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13 best shampoos for fine hair, according to experts and editors
Mar 21, 2025
If you have fine hair, you’ve probably come across shampoos labeled as thickening, volumizing and/or clarifying. For the average shopper, these labels and ingredients might as well be written in another language, says hairstylist Timothy Aylward. Some are like a puzzle, and one wrong piece can be the difference between a great hair day or a greasy one.
I spoke to hair care experts about what to look for and avoid when shopping for a shampoo for fine hair. I also rounded up their recommendations for the best options to shop.
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How I picked the best fine hair shampoo
When shopping for a shampoo specifically formulated for fine hair, experts recommend keeping the following factors in mind:
Gentle ingredients: I sought out shampoos that are free of harsh cleansers like sodium lauryl sulfate, opting instead for gentler ingredients like sodium lauryl sarcosinate or cocamidopropyl betaine, which are less irritating on the scalp. I also looked for lightweight conditioners that hydrate fine hair without weighing it down.
Volumizing formula: Fine hair shampoos are typically formulated to provide fuller looking strands by either penetrating the hair cuticle to expand it on the inside, or coating the exterior of the hair to appear more full, says New York City-based trichologist Shab Caspara. The goal is to lift and volumize, not weigh hair down.
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