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While incredibly common–hair loss affects over 80 million people in the US, according to widely reported figures–it’s not the sort of topic that comes up at dinner parties. Few of us relish the discussion at all. Hair loss is stressful. I can attest to this. I feel far more sentimentality attached to my lengths than I should. My locks are like a protective blanket for me. I feel my best when my mane is freshly washed and styled. A blow-dry is transformational for my mood.
Vogue’s Favorite Shampoos for Hair Loss:
- Best Anti-Shedding Shampoo: Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo, $47
- Best for Strengthening: Dove Derma Scalp Density Boost Shampoo, $10
- Best for Scalp Stimulation: Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner, $163
- Best for Thickening: Viviscal Thickening Shampoo, $13
- Best for Repair: Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo, $42
I experienced my first wave of serious hair thinning back in 2020. Beyond normal shedding (50 to 100 hairs per day, say the American Academy of Dermatology), I started to notice clumps on my pillow and heart-plummeting handfuls on wash day. This set me on a mission to turn the tide with a holistic routine that includes hair supplements, red light therapy for hair growth, hair growth oils, hair serums and styling essentials designed to nourish, increase density, and promote follicle health. But the most effective routine should start with the right shampoo designed specifically to tackle hair loss.
As the first step in any wash day routine, it is important to choose the right ingredients in a shampoo to prevent irritation and dryness, and remove follicle-clogging buildup effectively, while also promoting a healthy scalp environment. This is the role of a shampoo for hair loss, says Dr. Nichola Conlon, molecular biologist and longevity expert, who also encourages managing expectations on how much a shampoo can do: “A cosmetic shampoo isn’t going to treat every underlying cause of hair loss, but what it can do is create a healthier environment for the hair you already have. A well-formulated shampoo can remove excess oil, product buildup and support the scalp barrier to help manage some of the scalp conditions that can contribute to irritation.”
The most effective results will be achieved by including shampoos for hair loss as part of a wider routine. Dr. Conlon adds, “When combined with good conditioning, it can also reduce breakage, which helps preserve density and length. There are emerging ingredients and technologies aimed at supporting the follicle and reducing shedding, but I’d think of shampoo as one part of a wider scalp-and-hair routine rather than a standalone.”
First, it is important to get to the root cause (sorry, not sorry) of what is causing hair loss in the first place. With the help of Dr. Conlon as well as health expert and physician Dr. Naheed Ali, we decode the different types of hair loss, the ingredients to look out for, the frequency of how often to wash your hair and the other products to support a wider hair loss-fighting routine.
Below, Vogue highlights six of the best shampoos for hair loss to consider.
In This Story:
Best Anti-Shedding Shampoo: Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo
Nioxin
Hair Fall Defense Shampoo
- Why We Love It: In Nioxin’s clinically-proven shampoo, there is a quad of follicle-stimulating ingredients, like niacinamide to improve scalp barrier function and caffeine to improve blood microcirculation. The clinical study was undertaken by participants who were experiencing hair loss, and it revealed that using this shampoo minimized shedding by creating a healthy environment in which hair can grow and hair fall is reduced.
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, sandalore and lauric acid
- Size: 16 oz
Best for Strengthening: Dove Derma Scalp Density Boost Shampoo
Dove
Derma Scalp Density Boost Shampoo
- Why We Love It: According to Dr. Conlon, molecular biologist and longevity expert, this shampoo from Dove’s newly revamped hair-care collection is worth noting for its “scalp-first approach.” The hair expert is a fan due to “ingredients such as niacinamide with targeted technologies designed to support the scalp and hair fiber rather than focusing solely on how the hair looks.” While also giving value for money with the large size and affordable price tag, the formula gives hair a fuller appearance and cleanses without stripping.
- Key Ingredients: Amino complex, zinc and biotin
- Size: 16 oz
Best for Scalp Stimulation: Philip Kingsley Density Duo Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner Duo
Philip Kingsley
Density Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
- Why We Love It: The Kingsley family is renowned for its trichological clinics, which have established it as a trusted authority in scalp care. This shampoo, for instance, contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and stimulate the scalp as well as strengthening molecules that penetrate deep into the cortex to minimize breakage. The conditioner is powered by polymers and peptides for volume, while biomimetic ceramides help to replace lost lipids in damaged hair. A strong all-rounder for thinning hair.
- Key Ingredients: hyper-branched polymers, hydrolysed pea peptides, strengthening molecules, salicylic acid
- Size: Shampoo 200ml, conditioner 170ml
Best for Repair: Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo
Vegamour
Gro Revitalizing Shampoo
- Why We Love It: Vegamour’s shampoo takes a more botanical approach to growth—safeguarding against further loss with the likes of caffeine, biotin, and biomimetic peptides; plus, the likes of Karmatin (a microencapsulated vegan B-silk protein), red clover, and mung bean. Per board-certified dermatologist Noah Gratch, MD this combination helps stimulate and nourish the scalp, strengthen the hair, and repair breakage.
- Key Ingredients: Karmatin, marula, baobab, murumuru butter, red clover, mung bean
- Size: 50 mL, 236 mL
Best for Thickening: Viviscal Thickening Shampoo
Viviscal
Thickening Shampoo
- Why We Love It: What drew me into the Viviscal shampoo and conditioner was the long-lasting aroma, but beyond simply the scent, there is a greater lasting impact too. A powerhouse concoction of hair-strengthening and growth-inducing ingredients, the formula includes biotin, keratin, marine collagen and seaweed extract, a quad that any person looking for a thicker, fuller mane will be very familiar with.
- Key Ingredients: Biotin, keratin, marine collagen and seaweed extract
- Size: 250ml
Everything You Need to Know
What are the different types of hair loss?
Before beginning any hair loss treatment plan, experts will want to first get to the bottom of the causes of the hair loss in the first place, be it stress-related, genetic or a condition. Dr Ali explains the different types:
- Androgenetic alopecia: “The most common form, known as male and female pattern hair loss; follicles gradually become smaller over time.
- Telogen effluvium: Causes increased shedding after triggers such as illness, stress, weight loss, hormonal changes or childbirth.
- Alopecia areata: an autoimmune condition that usually causes patches of hair loss.
- Traction alopecia: from repeated tension on the hair.
- Scarring alopecia: where inflammation can permanently damage the follicle.”
Which shampoo ingredients should you look out for to help with hair loss or scalp health?
In the hair loss space, there are ingredients commonly discussed, like caffeine, rosemary, biotin, niacinamide and more recently, peptides. But are they worth looking out for in a hair loss shampoo?
- Caffeine: According to both experts, there is encouraging evidence for caffeine.
- Rosemary: This TikTok viral ingredient has much in the way of anecdotal evidence and some encouraging evidence, suggests Dr Ali, but Dr Conlon believes “we still need stronger clinical research before making big claims.”
- Minoxidil: An established ingredient to treat androgenetic alopecia.
- Niacinamide: A particularly interesting ingredient for Dr Conlon, who says she is “interested in ingredients that support the environment the follicle is growing in by supporting skin barrier and hydration.”
- Peptides: Increasingly discussed for hair quality and follicle functionality, Dr. Ali says these “may help improve the condition and appearance of the hair”.
- Biotin: “I would be more cautious about biotin claims because unless someone is actually deficient, there is little evidence that adding biotin to a shampoo will stimulate new growth,” cautions Dr Ali.
- What else? “For dandruff or an inflamed, flaky scalp, ingredients such as ketoconazole, salicylic acid, selenium sulphide, or zinc-based anti-dandruff agents may be more useful.”
Does the frequency of shampooing have an impact on hair loss?
This is a common myth, say the experts. “There’s a persistent myth that washing your hair too often makes it fall out, but the hairs you see in the shower are generally hairs that were already at the shedding stage of their growth cycle and washing simply helps release them,” explains Dr. Conlon. She advises that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to hair washing. “There isn’t one ideal shampooing frequency for everybody. It depends on your scalp, hair type, how oily you are, how active you are, and whether you have conditions such as dandruff. The aim is to keep the scalp clean and balanced without unnecessarily drying or irritating it. Someone with an oily scalp may comfortably wash every day, whereas another person may need to wash much less frequently.”
Are there products that are more important for hair loss than shampoo?
“Treatments such as topical minoxidil have considerably stronger evidence than cosmetic shampoos because they act directly on the hair-growth process,” Dr. Ali tells us. “Other treatments depend entirely on the diagnosis, which is why identifying whether someone has pattern loss, excessive shedding, inflammation, or an autoimmune condition matters more than choosing a particular shampoo.”
In general, however, Dr. Conlon believes that “leave-on scalp products are interesting because they remain in contact with the scalp for much longer than a rinse-off shampoo. This is why I increasingly think about haircare as a system: shampoo to maintain the scalp environment, conditioner and masks to protect the fiber, and targeted scalp serums to support the environment in which the follicle grows.”
What signs suggest that hair loss may need medical investigation?
Both experts agree that you should seek medical assessment if the following occurs: sudden hair loss, worsening and occurring in patches. Look out too for when “the scalp is painful, very itchy, red, inflamed or beginning to scar. Loss of eyebrow or body hair can also be significant.”
Dr. Conlon warns, “Hair shedding can sometimes be a sign of something happening elsewhere in the body, including iron deficiency, thyroid or hormonal issues, illness or nutritional changes, so getting to the underlying cause matters.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to shampoos for hair lostt, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, lather, and the hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.
Meet the Experts
- Dr Naheed Ali is a health expert, physician and senior contributor at Vera Clinic
- Dr Nichola Conlon is a molecular biologist, longevity expert and Dove’s hair and skin expert