Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Fine Hair

Not everyone has enviable, thick hair. If your hair is a bit lackluster, flat, or fine, there are a variety of ways to bring more life and body to your locks. You can always opt for extensions or tease your hair to the high heavens. 

But if expensive extensions or a rat tail comb aren’t your ideas of a good time, there are shampoos and conditioners designed to thicken your strands and bring out the best in your tresses. These products help to boost volume and give the appearance of fuller hair. Many offer ingredients that improve the health and look of your mane, especially with consistent use. Keep reading to find our top picks for the best shampoos and conditioners for fine hair. 

Best shampoo and conditioner for fine hair overview:

• Best overall: Pura D’or Hair Thinning Therapy System Original Scent
• Best budget: Derma’e Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner Set
• Best scalp treatment: Vitabrid C12 Scalp+ Shampoo
• Best dry shampoo: Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Dry Shampoo
• Best vegan: Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner Kit
• Best instant: Bb. Thickening Volume Shampoo
• Best for oily hair: Nutrafol Root Purifier
• Best repair: Aveda Invati Advanced Thickening Conditioner
• Best moisturizing: MoroccanOil Extra Volume Shampoo
• Best for all hair types: Living Proof Full Shampoo

How we chose the best shampoo and conditioner for fine hair

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including the size, scent, key ingredients, and more, to create a short list of the top shampoos and conditioners for fine hair. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best shampoo and conditioner for fine hair for each category.

Our picks for the best shampoo and conditioner for fine hair

Various issues can cause hair thinning, from stress to postpartum and everything in between. When you’re fighting hair thinning, boosting those strands is critical to creating the look of a full head of hair. The Pura D’or Hair Thinning Therapy System is designed to do exactly that, with a proprietary formula that incorporates 15 active ingredients to slow thinning, boost volume, and improve the overall health of your hair. 

You’ll love that organic aloe vera, rather than water, is the main ingredient for a more hydrating treatment. It leverages biotin and copper tripeptides to help strengthen your hair and condition your scalp. Apple stem cells work to soften your strands while amla and meadowfoam oils infuse moisture for enhanced durability. 

This pick is ideal for those fighting frizz or struggling with damaged or over-processed hair, and it’s still safe for color-treated hair. Although it’s somewhat pricey for budget shoppers, it’s a duo set that comes with a shampoo and companion conditioner.

Size: 16 fl oz each | Scent: Original

Who doesn’t love a good tingling sensation when they’re washing their hair? If you’ve got your hand up, Derma’e’s Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner Set should be on your shortlist. Besides being relatively economical for a wash set, you’ll like that it does not just thicken your hair but stimulates your scalp — a must-have feature if you want to boost circulation and improve hair growth.

The thickening shampoo leverages proteins, vitamins, and oils that moisturize your scalp while working to increase the volume of your hair. The conditioner also contains argan oil for added hydration and peppermint oil to invigorate your scalp. Along with being safe for color-treated hair, this pick is ideal for all hair types and is 100% vegan. And biotin is one of the main ingredients which works to soften your hair.

Size: 10 fl oz each | Scent: Mint and herbal blend

Ask any expert, and they’ll tell you that healthy hair starts at the scalp. So, if you’re hoping to transform limp strands into enviable, lush locks, you can’t ignore this vital aspect. Vitabrid C12’s Scalp+ Shampoo focuses on nourishing the scalp using a gentle clarifying formula rich in antioxidants and a vitamin B complex. 

The complex includes fan favorites like biotin, niacinamide, and panthenol, which improve the skin barrier to prevent dryness, flaking, and irritation. And the inclusion of vitamin E works to protect against environmental stressors like UV rays. This pick is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicone, mineral oil, and artificial colorants. 

Additionally, you’ll find that this formula includes a DHT (dihydrotestosterone) blocker, a hormone known to cause premature hair loss. It also contains amino acids that aid in reducing hair damage and encouraging healthy hair growth. You can rest easy knowing that this shampoo is safe for all scalp and hair types.

Size: 10.14 fl oz | Scent: Citrus

Sometimes your schedule won’t allow you to luxuriously lather in the shower to give your strands the TLC they deserve. But that doesn’t mean you can leave your day-two hair untouched. Thankfully, dry shampoo can pull double duty to help absorb oil and give your hair the refresh that it needs. 

The Hask Biotin Boosting Thickening Dry Shampoo is designed to do exactly that while also absorbing sweat and odor so that no one has to know that you didn’t wash your hair. The formula is safe for color-treated hair and is free of sulfates, phthalates, gluten, aluminum, and artificial colors.

Thanks to key ingredients like biotin, collagen, coffee, and ultra-fine rice starch, this fast-acting formula lifts your strands for added volume. Its wallet-friendly price makes it accessible to a wider range of beauties.

Size: 8.5 fl oz | Scent: Herbal

Be a good steward of the earth and get bouncier, more voluminous hair at the same time with Vegamour’s GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner Kit. This pick features a unique vegan keratin formula, as most keratin is derived from animal ingredients. 

Instead of using animal byproducts, Vegamour relies on a b-SILK protein that physically bonds to your hair follicles even after rinsing. Ultimately, this gives the appearance of thicker strands for healthy volume — minus the guilt. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of wild-harvested marula oil, organic murumuru butter, and Ximenia oil, which all work to hydrate and condition your hair and protect it from free radicals.

Size: 8 fl oz | Scent: Natural

It’s important to remember that many volumizing hair products are designed to work over time. While this is optimal as a long-term solution, it can also be frustrating for those who want instant results. The Bumble and Bumble Bb. Thickening Volume Shampoo aims to make its beauties happy quickly, providing bigger tresses after one wash. However, continued use should provide you with a longer-lasting volume. 

This pick is designed specifically for people with fine to medium hair. While it boosts your volume, it also delivers serious hydration. It softens hair texture to prevent strands from feeling stiff or looking immovable.

This product is also an economical choice, as a little goes a long way. Use it with its companion Bb. Thickening Volume Conditioner to get even better results.

Size: 8.5 fl oz | Scent: Floral

There are many reasons a person could have limp, lackluster strands. One cause could be excessive oil production. Nutrafol, the brand behind those popular hair vitamins, also creates hair care products that are intended for use alongside the supplements. 

The Root Purifier is another scalp-focused shampoo that’s specifically designed to cut through excess oil production to improve scalp health and unclog your hair follicles. But if you’re concerned about dryness, don’t be. The formula includes antioxidants like Australian wild berries, microbiome prebiotics, and vegan proteins to help improve moisture and balance your scalp’s pH. 

According to a clinical study, 100% of the 37 participants saw improvement in scalp hydration and less flaking after two weeks, as well as an immediate reduction in oiliness on their scalps. Note that this pick is also safe for color-treated hair and extensions. It’s also ideal for all hair types. Use it in conjunction with Nutrafol’s Strand Defender Conditioner for best results.

Size: 8.1 fl oz | Scent: Natural

Thinning hair can occur for various reasons, but bad hair practices can be a major one. Whether you have a habit of wearing your hair in a ponytail that’s too tight or you’ve over-relied on protective styles like extensions, you’ll probably agree that your hair has seen better days. 

Aveda comes to the rescue with the Invati Advanced Thickening Conditioner. It’s a strengthening product designed to leverage naturally derived amino acids to aid in correcting not just thinning hair but issues caused by breakage or postpartum. 

According to a study that followed 104 participants for 12 weeks, 4 out of 5 individuals noted that their hair looked and felt thicker with consistent use. Likewise, those with manipulation-related (brushing) breakage experienced less hair loss by as much as 53%. 

The product contains amla oil, which thickens your hair, while a lightweight blend of plant oils works to condition your hair. Use this conditioner with Invati companion shampoos and a scalp revitalizer to maximize your wash routine.

Size: 6.7 fl oz | Scent: Herbal

Sometimes poor hydration can contribute to thinner hair. If your strands are dry and limp, the MoroccanOil Extra Volume Shampoo is designed to give you the moisture infusion you need for fewer bad hair days. 

As is typical with most of this brand’s products, the hero ingredient is Argan oil, a natural product that’s rich in vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. It helps to nourish your strands and protect them from environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays. 

You’ll also get a boost of frizz-fighting protection from the added glycerin and extra hydration by way of cocamide MEA, a coconut oil-based fatty acid. Finally, your hair gets that volumizing oomph it needs from linden bud extract that aids in naturally plumping the hair as well as providing conditioning relief. Note that this product contains SLS and synthetic fragrance.

Size: 8.5 fl oz | Scent: Herbal

Type 1 hair (straight hair) isn’t the only hair type that struggles with thinner-looking strands. Yes, Type 4 coily heads may find thin strands even with all that texture. So, with that in mind, it’s important to look for volumizing products that work for all hair types, not just straight hair. 

Living Proof’s Full Shampoo is designed to work for all different kinds of hair, making it a great solution to help boost volume without piling on products or excessively teasing your locks. Just keep in mind that this is a clarifying shampoo that also works to remove dirt and product buildup.

While this is recommended for all hair types, it’s important to mention that it’s best suited to people with fine strands. So, you might see less of an effect if you have thin hair but coarse strands. Key ingredients your hair will love include a proprietary amino cleansing complex that’s sulfate-free and safe for color-treated hair and phytantriol, which also works as a heat protectant. Note there’s also a companion conditioner available from this brand. 

Size: 8 fl oz | Scent: Light citrus

Make the most of your mane

Just because you have fine hair doesn’t mean it has to be limp. Plenty of products rely on natural ingredients to not only improve volume but to enhance your scalp health — a critical factor in improving hair retention and growth outcomes. If thinning is a concern (or you simply want to focus on your scalp), our favorite from Pura D’or is a two-step system designed to gently cleanse and condition while infusing your scalp and hair with ingredients that produce tangible results. 

How to pick the right shampoo and conditioner for fine hair

Fine hair can be tricky to manage as you want to make it look fuller, but if you use the right products, you can achieve the results you’re looking for. Consider what’s specifically causing your hair to look thin or flat, as well as other hair concerns, like damage from overprocessing or poor growth. 

Cause

• Dirty hair. Dirty hair tends to look flat. If product buildup or even general dirt is the reason behind your limp strands, consider a gentle clarifying shampoo that can effectively remove buildup or excess oil from your scalp and roots. 
• Damage or breakage. Depending on where along the hair shaft you’re experiencing breakage, you may also struggle with thin hair. Look for products that tout proteins that bond with the hair and repair split ends or breakage. Also, consider volumizers that help individual strands look thicker and create the illusion of fullness. 
• Hair loss. Hair loss can happen for many reasons, with the top causes being postpartum and traction alopecia. Products that focus on these concerns often emphasize scalp stimulation to boost circulation and encourage growth over time. 

Other concerns

• Dryness. While dryness doesn’t always lead to flat hair, it’s a common haircare issue that many people experience. If you’re fighting dehydrated hair, look for products containing humectants and other moisturizing ingredients, such as amla oil, argan oil, coconut oil, and even glycerin.
• Color-safe. Not all products are safe for color-treated hair. So, if you do have colored hair, ensure that the shampoo or conditioner you use will plump up your strands without sapping color. 
• Timeline. Not all products work quickly. While there are some options, such as the Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Dry Shampoo or the Bb. Thickening Volume Shampoo that each yield results in just one use, most are designed to build volume over time. 

FAQs

What’s the best brand of shampoo for fine hair? 

Haircare is personal. What works for one person may not work for your hair’s porosity or chemistry. Likewise, you might find that you dislike the smell of a product or how long it takes to yield results. However, our roundup highlights a range of products designed for a variety of hair types as well as differing hair concerns. 

What’s the best volumizing shampoo for fine, thin hair?

The best shampoo — even across the volumizing category — is going to depend on your hair type, porosity level, and individual concerns. It’s always best to start with a volumizing shampoo that’s designed for all hair types and general fullness before venturing into some of the more reparative products that target specific issues. 

What hair products should you use for fine hair?

The products you use should depend on your hair type, porosity level, and individual concerns. However, it’s usually best to avoid heavy products that leverage butters or heavier oils like coconut and caster oil, as these will weigh down your hair, leaving it looking flat and limp