If you feel like you’re constantly pumping mousses and dry shampoos into your roots, only for them to fall flat mere minutes later, you likely need to take a few steps back. The road to thick, full hair actually starts in the shower – specifically, with a specialist shampoo for fine hair.
But don't think that means you should grab the first volumising bottle you see and lather on up, as finding a shampoo that will actually work well on fine hair and frizzy flyaways isn't quite as easy at is first seems.
What should you look for in a shampoo for fine hair?
As Louise Garbutt, co-owner of hair salon The Loch explains, the secret to a great shampoo for fine hair isn’t necessarily what’s added – it’s what’s not in there. 'Try to avoid silicone and polymers,' she says. 'They weigh the hair down by coating each strand in a plastic-like substance, so it might feel silky but will probably look limp. Check the ingredients list for anything ending in "cone".'
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If you've sliced out the silicones and your hair still looks sad after washing, Garbutt recommends adding in a scalp scrub or clarifying shampoo once weekly to remove any build-up of product (especially that dry shampoo you love) and oil. After a recommendation? Living Proof's charcoal-based Triple Detox formula is the beauty team's unequivocal favourite.
Anabel Kingsley, Brand President and Consultant Trichologist at Philip Kingsley, agrees. 'If you have fine hair, you want to avoid overloading it. Choosing lightweight products and preferably ones which do not contain rich oils, lots of silicones or heavy moisturising ingredients will prevent the hair from being weighed down,' she explains.
Find the right products to stick in your shower and you're half-way there, but to really get the best from your hair you also need to refine your washing technique. According to Garbutt, one of the primary reasons we don’t see success from volumising products is placement: remember, shampoo in the roots, and conditioner only on the mid-lengths and ends. 'Also, always shampoo with warm water to open the cuticle, then rinse your conditioner with cool water, until it runs completely clear,' she says.
Can you improve fine hair?
As Kingsley explains, hair texture is pre-determined by genetics meaning if you've had fine hair since you can remember, it's likely going to stay that way. However, there are a number of ways that you can improve your hair thickness. 'Make sure you're taking care of the scalp (cleansing frequently), eating well (three balanced meals a day, including proteins and carbohydrates), as well as using targeting products and supplements such as Biotin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Zinc and Iron,' says Kingsley.
You can also add more shape and volume to fine hair by increasing the thickness of your lengths, either by improving the density or the volume. 'Fine hair often appears limp and flat, so using volumising products, such as Philip Kingsley's Body Building range, helps to plump hair and create more shape,' says Kingsley.
Does fine hair need to be washed more often?
'Fine hair tends to get oily more quickly than all other hair textures,' says Kingsley. 'This is because those with fine hair have more hair follicles, (and therefore more oil glands) than those with coarser hair and oil is much more visible on finer strands than thicker ones.'
In fact, contrary to common hair rules, you may actually to need to wash your hair on the daily. As Kingsley say, if you've got fine hair, 'shampooing daily is a good thing!'
What's the difference between fine and thin hair?
There's a common miconception between fine and thin hair, and the two are certainly not the same.
Fine hair: 'Fine hair refers to a specific hair texture characterised by the diameter of individual hair strands. It often has a small diameter, which means the individual strands are thinner and more delicate compared to other hair types,' says Kingsley. 'Fine hair often lacks volume and can appear limp and flat, especially when it grows long.'
Thin hair: While hair thinning refers to reduced hair density and is medically termed Androgenic Alopecia or Male/Female Pattern Hair loss, says Kingsley, thin hair simply refers to fewer strands of hair growing, despite the thickness. 'Hair thinning is a genetically predisposed, progressive type of hair loss that happens very slowly, and is not always accompanied by increased hair shedding, which means it can be hard to spot in the early stages,' she adds.
Below, see the shampoos for fine hair that team ELLE and their fine-haired friends have tried, loved, and bought on repeat.
The 11 Best Shampoos For Fine Hair
1. Kérastase Resistance Bain Volumifique Thickening Shampoo
Formulated with fine and flat lengths in mind, Kérastase's classic volumising shampoo is a clear winner. If your hair gets greasy too quickly, this one will deeply cleanse from root to tip without leaving your ends feeling parched. It's ideal for anyone with thin hair who doesn't want to compromise on hydration, and the finished result is textured body that doesn't look or feel crispy. In fact, it'll impart a shine like no other.
Kérastase Resistance Bain Volumifique Thickening Shampoo
2. Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Cleanse
Iconic global hairstylist Sam McKnight has graced the heads of Princess Diana, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga and collaborated with fashion houses from Chanel and Fendi to Balmain and Burberry, so we trust him when it comes to creating big hair.
As a result, this lightweight lather has quickly become one of our all-time favourite volumising shampoos for fine hair. Not only does it smell incredible, but it also delivers a thorough cleanse that doesn't leave your hair feeling stripped or squeaky. Not to mention, it's also majorly nourishing, enveloping your strands in pro-vitamin b5 and protein-packed fermented rice.
3. Davines Volu Volume Enhancing Shampoo
Available in both a liquid and solid formula, this volumising hair wash is a hero for limp and lacklustre hair. It's effective at removing oil and dirt, without compromising on the soft, glossy finish we expect from a high-end shampoo. Did we mention the classic shampoo is obtained with 100% clean energy, while its solid counterpart is completely carbon offset? A fantastic investment for anyone looking to go greener with their haircare.
4. Aveda Pure Abundance Volumising Shampoo
If you like your products to be on the natural side but still want them to deliver the goods, then Aveda's long-loved, volume-boosting shampoo is well worth a whirl. The plant-based formula contains coconut-derived surfactants (which are gentler than the much-debated sodium lauryl sulphate), and delivers a supreme lather, sweeping away every last trace of oil and product residue.
This one lends fine hair a touch of weightless nourishment, so you can use it on its own. However, add in the coordinating kaolin-infused conditioner and you'll really notice a boost in body.
5. Virtue Full Shampoo
Science-y brand Virtue uses a human-identical form of keratin in its advanced formulas, meaning the hair recognises it and knows exactly how to put it to good use. This super-lightweight volumising shampoo leaves hair clean while swelling lacklustre strands, but it's the long-term nourishing benefits that make it really worthwhile. If your hair is both fine and frazzled, right this way.
6. Living Proof Full Shampoo
This is the best choice for fine hair that’s been subjected to a lot of styling products – dry-shampoo addicts, we're talking to you. Not only will it deeply cleanse overloaded roots, sweeping away every last trace of oil, grease and residue, but it’ll leave your lengths feeling noticeably swishier. It’s not the most moisturising of shampoos, but that’s what the matching conditioner is for.
7. Oribe Magnificent Volume Shampoo
If you're not willing to sacrifice the luxury factor (and why should you?) Oribe is the way to go. The brand's sensorial shampoo lathers generously, rinses away easily, and smells seriously expensive. Think: hair that looks so fresh, people will ask if you've just left the salon. It's worth every penny.
8. Redken Extreme Shampoo
This colour-focused option uses pH-balancing formulas to strengthen and fortify hair, with a bold claim of leaving strands three times stronger. The shampoo does indeed deliver a thorough yet gentle clean and, once dried, hair is bestowed with impressive volume.
Redken Extreme Shampoo For Damaged Hair
9. Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo
Headed by celebrity stylist Jen Atkin (think Kendall Jenner's Met Gala swirls and Hailey Bieber's wedding 'do), Ouai is an It girl in the world of haircare. This body-boosting rinse harness the power of hydrolysed keratin and biotin for strengthened ends for the ultimate tousled finish, no matter your hair's density.
10. Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo
Fans of Moroccanoil's famed original formula should flock to this gentle lather when struggling with fine, flat strands. Infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil, it gives your hair a weightless body without ever being rich enough to weigh it down.
11. JVN Embody Volumizing Shampoo
If your hair is dry but also short on body, a deeply nourishing shampoo can sometimes veer a bit too heavy. Pairing caffeine to stimulate root follicles and aloe leaf juice to hydrate and soothe ends, this lightweight formula aids with lacklustre locks struggling with volume and shine.
Katie Withington (she/her) is the Beauty Writer, at ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar. Working alongside the ELLE UK Beauty Team, she covers all things beauty for both print and digital, from finding backstage make-up trends at London Fashion Week and investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, to unzipping the beauty bags of Hailey Bieber and Margot Robbie. Prior to joining ELLE UK in 2022, Katie studied (BA) Fashion Journalism at London College of Fashion and has previously contributed to Red, Good Housekeeping and Prima.
Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
