The Best Shampoos for Hair Growth to Buy Now, Tested by Grooming Editors

Best Overall Hair Growth Shampoo

Nioxin System 2 Cleanser Shampoo

Best Overall Hair Growth Shampoo

Nioxin System 2 Cleanser Shampoo

ConsBest results achieved from using the Nioxin complete three step system

Nioxin has been the go-to brand for people struggling with hair loss for over 30 years. Made from a blend of peppermint, salicylic acid, and vitamin B peptides, this shampoo removes dirt and build-up on the scalp, helping to strengthen hair at the root. The proven formula includes yeast ferments, which some studies indicate may improve scalp health and potentially lead to hair regrowth.

Testing Notes: The point of this shampoo isn’t necessarily hair growth, even with the aforementioned yeast ferments, but to improve the overall health of your scalp—which is also an important, if indirect, factor in hair growth. It’s one of the best all-around shampoos we’ve tried for nearly every scalp issue, whether it’s dry, itchy scalp or an overly oily dome. It effectively cleanses hair and scalp without leaving behind greasy residue and it also helps reduce breakage. Dare we say, our hair even looks fuller after one use?

Read more: Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair

IngredientsMinoxidil, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic AcidSize33.8 ozHair TypeNaturalCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentPeppermint

Best Luxury Hair Growth Shampoo

Virtue Flourish Shampoo For Thinning Hair

Best Luxury Hair Growth Shampoo

Virtue Flourish Shampoo For Thinning Hair

ConsMay not be ideal for sensitive skin because its fragranced

This hair growth shampoo works in two parts. First, it cleanses the hair shaft and clears debris from base of the follicle, creating an environment for healthy growth. Then, it uses alpha and gamma keratin molecules to repair and nourish the scalp, providing fragile hair strands with the strength, elasticity, and flexibility that it needs to grow. This two-pronged approach gives you serious results in one easy step.

Testing Notes: We’ll just say it—we love using a fancy shampoo. For us, it’s usually the scent because when a shampoo smells good, you just want you use it and it makes the overall experience that much better. This shampoo has one of the best scents we’ve tried and that says a lot. Keep in mind that it’s more of a thickening and strengthening shampoo rather than growth stimulator, but when paired with other hair growth products, it’s an ideal product for your overall hair routine.

IngredientsKeratin, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl IsethionateSize8 fl. ozHair TypeThinCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentCitrus, Basil

Best Shampoo for Thin Hair

Philips Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo

Best Shampoo for Thin Hair

Philips Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo

ConsPricey

A good “hair thickening” shampoo can add the illusion of thickness, according to Dr. Robert Finney, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Soho Skin and Hair Restoration.

Enter’s Philips Kingsley version. It uses two key ingredients to treat fine, thin hair. The first one is hyper-branched polymers, which are large molecules that help thicken and transform a flat structure on wet hair, to a hexagonal shape upon drying, delivering long-lasting volume. The other ingredient is pea peptides, better known as hydrolyzed plant proteins, that add volume and moisture, provide smoothing benefits and fight the signs of aging in the hair.

Some users have claimed to see a noticeable difference after just one wash. Given that the formula houses exfoliating BHAs like citric and salicylic acid, which removes excess sebum and buildup, it’s also ideal for oily or flaky hair types.

Testing Notes: Using hair growth products is a waiting game—most take about three to six months to even begin seeing any sort of results. So what do you do in the meantime? Use a shampoo like this that instantly plumps hair to make it look fuller and thicker immediately. We were blown away by how much thicker our hair looked after just one use.

IngredientsCocamidopropyl Betaine, Salicylic AcidSize6.76 ozHair TypesFine, Fragile, ThinCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentN/A

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Best Natural Hair Growth Shampoos

Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo

Best Natural Hair Growth Shampoos

Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo

Cons$$$

This plant-powered shampoo contains microencapsulated b-silk™ protein, which is a vegan alternative to animal keratin that physically bonds to the hair follicles and remains attached to strands even after rinsing your hair. It works by filling in small cracks and spaces within the cuticle, helping protect your hair even after it dries.

In addition, the formula is further enhanced by caffeine, an ingredient that has been proven to stimulate hair growth through enzymes and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, according to Dr. Lauren Penzi, board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology. Plus, plant active ingredients such as rich clover and mung bean decrease the chances of hair thinning and help follicles resist premature shedding.

Testing Notes: Because this shampoo contains tiny protein molecules that help bind to hair and strengthen it, you won’t see instant thickening results like some of the others on this list. But we found that after a few months of consistent use, it does help hair become stronger and more lustrous. Actual new growth? Not so much, but it’s still a worthy addition to a hair growth routine because it helps to improve the hair you already have (which is equally as important).

IngredientsBaobab, Keratin, Cocamidopropyl BetaineSize8 fl. ozHair TypesThin, flatCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentBergamot

Hims Thick Fix Hair Shampoo

Growing thick hair may take some time, but Dr. Finney believes using Hims shampoo is a good place to start.

The formula is packed with saw palmetto, a natural ingredient known to help target DHT, which is one of the main hormones that contribute to hair loss. It also effectively cleanses and moisturizes your hair and scalp without overly drying or damaging hair, adding volume to thin strands to help you get that fuller look. Plus, it’s designed to work on different hair types including fine hair, thin hair and color-treated hair.

After applying to the scalp, allow it to sit for one minute before rinsing. To achieve the best results into your hair loss treatment, it’s recommended to use daily.

Testing Notes: Sure you could use just this shampoo, which contains saw palmetto to help stimulate hair growth, but it really shines when combined with other HIMS hair growth treatments like minoxidil. On it’s own, the shampoo is good—nice lather, good scent—but think of it as part of a larger plan than your one stop shop.

IngredientsCocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, FragranceSize6.4 fl ozHair TypesThin, Color Treated, FineCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentEucalyptus

Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Hair Growth

Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Hair Growth

Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

ConsMay dry out hair

The active ingredient in this shampoo, ketoconazole, gets a lot of credit for helping to control the fungus that causes dandruff, but some preliminary studies have also shown that it could have a positive effect on hair growth, says Seattle-based board-certified dermatologist and hair loss expert Natalie Kash, MD.

Testing notes: In the world of treatment shampoos, this one is one of the most pleasant to use that we’ve tried. The smell isn’t overwhelmingly medicinal and the texture is pretty similar to your regular cleanser. After using it a few weeks, we definitely noticed a reduction in scalp itch and while we didn’t have flakes before trying it, we did notice that our scalps felt healthier. In terms of hair growth, it’s hard to say.

It’s worth noting that it’s recommended to leave the shampoo on your scalp for a few minutes before washing it off, which can extend your shower time, and that most of the studies around ketoconazole for hair growth involve either a leave-on topical treatment or using the ingredient in combination to others like minoxidil.

Shapiro MD DHT-Fighting Hair Loss Shampoo

Best Dermatologist-Developed Hair Loss Shampoo

Shapiro MD DHT-Fighting Hair Loss Shampoo

Now 40% Off

ConsExpensive

Developed by two dermatologists, and recommended by Dr, Kash, this shampoo contains saw palmetto, green tea and caffeine, all ingredients that have been shown to possibly help hair growth by reducing DHT and stimulating hair follicles.

Testing notes: Dermatologists understand one thing: even if a product works, if it’s not pleasant to use, people just won’t use it. That idea is apparent in this shampoo, which contains well-studied ingredients that help to potentially stimulate hair growth, particularly if you suffer from androgenic alopecia (aka Male Pattern Hair Loss), and block DHT, but is also just a nice shampoo that leaves your hair feeling healthy and strong.

Because this, like all hair growth shampoos, are not leave-on products, it can take a while for results to show, but after a few months of use we did notice a difference in how full our hair looked. Plus, we like that there is an accompanying conditioner to use as well, so you can double up on the good ingredients.

IngredientsSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, DimethiconolSize8 fl. ozHair TypesAllCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentNatural

Best Naturally Derived Hair Growth Shampoo

Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo

Best Naturally Derived Hair Growth Shampoo

Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo

ConsNeeds to be combined with stronger hair growth ingredients

Made with 96% naturally derived ingredients, this gentle shampoo contains rosemary oil, which Dr. Kash says has been shown to potentially stimulate hair growth. There’s also white vinegar to help gently purify the scalp, but don’t worry—the scent is anything but vinegar-y.

Testing Notes: The thing we’ve noticed about hair growth shampoos in our testing process is that you often miss out on a good shampoo experience. You know, the good-smelling, rich lathering, fresh-feeling experience of using a good shampoo. That’s why we like this one. It contains rosemary extract, which has been shown to potentially stimulate hair growth, but it’s not super medicated so the shampoo experience you expect from just a damn good shampoo is intact. We’d still recommend letting it sit on your scalp for a few minutes just to make sure the ingredients penetrate, but other than that, it’s just an all around great shampoo. Use it on the days you don’t use your other more medicated products.

IngredientsSodium Coco-Sulfate, Glycerin, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Rosemary Leaf ExtractSize33.8 fl. ozHair TypesAllCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentRosemary Mint

Best Repairing Hair Growth Shampoo

Grown Alchemist Strengthening Shampoo

Best Repairing Hair Growth Shampoo

Grown Alchemist Strengthening Shampoo

ConsCan be drying for some users

Healthy hair doesn’t suddenly up and leave your scalp. Your hair starts showing signs of weakness damage long before it ever falls out. To keep your hair strong and healthy, we recommend this Strengthening Shampoo from Grown Alchemist.

It contains hydrolyzed baobab protein, which helps your strands maintain their strength while increasing hair’s resistance to future damage. Calendula targets signs of aging to nourish and condition the scalp, which accelerates hair growth, strength and damage recovery.

IngredientsHydrolyzed Baobab, Panthenol B-5, rosemary leaf oilSize16.90 fl ozHair TypesFine, FlatCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentCalendula

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Best Affordable Hair Growth Shampoo

OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo

Best Affordable Hair Growth Shampoo

OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo

Now 25% Off

ConsDispenser can be difficult to use

The OGX Thick & Full Biotin & Collagen Shampoo is a great affordable option that won’t put a dent in your wallet. It contains a blend of hydrolyzed wheat proteins, collagen and biotin, an ingredient which minimizes breakage and improves your existing strands with a generous boost of volume.

“Over time it helps to reinforce keratin bonds, strengthen hair and causes it to appear thicker,” says Dr. Lauren Penzi, board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology. “Hair keratins are somewhat unique, as they contain sulfur in their head and tail domains that allow them to form tight cross-links via disulfide bonds that contribute to our hair’s strength and lustrous appearance.”

What’s more: the shampoo’s scent with notes of bergamot, jasmine and vanilla, will leave an intensely good smell behind post-shower.

IngredientsCollagen, biotin, hydrolyzed wheat proteinSize13 fl. ozHair TypesOily, Damaged, Color-Treated, Frizzy, StraightCruelty-FreeYesSulfate-FreeYesScentBergamot, Jasmine, & Vanilla

Best Exfoliating Hair Growth Shampoo