What is the best brand of shampoo for fine hair?

One of the best brands of shampoo for fine hair is Living Proof. Our top pick is Living Proof Full Shampoo because it adds body while rinsing clean and is sulfate- and silicone-free. This means it does not contribute to product build-up that can weigh down fine hair.

What types of ingredients should you look for in a fine hair shampoo?

A shampoo for fine hair should contain volumizing ingredients instead of heavier ones like silicone that will weigh the hair down. Shampoos that also provide strengthening elements will help prevent further thinning and breakage. According to Nader, look for ingredients like biotin, vitamin B5, polymers, and hyaluronic acid.

Should fine hair be washed more?

You should only wash fine hair every other day since daily washing can dry out your hair. However, waiting for longer than every second day may lead to build-up that weighs hair down and makes it look flat and greasy. Try different washing schedules to see which works best for you.

The 10 Best Shampoos for Fine Hair in 2022

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The 9 Best Shampoos for Fine Hair in 2022 — 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.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Living Proof Full Shampoo at Sephora

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Best Drugstore:

L'Oréal Paris EverPure Shampoo at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Monday Haircare Volume Shampoo at Ulta

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Best Natural:

Briogeo Biotin Volumizing Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Dry Hair:

OGX Thick & Full Biotin Shampoo at Ulta

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Best for Bounce:

R+Co Thickening Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Greasy Hair:

Christophe Robin Volume Shampoo Paste at Amazon

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Best Luxury:

Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume at Amazon

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Best for Product Build-Up:

Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scrub Shampoo at Credo Beauty

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Best Moisturizing:

The Doux Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
Why Trust Byrdie

4.5

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Sephora View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore

What We Like

Rinses clean
Fresh scent
Available in multiple sizes
Adds body

What We Don't Like

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.

3.7

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

What We Like

Boosts shine
Protects color-treated hair
Reduces frizz

What We Don't Like

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.

4.5

View On Ulta

What We Like

Hair feels soft and clean
Gives limp hair a boost

What We Don't Like

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.

4.7

Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Smells great
Boosts volume
Value size available

What We Don't Like

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.

OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

Courtesy of Ulta

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What We Like

Hair is soft and full
Inexpensive
Strengthens hair

What We Don't Like

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.

R+Co DALLAS Travel Biotin Thickening Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Dermstore

What We Like

Boosts shine
Smells great
Strengthens hair

What We Don't Like

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.

Dermstore

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Dermstore

What We Like

Helps absorb oil
Lathers well
Adds volume

What We Don't Like

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.

View On Amazon View On Dermstore

What We Like

Lathers well
Hair feels thicker
Helps repair damaged hair

What We Don't Like

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.

Courtesy of Goop

View On Credo Beauty

What We Like

Exfoliates scalp
Removes buildup
Mini size available

What We Don't Like

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.

The Doux

View On Amazon View On Thedoux.com View On Walmart

What We Like

Adds volume
Hydrating formula
Provides heat protection

What We Don't Like

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.

Final Verdict

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.

FAQ

What is the best brand of shampoo for fine hair?

One of the best brands of shampoo for fine hair is Living Proof. Our top pick is Living Proof Full Shampoo because it adds body while rinsing clean and is sulfate- and silicone-free. This means it does not contribute to product build-up that can weigh down fine hair.
What types of ingredients should you look for in a fine hair shampoo?

A shampoo for fine hair should contain volumizing ingredients instead of heavier ones like silicone that will weigh the hair down. Shampoos that also provide strengthening elements will help prevent further thinning and breakage.

According to Nader, look for ingredients like biotin, vitamin B5, polymers, and hyaluronic acid.
Should fine hair be washed more?

You should only wash fine hair every other day since daily washing can dry out your hair. However, waiting for longer than every second day may lead to build-up that weighs hair down and makes it look flat and greasy. Try different washing schedules to see which works best for you.

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.

The Best Products for Fine, Flat Hair to Boost Volume

Updated by Jill Di Donato

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015;7(1):2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
The best volumising shampoos for fine hair. Elle. https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/hair/a22130/product-review-volumising-shampoos-and-conditioners/
These shampoos will take limp, fine hair to new heights. Coveteur. https://coveteur.com/best-shampoo-fine-hair
Williams LB, Haydel SE. Evaluation of the medicinal use of clay minerals as antibacterial agents. Int Geol Rev. 2010;52(7/8):745-770. doi:10.1080/00206811003679737
Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015;7(1):2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450