Top-Picks for Volumizing Thinning Hair: Achieve Thicker and Elevated Hair Look
Hair thinning can be frustrating, but the right products can help create an illusion of fuller, thicker hair. Here's our guide to the best solutions for thinning hair.
Top Volumizing Hair Products
Ever feel like your locks are a shadow of their former glory? Fret not! These volumizing hair products can help create temporary, awesome-looking volume:
1. Best Overall: Living Proof Full Volume & Root-Lifting Spray ($32, Nordstrom, Amazon)
Boost volume, lift roots, and say goodbye to limp hair with Living Proof's Full Volume & Root-Lifting Spray. This gem works wonders for thinning hair, thanks to its thickening molecule. It's perfect for fine, baby-fine tresses!
2. Best Root Cover: Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up + Brow Filler ($34, Amazon, Ulta Beauty)
If you're dealing with sparse hair growth or balding patches, this dual-purpose product conceals with ease. It can cover grays, fill brows, and disguise bald spots — a perfect finishing touch to your new 'do!
3. Best Scalp Serum: Nécessaire The Scalp Serum ($45, Amazon, Credo Beauty)
Encourage thinning hair to grow stronger and more luscious with this lightweight scalp serum. Formulated with capixyl, a blend of red clover extract and a peptide, this serum helps reduce shedding while nourishing the scalp with hyaluronic acid, biotin, and niacinamide.
4. Best Scalp Massager: La Bonne Brosse N.03 The Essential Soft Hair Brush ($168, Moda Operandi)
This soft hair brush not only detangles but also massages the scalp, promoting healthy hair growth by increasing circulation. Boar and nylon bristles distribute moisture evenly, leaving your hair silkier and shinier.
5. Best for Regrowth: Curology Hair Formula Rx ($90, Curology)
Curology's personalized topical solution comes packed with ingredients like minoxidil, ketoconazole, or finasteride. Prescribed by a dermatologist according to your hair and scalp needs, this potent formula helps encourage hair regrowth and prevent further thinning.
Shampoos, Conditioners, and More for Thinning Hair
1. Best Shampoo: Ouai Fine Shampoo ($32, Amazon, Revolve, Ulta Beauty)
This shampoo, adored by Allure editors and pros, is a favorite for thinning hair. Its moisturizing ingredients, like chia seed oil and hydrolyzed keratin, nourish and strengthen the hair cuticle, while biotin promotes thicker strands.
2. Best Conditioner: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Conditioner ($38, Nordstrom, Amazon)
This conditioner, loved by stylist Sandra Petrut, plumps each strand and hydrates without leaving residue. With panthenol, coconut oil, and safflower seed oil, it provides the perfect amount of moisture for thinning hair.
3. Best Custom-Blended: Musely The Hair Topical Solution - Classic ($32, Musely)
Musely's Custom-Blended Hair Topical Solution offers a unique, tailored approach to hair loss. After an online consultation, a licensed dermatologist compounds a powerful blend of ingredients, including 8% minoxidil, 0.3% dutasteride, and 0.075% spironolactone, to help reverse hair thinning.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the best proven product for thinning hair?
Minoxidil, an FDA-approved topical solution for hair loss, is one of the most tried-and-true ingredients for thinning hair. Biotin, caffeine, rosemary oil, and niacinamide have also been shown to support hair growth and create the temporary appearance of thicker hair.
2. Can hair grow back after thinning?
Yes, with the right hair care and products, it is possible for hair to grow back and become thicker after thinning. Ingredients like capixyl and minoxidil can be particularly effective in promoting hair regrowth.
3. What are the best ingredients for thinning hair?
Key ingredients that may benefit thinning hair include minoxidil, caffeine, biotin, rosemary oil, and niacinamide. Volumizing ingredients like keratin, panthenol, and silicone alternatives are great for creating the illusion of thicker, fuller hair.
4. Meet the Experts
- Sandra Petrut, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
- Jerome Lordet, founder and owner of Jerome Lordet Salon in NYC
- Michelle Henry, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology based in Birmingham, AL
5. How we test and review products
Allure rigorously tests each product to ensure it delivers on its promises. Products are assessed based on their performance, ingredients, packaging, and value.
6. Our staff and testers
Allure's dedicated staff review each product, while feedback from editors like Kara McGrath and shopping director Shanna Shipin is also gathered. Tester feedback helps evaluate products in real-world scenarios.
[1] Verr, A., Campanati, M., De Bonis, M., et al. Activation of the volume-enhancing properties of sugar-based and polymer-based hair care products via supercapacitor charge. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 3(9), 5029–5038 (2019). [DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.9b00832]
[2] Susatyo, D., Irzan, M., et al. Improving hair condition with keratin amino acid. In International Journal of Current Research, 6(6), 4412–4414 (2014).
[3] Seo, D.H., Lee, S.H., Kim, J.H., et al. Standardized biomimetic mussel adhesive proteins: synthesis,characterization, and d-alanine peptide-mediated adhesion mechanism of isolated cyclic estim-. ACC Mater. Sci. Engin., 14, 770–782 (2010).
[4] Leyva, A. J., González-Muñoz, E., Fernández-García, M. C., et al. Stem cells and hair regeneration. Cell Tissue Res., 372(2), 145–160 (2018). [DOI: 10.1007/s00072-017-3146-0]
[5] Togi, M., Lefèvre-Benachour, N., & Taieb, A. R. Biological activity of caffeine on dermal microcirculation. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, 3, 57–62 (2010). [DOI: 10.2147/CCID.S15188]
- A balanced diet rich in nutritious food sources, such as lean proteins, fresh fruits, and leafy greens, can positively impact mental health and promote overall health-and-wellness, including skin-care.
- Regular fitness-and-exercise, combined with mindfulness practices and a positive mindset, can contribute to reducing stress and managing symptoms of mental-health issues.
- It's essential for individuals seeking better hair health to care for their scalp as well, utilizing formulations containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, biotin, and niacinamide, which are beneficial not only for the hair but also for supporting skin-care and mental-health.
