I’m a Beauty Editor With Thinning Hair—These Are the Best Shampoos, According to Years of Testing

Dr. Rodney is a huge fan of this hair-loss shampoo because it's loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients (hi, niacinamide, and zinc) that "help improve skin barrier function, which can potentially reduce inflammation that can lead to hair fall," she previously told Cosmo. Personally, my thinning hair and oily scalp love this formula because it makes my roots look lifted and voluminous. FYI: It does contain sulfates, which I love for deeply cleaning and degunking my scalp, but they are drying for some hair types. If your hair is on the drier side, try using this once a month as a "reset" wash, and then make sure to follow it up with a deep conditioner.

One shopper says: "My dermatologist prescribed this shampoo, and I have been using it. This is my second order, and my hair has improved enormously.”

This hair growth shampoo packs a seriously powerful punch, thanks to ingredients like Jamaican black castor oil (which is loaded with vitamin E, fatty acids, and minerals), moisturizing shea butter, and clarifying peppermint. Not only is it great for heat-damaged hair, but it's also a godsend for textures that require extra moisture (hi, curly hair!).

One shopper says: "Love the smell and feel of the product, it makes my thin hair feel thicker and softer. Fine, thin, and brittle hair sufferers, this product is for us!!!"

Clarifying shampoo on its own isn't necessarily going to magically make your hair grow multiple feet long (no shampoo will, tbh). But! Getting your scalp super clean and reducing buildup can help unclog blocked hair follicles and lead to some hair growth in the future. Plus, removing all the dirt and grime in your roots is fantastic for giving your some natural volume and lift, key for making it appear as though your hair is fuller.

Winner of a Cosmo Holy Grail Award, Aavrani's detoxifying cleanser is packed with good-for-scalp ingredients that make it a standout for those with thinning hair. Caffeine can encourage some blood flow to your scalp as well as acts as an antioxidant to encourage a healthier environment for hair to grow. Plus, there's soothing niacinamide, moisturizing vitamin E, and a little bit of exfoliating glycolic acid. This helps break down oil and grime without needing to majorly scrub (although, the packaging does contain a silicone scrubber to help you get a deeper clean).

One Cosmo editor says: “The best part about this product is the exfoliating nozzle that the product comes out of. That in tandem with the exfoliating beads in the formula gives me the most amazing squeaky-clean scalp without drying out my hair. I massage it in one to two times a week to help avoid flakes.”—EMILY ADAR, SENIOR VISUAL EDITOR

Other than the fact that this shampoo bottle would look cute AF in your shower, it'll also give you volumized hair, which will essentially camouflage your hair loss and/or thinning. Not only that but it's packed with antioxidants to help protect and repair, as well as coconut oil and shea butter to ensure that the hair stays moisturized.

One shopper says: "I really like this shampoo! It has helped with my thinning out hair from postpartum; great neutral scent, awesome value."

I may sound like a broken record here, but if you want your hair to be healthy, you gotta make sure that your scalp is healthy first. If you begin to notice that your hair is particularly dry, brittle, weak, and prone to breakage, you (1) need to lay off the heat and coloring, and (2) get yourself a moisturizing, strengthening shampoo. This one by Mielle will gently cleanse the hair while adding moisture to dry and over-processed hair. Massage it through your wet hair, rinse it all out, then follow with a hydrating conditioner.

One shopper says: "This has grown out my hair at double the speed! I have never had a problem with this and it has worked wonders in reviving my curly hair!"

So, we've determined that a healthy scalp = healthy hair. Which means that a scalp covered in dandruff flakes might not exactly be the best breeding ground for hair growth. Enter: Jupiter's Balancing Shampoo, our top pick for dandruff shampoos in general, let alone for someone dealing with hair thinning.

Pyrithione zinc is the hero ingredient here, fighting itch, flakes, and excess oil. But what makes this specific shampoo so magic is that it does so without using any drying sulfates. In fact, squalane and coconut oil balance it all out and make it actually pretty hydrating for your scalp and hair.

One Cosmo editor says: "Out of all the dandruff shampoos I've tried, Jupiter's Balancing Shampoo reigns supreme. It's majorly helped rid my scalp of flakes and itch, all while offering up a lovely shower experience. Plus, it smells like an aromatherapy candle, thanks to orange peel oil, lavender oil, and vanilla oil to give my shower (and hair) a lil ~boost~."—BG

Volumizing products can be tricky for super-fine hair textures. Use the wrong formula, and you'll be left with a crunchy, greasy finish. Cue this lightweight cleanser from Ouai, which calls on a blend of moisturizing chia seed oil and strengthening keratin proteins to leave fine hair stronger and smoother, without any heavy residue. So while your derm is working on your hair growth from the inside out, this formula can help give you immediate results on the outside.

One Cosmo editor says: "From the first wash, my fine hair felt fuller and healthier—no more limp strands. I love the lather of the shampoo and the conditioner delivers just the right hydration without weighing my hair down. The soft floral scent turns my shower into a mini spa, and the chic packaging looks great in my shower. This duo has truly changed my hair care routine for the better and it honestly makes every day feel like a good (voluminous!) hair day."—KARA MILLER, DESIGNER

If you have damaged, thinning hair, chances are you've heard of the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. This cult-favorite shampoo is a staple in the beauty world for healing damaged and over-processed hair by actually rebuilding the broken bonds in your hair strands. But it also helps moisturize and smooth your hair, which can make fine, thin hair look a bit plumped up and thicker. The best part is that literally anyone—with any hair type—can use this product.

One Cosmo editor says: “Olaplex literally changed the haircare industry as we knew it when they launched their line of bonding hair products. I used the No. 4 shampoo and coordinating conditioner when they first came out, and absolutely loved them as someone who is very particular about my hair products. I took a hiatus for a while (as a beauty editor who tests dozens of hair products often does), but I recently received a mailer with a restock of the entire line. I threw it in my shower and used it for the first time again two nights ago and almost forgot how incredible it was. I try washing my hair as little as possible, so when I use a shampoo I have two requirements: make my hair soft, and make my hair smell good. Obviously, this shampoo checked both the boxes. And I'm smelling my hair as we speak, and it still smells super clean and has that nice Olaplex scent (probably from the conditioner, but still)."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

I have the RevitaLash's eyebrow serum to thank for my thick brows as of late, so I was intrigued to see if the brand's thickening shampoo would also be able to help encourage some blood flow to my scalp to help my ultra-fine, thin hair look a bit fuller. It's chock full of good-for-scalp ingredients that help support a healthy scalp environment (FYI: a thriving scalp = thriving hair, k?!). A few of the standout ingredients? Soothing niacinamide, strengthening proteins and amino acids, and skin-barrier supporting peptides.

One shopper says: "This product definitely gives body to my fine hair which has felt even thinner as I age. Highly recommend."

When you need a liiittle bit more oomph in your formula to help boost your scalp health and improve scalp thinning, try this advanced shampoo from Vegamour. It kicks their O.G. Gro Revitalizing Shampoo up a notch with the addition of gently exfoliating lactic acid, stimulating caffeine, and soothing niacinamide.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, lactic acid, marula seed oil, rhubarb extract
• Sulfate-free? Yes, but contains other strong surfactants
• Hair type: All, but might be drying for very-dry hair

One shopper says: "Currently nine months pregnant and have been experiencing hair loss. I was very happy to stumble across Vegamour and try out both the shampoo and conditioner. Not sure if it's a placebo effect, but I feel like the products has been helping with my hair."

If you want a product that will work for both straight and curly hair, this here is your bb. Not only is this shampoo good for dry, flaky scalps, but it is also great for hydrating damaged hair that has split ends and breakage—over-processed hair types, I'm talkin' to you.

One shopper says: "I always had thick hair but after getting COVID-19, I started losing my hair and it lacked its luster. It was gentle on my hair and I noticed I didn’t lose as much in the shower. My hair is getting thicker again and I think this shampoo is working its magic."