The Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Helps Men Reach Their Fullest Potential

Here is the single most important thing I can tell you about hair loss shampoo: There is no such thing as “hair loss shampoo.” I don't want you to expect to be able to suds up with a bottle of bubbly—only to feel down when it doesn't spur regrowth. You can snag a shampoo for thinning hair that will volumize your strands, but my best advice is not to put too much pressure on your shampoo and instead invest in real hair loss treatments like minoxidil and finasteride if you're worried about hair fall.

“In general, given the short contact time that shampoos have with our hair follicles and our hair, they are much less likely to have major effects when it comes to growing hair in cases of androgenetic alopecia,” says board-certified dermatologist Mona Mislankar, MD, founder of Cincinnati Skin Center and co-founder of Oathology Skincare. “Additionally, focusing on scalp health and keeping the hair follicles clean and without excess scale and inflammation is more likely to be beneficial to achieve healthy hair.”

So, if you are experiencing hair loss, what should you look for in a shampoo? You came to the right place. Read on for my picks across various scenarios, as well as what Dr. Mislankar suggests looking for in a men’s thinning hair shampoo.

The Best Shampoos for Men with Thinning Hair, at a Glance

The Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Overall: Davines Naturaltech Replumping Shampoo
The Best Anti-DHT Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo
The Best Volumizing Hair for Thinning Hair: Sachajuan Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo
The Best Stimulating Shampoo for Thinning Hair: The Grey Stimulating Shampoo
The Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Thinning Hair: Hims Max Volume Shampoo + Conditioner
The Best Thickening Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Patricks Shampoo Plus Ultra Thickening Shampoo
The Best Shampoo for Thin Hair: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

The Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Overall: Davines Naturaltech Replumping Shampoo

Why we love it: I can’t emphasize enough that your hair-thinning shampoo should not focus on treatments for hair loss but should instead work to improve same-day hair appearance—leaving room for other products and habits to target actual hair loss. That’s why I am such an advocate for Davines’ plumping shampoo. Yes, it has the trappings of a nourishing bubbly thanks to its antioxidant-rich formula, but it won’t fry your strands or compromise its everyday structure. This allows you to go in with a thickening conditioner or volumizing styler and then achieve the volumizing results you desire.

It does suit most hair types, but guys with naturally fine hair and actively thinning strands will benefit most. So, while most everything else on this list promises some performative measure, I encourage you to keep things simple: Choose a shampoo that actively works to fortify strands and prevent future damage, but which moreover has conditioning properties to keep your cuticles closed off so that subsequent products can be applied to a fully soothed, smoothed, and healthy head of hair.

The Best Anti-DHT Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo

Why we love it: As Dr. Mislankar points out (and as some studies support), the dandruff-neutralizing active ingredient ketoconazole is probably the best active ingredient for countering dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a the hormonal byproduct that shrivels up hair follicles in male-pattern baldness. Because of this, derms frequently recommend it for hair loss and dandruff, and I've had success using it; however, like most products with this active ingredient, I find it to be drying, so I always chase it with conditioner to help ward off frizz.

Still, I think every guy should own this shampoo and deploy it once a month or every two weeks to mitigate flakes and help mitigate DHT-induced hair lossd. Always, always follow it with a nourishing conditioner (and a thickening or volumizing one, should you want those results, too).

The Best Volumizing Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Sachajuan Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo

Why we love it: One of my favorite products from one of my all-time favorite haircare brands. Sachajuan’s refreshing shampoo gives you noticeably fuller and defined hair after each use, and I swear the light catches my strands differently after sudsing up with it, too (must have something to do with the added texture and definition). Chase it with the companion Volumizing Conditioner for truly revved-up fullness, even in regular and fine hair strands that are otherwise easily weighed down by bulkier options.

The Best Stimulating Shampoo for Thinning Hair: The Grey Stimulating Shampoo

Why we love it: One of the best things you can seek out in a shampoo for hair fortification is a stimulating active ingredient, like the camphor and rosemary oil that flood The Grey’s formula. These ingredients improve circulation to the follicles, which fortifies their growth environment. Thanks to a healthy dose of creatine, hair appears fuller in a single rinse. It's worth noting that this top pick has long been beloved by our grooming editors for its ability to help hair look thicker in the immediate and long term.

The Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Thinning Hair: Hims Max Volume Shampoo + Conditioner

Why we love it: Shampoo and conditioner duos aren't exactly groundbreaking, but this set works together to allow for fortified strands and an optimized environment for hair growth. The caffeine in the formulate sends blood flow to the scalp area, which studies have shown help promote an optimal area for hair growth. The conditioner follows to smooth strands—but not weigh them down—utilizing light, non-greasy oils.

The Best Thickening Shampoo for Thinning Hair: Patricks Shampoo Plus Ultra Thickening Shampoo

Why we love it: Look, if you want to jack up your shampoo and give it the best fighting chance against hair shedding, then you can’t do much better than Patricks. It’s certainly not for most people’s budgets—and I admit, I also like a low-cost options like Nizoral or Hims—but if the cost isn’t inhibiting for you, I endorse this shampoo in a second. Its blend of actives targets everything from lengthening hair follicle growth cycles to countering DHT buildup. And while I stand by the fact that you need to round out your regimen with topical treatments that stay on your scalp, why wouldn’t you choose the most muscled-up shampoo if your budget allows? (Also, it smells delish.)

The Best Shampoo for Thin Hair: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

Why we love it: If you landed here because your hair is “thin” or “fine” as opposed to actively “thinning,” then don’t worry—this one is for you. It’s also a great pick if your hair is both thin and thinning. OUAI’s recipe coats your hair with chia seed oil to leave it visibly plumper upon rinsing and promises not to weight down your strands despite that extra coat. It’s the absolute favorite of my fine-haired partner, and it’s a great base for anyone with hair loss who wants their shampoo to work in tandem with other hair-densifying efforts.

What to Look for in a Shampoo for Thinning Hair

To find the best men’s shampoo for thinning hair, frame your search around the factors below.

• Remember, shampoo is scalp care foremost: Honestly, just keeping on top of your scalp hygiene is one of the best things you can do for your hair loss. “A healthy scalp means balanced oil production and ideally no irritation or inflammation at the level of the hair follicle,” explains Dr. Mislankar. “This ensures increased blood circulation and less buildup around the hair follicles.” So, if your shampoo has a calming and balanced formula, you’re on your way to success.
• Consider thickening and volumizing formulas: While most shampoos’ task is to cleanse the scalp and hair, some formulas also provide momentary thickening and volumizing benefits after each wash. (These aren’t lasting remedies, but rather ways of giving your hair the appearance of more fullness in the short term.) “While they have somewhat similar effects—generally speaking, volumizing shampoos are going to provide a lift to the hair, while thickening shampoos are going to add width to each hair [strand],” says Dr. Mislankar.
• Consider ketoconazole: One of the best targeted solutions you can use in a thinning-hair shampoo is a familiar foe of dandruff, too: ketoconazole, the antifungal super ingredient. “Ketoconazole has anti-androgenic effects [case], which means it can block the effects of hormones such as testosterone via DHT [dihydrotestosterone] that contribute to hair loss,” says Dr. Mislankar. “It does this by affecting the process of DHT binding to receptors,” thus the DHT doesn’t stick around to shrink the follicles.
• Try a few other active ingredients: Dr. Mislankar also recommends niacinamide and glycerin in shampoo formulas to help boost hydration levels around the scalp. And some familiar exfoliating acids can help many guys, too: “If there is any level of scale at the follicles, ingredients such as glycolic or salicylic acid can help remove the excess scale,” to prevent dandruff or itching.
• Invest in a good conditioner, too: Remember, sometimes shampoo just needs to be shampoo and to cleanse your scalp and strands gently. Meanwhile, conditioner is the best way to keep your hair strong, healthy, and nourished—and it helps “rebound” those strands from the drying nature of shampoo. If you use a stimulating or ketoconazole shampoo, pair it with a thickening or plumping conditioner. “I like my products to work in synergy with each other,” Dr. Mislankar says.

Regular Shampoo vs. Preventative Care

To kick off your search for the shampoo best equipped to put a halt to hair loss, it's worth laying out that a general, all-purpose shampoo that simply rids your hair of built-up grime will likely not cut it. Like many hair products, some shampoos can aim to give more volume, and the illusion of texture. Or, they might coat each strand while cleaning to provide an overall boost in fullness. (Many conditioners do the latter especially well.) If you want to target the hair loss itself with your shampoo, know that this isn’t going to be your primary defense against going bald, but using a special shampoo can certainly boost the effort.

In this case, look for formulas with saw palmetto or pumpkin seed oil, the two primary ingredients that are known to inhibit the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is the hormonal byproduct that steadily shrinks hair follicles and leads to recession, thinning, and overall loss. Point your shampoo search towards products that balance, purify, and fortify the scalp. A scalp-focused regimen can create an optimal environment for your follicles, which means they stay better anchored and experience prolonged growth. Lastly, opt for light to mid-weight formulas that won't weigh the hair follicle down. Sudsing up a super thick shampoo may make you feel squeaky clean. A dense formula is likely to take away a lot more than the daily filth you've accumulated.

Who Actually Needs This?

If your hair is thinning or experiencing extensive breakage (two very separate things that can occur at once), then a specialized shampoo could be the first step in taking back your hair narrative–or the solution. Strengthening your hair at the root with increased elasticity will prevent strands from easily breaking off, which can lead to the appearance of balding. For hereditary hair loss, the right shampoo won't be the end-all-be-all, but it will provide the added boost you need after talking with your board-certified dermatologist to build a hair retention plan that works for you. Our roundup of the best thinning hair shampoos covers all of these approaches. Have a look, and see which option best suits your needs.

How We Test Shampoos for Thinning Hair (And Chose the Winners)

In the 11 years I’ve been a grooming writer and editor, I have been to the brinks of hair sparseness and back (hey, the hair transplant is a story for another article). So trust me—every hair thickening and volumizing solution has been top of mind. My partner and I have both had to turn to these shampoos for an overall plumping and volumizing effect; to this day, even with his hair loss treatments deployed, he still uses thickening shampoos and conditioners because his hair strands are naturally fine. I’ll go on testing the new ones as they hit the market to see which of them deserve to sit atop the “Tested Best” with the picks on this list.

About the Experts

Adam Hurly (that’s me) has been a grooming writer and editor for 11 years, with eight of them spent as GQ.com’s go-to grooming expert.

Dr. Mona Mislankar is a Cincinnati-based board-certified dermatologist. She is the founder of Cincinnati Skin Center, and co-founder of Oathology Skincare.