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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
To achieve volume and take your hair to killer heights, a good thickening shampoo is a must, especially if you have fine or thin hair. A recent study published in The International Journal of Trichology notes that shampoos can be effective in adding volume to hair, with the right ingredients.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Living Proof Full Shampoo. This silicone-free formula won't build up, while it removes oil and grease and gives hair body, For a more affordable option, consider L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo, which has a formula to rival luxury brands, and adds shine and body to fine hair.
The best shampoos for fine hair are those that will remove all product build-up, plump up the hair shaft and leave strands light and full-bodied, notes hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader. You also want to make sure you're thoroughly cleansing the scalp with a rigorous non-irritating formula, as excess oils and grease can weigh hair down. Finally, to fully achieve volume, texturize your tresses with a shampoo that is free from sulfates and silicones, which are heavy on delicate shafts.
We conducted hours of research on the best shampoos for fine hair, evaluating each formula on active ingredients, results, and how manageable they leave fine hair. Our team then combined these results with our own research of fan-favorites plus stylist-recommended picks.
Ahead, find the best shampoos for fine hair.
Best Overall: Living Proof Full Shampoo
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Rinses clean
Fresh scent
Available in multiple sizes
Adds body
Not Byrdie Clean
Who else recommends it? Elle and Coveteur both picked the Living Proof Full Shampoo.
This sulfate-free formula is great for a deep cleanse to remove oil and grease and product build-up, leaving you with clean strands for optimal styling. It’s also silicone-free, so it won’t contribute to any further product buildup. Oh, and the smell is beautiful: fresh, clean, and floral.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral | Size: 2 / 8 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo
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Courtesy of Ulta
Boosts shine
Protects color-treated hair
Reduces frizz
Can be a little drying
Those with colored hair types will know a sulfate-free product is often a smart choice, and thankfully, this option from L’Oreal ticks that box and then some. Aside from preserving color and shine, it offers a deep but nourishing clean, resulting in hair that’s glossy, bouncy, and full. It’s good enough to rival most of the luxury options out there, in our opinion.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Budget: Monday Haircare Volume Shampoo
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Hair feels soft and clean
Gives limp hair a boost
Contains PEGs
This cutely packaged offering from new Zealand-born Monday Haircare is everything we want at an affordable price point. The volumizing formula claims to add volume to the hair without drying it out. Plus, the packaging is fully recyclable.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 12 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Natural: Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Smells great
Boosts volume
Value size available
Difficult to produce a lather
With zero sulfates and 93% natural ingredients, this is a shampoo you can feel good about using. Formulated with ginseng, biotin, maltodextrin, and a proprietary NOVA Complex®, it claims to add volume while purifying, nourishing, and refreshing the hair. And considering it’s sulfate-free, it still lathers up beautifully.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8 / 33.8 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Dry Hair: OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo
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Courtesy of Ulta
Hair is soft and full
Inexpensive
Strengthens hair
Contains protein and should be used sparingly
It’s tough to find a volumizing shampoo that also hydrates the hair, which is why we’re enamored with this unicorn formula from OGX. Instead of coating the hair, this formula claims to penetrate the hair shaft, leaving it full and plump from the inside out. You’ll be left with thickness that still feels soft and hydrated.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral | Size: 13 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Bounce: R+Co Dallas Thickening Shampoo
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Boosts shine
Smells great
Strengthens hair
A bit expensive
If you want really big, bouncy, old-Hollywood blow-out hair, this is the shampoo for you. R + Co’s Dallas is infused with biotin, vitamin B5, and saw palmetto and claims to add touchable volume and serious shine. It’s also one of those rare formulas that seem to create volume but still nourish the hair, so works well if you’re prone to damage or dryness. Plus, the smell is insane.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Greasy Hair: Christophe Robin Volume Shampoo Paste
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Dermstore
Helps absorb oil
Lathers well
Adds volume
Contains sulfates
This shampoo treatment is a game-changer for limp, oily strands, thanks to rassoul clay, which has cleansing and purifying effects. It’s thick on application but emulsifies well with water and, in turn, creates a beautiful, frothy lather that removes grease and leaves airy volume in its wake. It’s an intense shampooing experience, but if you’ve tried traditional formulas to no avail, this might just change your life. It can help to preserve color too, which is a nice little bonus.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Rose | Size: 2.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Luxury: Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume
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Lathers well
Hair feels thicker
Helps repair damaged hair
Expensive
Yes, Oribe is expensive, but there’s no denying the fact it always makes for a supremely luxurious hair washing experience. This Magnificent Volume iteration is all kinds of wonderful: super frothy, really light, and smells like a designer fragrance. Instead of sulfates, it contains body-building polymers to really plump up the hair shaft and create light, bouncy volume.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Product Build-Up: Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scrub Shampoo
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Courtesy of Goop
Exfoliates scalp
Removes buildup
Mini size available
Expensive
Think of this Goop G.Tox scrub as a whipped, exfoliating shampoo you can call on whenever you need to get rid of a week’s worth of dry shampoo and products. The formula is packed full of sea salt, moringa oil, and rosehip oil and can be worked right into the scalp to dissolve grease, remove product build-up, and add serious volume. As far as that “clean hair feeling” goes, this can’t be beaten.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Herbal | Size: 0.8 / 6.7 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Moisturizing: The Doux Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo
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The Doux
Adds volume
Hydrating formula
Provides heat protection
Contains PEGs
Shea butter and silk help make The Doux's Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo formula ultra hydrating, without weighing hair down. These ingredients also provide excellent heat protection for those who use hot tools and is safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral | Size: 8 oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Living Proof Full Shampoo. This silicone-free formula won't build up, while it removes oil and grease and gives hair body, For a more affordable option, consider L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo, which has a formula to rival luxury brands, and adds shine and body to fine hair.
What to Look For When Buying a Shampoo for Fine Hair
Ingredients
According to hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader, there are quite a few ingredients you can look for if you’ve got fine hair and want to work in some volume. He suggests a formula with vitamin B5, polymers, biotin, or hyaluronic acid. Botanicals like ginseng and ginger are also nice to have, he says.
What Ingredients to Avoid
What is left out of the formula is just as important. While not a hard and fast rule, sometimes silicones (like dimethicone) can contribute to build-up, so if you have fine hair, it might be worth avoiding them. Other ingredients to avoid include sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, triclosan, and mineral oil. Nader points out these aren’t detrimental ingredients across the board, but for thin hair, they can exacerbate the issue, so if you’re chasing serious volume it might be worth cutting them out.
Why Trust Byrdie
The writer of this roundup, Byrdie contributor Emily Algar, has very fine hair and has personally tried all of the products picks on this list. Before narrowing down her search, she considered dozens of products for this roundup, researched peer-reviewed journals, and consulted third party reviews.
Additional input was provided by hairstylist and salon owner, Anthony Nader.