Whether you’re suffering with hair loss, have started to notice your hair thinning, or are simply desperate to get your strands past shoulder-length, the best shampoos for hair growth could help your mane get back on the road to recovery.
“It’s really very emotional for people,” says Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon. Often, hair-loss patients come into her office and start crying from the toll of it all,” she says.
However, what helps one person regrow luscious hair may do nothing for another. There’s also debate among experts about whether these popular over-the-counter hair loss treatments like hair oils, hair growth vitamins, and the best shampoos for hair growth actually work. Still, some people swear by them — so they may be worth adding to your hair care routine if you’re looking for a potential at-home solution for boosting your scalp health and hair health. Just be sure to keep your expectations in check.
The best hair loss shampoos are “a great starting point for most people,” says Danilo Del Campo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. With that in mind, we tapped experts for recommendations on which hair-growth shampoos you should consider, and answered some of your most common questions on hair density, thinning, and loss.
SKIP TO: How we test hair growth shampoos | Does hair growth shampoo really work? | Our full reviews.
Meet the experts:
How we test hair growth shampoos:
From leave-in conditioners to dry shampoo, the GLAMOUR beauty desk receives countless new hair care products every month — including heaps of different shampoos that promise to leave you with longer and stronger hair.
Each one is rigorously put through its paces by our editors — who have a wide range of different hair types and textures. We assess everything from whether they’ve got the right kind of growth-stimulating ingredients, to how they leave our hair looking after use — all of which helps us decide exactly which formulas deserve to be featured in this edit. Find out more about how we test.
Do hair growth shampoos really work?
There’s no strong consensus among experts about whether hair-growth shampoos actually work. Some doctors believe they do make an impact, while others — like Dr. Davis — say hair-growth shampoos “are probably misnamed”, as instead of actually growing new hair, she says that they “mostly make the hair seem thicker.”
That many take a middle-ground approach, believing certain hair growth shampoos can be a potential solution for addressing hair thinning and loss at home — or at least, a starting point. Essentially, the results will depend on a few factors — such as the underlying cause of someone’s hair loss, and whether the shampoo has been formulated with certain key ingredients.
Crucial for stimulating keratin production — which strengthens the hair shaft, promotes growth, and increases volume and density — biotin is an ingredient you’ll find in many effective hair growth shampoos. Packed with anti-inflammatory properties, Niacin is also a great ingredient to look out for if you have thinning hair, as it helps boost blood flow to the scalp — which, in turn, promotes regrowth.
Whether you’re after longer locks or not, hydration is key for healthy hair — so if you’re after maximum hair growth and strengthening, look for a formula containing natural and deeply moisturising ingredients like coconut oil and Argan oil. Also, an effective hair growth shampoo shouldn’t really have any sulphates — as these harsh cleansing agents can remove too much moisture, leave hair dry and brittle, and irritate sensitive scalps. Instead, look for formulas containing non-stripping cleansers like activated charcoal, lactic acid, and salicylic acid — which are just as effective at unclogging the hair follicles.