You Don't Need Hair Transplants to Boost Volume—Try This Shampoo First (2025)

When it comes to shampoos that make hair appear and feel thicker (not boost growth), no option scored as high with our testers as this bottle from Kérastase. Not only does this luxe shampoo clean like a dream, but Dr. Kash notes that it's also formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides that help add volume to hair strands, creating a thickening effect. We can confirm this certainly made our hair look and feel thicker, not to mention the cleansing chops. It’s simply a quality shampoo that we’d recommend even for those with naturally thick locks, especially for men who use a lot of product in their hair. Kérastase packs a powerful lather, strong enough to wipe away the most stubborn grime and sweat, as well as the most dense waxes, pomades, or clays.

Read More: Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair

Hims continues to be one of our go-to brands for men's self-care and wellness. This well-reviewed volumizing shampoo offers a deep clean, as well as volumizing benefits, backed by its ability to fortify hair strands, that we saw as soon as the first wash. The included niacinamide is known to improve blood circulation on the scalp, which in turn helps hair look healthier and also encourages growth. Add in the other hero ingredient in its formula is saw palmetto, which is known to help block DHT (which contributes to male pattern hair loss), so it’s no wonder that our flow was given a boost.

The formula is also free of any parabens, sulfates, silicones, and phthalates, so most of our testers found it to be compatible with their hair without causing any reactions. An extension of this versatility is its subtle, but eucalyptus scent, perfect for those who enjoy a scented shampoo, as well as those hoping to rely more on their cologne and other scents for fragrance. Not to mention, at under $12 a bottle, it's a pretty great value.

Read More: Best Shampoos for Men

This Pura D’Or shampoo comes heavily recommended by William Gaunitz, FWTS, a certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology. He adds that he has seen many clients bring this shampoo to his clinics, and say they genuinely noticed improvements in their scalp health while using it.

Like most Pura D’Or products, this shampoo is loaded with botanical and organic ingredients, with none as crucial as its hefty dose of biotin (aka vitamin B7). This nifty vitamin helps support the production of keratin, which is the primary protein that makes up hair strands. This protein is essential for supporting the structural foundation of hair strands, therefore plumping up locks and potentially helping other growth (though, again, this is not a solution to balding and merely a means of helping hair live up to its fullest potential).

The biggest issue we’ve found with biotin-led shampoos, or even more naturally leaning formulas in general like this one, is that they have a tendency to dry our hair out. However, Pura D’Or avoids this common pitfall, and we found it to give that refreshing feeling without drying out strands. This is likely due to the hefty amount of moisturizing aloe vera (also natural!) in its formula.

Now the downside. Pura D’Or notes that you must keep the shampoo in your hair for two minutes to see the best results, however, we found it’s closer to four or five minutes. Not the end of the world, but certainly a nuisance for those who like to shower quickly (or conserve water). Beyond that, like many natural ingredient-led beauty products, this has a pretty strong essential oil smell. It’s not overpowering in any way, and we generally dig essential oils anyway, but it could be annoying if you’re especially anti those scents.

Dr. Kash also recommends this volumizing and thickening shampoo because it strikes the perfect balance between effectively cleansing without overly drying out hair or weighing it down. This is a common complaint our fine hair testers have with not just thickening formulas, but shampoos in general, because finer hair generally produces less oil (again, critical for hair health and keeping the scalp moisturized) and is more prone to breakage than thicker or curly hair.

Living Proof combats with a blend of amino acids, led by amaranth peptides, which help reduce friction between strands and plump finer hair. Plus, it’s also safe for color or chemically treated hair thanks to the inclusion of phytantriol in the formula. This was especially appreciated for our fine-haired testers who dye their gray hair.

Most of the shampoos on this list are intended to merely help hair appear thicker, not battle the process of balding. However, this stellar option from DS Labs is an exception. For board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Chris Tomassian, MD, it all comes down to its ingredients.

He explains that shampoo is effective because it contains caffeine, which boosts blood flow to the hair and reduces DHT, a hormone linked to thinning. It also includes procyanidin B2, a compound that research suggests may help promote hair growth, according to Dr. Tomassian. DS Labs' Revita Shampoo is formulated with a collection of DHT blockers, including caffeine, biotin, antioxidants, and amino acids to help battle any incoming hair thinness.

Out of all the shampoos we tested, DS Labs' Revita Shampoo produced the most noticeable boost in both the appearance of volume and genuine hair thickness. That’s because it’s formulated with a collection of DHT blockers, including caffeine, biotin, antioxidants, and amino acids to help battle any incoming hair thinning. It also left our hair feeling soft, without being overly harsh or irritating, reminiscent of some of the more premium daily shampoos we've tried.

Dr. Westbay is a big fan of this shampoo, thanks to the collagen in its formula, which makes hair look and feel thicker and stronger by boosting volume and adding dimension. We also loved the vitamin B7, aka biotin, that helped soothe our dry-scalped testers and left hair feeling silky smooth. Add in a dose of argan oil, and it’s no wonder our scalps were feeling ultra-hydrated after washing with this stuff. Of course, it’s free of any sulfates, parabens, or other common chemicals tossed in shampoos that our dry scalped testers are sensitive to.

Judging by the bright purple bottle and female-focused marketing, you might expect a strong floral scent, but we found the smell to be minimal and quite nice (more fresh than floral to be honest). There is some fragrance in the formula, however, we didn’t find it to be enough to aggravate our dry scalps. We have found the dispenser pump to leave a bit to be desired, as it was prone to leakage both in the shipping process and over time from use.

As generally busy people, we love a multipurpose product, and this 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner from Raw Sugar is the best version of one for those looking to pump up their flow. Not to mention, the pros back it. “I absolutely love this 2-in-1 thickening shampoo and conditioner," Dr. Westbay says.

Most of that comes down to its key natural ingredients of vitamin B5, which strengthens hair follicles and reduces breakage, and jojoba oil, which helps support scalp health by removing excess oil. This is in addition to the always moisturizing shea butter. Most 2-1 shampoo and conditioners we’ve tested tend to only be quality in one of those departments, either cleansing well without properly moisturizing or hydrating our flow but leaving it somewhat oily. We found Raw Sugar hits the perfect balance of the two, while also boosting our hair volume.

According to Dr. Tomassian, this natural-ingredient-backed thickening shampoo is uniquely formulated to battle the effects of male pattern baldness. He points out that its ingredients are tailored to boost thinning hair, and possibly even address androgenic hormonal hair loss (aka male pattern baldness).

In addition to caffeine (beneficial for stimulating blood flow and reducing DHT), it also includes saw palmetto and pumpkin seed. Both of these ingredients are known for their DHT-blocking effects, helping to prevent the hormone from contributing to further hair thinning. Together, these ingredients create a powerful formula designed to support healthier, thicker hair growth, according to the dermatologist.

When using, this shampoo’s no-nonsense, natural ingredient-fronted formula was certainly felt, producing one of the smoothest feeling lathers on this list. We also dug that it was hypoallergenic for sensitive scalps, despite still being mildly fragranced. Plus, even for our testers who have yet to face any signs of baldness, this shampoo simply made their hair look and feel denser.

Sometimes, if you're just looking to give your hair a bit more volume, all it needs is some TLC. IGK's Extra Love does exactly that with its powerful combination of moisturizing coconut oil and prebiotics, like glycerin and date fruit ferment extract, that help support the scalp's natural microbiome by balancing its oil production.

Plus, there's some biotin thrown in for good measure. It's no wonder Dr. Westbay backs the stuff. Dr. Westbay explains that this shampoo is ideal for those with thinning hair, helping hair look fuller and bouncier overall thanks to its mineral-rich ingredients. One key ingredient, Jeju water, is actually volcanic water that promotes healthy hair, according to the dermatologist. So it came as no surprise that our flow was looking fire after using this stuff.

This ultra-luxe shampoo feels and smells like the top-tier, rich-lathering product it is, but it’s also packed with a proprietary compound of plant-based and scientifically developed ingredients to not only make hair appear thicker and fuller, but also help combat the first signs of hair loss. Sure, it's pricey, but the results we saw were well worth it. To say nothing of the incredible rich, woodsy cologne-quality scent it rocks.

This shampoo is no joke when it comes to claims of thickening, either. We found that after a couple of weeks of use, our hair looked noticeably thicker (and genuinely might have been thicker thanks to the DHT-blocking formula). Plus, you really only need to use a small amount of this shampoo, as the lather is so expansive (which also helps offset the hefty price tag a bit).

How Do Hair Thickening Shampoos Work?

“Hair-thickening shampoos typically act in two possible ways,” says Gaunitz. He explains that either the shampoo leaves behind some sort of thickening agent after you wash, like protein or a chemical that can help expand the hair shaft, or the shampoo uses topical nutrients like vitamins B12 or B5 to nourish the scalp and strengthen follicles or ingredients like saw palmetto or tea tree oil to help decrease oil production depending on the targeted hair type. This is because sebum (aka your body’s naturally-produced oil) is key for maintaining a healthy and moisturized scalp. Without it, hair will be prone to breakage and dryness, which will create a thinner appearance.

“You should look for thickening shampoos that act in both ways,” he says. There are a few other ways a thickening shampoo can work, most notably ones that work to block DHT and stimulate hair growth, according to Dr. Doshi. Hair growth claims can be tricky on a product like shampoo, which doesn’t stay on your scalp very long, so most thickening shampoos will use a combination of these mechanisms to achieve thickening and volumizing results.

Important to note, no shampoo will 100 percent reverse thinning or balding. Instead, most of these formulas are designed to either postpone thinning or simply help hair appear and feel thicker.

What Ingredients to Avoid in a Hair Thickening Shampoo

When it comes to thickening shampoos, what ingredients are not in the formula can be just as important as those that are. Dr. Doshi recommends avoiding sulfates, which can strip your hair of natural oils, parabens and phthalates, which have been linked to potential health risks in some people, silicones, which can build up on hair and weigh it down, and artificial fragrances, which can cause irritation.

Most importantly, keep in mind that not every shampoo is going to work for everyone, says Dr. Doshi, so finding the right thickening shampoo may take some trial and error. Keep at it for a while until you decide, though, because “it can take a while before any noticeable improvement occurs.” And finally, if you’re dealing with “substantial hair loss or thinning,” seek the guidance of a medical professional.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Natalie Kash, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Root Hair Institute in Seattle, WA
• Dr. Hardik Doshi, a board-certified plastic surgeon and lead surgeon at Ample Hair Restoration Clinic in New York City
• William Gaunitz, FWTS, a certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology in Laguna Beach, CA
• John Arsenault, a hairstylist and co-founder of Mott NYC in New York City
• Dr. Rachel Westbay, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical
• Dr. Chris Tomassian, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology Collective

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Additional reporting by Garrett Munce.