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9 best shampoos for fine and thinning hair that will increase volume and body – tried and tested
Hero formulas this way!
Getting thicker locks is no easy feat; as a full-time member of the 'fine hair club', I've tried almost every solution out there in an attempt to boost my strands. From hair extensions to beauty supplements, I've been there, done that, got the T-shirt! Though one lesson I've learnt? Starting with the best shampoo for your hair type is important.
To understand more, we consulted the brains of Anabel Kingsley, Brand President and Lead Trichologist at Phillip Kingsley, who shared her tips on the best shampoo for fine hair.
"The right shampoo can definitely help give fine hair temporary body and bounce," says Anabel. "Look for shampoos containing thickening proteins, or those labelled ‘volumising’, ‘body building’, ‘thickening’ and/or ‘plumping'."
So, per Anabel's advice, thickening plant proteins are the go-to ingredients. But what should we avoid? Well, "oils and butters," she tells us. These can weigh down the hair and make it appear even finer.
The best shampoos for fine hair...
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From Philip Kingsley's Body Building Shampoo, which has been developed by world-renowned trichologists to give you a healthier scalp (and healthier strands), to Act+Acre's Stem Cell Shampoo for Hair Thinning and Growth, which is packed with good-for-your-hair ingredients like caffeine to help cleanse the scalp and fortify fine locks, there's a volumising shampoo for everyone!
Now, as part of my mission to find a formula that does it all, I decided to test out the UK's most popular shampoos for fine hair. Here are the nine that reigned supreme...
Philip Kingsley Body Building Weightless Shampoo
If there’s one hair brand we trust with our lives scalps, it’s Philip Kingsley. Every product is developed by trichologists with hair loss and scalp care in mind, and the brand’s Body Building collection is no exception.
Fine, flat, flyaway hair? Look no further because wheat protein in this collection's formulas creates impressive volume, plus natural cellulose plumps and thickens the texture of fine strands. These benefits, paired with an enrichment of a multi-vitamin complex, have made my hair unbelievably smooth, shiny, and easy to control.
Glowing customer review: "The best I have ever used. My hair has lift and body, feels soft and looks shiny. Only a small amount of product is required; a little definitely goes a long way."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Copolymers, natural cellulose and keratin protein |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | No |
If you're on a budget (or just don't fancy dropping £££ on your shampoo), OGX is a brand you need to try.
The Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Shampoo contains Vitamin B7, Biotin, Collagen and Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, all of which help plump up fine strands.
Glowing customer review: "This stuff is really good and great value for money. Both myself and my wife use it and both our hair looks much fuller (volume) and it has a great smell."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Vitamin B7, biotin, collagen and hydrolysed wheat protein |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | No |
Kérastase Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Shampoo 250ml
If you've noticed a little more hair loss than usual, you're not the only one. Yup, our collective obsession with heat styling has meant that most of us are suffering with weakened, breakage-prone strands – which can lead to locks feeling fine and limp.
Kerastase have responded to the demand for products that help protect against damage and hair loss, the formula reinforces the strands' fibre to reduce the risk of hair-fall (due to breakage). So if, like me, the idea of giving up your curling tongs fills your heart with dread, this shampoo is for you.
Glowing customer review: "This shampoo made my hair feel stronger and less prone to breakage. I noticed less hair fall after brushing. It also has the best scent ever rich and luxurious."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Ginger root extract, salicylic acid, glycerin |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | No |
Act+Acre Stem Cell Shampoo for Hair Thinning and Growth 295ml
Cosmopolitan UK previously spoke to Helen Reavey, trichologist and founder of Act+Acre, who recommended starting with a shampoo that supports scalp health. This forms the foundation for thicker, fuller-looking hair. Her go-to is the Act+Acre Stem Cell Shampoo.
The formula is powered by Swiss Apple Stem Cells, which help protect against follicle damage and oxidative stress – two key factors in hair thinning. It also contains caffeine to help stimulate the follicle and improve circulation, alongside Apple Amino Acids that gently cleanse without disrupting the scalp barrier.
Glowing customer review: "I like to mix up my haircare every few months so have tried a lot of products but I have to hand it to the Act & Acre team. This range is outstanding. I have fine yet curly hair that is prone to breakage and dryness (IFKYK) so finding a range that is cleansing while being nourishing yet not heavy is rare. My hair feels so soft and is looking healthier than ever and even has a shine to it. I am using the A+A shampoo and conditioner and the scalp serum. (on my second bottle of the serum)"
Key Specifications:
| Key ingredients | Swiss apple stem cells, caffeine, apple amino acids |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | Yes |
Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Cleanse
Sam McKnight, the legendary stylist behind Princess Diana's locks, knows a thing or two about hair – and his latest shampoo formula is A1 proof. Cool Girl Volume Cleanse is a scalp-friendly formulation that gently cleans hair without stripping or irritating. Volume-wise, you can expect bouncy and light strands that are equally as soft and shiny.
To note: The ingredients list is sulphate-free. Sulphates are sometimes used in voluminising shampoo formulas as they are drying, making fine hair feel denser and less limp. However, if you're after a volumising shampoo that doesn't compromise hair health, look no further.
Glowing customer review: "I recently tried Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Cleanse, and I'm truly impressed by this product. It's a lightweight, refreshing shampoo that gives my hair an incredible boost of volume without weighing it down. The formula is gentle but effective, leaving my scalp feeling clean and refreshed while also providing that textured, livea-in' look. While it's a bit on the pricier side, the results are definitely worth it if you're looking for a product that gives you volume without the heaviness. I would highly recommend Cool Girl Volume Cleanse to anyone wanting to add more body and texture to their hair."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Voluminis (to boost volume) and pro-vitamin B5 |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | No |
To preface, I’m quite annoyed that I like this shampoo. And that’s not for any reason other than its price tag – because yep, it is spennyyyy. That said, the shampoo itself really is worth it (sorry to my bank account) and increases the fullness of my hair, so much so that I’ve ditched the styling products altogether!
Not only that, but the trichologist-approved ingredients list also contributes to reduced shedding and preserves the hair’s integrity. This means it’s also great for those with thinning hair.
Glowing customer review: "I love this shampoo!! It smells SO good & leaves my hair feeling so clean but soft, manageable and a lot fuller. I also love how it doesn't weigh down or make my thinner hair look greasy."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Peptides, red clover extract and pea sprout extract |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | Yes |
Formulated by celebrity hair stylist, Jen Atkin – who is known for tending the manes of everyone from Kim Kardashian to Hailey Bieber, I had high hopes for this shampoo. Not only does it smell in-cred-ible, but it gave my hair a weighty thickness after the first use. Yup, if you want to instantly feel like you've got twice as much hair, it's well worth giving a go.
Glowing customer review: "I have fine curly hair in which products designed for curly hair normally weigh it down and have suffered with an itchy scalp before as well due to ingredients in the shampoo. I love this shampoo as it’s sulphate and paraben free so my scalp doesn’t itch and my hair looks nice and shiny whilst smelling great"
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Hydrolysed keratin, chia seed oil, biotin |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | Yes |
Fable and Mane Volumizing Shampoo
Fable & Mane are, IMO, underrated AF in the hair world... just sayin'. And what brings me to share such passion is their latest launch, the Volumizing Shampoo.
Perhaps my favourite shampoo to date, this formula not only smells divine but effortlessly adds body and volume to my super fine strands. And yes, it is spenny in comparison to its drugstore counterparts but guys, trust me, it's worth every penny!
If, like me, you're constantly adding volumising mousses, texturising sprays and products alike into your tresses (which can leave your hair feeling heavy with build-up), then this shampoo is your sign to ditch all the fuss. It skips the hassle (and £££) of using post-cleanse products by refreshing, volumising and softening locks all in one simple shower step. Lazy girls, unite.
Top tip: Pair it with the Volumizing Conditioner for optimal results.
Glowing customer review: "I’ve been struggling in searching for hair products that would genuinely help my hair. After, pregnancy the hair loss came in waves and I just felt that it had no life to it. Slowly but surely I’ve been using the combo and it’s been doing really well for my hair. I absolutely love the outcome and can’t wait to see the results as I continue to do so."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Fenugreek seeds, amla, glycerin |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | Yes |
Kiehl's clever shampoo formula manages to cleanse roots effectively, without leaving fine hair looking limp or flat.
I found the gentle formula to be lightweight, so there was never any heavy residue left behind that might start to weigh down my roots. Instead, it felt as if the protein-rich formula was adding strength to my hair and preventing breakage.
Glowing customer review: "I have been using this shampoo on & off for years and I always come back to it. It leaves hair clean, bouncy and adds volume without weighing it down. A little goes a long way, so great value for money."
Key Specifications:
| Key Ingredients: | Rice and wheat proteins, honey (to moisturise) |
|---|---|
| Sulphate free? | No |
How to get thicker-looking hair
Anabel Kingsley, Brand President and Lead Trichologist at Phillip Kingsley, shares eight need-to-knows when it comes to making finer hair appear thicker.
- Shampoo daily. Oils weigh fine hair down quickly. If you have fine hair, you also have more oil glands on your scalp, which means it has a tendency to get limp and greasy faster than other hair textures.
- Don’t apply conditioner close to your roots, and rinse your conditioner very well.
- Double shampoo after using conditioning masks or a lot of product.
- Use pre-shampoo deep conditioners instead of post-shampoo conditioning masks. The latter will weigh your hair down.
- Work a volumising mousse, froth or spray into your roots before blow drying. This will give you lasting root lift.
- Blow-dry your hair upside down. This will add volume to the root.
- Prevent breakage with pre-shampoo conditioning treatments and bond-strengthening masks. Fine hair is naturally more fragile, and breakage can thin your mid-lengths and ends.
Meet the experts
- Anabel Kingsley is a Consultant Trichologist and Brand President/ owner of Philip Kingsley. She is also the daughter of the late Philip Kingsley, who founded the Philip Kingsley Clinics and product line.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
- Lia Mappoura is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan. She has a sharp eye for trends and knows about bobs more than anyone. But she also has years of experience testing hair products, everything from scalp serums to dry shampoos. She really knows what works for fine hair – and what doesn’t – making her a trusted voice for those looking to add body and bounce to their lengths.
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
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