A lot of us have our own hair gripes, right? Personally, I like my hair for the most part—it’s stick-straight and easy to manage, which is great because I’m 100% lazy when it comes to styling or using any other products aside from shampoo and conditioner. Most days, I just air-dry it and call it a day.
That doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated with my strands, though. My biggest hair complaint is that because it’s stick-straight, it’s very flat and on the thinner side. It seriously cannot hold a curl at all. I can spend all this time with my curling iron, and then, guaranteed, an hour or two later, it slowly deflates and becomes straight again. The same goes for any type of volume—I’ve tried so many products to get that big, pumped-up hair, but many have failed me.
Since I’ve done a lot of trial and error, I have found a few products that are helpful in the volume department. So I haven’t been completely hopeless. And although I know I’ll never get my hair to sky-high levels, these products do give it a little more oomph. One of my holy-grail hair-thickening products is R+Co’s Dallas shampoo and conditioner. This product really gets the job done for me.
It’s infused with vitamin B5 and biotin, so it’s super nourishing—both ingredients hydrate the strands and strengthen the keratin structure of hair, making your hair look and feel a lot fuller and healthier. Neither the shampoo nor the conditioner weigh my hair down, which is a huge plus. And whenever I use the two products, my hair feels a little bouncier, shinier, and stronger. What more can you ask for, really? It’s my everyday shampoo-conditioner duo for sure.
And if you’re looking for more hair-thickening shampoos, I’ve combed through a bunch of products and reviews to find options for you. Take a look below.
Formulated with rosemary leaf, this shampoo strengthens your thin and fragile hair. It’s sulfate-free and gentle on colour-treated hair. What a reviewer says: “I definitely have seen a difference in my hair as far as appearing a little thicker, and the shampoo itself is very gentle for coloured hair or gray hair like mine. When this tube is gone, I plan to order another one right away.”
This shampoo will really clean your hair and scalp, but it’s gentle, so you don’t have to worry about any irritation. It leaves your hair looking and feeling lush and voluminous. What a reviewer says: “This is my favourite shampoo! My hair is fine, but I have a decent amount of it. I started noticing I was losing a lot of hair in the shower now that I’m in my early 30s. After a bottle of this, I noticed my hair is visibly stronger and I don’t shed nearly as much. It also feels very cleansing and left my hair feeling lighter and more voluminous.”
Formulated for thin hair, this shampoo removes impurities that may clog the follicle to make your hair healthier and fuller. It’s anti-frizz, too. What a reviewer says: “This is my favourite shampoo ever! I found it to be awesome for my boring thin straight hair… and it does not leave my hair oily and feeling full of product.”
Oribe’s weightless formula contains vegetable and keratin protein to strengthen the hair and protect against heat styling, panthenol to hydrate, and high-tech polymers to plump up the hair. What a reviewer says: “I’m obsessed with everything about this shampoo… the scent, the luxurious consistency, and the way it makes my thin, fine hair feel so full, almost as if each strand quadrupled in volume! And, when you also use the Oribe Conditioner for Magnificent Volume, it’s even better! My hair has never looked so beautiful!”
This thickening shampoo from Living Proof is both gentle and cleansing. It works to remove buildup and oil to make your hair as full as ever. It’s also safe for colour- and chemically treated hair. What a reviewer says: “For a while every time I washed my hair it will dry and be so greasy! I used this shampoo and on the first wash, my scalp felt so clean. I would never go back to using anything else. My hair has so much volume and it isn’t flat or dry.”
The unique ingredient in this shampoo is Alpha Keratin 60ku, which binds directly to damaged strands and fills them in to repair and promote healthier hair. Other ingredients include phospholipids to fight frizz and humidity, and artichoke leaf extract to protect the hair. What a reviewer says: “I love this brand and product! I’ve gone through so many searching for the right one that makes my hair full, shiny, and doesn’t leave it oily. This is it!”
Briogeo’s volumising shampoo targets thin and flat hair plus oiliness and dullness. It contains maltodextrin to make the hair appear fuller, biotin to support hair growth, and ginseng to promote blood flow to the scalp. What a reviewer says: “I love this shampoo. My hair is on the fine side and gets oily quickly. I use the volumising spray as well and the two work great together for my flat hair! This does a great job cleaning and leaves my hair soft and shiny, and it takes longer to get oily.”
Formulated with grape-seed procyanidins, ginkgo biloba, cinchona bark, and vitamin B6, this shampoo improves the density of temporarily thinning hair. It works to stimulate and increase microcirculation plus protect the hair and scalp. What a reviewer says: “I’ve been using this for about 3 months and wow, do I love this!! It cleans without drying out my scalp and absolutely helps my fine hair look and feel denser! I pair this with the Phyto botanical serum and it has absolutely made a difference with hair loss for me. My fave shampoo, hands down.”
OGX’s shampoo contains both biotin and collagen to boost hair health, density, and growth. Other ingredients include bamboo fibre extract and hydrolysed wheat protein. It’s lightweight but will give your hair so much volume. What a reviewer says: “I had been looking for a solution to my hair falling off. I tried oral biotin with little improvement. A friend had recommended this hair product so I gave it a shot and I’m glad I did. It’s the only product that has helped. I can visibly see a difference in my hair and also can feel a difference. It feels much thicker and fuller. I highly recommend this product.”
Not only will Bumble and Bumble’s shampoo give you much-needed body, but it will also moisturise and seal split ends. It’s colour-safe, too. What a reviewer says: “I have spent hundreds of dollars on thickening shampoos and this one is without a doubt the very best! No sticky residue, just full soft hair. My hair is baby fine and very thin and after washing my hair with this shampoo it appears to be twice the amount of hair that I have.”
In addition to adding volume, Sachajuan’s shampoo nourishes, detangles, hydrates, smoothes, adds shine, and protects against heat and UV rays. What more can you ask for? What a reviewer says: “I have fine hair and I have tried numerous shampoos that promise thickening results. This shampoo is only one of the few that actually delivers. It gives my hair so much volume and removes oily residue. I also colour my hair frequently and this shampoo seems to preserve my hair colour. I have been using it for over a year now now and I absolutely love it.”
One of the key ingredients in Amika’s formula is Redensyl, which supports the hair follicles and reduces hair loss. It also contains hydrolysed rice and vegetable proteins to thicken and moisturise the hair. What a reviewer says: “Love this! Makes my hair visibly fuller and soft. Still able to get a comb through easy after shampoo and conditioner. Best product I have used for my fine thinning hair.”
This highly concentrated spray adds volume to your hair while also providing long-lasting lift and hold.
Bumble and Bumble’s finishing spray gives your hair some volume, lift, and texture.
Apply this thickening mousse to damp hair and dry it for a boost of volume. It has ingredients like vitamin E, kiwi fruit extract, aloe vera leaf extract, and provitamin B5.
This styling cream contains a patented thickening molecule that makes your hair appear and feel so much fuller. It leaves a shiny finish but won’t weigh the hair down. Up Next: People Always Ask How I Grow My Hair So Long—These Are My 5 Tips.
