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 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 14 Best Shampoos for Fine Hair of 2023

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 and a great hairstyle, 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 Amazon

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Best Drugstore:

L'Oréal Paris EverPure Shampoo at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Monday Haircare Volume Shampoo

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Best Clean Beauty:

Briogeo Biotin Volumizing Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Dry Hair:

OGX Thick & Full Biotin Shampoo at Amazon

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Best Thickening:

R+Co Thickening Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Oily 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 Exfoliating:

Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scrub Shampoo at Amazon

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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
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

4.5

Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

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, 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.

Price at time of publish: $32

4.2

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Target

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.

Price at time of publish: $13

4.5

Target

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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.

Price at time of publish: $17

4.7

Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo

Courtesy of Nordstrom

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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 percent natural ingredients, this is a shampoo you can feel good about using. Formulated with biotin, ginseng, 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.

Price at time of publish: $28

OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

Ulta

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Bed Bath & Beyond

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.

Price at time of publish: $14

R+Co DALLAS Travel Biotin Thickening Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Davidjones.com

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.

Price at time of publish: $34

Dermstore

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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.

Price at time of publish: $19

View On Amazon View On Sephora 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.

Price at time of publish: $46

Courtesy of Goop

View On Amazon View On Sephora 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 beat.

Price at time of publish: $55

The Doux

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What We Like

Adds volume
Hydrating formula
Provides heat protection

What We Don't Like

Contains PEGs

Silk and shea butter 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 are safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair.

Price at time of publish: $13

Nordstrom

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This Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo and Conditioner is My Secret to Healthy-Looking Hair

What We Like

Multiple benefits
Strengthening
Clean formula

What We Don't Like

Heavy fragrance

Finding color-safe shampoos is a tricky one, but the clean formulation inside this Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo will bring your color and hair back to life without the damage. It tackles everything from hydrating to strengthening to encouraging new growth, all with the intention of treating fine hair. The shampoo also has a beautiful genderless scent that is just as intoxicating as the ingredients themselves.

Amazon

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Olaplex’s Bond Maintenance Shampoo Is Like a Reset Button for Your Hair

What We Like

Fresh scent
Reparative
Great for damage control

What We Don't Like

Works best with other Olaplex products

Touchable, softer hair? Sign us up. The Olaplex No.4 Bond Shampoo is a part of a multiple-step system to repair and revitalize the strands to make them stronger and healthier. This means more manageable strands, fewer split ends, and gorgeous locks. If you have thinning hair, this is a plus to help fortify and rebuild any damage.

4.8

Kerastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo

Courtesy of Sephora

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What We Like

Promotes a healthier scalp
Anti-aging
Doesn't weigh down the hair

What We Don't Like

Has the tendency to be drying

All of the nutritive ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides, help with itching, flaking scalp, and decreasing the amount of hair loss. These are all the goods your hair needs for a healthier mane, helping to protect and keep your strands stronger on your scalp. An added bonus is that the shampoo is great for anti-aging, too.

BIOLAGE

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Beautycarechoices.com

What We Like

Suitable for color-treated hair
Lightweight
Increases shine

What We Don't Like

Even curls suffer from thinning, which is why it is important to invest in a quality shampoo that improves volume, curl definition, and scalp health, like this one from Biolage. The product adds a lightweight shine to the hair, helping to enhance your curls without weighing or stripping them down. The results? Bouncy, plump, and soft curls.

Final Verdict

Meet the Expert

Anthony Nader is a celebrity hairstylist and hair salon owner.

What to Look For in 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 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 product picks on this list. Before narrowing her search, she considered dozens of products for this roundup, researched peer-reviewed journals, and consulted third-party reviews.

The 14 Best Products for Fine, Flat Hair of 2023

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