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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
While diet, lifestyle, and genetics affect hair loss more than just about anything else, the scalp is the first line of defense. Prescription hair treatments, such as minoxidil (generic for Rogaine) and finasteride (generic for Propecia) work wonders and are easier to get than ever. But if you're like a lot of guys who are dealing with thinning strands, there's always room for more.
Researched & Approved
Shampoos like our best overall choice Viviscal Man Full Force Fortifying Shampoo use a combo of vitamins and proteins to make hair stronger. But you don't have to spend a lot to see results. The time-saving Every Man Jack 2-in-1 Thickening Shampoo is a budget-friendly option that uses natural soy proteins to nourish hair.
A good shampoo formulated for thinning hair will keep your scalp and hair in tip-top shape—and you'll begin to see serious results when it comes to strength, thickness, and overall health. You can't reverse thinning hair, but these formulas will build up what you have and prevent further loss. To help, we've rounded up our favorites for every budget and type of thinning hair out there.
Read on for the best thinning hair shampoos for men.
Best Overall: Viviscal Man Full Force Fortifying Shampoo
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Courtesy of Walmart
Blended with biotin, zinc, and keratin
Increases resistance to breakage
Thickens hair
Not for sensitive scalps
Viviscal hair growth supplements are some of the best in the business, so it should be no surprise that their corresponding shampoo is super effective as well. Using the potent combo of biotin, zinc, and keratin, this formula makes thinning hair look visibly fuller and thicker. For maximum results, we recommended adding the brand's hair supplement to your routine as well.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Fresh | Size: 8.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget: Every Man Jack 2-in-1 Thickening Shampoo + Conditioner
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2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner
Softens and defines curls
Uses 96 percent naturally-derived ingredients
No longer contains antibacterial tea tree
That tea tree tingle makes this shampoo feel refreshing on your scalp, while soy proteins help to plump up finicky follicles. Using 96 percent naturally-derived ingredients, this shampoo-conditioner duo is free of parabens, phthalates, dyes, and aluminum. Plus, it's all packaged in an eco-friendly bottle.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Fresh | Size: 13.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore: Old Spice Thickening System Shampoo for Men Infused with Biotin
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Mens Thickening Shampoo with Biotin
Lifts the hair
Contains biotin
Creates thicker hair in two weeks
Results may not be drastic to some
The brand known for your dad's favorite aftershave has graduated into haircare-and it works. This biotin-infused shampoo is the best first step you can take towards better hair. Not does it do wonders with just one wash, but if you use their simple three-step system, you'll have noticeably thicker-looking (and feeling) hair in two weeks.
Hair Type: Thick, Thin | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Fresh | Size: 17.9 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge: Leonor Greyl Bain Volumateur Aux Algues
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Bain Volumateur Aux Algues
Loaded with fortifying seaweed proteins
Moisturizing
Full of natural oils
Pricey
This luxuriously lathering shampoo features volumizing and detangling benefits that give thinning hair a big boost with no further steps required. Loaded with seaweed proteins to fortify, wheat proteins to strengthen and protect, and vitamin-rich plant extracts, this shampoo is worth every penny. Bonus: the super-concentrated formula goes a long way and doesn’t require a separate conditioner.
Hair Type: Fine | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Unscented | Size: 7.0 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best DHT Blocker: Hims The Stimulator The Shampoo+ for Hair Loss
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Courtesy of For Hims
Lathers up well
Smells good
Features saw palmetto to help target DHT
Makes hair very soft
Might dry some scalps
This brand has become a major player in the wellness and self-care space, and this product is especially helpful when it comes to male pattern baldness and blocking DHT (a male hormone that contributes to hair loss). This reformulated formula highlights saw palmetto, a naturally-derived ingredient that is shown to boost testosterone and reduce inflammation—both key factors in maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Hair Type: Thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Signature Fragrance | Size: 6.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Instant Results: EVO Gluttony Volumising Shampoo
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Color-friendly formula
Ideal for enriching hiar
Promotes strength
Might make some hair oily
If you have fine, thin, or thinning hair, you’ll see instant results with this stellar shampoo. Vegan and cruelty-free, this color-friendly formula is sulfate-free. When paired with the conditioner, your hair will become undeniably more dense and full.
Hair Type: Thin, Fine | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral, Citrus, Black Currant | Size: 10.1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Sensitive Scalps: Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Scalp Care Anti-Thinning Shampoo
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Courtesy of Ulta
Antibacterial
Stimulates scalp
Gently cleanses
Could lather better
Thinning hair can lead to sensitive scalps. This formula features the brand's proprietary Regeniplex blend—a mix of kakadu plum, pea peptides, clover flower, turmeric, and ginseng—which stimulates the scalp while providing fuller, thicker hair. The tea tree scent is offset with fresh notes of lemon, basil, and fir, as well as amber and patchouli. As with all Paul Mitchell products, this delightful douse of thickening lather is vegan and cruelty-free.
Hair Type: Thinning | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Lemon, Basil, Fir, Patchouli, Vanilla, Amber | Size: 10.1 oz. or 33.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Anti-Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Full & Thick Dandruff 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
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2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner
Pocket-friendly
Infused with caffeine
Can create tingle sensation on the scalp
Thin hair and dandruff are not mutually exclusive. If your scalp goes beyond itchy to downright flakey, thinning hair can draw even more attention to the irritation. This iconic brand packs the two-in-one punch you need to eliminate flakes and illuminate locks.
Hair Type: Thick | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Fresh | Size: 12.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Bosley MD BosDefense Color Safe Nourishing Shampoo
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Courtesy of Ulta
Full of strengthening plant extracts
Removes build-up well
Rich in vitamins
May be drying for some
With this shampoo, you don't have to pick between protecting color and thickening strands. This sulfate-free, nourishing formula removes styling build-up from the scalp surface, all while keeping color-treated hair healthy and moisturized.
Hair Type: Thinning | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Unscented | Size: 10.1 oz. or 33.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Oily Hair: Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo
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Courtesy of Briogeo
Travel-friendly
Nourishes the scalp
Removes deep-rooted toxins
Only made of natural ingredients
Leaves sticky residue
Excess oil can make thin hair look even thinner. When thin hair clumps together, more scalp peeks through, which in turn draws even more attention to your hair loss woes. Arguably one of the easiest, quickest, and fool-proof ways to thicken up oil strands is to opt for a dry shampoo between washings. This formula fools the eye immediately upon application, while helping to strengthen thinning hair over time.
Hair Type: Dry, Oily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Charcoal | Size: 1.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Dry Hair: Aveda Sap Moss Weightless Hydration Shampoo
Courtesy of Nordstrom
Doesn't weigh down hair
Produces a clean feel
Makes hair more manageable
May make hair look dull
Thin hair can be dry hair too. This hydrating shampoo promises to quench strands with serious moisture. This blend saturates dry hair without adding weight to already thin areas. The result? Happy and healthy hair that looks fuller.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Signature Scent, Jasmine, Certified Organic Olibanum, Cypress | Size: 6.8 oz. or 13.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Damaged Hair: Kérastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo
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Courtesy of Sephora
Nice smell
Effectively thickens the hair
Softening
Might frizz up some hair
When your hair goes from just dry to full-on damaged, it’s time to get serious. Loaded with ceramides, and our favorite plumping molecule, hyaluronic acid, this shampoo works hard to ensure even the most damaged hair feels thick and healthy after a single wash. When thin hair needs even more added moisture, we recommend following up with the corresponding Kérastase Densifique replenishing masque.
Hair Type: Thin | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Fresh | Size: 8.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
What to Look for in a Men's Shampoo for Thinning Hair
Protein
Protein is a key ingredient to help plump up thinning strands. Soy, seaweed, and wheat are just a few common ingredients that protein is derived from. Proteins can help to strengthen and protect the hair cuticle, which is ideal to fight against further breakage. Protein is such a popular ingredient for hair care that you can even find entire hair treatments centered around it. Ava Shamban, MD tells Byrdie that “rebuilding, supporting, and boosting this protein matrix is key to healthy hair and scalp.”
Saw Palmetto
This ingredient is also available in supplement form for thinning hair. It can prevent hair loss and promote hair growth, making it a great ingredient for thinning hair. It works in a way that’s related to your hormones, helping to block DHT, which contributes to hair loss. Joshua Ziechner, MD, tells Byrdie that “"saw palmetto is a botanical extract that has been shown to block the effect of androgen hormones. We know that high levels of these hormones are associated with hair thinning, so blocking them may theoretically improve hair growth."
Biotin
Another item that can be taken in supplement form as well as applied topically, biotin is a good choice in shampoo for men’s thinning hair because it’s a form of vitamin B that may help assist with hair growth. It’s been shown to potentially boost hair growth when taken as a supplement as well as used topically, though studies on topical use are limited.