14 Best Hair Thinning Shampoo for Men: What Should You Use?

Hair that thins and hair loss can happen for many reasons. Pin down the root cause, and use trial and error with shampoos and other products, since that approach can help.

Some options here include ingredients linked to less hair loss. Others mainly create a cosmetic effect by adding thickness or lift to hair you already have.

We reviewed clinical papers and data to highlight shampoo ingredients with the best support. We also considered customer feedback to round out this list.

Key Takeaways

• Shampoos support scalp health and cosmetically thicken hair, not cure medical hair loss.

• Ketoconazole in anti-dandruff formulas can reduce DHT effects that contribute to thinning.

• Helpful actives include niacinamide, glycerin, glycolic acid, salicylic acid for hydration and exfoliation.

• Choose lightweight formulas, focus on cleansing, let lather sit briefly, and pair with conditioner.

What to Look for in a Shampoo for Thinning Hair

When you search for a men’s shampoo for thinning hair, keep your focus on the points below.

Shampoo Is Scalp Care First

Keeping up with basic scalp hygiene is one of the simplest ways to support thinning. A healthy scalp keeps oil balanced and limits irritation or inflammation around the follicle.

That supports better blood flow and reduces buildup at the follicles. A family member with a sensitive scalp felt calmer with cooler rinse water. If your shampoo is gentle and balanced, you’re already set up well.

Thickening and Volumizing Shampoos

Cleansing is a shampoo’s main job, but some blends also give temporary thickening and volumizing benefits after you wash. These are not lasting fixes; they simply make hair look fuller in the moment.

Both aim for fullness; generally, volumizing shampoos lift hair at the roots, while thickening ones slightly widen each strand.

Consider Ketoconazole

A targeted option you can use in a thinning-hair shampoo is a familiar enemy of dandruff, too: ketoconazole, an antifungal ingredient.

Ketoconazole has anti-androgenic effects, meaning it can blunt the impact of hormones like testosterone through DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which contributes to hair loss.

It works by disrupting DHT’s binding to receptors, so less DHT hangs around to shrink follicles.

Try Other Active Ingredients

Niacinamide and glycerin in shampoo formulas can help maintain hydration at the scalp. Some familiar exfoliating acids can benefit many guys, too. If there’s any scale at the follicles, ingredients such as glycolic or salicylic acid can lift excess buildup and reduce itch or flaking.

Regular Shampoo vs. Preventative Care

As you begin to compare shampoos that could help slow hair loss, remember that a basic cleanser that only removes grime likely won’t be enough. Like many hair products, some shampoos aim to give more volume, which creates a look of extra texture.

Others coat each strand while cleansing to boost the impression of fullness. Many conditioners excel at that effect. If you want your shampoo to address hair loss itself, it won’t be the primary defense against balding, but it can support the rest of your plan.

In that case, favor formulas with saw palmetto or pumpkin seed oil, two key ingredients known to inhibit the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, the hormonal byproduct that gradually miniaturizes follicles and drives recession, thinning, and loss.

Aim your search toward shampoos that balance, purify, and reinforce the scalp. A scalp-centered routine encourages a healthier environment for follicles, which helps them anchor and extend the growth phase.

Lastly, choose light to mid-weight blends that won’t weigh hair down. For me, lighter textures tended to leave less residue on the roots. Very thick shampoos can feel squeaky clean, but dense formulas often strip more than daily buildup.

14 Best Hair Thinning Shampoo for Men

Start by matching your goal: a clean scalp, fewer flakes, or a fuller look. Pick a formula your skin tolerates, keep styling minimal, and give any choice a few weeks before judging. With that in mind, here are the best hair thinning shampoos for men.

1. Hims Thickening Shampoo

Hims Thickening Shampoo Saw palmetto DHT-related thinning, sulfate and paraben conscious users, not ideal for very dry scalps

This shampoo’s headline ingredient is saw palmetto, a palm native to the United States.

A 2020 review of older studies and trials suggests saw palmetto may deliver around a 60% overall improvement in hair quality for people with alopecia.

Saw palmetto also blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone tied to hair loss.

But according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, evidence is still limited, so we can’t say for sure it works for hair loss or thinning.

Some users appreciate that it’s free of sulfates and parabens, plus cruelty-free and vegan.

Others note the formula can feel drying on the scalp.

2. DS Laboratories Revita Shampoo

Revita’s performance-focused shampoo is a strong, balanced pick for anyone seeing thinning. Created by dermatologists and backed by clinical research, it pairs proven ingredients like caffeine and biotin to energize the scalp and support follicle health.

It also includes hydrolyzed soy and wheat proteins to reinforce the hair structure, reduce fall, and improve elasticity.

Many users report a visible boost in fullness and texture, and the sulfate-free base is gentle for daily use and color-treated hair. Use it with the matching conditioner and density serum for a simple routine.

3. Rogaine Thickening 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner

Rogaine is known for FDA-approved minoxidil treatments that stimulate growth. This two-in-one does not contain minoxidil and won’t regrow hair, but it complements Rogaine’s topicals by adding volume while gently cleansing the scalp.

Some users like the pump and the convenience. Over time, it left hair looking fuller, shinier, and curlier.

4. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Ketoconazole 1% Shampoo

The anti-dandruff active ketoconazole is also one of the better actives for DHT, a hormonal byproduct that shrinks follicles in male-pattern baldness.

Because of that, dermatologists often recommend it for hair loss and dandruff. I’ve had success with it, though like most products with this active, it feels drying, so I always follow with conditioner to fight frizz.

I think every guy should keep this on hand and use it once a month or every two weeks to manage flakes and help with DHT-driven shedding. Always follow with a nourishing conditioner, plus a thickening or volumizing one if you want extra body.

5. Vegamour Gro Revitalizing Shampoo

Made for thinning, breakage, or lackluster hair, Vegamour’s Gro Shampoo relies on plant-based actives to support healthier-looking strands without sulfates or harsh additives.

It features phytoactives like red clover and mung bean, plus karmatin, a vegan keratin that can strengthen fine, damaged hair by bonding to the shaft. It suits people avoiding minoxidil.

6. R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo

We’ve returned to R+Co’s Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo more than once for a reason. It is a dependable all-around thickening option for thinning hair.

This indie-luxe favorite packs ingredients that add volume and tend the scalp. Vitamin B5 coats strands for thickness and shine, while saw palmetto, a natural DHT-blocker, can help limit loss.

Coconut oil helps repair the scalp barrier, and a mix of vitamins and minerals supports healthier follicles. It won’t be a stand-alone growth trigger, but it reliably delivers noticeable thickening.

7. Nutrafol Scalp Microbiome 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner

We rarely love 2-in-1 cleansers since they can feel heavy and underperform next to separate products. But Nutrafol’s newest launch (yes, Nutrafol, the brand behind popular hair health supplements) changed our minds.

This two-in-one leans on research and earned a place after a few weeks of testing. Instead of a conditioner in disguise, it focuses on nourishing strands and, importantly, cleansing the scalp.

Nutrafol recognizes that thicker-looking hair starts at the root, so this sulfate-free cleanser clears pores and builds a healthy base. Lightweight conditioners like konjac root leave hair soft and bouncy, and the twist-top is a smart design. Use it alongside their supplements for a strong foundation.

8. Sachajuan Thickening Shampoo

Sachajuan shows up on many shortlists for a reason. This thickening shampoo skips frills and delivers where it counts, giving fine hair volume. Their proprietary Ocean Silk Technology, a blend of two cold-water algae extracts, is more than marketing.

Rhodophycea supports elasticity and strengthens strands, while chondrus crispus coats follicles with calcium and zinc to add thickness and shine. Together, they enhance your strands and set the stage for growth. Fine hair can look fuller after a few washes.

The formula also includes UV protectants to shield hair from heat and sun damage, and the minimalist auburn bottle with clean type looks great in any bathroom.

9. Aveda Invati Ultra Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo

An exfoliating shampoo might sound odd, but it makes sense here. The new Invati Ultra Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo with salicylic acid, the same star found in many face products, removes oil and residue from pores to set up stronger, thicker hair over time.

Though it seems unconventional, the cleanser is made for frequent use, and Aveda claims that as part of the four-step system, it can “reduce hair loss by 77%” and increase follicle thickness. Whether or not that holds, I loved how the frothy lather left my scalp feeling truly clean.

10. Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo

When it comes to thinning hair, clinical-leaning brands often rise to the top, and Nioxin, one of the originals in clinical hair care, has earned that status. With loyal fans since 1987, the brand keeps innovating, and the new Hair Fall Defense Shampoo acts like a serum for your scalp.

Designed to reduce hair loss and encourage thicker, fuller hair over several weeks, the formula blends proven and modern ingredients. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) nourishes follicles, caffeine supports blood flow, and the brand’s Sandalore (a synthetic sandalwood derivative) targets hair growth through olfactory receptors.

After a few washes, my brother saw less shedding and liked the clean scent, which made it easy to leave on for two minutes.

11. Act+Acre Stem Cell Shampoo

Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp, and Act+Acre’s Stem Cell Shampoo rethinks what a scalp cleanser can do. The skin under your hair is sensitive to environmental stressors, which can disrupt the growth cycle and cause thinning or shedding, and even premature loss.

The proprietary H2 complex uses apple stem cells to protect follicles and promote growth, a bamboo and pea sprout blend to enhance elasticity, caffeine to encourage blood flow, and hyaluronic acid for hydration.

This shampoo cleansed my scalp well and left my hair very soft after each wash, while steadily working to build thickness from the base up. How ’bout them apples?

12. The Grey Stimulating Shampoo

One of the best things to seek in a fortifying shampoo is a stimulating active, like the camphor and rosemary oil in The Grey’s formula. These ingredients can increase circulation to the follicles, improving their growth environment.

A solid dose of creatine leaves hair looking fuller after a single rinse. Our editors have long favored this pick for its ability to help hair look thicker right away and over time.

13. Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

If your hair is “thin” or “fine” rather than actively “thinning,” this one fits you. It also works if you have both thin and thinning hair.

OUAI’s formula coats hair with chia seed oil to leave it visibly plumper after rinsing and promises not to weigh down strands despite the extra coating.

It’s my fine-haired partner’s favorite and serves as a strong base for anyone addressing loss while pairing shampoo with other densifying steps.

14. Feel Confident Thickening Shampoo & Thickening Conditioner

Feel Confident is a straightforward, evidence-led line by an MD and hair restoration surgeon who saw a need for no-frills solutions. The idea is simple: reliable products that prioritize results over buzz. The shampoo and conditioner work together to thicken hair and support growth.

The shampoo cleanses without leaving hair stripped, and the conditioner nourishes without making strands too flat, which is common for those of us with finer hair.

They’re built with proven ingredients, including pumpkin seed oil to reinforce, caffeine to encourage circulation, and saw palmetto with turmeric root to counter DHT (a significant factor in hair loss). With steady use, my hair felt fuller and stronger. The conditioner also works solo on days you skip shampoo.

Pair a Scalp-First Shampoo with Natural Hair Care from Keyoma

Treat shampoos for thinning hair as focused scalp tools, not cures. Choose lighter formulas that clean without stripping. When dandruff or DHT plays a role, consider ketoconazole.

For hydration and buildup control, look for niacinamide, glycerin, and gentle acids such as glycolic or salicylic. Let the lather sit briefly, rinse well, and match your conditioner to your hair type.

Keep the rest of your regrowth routine steady outside the shower. Finish with Keyoma’s Batana Oil with Rosemary to add slip for a short scalp massage and to seal in light moisture while your actives work.