People with fine or thinning hair often have a love/hate relationship with haircare products. Many formulas weigh strands down, create buildup, or make hair look greasy. The right shampoo can help nourish, strengthen, and thicken your hair. Some even promote new hair growth with ingredients like biotin and collagen. But finding the best shampoo for fine hair that will give your hair new life without costing you a fortune can be a frustrating process.
We conducted hours of research on the best-selling drugstore shampoos for fine hair, evaluating them on their active ingredients, effectiveness, fragrance, and whether they're free from ingredients like sulfates, and parabens. After considering various hair types and scalp conditions and consulting with professional hairstylists Haley Balayage and Sky Kim, we curated this list of the very best drugstore shampoos for fine hair.
Ingredients to look for (and avoid) in a drugstore shampoo for fine hair
When shopping for a drugstore shampoo for fine hair, look for volumizing formulas with gentle cleansing agents and ingredients like panthenol and hydrolyzed proteins, which add body and thickness. Avoid harsh sulfates, heavy oils, and silicones that can weigh your hair down, and use a clarifying shampoo once a month (more frequently if you use a lot of hair products or have oily hair) to remove buildup. Application is important—focus on massaging the shampoo into your scalp and avoid over-conditioning your roots.
Best Overall
OGX Extra Strength Biotin & Collagen Shampoo
Adds volume
Lightweight
Include biotin
Could lather more
Hair Type: Color-treated, fine, and thick | Scent: Jasmine, coconut, and lemon | Size: 13 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Formulated with biotin (vitamin B7), this shampoo gives your hair the nourishment it needs to grow strong. And thanks to the collagen, wheat protein, and bamboo fiber extract, it delivers plumping proteins to your hair to make it look fuller and more voluminous right out of the shower.
"For a drugstore-brand shampoo for fine hair, I definitely love OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo. It's budget-friendly and gives you a lift," says New York-based hairstylist Sky Kim of Serge Normant at John Frieda
Best Budget
Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Shampoo
Doesn't weigh down hair
Strengthens hair
Cleans thoroughly
Could lather better
Hair Type: Fine, flat, thin | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Yes, drugstore shampoos are already typically budget-friendly, but this one from Hask is even more so. This thickening shampoo uses vitamin B7, collagen, and, interestingly enough, coffee to give life to fine, limp strands without stripping the cuticles or adding unnecessary weight. We just wish it lathered a bit more intensely.
Best Volumizing
Garnier Fructis Plumping Treat Shampoo + Watermelon Extract
Adds volume
Full of naturally-derived ingredients
Creates shine
Might be drying for some
Hair Type: Fine | Scent: Watermelon | Size: 11.8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Since its 2003 launch, Garnier Fructis has been a go-to in the drugstore haircare aisle. The brand continues to impress with new formulas like its watermelon-infused Plumping Treat line. This smoothie-inspired showstopper cleanses, moisturizes, and boosts thin hair from the inside out—what more could you ask from a shampoo? We love that it's made from 96% natural ingredients, and watermelon is the hero—it plumps the hair follicle similarly to how it plumps the skin.
Best Strengthening
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo
Gently detangles
Encourages new hair growth with infused biotin
Gives intense shine
Can be drying for some
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Rosemary mint | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Are you working with weak, brittle strands or split ends? Mielle's Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo will deliver the TLC your hair needs. The strengthening formula combines biotin with natural ingredients like babassu seed, coconut and rosemary oil to bring your locks back from the brink while gently detangling and encouraging new hair growth.
Best for Hair Growth
Organi Grow Hair Co. Growpoo Clarifying Shampoo
Full of natural ingredients
Balances the pH in hair
Strengthens the hair
Tad pricey per ounce
Hair Type: Dry, damaged, and brittle | Scent: None | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Growpoo is serious about hair growth. Combining hydrating vegemoist, strengthening babassu, fortifying oleic acid, and pH-balancing apple cider vinegar, plus a range of other carefully selected ingredients, this shampoo pulls out all the stops. A deep-cleansing clarifying shampoo, it kills dandruff-causing bacteria and nourishes your hair while stimulating the scalp.
Best for Fullness
Real Raw Shampoothie Biotin Boost Shampoo
Full of natural ingredients
Enhances elasticity to create volume
Enhances moisture
Nothing
Hair Type: All | Scent: None | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Real Raw Shampoothie's take on thickening shampoo is a scrumptious cold-pressed blend of coconut water, aloe juice, yogurt, and biotin. The result? Moisturized hair with enhanced elasticity that looks healthy and visibly fuller.
Best Sulfate-Free
L'Oreal Paris Thickening Shampoo
Affordable
Fortifying and builds 15x more strength
Cleanses without stripping
Might be drying for some
Hair Type: Thin and fine | Scent: Rosemary | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Sulfates are helpful for cleansing (they're responsible for the lathering factor in many shampoos), but they can also strip the hair, which isn't helpful when your strands are already notably thin. Infused with rosemary extract, L'Oreal Paris Ever Strong helps prevent breakage by fortifying fine, fragile hair. We love the fresh minty, rosemary scent, but some uses have noted it can be a tad drying.
Best for Natural Hair
Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore + Bamboo Fiber Shampoo
Gently nourishing
Adds density and strength
Creates shine
Might cause breakage for some
Hair Type: Color-treated, natural, and transitioning | Scent: Coconut | Size: 13 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Formulated with natural textures and curls in mind, Maui Moisture Thicken & Restore blends aloe vera, coconut water, castor oil (which can also help with hair growth), and bamboo fibers to densify and strengthen. When you wash with this shampoo, you can expect revitalized hair with volume, bounce, and a healthy shine.
Best for Color-Treated Hair
John Frieda Volume Lift Weightless Shampoo
Lightweight
Adds volume in one use
Creates softness and bounce
Dispenser easily clogs
Hair Type: Color-treated, fine, and flat | Size: 8.45 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
John Frieda's haircare line is known for its ability to protect highlighted and color-treated hair, and this shampoo is no different. The brand's Volume Lift Weightless Shampoo uses "Air-Silk" technology to deliver feather weight body and noticeable fullness without stripping the hair follicles. We just wish the dispenser didn't clog so easily.
Best for Dandruff
Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Dandruff Shampoo
Provides multi-symptom relief
Nice scent
Rids of dandruff-causing bacteria
Could cause more itching for some
Hair Type: All | Scent: Classic Clean | Size: 13.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Head & Shoulders might not be the sexiest 'poo on the drugstore shelf, but the thing is, it works. If you're dealing with a chronically flaky mop, washing with this pyrithione zinc formula helps to rid your scalp of dandruff-causing bacteria. And when your scalp is healthy, your hair has a better chance of growing long and strong.
Lightweight
Adds thickness and volume
Gentle enough for daily use
Strong smell
Hair Type: Fine and flat | Scent: Coconut and floral notes | Size: 32.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Unknown
Pump bottles often offer the best value (they're typically larger) and they're more convenient to use in the shower (we love an option that's mess-free and doesn't slip out of our hands). This 'poo from Love Beauty And Planet contains over 32 ounces of lightly moisturizing shampoo that strengthens and leaves your hair with undeniable body. It does have a strong scent (think tropical island), but we don't mind it.
Best Naturally-Derived
Avalon Organics Volumizing Rosemary Shampoo
Adds volume and thickness
Gently cleanses
Certified organic, plant-based formula
Strong, herbal smell
Hair Type: Thin and limp | Scent: Rosemary | Size: 11 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Avalon Organics Volumizing Rosemary Shampoo is made with essential oils (like rosemary), vitamins, and naturally derived botanicals including aloe and plant proteins. You can count on it to gently cleanse while leaving fuller, thicker, more voluminous hair in its wake.
Stimulates new hair growth
Nice, tropical scent
Adds volume and thickness
Contains sulfates
Hair Type: Color-treated, fine, and thin | Scent: Sweet pineapple and honey melon | Size: 6 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Hempz has been creating delicious-smelling skincare since the late 90s. With a dedicated fanbase and a growing demand for hemp-infused cosmetics, the brand's recent haircare venture was a long time coming. This shampoo contains natural hemp seed oil which can help thicken hair while stimulating new growth. But what really stands out to us is its mouth-watering pineapple and honeydew scent. We do wish it didn't contain sulfates though.
Best Dry Shampoo
Dove Volume and Fullness Dry Shampoo
Instantly absorbs oil
Adds volume
Nice smell
Takes time to work in
Hair Type: Fine, flat, oily, and limp | Scent: None | Size: 5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Since fine hair can start looking greasy sooner than later, you're wise to keep a dry shampoo on hand—especially if your hair is fine yet oily or you like to skip washes. This trusty aerosol can by Dove instantly absorbs oil to make your locks look cleaner while pumping your roots with volume. We love the result, but note you'll likely have to work it in a bit to clear away any white cast.
Best for Mature Hair
Biota Botanicals Daily Care Shampoo
Hair looks thicker
Smells nice
Helps brighten tone
Contains sulfates and methylchloroisothiazolinone
Hair Type: Fine, flat, oily, and limp | Scent: Herbal | Size: 10.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Hair tends to thin as we age, but this shampoo is designed to revitalize your scalp to promote fuller-looking hair. With a nourishing blend of herbal extracts, including nettle root and chamomile, it lathers well and makes hair feel fuller and softer. Reviewers love that it boosted shine and even helped refresh faded highlights. However, we don't love that it contains sulfates and methylchloroisothiazolinone, which is an allergen and may irritate the skin.
Best with UV Protection
Pure Nature Argan Oil Deep Hydra Nourishing Shampoo
Moisturizes and smooths with argan oil
Sulfate-free
Strengthens hair
Not for oily hair
Hair Type: Fine, flat, dry | Scent: Original | Size: 16.9 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you're hair is prone to color fade. Enter this argan oil-infused shampoo that's formulated to hydrate dry hair, protect it from heat and UV damage, and add shine (that's what we call a win-win-win). The short ingredient list also contains collagen which bolsters weak strands. It's free of common preservatives that can irritate sensitive scalps but may weigh down oily hair.
Add to Cart
Here are a few more products Byrdie editors recommend for fine hair:
- A lightweight mousse, texture spray or leave-in treatment to add volume.
- A frizz-fighting product to tame fly-aways without making hair look greasy.
- A reliable hairdryer to minimize the risk of heat damage from styling.
- A refreshing dry shampoo for those in-between wash days.
What to Look for When Buying Shampoo for Fine Hair
Benefits: Shampoos will often have words like "volumizing," "plumping," or "thickening" in the name or product description, which tells you they're formulated to make your hair appear fuller. Others that use words like "strengthening," "fortifying," or "nourishing" are designed to help repair damaged or brittle hair. Some options help promote hair growth, which will usually be specified on the label or in the product description. You'll also want to look for lightweight products so they don't weigh down fine hair. We suggest avoiding products for smoothing hair, as they're usually geared toward coarser hair types.
Biotin: Shampoos and other products for fine hair often contain biotin, a nutrient that nourishes and fortifies thin hair while encouraging new growth. Some of the best hair growth shampoos contain biotin as an active ingredient. The B vitamin can make your hair look instantly thicker and healthier without weighing it down.
Other ingredients: "I would look for anything that adds fibers so that the hair itself will actually expand in size," says Las Vegas-based hairstylist Haley Balayage. You'll often see formulas with bamboo fibers, which add density while strengthening the hair shafts. Then there's collagen, wheat, and other natural proteins that help plump and lift fine strands. Stimulating ingredients such as rosemary and coffee extract invigorate the scalp to promote new growth. Caffeine shampoos have emerged thanks to their volumizing effects.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is well-versed in haircare solutions for fine strands. As an experienced beauty writer with inherently thin locks, she's not only researched but personally tried many of the items on this list. Her drugstore go-to's include OGX Extra Strength Biotin & Collagen, Head & Shoulders, and Avalon Organics. You can check out more of Theresa's work on Verywell Mind and MyDomaine.
Experts interviewed:
- Haley Balayage is a Las Vegas-based hairstylist with editorial and commercial work featured.
- Sky Kim is a New York-based hairstylist at John Fried.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough drugstore shampoo for fine hair from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.