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If your hair is sparser than it used to be, you'll want to add volume and fullness with the very best products for thinning hair. You might believe (incorrectly) that you need to keep it short. You might think (also incorrectly) that there are no products other than pills, potions, and surgeries that might help. But there's a whole world of shampoos and conditioners and waxes and hair dryers to make things look full again.
So, without further ado, here are 13 of the best products for thinning hair. Try any combination of them to keep the fight up—do not go gentle into that good night.
Texturizing + Volumizing Hair Stylers
Generally, the best stylers for thinning hair will focus on volume, texture, and density. These can range from pastes to waxes to salt sprays, depending on your styling objective and hair texture. Look for products accordingly: Choppier styles might demand a wax or clay, while longer coifs could use cream or paste. No two products will do this the same way, nor target the same consumer. So, start by looking for words like texturizing, volumizing, bodifying, densifying, thickening and so forth, and then make sure the product description suits your aim.
Dry Shampoo
If you aren’t acquainted with dry shampoo already, then consider this your introduction. It’s a volumizing miracle worker—it absorbs excess oil at the root and frees the hair to stand up instead of going limp and lifeless. You should use it between shampoo days (meaning, don’t shampoo every day, and use this on the days you don’t wash). Despite the name “dry shampoo,” it prevents overdrying, which is a common issue with liquid wash.
Dry shampoos are typically powder based, which is why some come in actual powder form, while others are a spray-to-powder recipe. We love both methods—just make sure to evenly distribute the product at the roots only (both to avoid clumping and to avoid powdery white residue). And wash your hair the night after using dry shampoo, to flush things clean and start anew.
Dry Shampoo + Hair Styling Hybrids
There are many hair styling products that incorporate dry-shampoo powers—and thus add volume and density to thinning styles. Use them primarily on non-wash days, and choose the one whose base best suits your styling needs. (A paste in longer strands, a wax in shorter, choppier styles.) Also, target the roots of the hair: that’s where you have the most control over how the hair sets, and it's also it’s where the oil builds up.
Follicle-Focused Shampoo
We've gone on record saying that DHT-blocking shampoos aren't the single solution to hair restoration. But that’s not to say we don’t recommend them over other shampoos when it comes to thinning hair. Alternatively, you can choose a scalp-stimulating option, which promises to boost circulation and in turn improve nutrient delivery to the hair follicles. This ensures better hair growth in the long run.
All of this said, remember that a shampoo doesn’t stay on your scalp long. It’s important not to put a big emphasis on their abilities in terms of your big-picture retention plan. Instead, read up on how to (actually) prevent hair loss, and learn about the scalp’s role in hair health.
Thickening + Volumizing Conditioner
The conditioner you choose should always address your hair texture—curly, coarse, straight, fine—and will often do the most work when it comes to maximizing your hair’s cooperation, stability, and overall health. However, if you are wanting to maximize the potential of less hair than usual (you know, meaning you want it to look fuller or more voluminous, like it was 10 years ago), then you can get a conditioner that promises one or both of these things. (They are often regularly targeted at thin/fine hair, not to be confused with thinning hair.) A thickening one will generally coat the strands in a tiny film which, when applied uniformly throughout the hairs, will give an overall appearance of fullness. A volumizing conditioner will be lighter, promising to condition the strands without weighing them down.
A Great Hair Dryer
If you’re serious about this volumizing and texturizing thing, make an investment in your hair dryer. This is one place where a higher spend tends to make a significant difference, especially if you’re going to be drying your hair daily. (Which isn’t typically recommended, but folks with thinning hair like to do it in order to achieve more volume and hold.)
Here’s a salon-caliber option that won’t fry your hair.
