Thinning Hair? An Expert Says These 8 Shampoos Can Help

Hair thinning can be frustrating and, quite frankly, a little terrifying if you consider your locks a precious commodity. While it's not fun to deal with, trichologist and founder of Colour Collective Kerry E. Yates says hair thinning is, unfortunately, common, and there is an array of factors that can contribute to it (ugh).

If you are experiencing any kind of hair thinning, you should always talk to your primary care physician or a dermatologist, but we're also here to help! Below, we've put together a list of the best shampoos for thinning hair that can help your scalp become happy and healthy again. For more information from Yates on what can cause hair thinning and the best ingredients to look for, scroll on down to our FAQ section at the end of this article. For the best formulas to try, read on below.

The Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair

Nutrafol Root Purifier Scalp Shampoo for Thinning Hair

Nutrafol is the gold standard when it comes to hair loss–supporting products. The brand's Root Purifier shampoo is a physician-formulated, hydrating shampoo with proteins that replenish nutrients and moisture to the scalp for healthier hair. Prebiotics also help strengthen the scalp barrier and feed its microbiome.

Pros: Hydrates and nourishes the scalp; improves volume, strength, and texture of the hair; balances oil production without stripping the scalp

Cons: Expensive

Product specs: 8.1 oz., vegan proteins, prebiotics

Briogeo Destined for Density Caffeine + Biotin Peptide Density Shampoo

Briogeo's shampoo contains natural ingredients that help support thicker, fuller-looking hair. The brand's Energy Complex, consisting for caffeine, CoQ10, and green coffee seed oil stimulate the scalp to promote health growth and deliver antioxidant protection. Other classic ingredients like biotin help strengthen the hair against breakage.

Pros: Contains powerful natural ingredients that help stimulate healthy hair growth, helps protective against UV damage and breakage

Cons: Can leave a residue on some hair types

Product specs: 8 oz., caffeine, CoQ10, biotin, copper peptides

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Regeniplex Shampoo

This Paul Mitchell formula contains a key ingredient Yates loves for thinning hair: tea tree oil. Additionally, a blend of kakadu plum, pea peptides, clover flower, turmeric, and ginseng help promote a healthy scalp for increased growth.

Pros: Color-safe, contains a blend of natural ingredients that support a healthy scalp environment, sulfate-free

Cons: Strong smell

Product specs: 10.1 oz., tea tree oil, kakadu plum, turmeric, ginseng

Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Hairbath

"This is super hydrating and very clean ingredients. (I would use their Hydrating Cream Conditioner with the Hydrating Cream Hairbath.) It's enriched with aloe vera and tamanu oil—a fast-absorbing oil with a high concentration of lipids and antioxidants that soothe and nourish the scalp with a weightless feel." — Yates

Pros: Sulfate-free, contains a host of hydrating organic ingredients to strengthen and nourish hair

Cons: May be too heavy for some hair types

Product specs: 10 oz., shea butter, avocado oil, aloe vera, tamanu oil

Snow Fox Skin Care Hydrating Hair, Face, & Body Bar

"Another favorite for its clean formulation is Snow Fox Skin Care's Hydrating Hair, Face, & Body Bar. Again, very clean formulation and super hydrating for the hair. It's enriched with sweet almond oil, which aids in improved blood circulation for the scalp and promotes hair growth. I would also follow up with their gua sha hairbrush, which also helps stimulate the scalp and promotes hair growth." — Yates

Pros: Hydrating shampoo, conditioner, and body bar in one

Cons: May not be enough moisture for some hair types

Product specs: 2.8 oz., sweet almond oil, shea butter, argan oil

Privé Moisture Rich Shampoo

"[I love] Privé products. Very clean formulations and their Moisture Rich Shampoo and Conditioner are terrific. They're enriched with jojoba proteins that penetrate the hair follicle and strengthen hair fibers from the inside to encourage shine, elasticity, and softness. Kukui oil, which contains high levels of amino and fatty acids, is highly penetrative and is able to help restore moisture while adding gloss and shine." — Yates

Pros: Contains a blend of natural extracts to hydrate and rejuvenate dry, thinning hair; adds gloss and shine to hair

Cons: Packaging could be better

Product specs: 12 oz., kukui oil, baobab oil

Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening Shampoo

Ingredients like niacinamide and biotin power this formula from Nioxin, one of the leading brands when it comes to products for hair thinning. It helps to clarify and detoxify the scalp. That said, it is a bit of a stronger formula, so be careful not to over use it—it might dry your hair out further if so.

Pros: Helps clarify and detoxify the scalp, promotes healthy hair growth

Cons: May be drying for some hair types

Product specs: 10.1 oz., niacinamide, biotin

L'Oréal Paris Ever Strong Sulfate-Free Thickening Shampoo

This is one of the best drugstore shampoos for thinning hair. It strengthens the hair with rosemary leaf oil and helps nourish hair for less dryness. It even helps to seal up split ends.

Pros: Sulfate-free, color-safe, affordable, contains hair-strengthening rosemary leaf oil

Cons: None

Product specs: 8.5 oz., rosemary leaf oil

FAQs

What causes hair thinning?

Yates says hair thinning can have many underlying causes. You should, of course, always talk to your dermatologist or doctor to uncover the root cause for you, but Yates shared a few of the main culprits. "Hormonal changes can disrupt the hair life cycle, decreasing the growth cycle while extending the resting cycle," she explains. "The result is hair looks thinner, and the condition is negatively impacted."

Yates also told me about another surprising reason you could be experiencing hair loss. According to her, an aggressive diet can cause the body to shut down support for nonessential functions (like the hair follicle). The follicle then goes into the resting phase, causing an aggressive fallout with no new regrowth.

The last main reason folks deal with hair thinning is, you guessed it, extreme stress. "Extreme stress like losing a loved one, divorce, or even an illness can cause hair loss," says Yates. Similar to aggressive dieting, stress promotes high cortisol levels, which can cause the body to shut down your hair follicles in favor of supporting your other more essential functions. The end result is thin hair. Additionally, you also can't rule out topical challenges like clogged hair follicles due to your wash routine, overuse of dry shampoo, or styling product buildup—all of these can also lead to hair thinning if you're not careful.

Do shampoos and conditioners for hair thinning really help?

While there aren't shampoos and conditioners out there that will cure your hair loss , there are options out there that will support a healthy scalp. Yates says, "They can 100% create a better environment for the hair to be healthier, flourish, and encourage hair growth and a healthy scalp, which also in turn helps with thinning hair."

You should definitely be wary of products that claim to stop hair loss altogether, but there are certain ingredients on the market that work best for thinning hair. I'll get into those below.

What shampoo and conditioner ingredients should you look for if you're experiencing hair thinning?

Yates tends to favor natural ingredients in hair products designed to support those experiencing hair thinning. She broke down a few key ones she always suggests below.

Aloe vera: This natural ingredient helps to calm the scalp, instantly hydrates, and can offer support for sufferers of dermatitis.

Tea tree oil: A medicinal oil that is both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It also acts as the perfect supplement to traditional dandruff remedies.

Peppermint oil: Helps reduce itchiness and also invigorates the scalp. It's also good for aromatherapy.

Witch hazel: A natural astringent that helps to reduce irritation, supports proper follicle health, helps alleviate product buildup, and excess sebum for proper scalp health.

Salicylic acid: It gently exfoliates while maintaining moisture balance. It also helps with dandruff support.

Rosemary oil: Rosemary in oil form helps to alleviate inflammation and fight against free radicals. When a rosemary blend is massaged directly on the skin/scalp, the user can improve blood circulation, feed the follicle, and eliminate inflammation. By improving blood circulation, you can improve the anagen hair cycle phase.

Bhringraj oil: A natural herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. It has antifungal and antibacterial ingredients supporting ultimate scalp health. Good scalp health leads to perfect follicle fitness, providing support for hair growth. Bhringraj can actually “stain” the hair. If using on lighter strands, do not it leave on for an extended period of time. You should see some positive effects over 90 to 120 days. It's another great supplement for anti-dandruff haircare.