10 Best Shampoos for Hair Growth, According to Dermatologists & Hairstylists
If you’re wrestling with hair loss, you’re likely curious about hair-growth products and whether solutions like the best shampoos for hair growth can be your ticket to healthier tresses. Anyone who’s dealt with hair loss knows it can be a mentally taxing experience. “It’s really very emotional for people,” says Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in New York City. Oftentimes hair-loss patients come into her office and start crying from the toll of it all, she says.
The thing that’s especially tough about watching your hair fall out (or one day noticing you have less hair than you used to) is there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. What helps one person regrow luscious tresses may do nothing for another. There’s also debate among experts about whether over-the-counter products, like hair-growth shampoos, actually work. Still, some people swear by them, so they may be worth adding to your hair care routine if you’re looking for a potential at-home solution for healthy, faster hair growth—just be sure to keep your expectations in check.
Hair-growth shampoos are “a great starting point for most people,” says Danilo Del Campo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and partner at Chicago Skin Clinic. With that in mind, we tapped experts for recommendations on which hair-growth shampoos you should consider (many of which are available on Amazon), plus answers to common hair-loss questions.
The best shampoos for hair growth, at a glance:
- Best Overall: Honeydew Biotin Rosemary Shampoo, $9
- Best for Curly Hair: Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo, $28
- Best for Fine Hair: Art Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, $12
- Best Shampoo & Conditioner Set: Pura D’or Anti-Thinning Advanced Therapy Biotin Shampoo, $45
- Best for Itchy Scalps: Neutrogena T-Gel Therapeutic Shampoo, $50
- Best Smelling: Darshana Natural Moisturizing Shampoo With Ayurvedic Botanicals, $26
- Best for Colored Hair: K18 Peptide Prep, $36
Your hair-growth shampoo questions, answered
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Best Overall: Honeydew Biotin Rosemary Shampoo
1/19Best overall: Honeydew Biotin Rosemary Shampoo
Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in NYC, describes this as an “excellent nourishing shampoo for promoting hair growth.” The product contains rosemary oil, which provides anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties to soothe irritated scalps and guard locks against environmental pollution, UV radiation, and bacteria, Dr. Green explains. It also contains biotin, which may help fortify your strands and encourage thicker, denser hair to grow, she adds.
Expert tip: Honeydew suggests letting the product sit in your hair for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing.
- Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, vegan
- Smells like: Citrus
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 8 oz.
- Hair type: Best for thin/fine hair
Best for Curly Hair: Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo
2/19Best for curly hair: Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo
As someone with curly hair herself (a hair type that can be dry and brittle), Jalia Pettis, a hairstylist and makeup artist based in Phoenix, appreciates how this shampoo clarifies strands, stripping them of buildup, and then moisturizes them with natural ingredients, like sea kelp and blue tansy flower oil. Moisturizing dry, frizz-prone hair helps with hair growth by combatting the impact of a flaky scalp and fortifying brittle follicles so they’re less prone to breakage, she explains.
Expert tip: Consider buying this shampoo in a set with a matching conditioner and hair oil. “What turned me on to [this brand] was actually the oil,” Pettis says. “I really like how it felt on the scalp without weighing it down.”
- Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, vegan
- Smells like: Floral
- Safe for color-treated hair: yes
- Size: 14 oz.
- Hair type: Best for natural hair types (wavy, curly, kinky, coily)
Best for Fine Hair: Art Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
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3/19Best for thin/fine hair: Art Naturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
Dr. Green praises this product, a great option for repairing thin, brittle, and damaged hair, for its powerful combination of ingredients. It contains argan oil, which helps moisture and soothe a dry scalp and strands; vitamin E, “a powerful antioxidant to protect the hair from free radical damage”; rosemary, which calms an irritated scalp; aloe vera, which revitalizes and strengthens hair; and saw palmetto, which can combat hair loss by decreasing the conversion of testosterone to DHT, she says.
Expert tip: Pick from three scent options: avocado, aloe vera, or rosemary.
- Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free, vegan
- Smells like: 3 options available: avocado, aloe vera, and rosemary
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 12 oz.
- Hair type: Best for all hair types
Best Budget: Head & Shoulders Bare Soothing Hydration Silicone-Free Dandruff Shampoo
4/19Best budget option: Head and Shoulders Bare Soothing Hydration Silicone-Free Dandruff Shampoo
This product is free of parabens and phthalates, two preservatives known to interfere with your endocrine system, Dr. Del Campo explains. “There's a concern [these ingredients] might do more harm than actual good,” he says, which is why he recommends shampoos made without them. Formulated with just nine ingredients and dermatologically accredited by the Skin Health Alliance (an organization that independently reviews products for safety and efficacy), this product is “meant for basic stuff that does promote some hair growth,” Dr. Del Campo says.
Expert tip: For optimal results, use at least twice a week, per the brand.
- Ingredient highlights: Paraben- and phthalates-free
- Smells like: Aloe, orchid
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 13.5 oz.
- Hair type: Best for all hair types
Best Shampoo & Conditioner Set: Pura D’or Anti-Thinning Advanced Therapy Biotin Shampoo
5/19Best shampoo and conditioner set: Pura D’or Anti-Thinning Advanced Therapy Biotin Shampoo
If you’re looking to double down on your hair-growth efforts, consider this shampoo-conditioner set from Pura D’or. Dr. Del Campo often recommends this brand to patients as it’s widely available and incorporates a lot of what he looks for in a hair-growth shampoo, including ingredients like biotin and saw palmetto, a “natural plant extract that may potentially slow hair loss,” he says. Plus, it contains antioxidants like rosemary oil, which are good for calming an irritated scalp.
Expert tip: Both the shampoo and conditioner are formulated at 1.5x strength, so use a small amount to start.
- Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free
- Smells like: Natural scent
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 16 oz.
- Hair type: Best for all hair types
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Best for Itchy Scalps: Neutrogena T-Gel Therapeutic Shampoo
6/19Best for itchy scalps: Neutrogena T-Gel Therapeutic Shampoo
Dr. Davis finds that tar-based shampoos, like this one from Neutrogrena, often provide extra body to the hair, making it seem thicker. On top of that, the product is designed to combat dandruff, scaling, and itchy scalp (typically due to conditions like seborrhea and psoriasis that impact scalp health), so it may be a good bet if you’re plagued by those issues in addition to hair loss.
Expert tip: This product also comes in an extra-strength formulation, which may be appropriate if you’re dealing with severe scalp health issues.
- Ingredient highlights: Coal tar
- Smells like: Citrus
- Safe for color-treated hair: Unknown
- Size: 16 oz.
- Hair type: Best for dry hair and damaged hair
Best Smelling: Darshana Natural Moisturizing Shampoo With Ayurvedic Botanicals
7/19Best smelling: Darshana Natural Moisturizing Shampoo with Ayurvedic Botanicals
A favorite of Pettis, this product lathers well and contains ayurvedic botanicals, which can help promote hair growth, she says. She raves about how it feels “absolutely awesome” and how well it naturally moisturizes hair. Another plus: “You can use it on all textures of hair,” Pettis adds. Lastly, it packs a pleasant scent. “I am a sucker for something that smells good,” she says, describing the aroma as fresh and citrusy.
Expert tip: Consider buying this for the whole family. Pettis has used it on both herself and her kids.
- Ingredient highlights: Paraben-free
- Smells like: Fresh citrus
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 8 oz.
- Hair type: Best for all hair types
Best for Colored Hair: K18 Peptide Prep
8/19Best for colored hair: K18 Peptide Prep
This professional-grade product is great if you’re looking to target and remove scalp flakiness and also balance the pH of your hair—the latter of which can improve the size of the hair follicle and promote thickness, Pettis says. Plus, it’s suitable for all types of hair textures, she adds.
Expert tip: This shampoo is another with a really good lather, says Pettis, so it suds up easily.
- Ingredient highlights: Silicone-free
- Smells like: Clean citrus
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 8.5 oz.
- Hair type: Best for all hair textures
Best for Silky-like Hair: L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Shampoo
9/19Best for silky-feeling hair: L'Oreal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Shampoo
Pettis recently started using this color-safe product on clients and has “quickly fallen in love with it.” Besides smelling really good (it has an earthy, perfume undertone, she says), it contains a peptides bonder and amino acids that repair the molecular structure of the hair, restoring its strength and elasticity, she explains. Pettis used this strengthening shampoo on a client with color-treated hair, who “just kept raving” about how soft it left her hair feeling.
Expert tip: This shampoo lathers really well, says Pettis, so start with a small amount. “A little goes a long way,” she says.
- Ingredient highlights: Peptides bonder and amino acids
- Smells like: Vanilla, floral
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 16.9 oz.
- Hair type: Best for extremely dry, damaged hair
Best Concealing Spray: Toppik Colored Hair Thickener
10/19Best concealing spray: Toppik Colored Hair Thickener
Okay, so this one isn’t technically a shampoo, but Dr. Davis recommends this product, which you could use as part of your styling routine, to help conceal thinning hair. “Basically the idea is to colorize your scalp to match your hair color so that you don't see the scalp showing through,” she says. That may give the illusion of fuller hair.
Expert tip: The product comes in five different colors, so make sure to find the hue that matches your hair color.
- Ingredient highlights: N/A
- Smells like: N/A
- Safe for color-treated hair: Yes
- Size: 5.1 oz
- Hair type: Best for all hair types
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11/19Does hair-growth shampoo work?
As mentioned, there’s no strong consensus among experts about whether hair-growth shampoos actually work. Some doctors, like Dr. Green, believe they do make an impact. “Hair-growth shampoos are an excellent way for promoting overall hair health, hair retention, and hair growth,” she says. Others, like Steve Daveluy, MD, associate professor and program director of dermatology at Wayne State University, in Detroit, are skeptical, pointing to a lack of scientific proof about their effectiveness.
Still others take a middle-ground approach, believing certain ones can help as part of a hair care routine, but only to an extent and certainly not for everyone. For instance, Pettis finds hair-growth shampoos to be “hit or miss.” The results, she says, all depend on the underlying cause of someone’s hair loss.
So how can you make sense of the conflicting opinions? Consider hair-growth shampoos as a potential solution. If you’re looking for a way to address hair thinning and loss at home, they may be worth a shot. Just know it may take some trial and error to find one that helps your situation and that results are never guaranteed.
12/19How does hair-growth shampoo work?
Again, there are mixed opinions here. Dr. Davis says hair-growth shampoos “are probably misnamed.” Instead of actually growing new hair, “mostly they make the hair seem thicker,” she explains. Perhaps the term “thickening shampoo” would be more apt.
Dr. Del Campo says hair-growth shampoos can help “address the skin health issues to optimize it for best potential growth.” He gives the analogy of the head being like a forest, where the trees are your hair and the soil is your skin. “If the forest is on fire, it doesn't matter what you are trying to do to promote more tree growth—you gotta first treat the actual fire, turn off any inflammation, and make sure the soil is the best it can be.” This is where shampoos fit in: They can “calm things down” and “set the stage” for hopefully more regrowth, he explains.
13/19What to look for in a hair-loss shampoo
If you decide to try a hair-growth shampoo, Dr. Green advises picking products made with the following ingredients:
- Minoxidil: This is an FDA-approved topical medication for reversing hair-follicle miniaturization. However, for minoxidil to be effective, it needs to penetrate the scalp, which may not happen if applied and rinsed off via a shampoo, explains Dr. Davis. In that case, a dermatologists can prescribe Minoxidil medications that can help.
- Biotin: This vitamin can support keratin production to increase hair volume and density and strengthen the hair shaft. (More on biotin below.)
- Niacin: This antioxidant packs anti-inflammatory properties and strengthens hair follicles to promote overall scalp and hair health.
- Coconut oil and argan oil: These oils contain fatty acids to deeply moisturize and protect hair. Additionally, argan oil has antioxidants to guard hair from free radical damage, while coconut oil contains lauric acid, a fatty acid, to protect the scalp from bacteria and irritants.
- Saw palmetto: This is a natural plant extract that may potentially slow hair loss, and panthenol, a vitamin B that can help hair grow thicker and stronger.
- Rosemary oil and peppermint oil: These antioxidants help reduce stress on the surface of the scalp.
Dr. Davis, for her part, recommends looking for a tar-based shampoo, as they can help give the hair extra body and make it seem thicker, she explains. (The one caveat: Tar can yellow blonde or white hair, so she recommends these types of products only for folks with dark hair. ) Volumizing shampoos may also be a good bet, as they can help thicken strands, she adds.
On the avoid front, steer clear of products with parabens and phthalates, two preservatives that can disrupt the functioning of your endocrine system, Dr. Del Campo says
14/19What is biotin?
Biotin is often promoted as a key ingredient for hair, skin, and nail health, but, um, what actually is it? Simply put, it’s a B vitamin that assists with a number of bodily functions. In the case of hair, biotin “supports keratin production to increase hair volume and density and strengthen the hair shaft,” Dr. Green explains. If you're looking for foods for hair growth, biotin can be found in eggs, nuts, and whole grain.
That sounds pretty great, but will taking biotin supplements, or using a shampoo with biotin in it, help you grow more luscious, healthy hair? According to Dr. Daveluy, while biotin can make your hairs stronger and thicker, it “doesn't affect their growth.”
Dr. Davis, for her part, believes biotin “does nothing.” That’s because your body will naturally excrete any excess amount when you pee, and it’s unclear whether biotin applied through a hair-growth shampoo would even make it into your body, she says. “I don't know if it's really going to be absorbed,” she says. “The scalp skin is thick.”
15/19Are there any biotin side effects?
There shouldn’t be any side effects of taking topical biotin via a shampoo, Dr. Davis says. But biotin supplements are a different story. They can affect the results of some blood tests, including one for your thyroid and one for your heart, Dr. Daveluy says. That’s why he advises against using them but warns that, if you do, “make sure you tell all your doctors.”
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16/19What’s the best hair-growth conditioner?
Hair-growth conditioners are another entry in this category. There’s no one best hair-growth conditioner—just like there’s not one best hair-growth shampoo—but if you find a shampoo that works for you, then see whether that brand offers a conditioner too, as many do. Just know using both at the same time probably isn’t necessary. “It’s a duplicating effort,” says Dr. Del Campo.
17/19What causes hair loss?
There are lots of different reasons behind hair loss. Factors like age, genetics, hormones, medical conditions, and stress can all contribute, Dr. Green says. Regarding age, as we grow older, “our hair follicles’ size decreases, leading to thinner, shorter hairs,” she explains. “This natural aging process can be exacerbated by genetics, as patients can be genetically more prone to thinning and hair-follicle miniaturization.”
Hormonal changes, like those that happen during pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause, can also play a role, and so can medical conditions, like thyroid and autoimmune disorders, she says.
Moreover, chronic stress can be to blame, as it can “trigger an immune response that attacks and damages hair follicles, causing hair loss,” Dr. Green says.
Another culprit: Metabolic problems, like iron deficiency anemia (a condition whereby you don’t have enough iron in your body), adds Dr. Davis. “Hair is just a protein, but it's the least important protein your body produces,” she says. So if your body doesn’t have all the vitamins and amino acid ingredients it needs to produce proteins, then hair “is the first thing your body will skimp on.” Additionally, COVID-19 infection can be another cause of hair shedding and loss. “This typically occurs after recovering from the illness,” Dr. Davis says.
18/19What are other hair-loss treatments?
For the most bang for your buck, consider a minoxidil 5% solution, Dr. Daveluy says: “Minoxidil has the best evidence of any over-the-counter hair-loss product.” Originally developed as a medication to lower blood pressure, minoxidil helps your blood vessels relax. “We aren't 100% sure how it helps hair growth, but we believe it relaxes the blood vessels in the scalp, which allows more blood flow to reach the hairs and nourish their growth,” he says.
You can also try certain prescription medications that either block DHT (a male hormone that can increase hair-follicle miniaturization) or decrease androgen production. These include propecia, dutasteride, and spironolactone, says Dr. Green.
Pricier potential solutions for hair loss include laser treatments, which can help regrow hair, as well as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, which involve a doctor drawing your blood, spinning it down, extracting the platelets, and injecting them into your scalp to help stimulate growth, Dr. Davis says.
“PRP injections require minimal downtime and are incredibly safe, as the PRP is taken from the patient’s own blood supply,” says Dr. Green. “Typically, an initial series of treatments is recommended, followed by regular maintenance sessions, to achieve the best restoration results.”
19/19Meet our experts
- Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in NYC
- Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in NYC
- Danilo Del Campo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and partner at Chicago Skin Clinic
- Steve Daveluy, MD, associate professor and program director of dermatology at Wayne State University
- Jalia Pettis, a hairstylist and makeup artist based in Phoenix
