The 4 Best Products for Thinning Hair, According to Our Tests, Beauty Chemists, and a Hair Transplant Surgeon (2024)

If you’re reading this, you probably take pride in your luscious locks. So when you notice your hair starting to thin, it’s normal to want to spring into action.

We’ve been testing products for thinning hair for over 44 weeks, employing women all across the country, of varying ages and hair types, to put hundreds of popular shampoos for thinning hair, conditioners, solutions, and more to the test.

While many didn’t supply much outside of a nice scent and a tingling sensations, others improved our strands before our very eyes — filling in previously patchy spots, boosting thickness, and restoring the confidence from our good hair days of yore.

Experts Say

“The right shampoo could make a big difference for thinning hair both in terms of preventing hair loss, but also in providing an instant volumizing effect. A good scalp serum would go the extra mile to alleviate hair fallout,” —Kseniya Popova, independent cosmetic chemist

Read on for the best products for thinning hair that we’ve discovered in our lab and in real people’s homes.

Star Qualities

  • Almost immediate improvement in our tester’s hair health

  • New growth in patchy spots

  • Sudsy formula made hair feel clean

Red Flags

  • Slightly pricey

We’ve tested more than 20 shampoos for thinning hair, and this winner from Brigeo didn’t just take the cake, it wiped the floor with the other contenders.

Our tester’s noticeable results restored her hair to its “bombshell glory days” (a testimony if we’ve ever heard one), and the hair-loving formula actually made her scalp feel clean (a rarity among hair growth shampoos).

Its formula, packed with growth-stimulating biotin and peptides, worked hard to stimulate her scalp and boost density from the roots, which filled in her patchy spots and amped up her volume. We loved this shampoo its own, but you could double your efforts by using the matching conditioner, too.

Ingredients: Caffeine, biotin, copper peptides, zinc | Hair type: All | Size: 8 oz. | Benefits: Stimulates scalp circulation, nourishes, strengthens, encourages regrowth

Expert Opinion

“Everything starts with a good, solid shampoo. Ensuring your scalp is properly and consistently cleansed is key to creating a healthy scalp environment.” —Gabby Henderson, hair stylist and trichologist

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Star Qualities

  • Stronger, thicker hair over time

  • Regrowth throughout the scalp and hairline

  • Lessened breakage and shedding

Red Flags

  • Doesn’t tame frizz

The name on everyone’s lips in the hair growth hemisphere seems to be Nutrafol — and after trying this conditioner for thinning hair, we can understand why. After 475 hours of testing the best growth-inducing conditioners on the market, this bottle delivered the most on regrowth, resulting in new strands along the hairline and healthier, thicker, longer hair in general.

Our tester’s hair became noticeably stronger after six weeks of use, signified by less hair fall and shedding than before. The potent hydrating properties also nourished her strands without adding extra weight.

In short, this conditioner doesn’t just repair past hair loss: It prevents it from happening in the future, too.

Ingredients: Ximenia oil, vegan proteins, glucose fibers | Hair type: All | Size: 8.1 oz. | Benefits: Strengthens hair, restores moisture, encourages regrowth, improves elasticity

Do Nutrafol hair supplements work?

While we didn’t test the celebrity-loved Nutrafol supplements that stars like Jamie Chung and influencer Claudia Oshry have used to treat their thinning hair, you can buy them at Amazon to double your efforts.

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Star Qualities

  • Lightweight, non-greasy formula

  • Relatively quick (and noticeable) results

  • Highly absorbent

  • May affect future hair-coloring sessions

If you’re attached to your trusty shampoo and conditioner but still want to add something growth-inspiring to your grooming routine, then we’d recommend this hair loss treatment from Rogaine. Specifically formulated to thicken the hair and reduce hair fall, this fast-acting treatment promised results within three to six months, but our tester noticed longer and thicker strands after just six weeks when we tested hair loss treatments.

Our tester loved how quickly a droppers-full of solution absorbed into her scalp, leaving clean, residue-free hair that didn’t look or feel heavy, even when applying it near the front of her hairline. She had new growth in her patchy spots and longer hair by the end of the testing period, making this a great option for someone who wants to lengthen their locks while thickening them.

Just tell your colorist that you’ve been using Rogaine before your next appointment, because it could affect the dye.

Testers Say

“You have to be diligent in applying this twice a day, but the results are worth it.”

Ingredients: 2% Minoxidil | Hair Type: All | Size: 2 ounces | Benefits: Stimulates regrowth, increases fullness of hair

Expert Opinion

“From my experience, scalp serums tend to make the biggest difference for patients with thinning hair. [They] deliver active ingredients directly to the hair follicles, helping to stimulate new growth and improve overall scalp health.” —Dr. Ross Kopelman, hair transplant surgeon

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Star Qualities

  • Instant boost of volume

  • Strand-strengthening formula

  • Texturized, yet touchable results

Red Flags

  • On the expensive side

Products that improve hair growth can take weeks to start working, but you can achieve the appearance of thicker hair in an instant with this unique spray from celebrity hairstylist-founded Rōz Hair. The Air Thickening Spray made our locks look significantly fuller while still feeling soft and touchable, earning itself a badge of approval in our 2024 PEOPLE Beauty Awards.

But while you may think this thickening spray is purely for aesthetics, its vitamin-rich formula simultaneously works to strengthen and nourish the hair over time — giving your hair a nutrient bath while also sprucing your strands. If you need extra oomph in a pinch, this is the product to reach for.

Ingredients: Rice protein, mushroom root extract, rice water, radish root | Hair type: All | Size: 5 oz. | Benefits: Texturizes, separates, and thickens strands, boosts volume, nourishes and strengthens hair

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Stylist Tip for Thicker-Looking Hair

“When it comes to hairstyles, blunt cuts that hit the shoulder or above will make the hair appear ‘thicker.’” —Gina Rivera, hair stylist and brand founder

The 7 Best Texturizing Sprays of 2024, Tested by Real People

Experts Also Recommend

Our test results gave us the winners above, but our haircare experts recommend these products to round out your regrowth regimen.

Expert Tip

Popova recommends using a dry shampoo that “absorbs excess oil and sweat” to amplify the look of fuller hair.

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What to Know About Products for Thinning Hair

Source of Hair Loss

The first thing to consider when looking for a solution to thinning hair is to find the root of the problem (no pun intended).

“Hair loss can be genetic or can be caused by medications or underlying health issues; this is why it is very important to consult with your doctor if you are experiencing it for unknown reasons,” says Rivera.

According to the Mayo Clinic, several factors can contribute to thinning or loss of hair. Some include alopecia, physical or emotional shock, chemotherapy, or something as rudimentary as changes in diet or sleep. Consult with your doctor before starting a new treatment for hair growth.

Types of Products for Thinning Hair

When looking for the right product for your thinning hair, there are generally two categories to consider: leave-in or wash-out treatments.

The Difference

  • Leave-in: “A good leave-in haircare product would ideally be lightweight and volumizing, says Popova. “It should not cause build-up with continual use… [and] would ideally blend into the roots and scalp seamlessly without being sticky or tacky.” Think of the Rogaine 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution and its weightless, non-greasy feel.
  • Wash-Out: “A good rinse-off haircare product would cleanse the scalp well, but not leave it stripped,” Popova adds. “It would not deposit heavy conditioning ingredients to the hair and would leave [the] hair volumized.” This sounds like the Briogeo Destined for Density Shampoo that our tester raved about, if you ask us.

Ingredients

Active ingredients are the star components of the formulas we love, such as minoxidil for regrowth in Rogaine. Other key ingredients to look out for include vitamins, amino acids, and natural chemicals, which work to strengthen, hydrate, and regrow your hair.

Ingredients to Look For

According to our experts, these are some of the ingredients to keep an eye out for when purchasing a product that combats thinning hair:

  • Minoxidil
  • Biotin
  • Peptides
  • Caffeine
  • Niacin
  • Vitamin C
  • Rosemary oil

On the other hand, there are some ingredients worth avoiding, such as alcohol, sulfates, heavy oils, and silicones.

“I would avoid scalp barrier-disrupting ingredients, such as alcohol,” says Popova. “If a formula has a small amount of alcohol, that is okay, but if the base consists of a high amount of it, then the likelihood of scalp barrier disruption is greater and could lead to the opposite effect.”

Sulfates and parabens are also likely to irritate the scalp, which can lead to more thinning or hair loss. “These ingredients can strip natural oils from the scalp and weaken the hair’s overall structure,” explains Dr. Kopelman.

What Else Helps Combat Thinning Hair?

Let’s face it, products aren’t everything. While it’s helpful to add a few new formulas to your daily routine, lifestyle changes will help transform your hair, too. Popova recommends “getting quality sleep and learning how to manage stress more effectively,” while Henderson suggests “keeping your hair free of low-tension hairstyles” and eating more green, leafy vegetables.

Behind the Scenes

We pored over our previous tests of products for thinning hair, where we put shampoos, conditioners, and miscellaneous hair growth treatments to the test with real women in their everyday lives. Each test required robust product and ingredient research and required hundreds of hours of real-world testing.

  • Shampoos for Thinning Hair: 21 popular shampoos for thinning hair were tested for six months by a team of women at home. They rated each formula based on its lather and feel, the amount of growth during the period, and how effective the shampoo was at improving their hair density.
  • Conditioners and Masks for Hair Growth: Testers took 25 different conditioners and hair masks home to test over six weeks, taking their effectiveness, consistency, and overall results into consideration before casting their votes. Success meant nourished and noticeably lengthier strands.
  • Hair Loss Treatments: More than 960 hours were spent testing 20 hair loss treatments over a 12-week span, where testers followed the directions of their assigned solutions and came back with their results. They took ease of application, effectiveness, and overall growth and feel into consideration to make their final decisions.

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer at PEOPLE who specializes in fashion and beauty. Her content spans from eyeliner roundups to first-person skincare reviews, though she has ample experience writing about products that combat hair loss and hair thinning. Brascia has previously contributed to a number of other digital publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, Southern Living, Shape, and Food & Wine, to name a few.

For this piece, she tapped a group of hair stylists, cosmetic chemists, trichologists, and hair surgeons to explain the do’s and don’ts of products from thinning hair — from the ingredients and purposes of each to the aesthetics.

Our Expert Panel

  • Kseniya Popova is an independent chemist and leader in product development, having experience with cosmetic brands that include The Rootist and Farmacy.
  • Gina Rivera is a hair stylist and the founder of Phenix Salon Suites and anti-aging lip care line XOXO Gina.
  • Dr. Ross Kopelman is a hair transplant surgeon based in New York City specializing in hair, eyebrow, and beard transplants.
  • Gabby Henderson is a trichologist and hairstylist specializing in natural hair. Henderson is also a top artist with Nioxin.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

The 4 Best Products for Thinning Hair, According to Our Tests, Beauty Chemists, and a Hair Transplant Surgeon (2024)

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