“Thickening shampoos totally work, but it's important to find one that is not too heavy. A good thickening shampoo should ironically feel light,” explains celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins. “You should avoid silicones, sulfates, parabens, phthalates,” emphasizes Hawkins.
Here's the hard truth: Little can be done to permanently change the diameter of individual hair strands. Thickening products can do wonders to temporarily plump hair strands, but when it comes down to it, fine hair is genetic and can't be changed.
Well-placed highlights and general colour can help add dimension to hair. “The minute you start adding texture or contrast with colour, you start to see more depth, and that can give the illusion of thickness,” says Hersheson. “Adding very subtle, different tones throughout will do the job well.”
Our top choice, the Kérastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo, helps to fortify, plump, and protect fragile hair. If you need something more budget-friendly, try the Marc Anthony Grow Long Super Fast Strength Shampoo, which includes ginseng and caffeine to help stimulate the scalp.
By including ingredients that keep hair follicles clean and nourished, thickening shampoo (also called “volumizing shampoo”) aims to make thin or thinning hair look thicker and fuller.
The best hair-thickening shampoo will offer the most benefits to your hair if you only use it a few times a week. Every other day is best, or every third day if you suffer from a dry scalp or brittle hair. While you should continue to shower daily, you can treat your hair differently.
The most common B Vitamin you might already be familiar with is Biotin—also known as Vitamin B7. If you've been looking into growth vitamins to thicken your hair, you're likely familiar with Biotin at this point. It's an essential growth ingredient often added to supplements that promote healthy hair and nails.
The bottom line. There's no strong evidence to support using biotin for hair growth or to prevent hair loss in people without a deficiency. Because hair thinning and poor hair growth are sometimes associated with a biotin deficiency, correcting a deficiency can help restore hair growth in some people.
If you are experiencing thinning or balding, our Bosley experts recommend washing no more than three times a week.
Regular intake of excessive quantities of certain nutrients can cause hair loss in some cases due to a temporary condition known as Telogen Effluvium. However, the effects of too much vitamin B7 - also known as biotin toxicity - remain unconfirmed.
However, vitamin B12 may give you the appearance of fuller and thicker hair because the increase in oxygen to hair follicles can help stimulate the replacement of lost strands. Vitamin B12 may also help give your hair an overall healthier appearance since intake of enough B12 is responsible for stronger hair shafts.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Lifestyle factors could include using certain hair products, wearing your hair up too tightly, experiencing high stress levels, or not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet. People who have immune system deficiencies could also have thinning hair.
Here's the truth: You can't change the size of your hair follicles. If you were born with fine hair, it's genetics, and no product will completely alter that. Of course, there are ways to maintain your hair health, add volume, and keep it from getting any thinner.
Hair thickening shampoos work to plump hair strands by infusing them with protein and vitamins. It provides a temporary solution for those born with thin hair. The body normally sheds a certain amount of dead hair, but anyone experiencing unusual or excessive hair thinning should see a dermatologist.
How long does it take to show any difference? In about 3 or 4 days you will see some changes in your hair's volume. After about a week, then what you see is pretty much the full effect that you'll get from the shampoo. You'll need to keep using it to maintain that volume and thickness, however.
If you're concerned about shampoos that cause hair loss, the two most common sulfates to avoid are sodium lauryl sulfates and sodium laureth sulfates.