The 12 Best Volumizing Shampoos to Boost Fine Hair
Best for Oily Hair
JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo
Best for Oily Hair
JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo
Credit: SephoraPros
- Hydrating formula that doesn’t weigh hair down
Cons
- Light, refreshing scent may be off-putting to some
Queer Eye fans know JVN would never let your hair go limp. Caffeine works to perk up hair follicles in his namesake multitasking shampoo, to give hair extra lift. Its sulfate-free formula also contains the brand’s signature squalane and hemi-squalane, which keeps hair hydrated—not weighed down.
What reviewers are saying: “As someone with fine hair I struggle with my hair getting greasy quickly. Somehow this product has significantly helped. My hair is very noticeably less greasy without being dry.” —SamC15
Best for Hair Growth
Fekkai Full Blown Volume Shampoo
Best for Hair Growth
Fekkai Full Blown Volume Shampoo
Credit: AmazonPros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Subtle scent may be off-putting to some
Fekkai’s go-to shampoo is, naturally, from his own line. “This gentle sulfate-free formula is powered by green coconut water to weightlessly plump up fine strands, rosemary extract to stimulate the scalp, and also the trademarked phytessence French oak that’s clinically proven to be one of the powerful anti-aging solutions for hair care,” he explains. Another thing to love? The amino acids in this formula, which promote long-term hair growth.
What reviewers are saying: “This product works better than any of the other shampoos I have purchased to make my hair look fuller and thicker. There is only so much that a person can do about thinning hair other than surgery or very strong chemicals. So, if you don’t want potentially harmful chemicals on your head then this is the product to buy. I sincerely doubt that you will regret it.” —Teresa
Best for Damaged Hair
Philip B Weightless Volumizing Shampoo
Best for Damaged Hair
Philip B Weightless Volumizing Shampoo
Credit: DermstorePros
- Ideal for taming frizz
Cons
- Lathers well, but some customers find the formula watery
If you want to add volume and repair dry, brittle hair in one fell swoop, Philip B’s Weightless Volumizing Shampoo is here to help. Thanks to the addition of essential oils and green tea, this best-selling formula adds lift without drying out hair. Plus, it’s safe to use on color-treated and keratin-treated hair.
What reviewers are saying: “The Weightless Volumizing shampoo smells like a gardenia shower leaving no residue or lifelessness like many other products. More easily managed without wilting or flopping. A yummy way to control this aging brittle hair without looking like you just soaked your head in oil.” —Vicki B.
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Best Value
Tresemmé 24-Hour Body Healthy Volume Shampoo
Best Value
Tresemmé 24-Hour Body Healthy Volume Shampoo
Credit: TargetPros
- Under $10
As Tresemmé’s 24-Hour Body Healthy Volume Shampoo proves, all-day volume doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. Silk protein keeps hair super soft without heavy moisturizers in this super-size drugstore favorite, which adds commercial-worthy bounce that won’t deflate as the day goes on.
What reviewers are saying: “If you’re looking for a decent shampoo to increase volume, this definitely does the trick. At the price point, you can’t find much better.” —Lexiep38
Best With Waterless Formula
SexyHair Big Powder Play Shampoo
Best With Waterless Formula
SexyHair Big Powder Play Shampoo
Credit: AmazonPros
- Great for travel
- Color-safe
No water? No problem. This TSA-friendly powder formula gets mixed with water when you shower, transforming into a rich lather that gives hair major volume for up to 72 (!) hours.
What reviewers are saying: “I’ve used this product for many years and it gives my hair lift and holds it in place. My hair is fine and has a tendency to go flat but not with this product.” —Jo Ann V.
Best for Dry Hair
Verb Volume Shampoo
Best for Dry Hair
Verb Volume Shampoo
Credit: UltaPros
- Receives top marks from shoppers looking for a hydrating solution
Volumizing shampoos typically include minimal conditioners or oils, but Verb’s provides lifted, lush results. Pro-vitamin B5 helps hair look thicker, while sunflower seed extract provides a dose of UV protection in this weightless cleanser. Meanwhile, ingredients like hydrolyzed soy protein and glycerin work together to keep hair moisturized.
What reviewers are saying: “My old hairdresser recommended this because she used Verb at the salon and at home. I bit the bullet, ordered some and love it! My hair has more volume and is healthier since using this. It’s also a lot less dry than when I use drugstore brands. I’m sensitive to scent but this smells amazing.” —Jillian
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Best for Straight Hair
Biolage Volumebloom Shampoo
Best for Straight Hair
Biolage Volumebloom Shampoo
Pros
- Great for color-treated hair
The combination of lifting at the root and plumping of the hair itself gives the illusion of thicker hair after just one wash with this gentle shampoo. In fact, Biolage claims this shampoo can create 70 percent more volume with a single wash.
What reviewers are saying: “I have fine/flat hair and was previously experimenting with different shampoos. This one is the best one I have tried so far, you can really tell the difference within just one wash. It adds a lot of volume to my hair and makes it look so healthy and feels so clean. It also smells super good, and the fragrance lasts at least 24 hours before it fades away.” —Ulissa
Best for Mature Hair
Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo
Best for Mature Hair
Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo
Credit: Better-Not YoungerPros
- Repairs dull, brittle hair
Hair has a tendency to lose volume as it ages, but this shampoo is designed to help reverse the process. Natural ingredients like sage, bamboo, and hops strengthen hair and unclog follicles so it looks fuller and healthier. Plus, according to a clinical study, Better Not Younger’s formula can reduce breakage by up to 98 percent.
What reviewers are saying: “My friends and family have complimented my hair to say it’s looking fuller and so pretty. It’s made a difference for me.” —Linda O.
Best for Color-Treated Hair
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Shampoo
Best for Color-Treated Hair
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Shampoo
Credit: AmazonPros
- Gentle formula is free of harsh chemicals
- Budget-friendly
Color-treated hair can still need volume, and this shampoo has both concerns covered. It contains lotus flower to help boost body, and has a gentle, sulfate-free formula that protects vibrant color from fading.
What reviewers are saying: “I have color treated hair and this shampoo has made a drastic difference in my color lasting and always looking fresh. My hair is always soft and manageable since I started using this shampoo and the conditioner two years ago. Even my hairdresser has commented on it.” —Lulu
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Best for Strength
OGX Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Shampoo
Best for Strength
OGX Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Shampoo
Credit: UltaPros
- Leaves hair smooth and shiny
Invest in your hair’s lasting health with OGX’s shampoo, designed to deliver on volume and durability. Biotin is a powerhouse ingredient when it comes to hair growth and volume. This formula combines it with strengthening collagen and bamboo for a healthier, fuller-looking head of hair with every wash.
What reviewers are saying: “I have been using it since I received it and it has made my hair so thick and voluminous. I love the smell of the shampoo and how healthy it has seemed to make my hair.” —meganh168
Best for Wavy and Curly Hair
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
Best for Wavy and Curly Hair
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
Credit: SephoraPros
- Color-safe
While Ouai’s fine-hair shampoo is compatible with a breadth of hair types, it does a pretty solid job of keeping curls, coils, and waves defined and bouncy. Thickness-boosting biotin, nourishing chia seed oil, and hydrolyzed keratin infuse hair with added body in this luxe, sulfate-free shampoo.
What reviewers are saying: “My hair feels so clean and smells amazing. I have pretty fine 4C curly hair, this shampoo was an instant fave for me.” —JSB1
Best for Scalp Care
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo
Best for Scalp Care
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo
Credit: SephoraPros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Doesn’t provide rich lather
Salon-style bounce and volume isn’t always achievable at home, but with this vitamin B5–infused shampoo, you can come pretty close. Bumble and Bumble’s Thickening Volume Shampoo delivers on that lifted, bouncy look, but its hydrating, softening formula can also help alleviate a dry, flaky scalp.
What reviewers are saying: “I have straight, thicker strand Asian hair. I love using this shampoo with my scalp massager. It makes my scalp feel clean but not stripped. Hair feels nourished and smells delicious.” —tramt17
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Meet the Experts
- Jenny Cho is a celebrity hairstylist and ambassador for Superzero.
- Frédéric Fekkai is a celebrity hairstylist and founder of Fekkai.
How do volumizing shampoos work?
Full, bouncy hair doesn’t magically appear: The best volumizing shampoos are specially designed to physically lift hair strands away from the root. Cho mentions that Superzero uses vegan keratin as a weightless way to tame flyaways and leave smooth, shiny hair behind. Since volumizing shampoos are well suited for people with thin hair, you’ll see that many formulas also promote hair strengthening and thickening—and that typically starts with the scalp.
“By removing oil and dead skin cells that make the hair appear limp, fine hair immediately looks fuller,” Fekkai sats. Meanwhile, Cho says ingredients like rosemary and caffeine are often used “to stimulate the scalp for people with thinning hair.”
Who are volumizing shampoos best for?
More times than not, volumizing shampoos are best suited for people with fine or thinning hair. “Using a volumizing shampoo helps lift your hair and give the look of fullness and thickness,” Cho explains. “Volumizing can also help address damaged hair issues and strengthen the strands.”
But while there are volumizing shampoos compatible with an array of hair types and textures, Fekkai recommends erring on the side of caution. “Those with dry hair, curly hair, or coarse hair will find a volumizing shampoo sorely lacking in hydration, nourishment, smoothing, and taming,” he says.
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How often should you use a volumizing shampoo?
Once you find a formula you love, feel free to use it as often as you wish. “Volumizing shampoo can be used the same as a regular shampoo; the product provides more bounce and lift,” Cho explains. “[It’s a] key first step in achieving a voluminous look and provides a great base for styling.”
Although many volumizing shampoos feature a light formula that won’t weigh your hair down, Cho says it’s important to thoroughly rinse your hair—especially if you choose to incorporate a conditioner. “[That way,] the hair feels clean, light, [with] bounce to last all day.”
Why trust Harper’s Bazaar?
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
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