Our best overall pick is Biolage Advanced Full Density Thickening Shampoo, which contains biotin, zinc, and a gluco-omega blend to strengthen hair while removing follicle-clogging impurities that can prevent new hair growth.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
While you may not be able to permanently double the thickness of your hair overnight (short of using hair extensions), there are ways to visually enhance the thickness of your hair, style your locks to maximize volume, and encourage healthy growth through scalp care.
Thickening shampoo can't treat hair loss on its own, but it really can give your hair a fuller, healthier-looking appearance over time. How? Every day, sweat, dirt, and styling products gather on your scalp and clog up your hair follicles. Left unaddressed, these common pollutants can damage or even kill the follicles.
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.
For hair growth, we recommend opting for a biotin supplement that contains anywhere from 300 mcg to 1,000 mcg. You will begin to see results after 4-8 weeks, or long-term results after a few months.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
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.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
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.
Increasing your intake of biotin may help make your hair stronger and more resistant to falling out. Biotin is a common over-the-counter supplement that is touted to promote healthy hair growth.
If no home remedies work for your hair loss, use a daily biotin supplement for at least 6 months to start seeing results.
Oils like castor, peppermint, onion, coconut, jojoba, argan, amla, olive, grapeseed, rosemary, and tea tree are often recommended for hair growth. They help boost blood circulation and strengthen hair.
When your hair is thinning, Dr. Farah says you only want to use shampoo on your scalp. "Typically, we would want the patient to focus shampoo on the scalp, massage into the scalp, and avoid it on the hair follicle [or strand]," she says.