These Are the Only Shampoos That Volumize My Fine, Limp Hair

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Hi, hello, it's me, a grown woman with baby-fine hair that's flatter than my chest and unable to hold a curl for more than five minutes. Sure, fine hair has its benefits (it's smooth and silky! It dries really fast! It holds color well!), but I could do without the greasiness and split ends, tyvm. I'm willing to try just about anything that promises to strengthen, thicken, or volumize my lifeless lil strands, and after testing dozens of shampoos for fine hair, I'm ready to share my findings. Not sure if you have fine hair? Take a strand of hair and rub it between your fingers. If you can't really feel it, your hair is fine. Welcome to the club!

The formula you choose will depend on your needs, ofc, but the best shampoos for fine hair tend to a) remove product buildup and b) plump the hair shaft without c) adding too much weight. Oh, and FTR: Fine hair refers to the texture and density of your hair strands, not the number of hairs on your scalp, so having fine hair doesn't necessarily mean your hair is thin. But! Whether you have very fine, very thin hair (like me!) or lots of fine hair, these shampoos may give you the ~illusion~ of thicker strands with the help of volumizing and fortifying ingredients.

Ahead, all the best shampoos for fine-haired folks that can help take your hair from womp-womp to va-va-voom, as well as some expert tips for adding volume to fine hair.

Ghost Shampoo

Whenever my fine, low-porosity hair is looking flat and limp, I suds up with this weightless formula, which includes only the lightest of oils—like moringa seed and sunflower seed—to hydrate my hair. In addition to moisturizing strands without weighing 'em down, this one leaves hair smelling fab, thanks to its light grapefruit and oatmeal scent. (It sounds strange, but trust me, it's delicious.)

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Moringa seed oil, sunflower seed extract, quinoa protein

• Sulfate-free? Yes (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "Makes my very fine hair look and feel fuller. Cleans and moisturizes really well without leaving hair greasy or weighed down. Very happy with this product—it is definitely my new go-to shampoo!"

Volume Shampoo

If you hate excess oil and love floral scents, I've found your new hair hero, bb. This budget-friendly shampoo uses several sulfate-free surfactants to banish buildup from oily scalps, as well as lightweight hydrators for smoothing the hair shaft and ginger root extract to encourage new hair growth. Plus, the bottle is so cute, no?

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Ginger root extract, panthenol, coconut oil

• Sulfate-free? Yes (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have really fine hair and it always lays really flat. After nothing but this shampoo, my hair was noticeably bigger and more full of life. I used to live with my hair always tied up, but now that it looks so majestic, I can't find it in me to tie it down."

Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

Okay, the fact that this shampoo is as cheap as it is truly blows my mind. Great for fine-haired folks in need of some TLC, it helps repair damaged hair with strengthening hydrolyzed wheat proteins, which help fill in all the lil cracks in your hair strands. This one also includes a dose of biotin and hydrolyzed collagen to gently moisturize and soften hair.

• Size: 13 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Biotin, hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed wheat protein

• Sulfate-free? Yes (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I started using OGX Thick & Full Shampoo a few months ago and was surprised by its rich lather and scent. I have very fine fly-away hair, and using OGX makes it fuller and more manageable. I've tried similar shampoos, but none of them worked as well as this one."

Intense Thickening Shampoo

Fact: Hair growth cannot start with angry follicles. If your scalp is in need of some TLC, then I suggest reaching for a gentle formula, like this thickening shampoo from Grow Gorgeous. Filled with skin-soothing agents like panthenol and niacinamide—as well as follicle-stimulating caffeine—this one works to nurture your scalp and create a healthy foundation for new growth.

• Size: 8.4 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Caffeine, niacinamide, rice protein

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I have very fine hair, and this gives it so much body, but still leaves hair soft and it smells great!"

Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo

It can be tricky to find a clarifying shampoo that won't strip ya dry (especially when you have fine hair), but Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness made it happen. This bb uses a lightweight, plant-derived silicone alternative called hemi-squalane, which deeply hydrates strands without the weight. Add in anti-inflammatory aloe vera and growth-supporting caffeine, and you've got this nourishing formula.

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Aloe vera, caffeine, hemi-squalane

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I tried this because I love Jonathan Van Ness. I will continue buying it because it’s amazing. I can go longer between washes than I ever have before, and it doesn’t weigh down my fine hair. I love the subtle, clean scent. My new go-to shampoo."

Destined For Density Caffeine + Biotin Peptide Density Shampoo

True story: My fine hair started looking fuller and more voluminous after just a month of using this shampoo. The reason: Along with antioxidant-rich caffeine, this formula includes biotin, which can help to encourage keratin production in hair, along with skin-barrier-supporting copper peptides. Simply put, thin strands are no match for this formula.

• Size: 8 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Coffee seed oil, biotin, copper peptides

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have noticed more hair shedding and volume loss over the past few years. This shampoo is a game changer. Smells tremendous. My hair is shiny and smooth and actually feels thicker."

Fine Hair Shampoo

FTR, frizzy hair doesn't always = unhealthy. However! If you're tired of dealing with flyaways, this formula is here to help. Biotin works to strengthen follicles, while chia seed oil allows your hair shaft to hold onto more moisture (thereby preventing future hair breakage). Oh, and if you haven't experienced Ouai's Mercer Street fragrance yet, it is TIME.

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Biotin, chia seed oil, hydrolyzed keratin

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I’ve been having itchy scalp and hair loss, and my hair has been dull and frizzy. I’ve tried every product and deep conditioner to try to get it back to normal, and day one with this shampoo, my hair and scalp feel back to normal finally. It smells like heaven and my hair is shiny and bouncy."

Full Shampoo

What's unique about this keratin shampoo? It's made using Virtue's proprietary Alpha Keratin 60ku, which works to weave together broken keratin strands for healthier, fuller-looking hair. Okay, science! It's also packed with phospholipids for strengthening strands and panthenol for giving 'em some weightless hydration, resulting in a long-lasting volume boost for you.

• Size: 8 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Phospholipids, panthenol

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have very long, very fine hair in moderate volume. I lost a lot at menopause and although [it is] not thin, [it has] less volume than I like. This shampoo does a great job of making it feel thicker and fuller. Each strand really feels denser."

Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo

A notable ingredient in this one: saw palmetto, a botanical extract believed to have anti-androgenic properties (meaning: it can potentially help combat hair loss!). It's also packed with biotin and panthenol for penetrating strands with intense hydration—and the warm, romantic scent is just *chef's kiss.*

• Size: 8.5 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Biotin, panthenol, saw palmetto berry extract

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "Great for fine hair that needs a lift! I have very fine, long, wavy hair [and] I have a hard time finding a shampoo that gives it volume without frizz, and this is the best! Smells so fresh, too."

Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo

Admittedly, this shampoo was formulated to address age-related fallout, but it's the first one I reached for when I started experiencing postpartum hair loss, and let me tell ya, it's hiiighly effective. I love how it includes soothing panthenol and argan oil—which help to nourish my fine, brittle hair—while biotin and caffeine team up to reduce hair thinning.

• Size: 8.4 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Biotin, argan oil, caffeine

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have fine, thin hair. It's also dry and frizzy—fun times. Many products weigh my hair down, but not Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo. This rinsed well and left my hair softer and fuller-looking."

Full Shampoo

When your hair is both fine and color-treated (guilty), ya gotta make sure you're handling it with care. Enter: this color-safe formula, which uses gentle cleansers to remove oil and grime without drying out hair, as well as amaranth peptides to penetrate hair fibers and give you plumper, bouncier strands. Voluminous hair, here you come!!

• Size: 8 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Amaranth seed extract, phytantriol

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I started off with the conditioner, but now use both the shampoo and conditioner most days. It does make my hair have more volume, look fuller, and doesn't fade the color. The fragrance is light and clean."

Extra Volume Shampoo

Calling all folks with brittle AF hair: This shampoo is for you. The MVP ingredient in this one is linden bud extract, which is a hair conditioning agent that seals in moisture and prevents breakage, all while giving hair a lil extra sheen and a more ~voluminous~ appearance. And when you couple that with hydrating argan oil, the result is shinier, more manageable hair.

• Size: 8.5 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Argan oil, linden bud extract

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have fine hair—but a lot of it. I have a hard time finishing products that give me volume without really drying out my hair/give me frizz. This stuff is AMAZING! I have been using this since high school. It’s definitely worth the price!!!!"

Shampoo for Magnificent Volume

Here at Cosmo, we <3 Oribe hair products, and I can personally attest that this volumizing shampoo is worth that $50 price tag. This one provides lightweight moisture and plumping polymers to hydrate and thicken my fine strands—and best of all, the signature Cote d'Azur citrus floral scent smells like ~money.~

• Size: 8.5 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Polymers, lupine protein, saw palmetto extract

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have been using this brand and this formula for my fine hair for many years. Tried some other stuff that was cheaper but kept returning to this shampoo. It is pricey but totally worth it. Gives my hair volume and keeps it strong and silky."

Weightless Hydration Shampoo

Tired of dealing with limp-looking hair? You need this volumizing shampoo from Ceremonia. It's packed with witch hazel for minimizing excess scalp oil so I can go longer in between wash days (though, FYI, it's gentle enough to use everyday), and it's also got plant-based protein for improving hair strength. The best part: the soft, woody fragrance with a liiiiittle hint of lemon zest.

• Size: 8.45 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Witch hazel, pea and potato protein

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "This shampoo is perfect for my hair. I have fine hair that tends to get oily at the roots, but my ends dry out. This adds moisture and hydration back into my hair without weighing it down or making my roots oily."

How can you make fine hair thicker?

So, here's the thing: Hair-thickening shampoos can temporarily plump up your strands for fuller-looking hair, but you can't *actually* thicken fine hair strands or make them grow in denser. As trichologist Gretchen Friese previously explained to Cosmo, this is because "the thickness of the hair most often is determined by the size of the hair follicle," and no matter what kind of shampoo you use, you can't alter the chemical structure of your hair. Sry, blame genetics!!

Btw, having "thin" hair doesn't necessarily mean you have "fine" hair, and the two terms shouldn't be used interchangeably. "When referring to fine hair, what you’re really talking about is the texture and density of each individual shaft of hair," hairstylist Adam Federico previously told Cosmo, while thin hair refers to the number of strands on your scalp. That said, both fine and thin hair types can benefit from using a thickening shampoo that adds body and increases the appearance of fullness.

Should fine hair be washed more often?

Sad fact of life: Finely-textured hair tends to become greasy more quickly and requires more frequent washing. According to dermatologist Iris Rubin, MD, those with finer, straighter hair types generally need to suds up more frequently than those with coarser, curlier hair types, who can generally go longer between wash days. For fine hair types, skipping more than a day between washes could lead to product buildup that weighs strands down, making your hair look flat or oily (or both!).

And buildup doesn't just give you sad, limp hair. The accumulation of buildup can lead to dandruff, irritation, and even hair loss. "The follicles on your scalp are literally the manufacturing plant for your hair," Dr. Rubin previously told Cosmo, "so for your best hair health, it’s important that they don’t get clogged." Some experts even recommend washing fine hair daily—but if you do decide to wash every day, make sure you're using gentle, sulfate-free cleansers filled with hydrating ingredients and following up with conditioners.

How to choose the best shampoo for fine hair

Check out the ingredients

If you're someone with thin hair that could use a lil oomph, you'll ideally wanna choose a shampoo that contains both volumizing and fortifying ingredients, such as biotin, panthenol, keratin, peptides, and thickening polymers, which will help to plump and strengthen fine strands.

And even though some heavy oils—like olive oil and castor oil—can help you achieve better hair health, it's better to stick with lightweight hair oils, especially if you're someone with low-porosity hair. For instance: Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo uses lightweight argan oil to coat brittle strands.

Skip the sulfates and silicones

Listen, sulfates have a time and a place, and while some people can actually benefit from using sulfated detergents, it's probs best to skip 'em if you're experiencing hair loss. ICYDK, sulfates are harsh surfactants that can strip away your hair and scalp's natural oils, so those with fine hair should typically steer clear.

Likewise, silicones are great for giving hair slip and shine, but they can also weigh down finer hair. Instead, look for lightweight silicone alternatives, like the one used in JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo.

Choose a formula that promises volume or thickness

When you have fine, flat hair, one of the most important things to look for in a shampoo are words like "volumizing" and "thickening"—though ofc, it helps to know what ingredients actually work to plump strands. Look for products with biotin, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, peptides, or niacinamide, as these all work to strengthen follicles and help your hair shaft hold on to more moisture. A great example: Grow Gorgeous Intense Thickening Shampoo, which uses biotin, niacinamide, and amino acids to re-energize roots.

Meet the experts:

• Gretchen Friese is a certified trichologist, as well as salon director and hairstylist at Foushee Salon Spa in Littleton, CO.

• Adam Federico is a hairstylist, educator, and VP of creative development at R+Co.

• Dr. Iris Rubin is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Seen Hair Care.

Why trust 'Cosmo'?

Corinne Sullivan is an editor at Cosmopolitan and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news, including the best dry-scalp shampoos and the best-smelling shampoos. She regularly tests and analyzes shampoos on her own fine hair for efficacy, and she works with the industry’s top dermatologists, hairstylists, and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.

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