Best shampoo for black male hair growth

If your hair is thinning (and if you want it to stop thinning), it makes sense to start with the best shampoo for thinning hair. Of course, don't stop there: Stopping hair loss typically involves dietary, health, and medical intervention. But these efforts can also be supported by the right hair products. And that’s why there is such a thing as the best shampoo for thinning hair—though what “best” means will differ from one guy to the next.

Like many hair products, some shampoos can aim to give more volume, and the illusion of texture. Or, they might coat each strand while cleaning, to provide an overall boost in fullness. (Many conditioners do the latter especially well.) If you want to really target the hair loss itself with your shampoo, know that this isn’t going to be your primary defense against added fall, but it can certainly boost the effort. In this case, look for formulas with saw palmetto or pumpkin seed oil, the two primary ingredients that are known to inhibit the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is the hormonal byproduct that steadily shrinks hair follicles and leads to recession, thinning, and overall loss. Lastly, you can point your shampoo search towards products that balance, purify, and fortify the scalp. A scalp-focused regimen can create an optimal environment for your follicles, which in turn means they stay better anchored and experience prolonged growth.

Our roundup of the best thinning hair shampoos covers all of these approaches. Have a look, and see which option best suits your needs. But remember, don’t pin the entire hair retention effort on a shampoo alone. You should instead speak with your board-certified dermatologist to build a hair retention plan that works for you.

See also: Everything You Need to Know About Going Bald

The Best Thickening Shampoo for Thin or Thinning Hair

R+Co BLEU thickening shampoo

$59

Neiman Marcus

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The protein-rich formula in R+Co BLEU's thickening shampoo seeps into each strand of hair, making them individually thicker. The overall result, when applied across all of your head, is immediately noticeable, and it even feels thicker as you run your hands through it. It leaves hair shiny, hydrated, and with added volume—and should be chased with the brand's thickening conditioner too.

The Best Volumizing Shampoo for Thinning Hair

Sachajuan volumizing shampoo

$31

Amazon

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This ocean-blue shampoo floods your hair with vegetable proteins, making it stronger so that it stands upright—strong and proud. And unlike other shampoos that give your hair volume by stripping it of all moisture, Sachajuan's never compromises hair quality or health. You get volume, plus that healthy shine.

The Best Medicated Shampoo for Busting DHT

MDhair regrowth shampoo

$22

MDhair

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If you want to double down on proactively fighting hair loss while shampooing, then this is the product to do it with. MDhair's formula combines pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto, the two best natural ingredients for DHT mitigation.

The Best Shampoo Alternative/Co-Wash

Modern Mammals daily hair rinse

$26

Modern Mammals

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If you're shampoo-averse, then you may want to try co-washing, which is when you rely on conditioner to flush away grime and excess oil. It works wonders, especially with a product like Modern Mammals' everyday rinse. It almost straddles the line between shampoo and conditioner, though it is definitely more the latter. It delivers a hydrating rinse that won't compromise your thinning hair's health, and will instead preserve its buoyancy while also promoting a healthy, habitable scalp. Best of all, you can use it daily.

The Best Shampoo for Scalp Stimulation

Davines circulation-boosting shampoo

$32

Amazon

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Caffeine wakes up your scalp, too: It’s pumped into Davines’ shampoo, and boosts circulation to the scalp and into each hair follicle. This increases nutrient delivery to each strand, and in turn strengthens hair as it grows. The gradual effect is that it slows future loss, and prevents breakage along any of the strands.

The Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for Hair Growth 

Selsun Blue moisturizing anti-dandruff shampoo

$7

Amazon

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If you're prone to itching or flaking up top, then give your scalp a periodic rinse with an anti-dandruff shampoo. (We like a once- or twice-monthly dose when preventing the problem, and more frequently when treating the problem.) One like Selsun Blue's will handle things promptly—just don't use it as your routine shampoo, or it might dry out your strands. (And always follow it with a conditioner or better yet, a deeply restorative hair mask.)

The Best Clarifying Shampoo for a Healthy Reset

OUAI detox shampoo

$30

Amazon

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Once every week or two, you should give your head and scalp a true flushing out—with a detoxifying/clarifying shampoo that removes hard water buildup, excess grime and oil, and the likes. OUAI's does that while also pumpkin keratin into your strands for a fortified freshening-up.

The Best Shampoo for Curly, Thinning Hair

Briogeo volumizing shampoo

$26

Sephora

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If you have curly hair, you know different hair types call for specific products. While it's packed with biotin to fortify thin hair and promote growth, Briogeo's shampoo also lifts hair without parching it. This is music to the ears of anyone with curly hair, because it promises bouncy, full, lively curls, even if your hair isn't as full as it used to be. (With argan oil and other hydrating ingredients, this one makes it look fuller, too.)

The Best Dry Shampoo for Men for Men With Thinning Hair 

Living Proof dry shampoo

$41

Amazon

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Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day assortment really lives up to its name, and this dry shampoo upholds it all—literally. It gives hair more texture and volume by soaking up the excess oils at the root of the hair, buying you an extra day before requiring a wash.

The Best Dry Shampoo Spray for Men With Thinning Hair 

Maria Nila light powder spray dry shampoo

$32

Amazon

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Swedish hair brand Maria Nila is finally a hit stateside, and this lighter-than-most dry shampoo spray is a good entry into the brand, especially since it leaves no residue in its wake (unlike many spray-to-powder dry shampoos). Use it on the mornings your hair needs a little extra lift, volume, and texture, but only if you haven't shampooed that day. Make sure hair is rinsed and dried before use, then follow with your usual styler. 

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