Get 40% off now
OGX Volumising Biotin & Collagen Sulphate Free Hair Shampoo: was £7.49 now £4.48 at Amazon

Save a huge 40% on OGX's volumising shampoo, which uses vitamin B7 and collagen to swell the hair from the inside, making it appear thicker and fuller.

Kérastase Densifique Femme Shampoo
Get 12% off now
Kérastase Densifique Femme Shampoo: was £29.60 now £24.75 at Amazon

If you're after fuller and bouncier locks, this hyaluronic acid-enriched Kérastase shampoo works to leave strands moisturised, thicker, stronger and shinier. What's more, you can currently save 12% on its usual price.

The best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair, tested by our beauty experts

How we tested the best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair

A selection of the best shampoos for fine hair and thinning hair tested for this guide

A selection of the shampoos tested for this guide

(Image credit: Aoife Hanna)

While I'm very experienced in using the best hair products for very fine hair, I took on the task of testing several new-to-me shampoos for consideration for this guide, to ensure it was as well-researched as possible. To write a detailed and refined guide to the very best options, I put dozens of products at varying price points to the test.

I tested each formula over several washes, using each one both with and without conditioner to understand how they made my hair look, feel and behave post-wash. I also looked closely at packaging, how much of the formula I needed to cleanse my entire scalp and head of hair and how well the results lasted until my next wash.

As for whether expensive shampoo is better, I honestly believe that 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, therefore lasting longer, plus can be gentler on strands.

How to choose the best shampoo for fine hair and thinning hair

When shopping for a shampoo that'll suit fine and thinning hair particularly well, as well as my own first person insights, the following factors are all important when deciding if a formula will be a good fit.

  • Cleansing: It's important for your chosen product to cleanse well enough to help remove any build-up on the scalp. As an excess of grease can show more easily on fine hair, so deeply clarifying and removing build-up is an important part of your haircare routine.
  • Consistency: Anything with large quantities of rich oils, butters or with a generally heavier consistency is a huge no-no for very thin and/or fine hair. These will likely weigh down strands and may leave build-up on the scalp, which can even impact healthy hair growth.
  • Formula & ingredients: What's not in your shampoo is almost as important as what it does contain. Ingredients like protein, vitamin B5 and lactic & hyaluronic acids can all benefit fine hair. However, silicones can weigh hair down when they build up over time (clarifying shampoo helps here). Sulphates can give a very thorough cleanse but can also strip more moisture from weaker strands; a sulphate-free shampoo may be a better fit if you experience this.

What ingredients help to boost fine hair and thinning hair?

A good first step in improving a routine for fine hair is looking at the ingredients of the products. "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 adds that many volumising products on the market contain polymers, which help to 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 a shampoo optimised for thin hair is helpful, healthy growth also 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."

What ingredients should you avoid with fine hair and thinning hair?

As for what to avoid when caring for fine and thinning hair, "Avoid deep-cleansing shampoos containing salicylic acid as [this] may tangle the hair," Vila Nova advises. Moore also recommends staying away from 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."

Some people find that sulphates aren't a good match for their delicate hair. "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?

When washing, Vila Nova explains you should distribute the shampoo evenly on the scalp and massage "thoroughly yet gently so as not to tangle [the] middle lengths and ends" of your hair.

Incorporating scalp massage into your routine is not only a nice self care element, but also thought to increase blood flow, which can benefit your hair's health and support healthy growth in turn. The best way to massage your scalp is with your fingertips and apply gentle pressure on your scalp, moving them in small circles. Alternatively, you could try a dedicated scalp massage tool.

Moore also notes the importance of temperature and that it's best to wash with lukewarm water to avoid damage and breakage. "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 "how often should you wash your hair" question is... it depends. It varies depending on your hair type and texture, scalp condition – very oil-prone or dry – and your lifestyle and haircare routine. "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," says Vila Nova.

"Those with finer hair might find their hair getting oiler quicker due to product build-up," adds Moore. "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."

Our expert panel

Reviewed by
Aoife Hanna headshot.
Reviewed by
Aoife Hanna

Aoife Hanna is a journalist and writer with bylines at Bustle, Metro and HuffPost – and as someone with very fine hair that gets greasy quickly, knows what makes a good formula for her thinner-textured strands. This made her an ideal main tester for this guide.

Tyler Moore
Tyler Moore

Tyler Moore is an experienced hair stylist working for Live True Salons in London.

Ricardo smiling, wearing a white shirt with his arms crossed
Ricardo Vila Nova

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.

Laura smiling, wearing a black top with blonde hair with a side parting
Lauren Marr

Lauren Marr is an experienced colourist based at London's Gielly Green salons. As well as colour, she also specialises in hair extensions.

Aoife Hanna
Junior News Editor

Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.

Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.

Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.

Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.

With contributions from