Got Thinning Hair? Dermatologists Say These Products Can Help.

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YOU DON'T HAVE to have thinning hair to appreciate a little volume. Many men, of all hair types and styles, are looking for ways to make their coif look fuller and more robust, which is why hair thickening products are so popular. But let’s get real, if you struggle with hair loss, thickening products take on a whole new level of importance.

In terms of thickening products, most fall into two categories: those that give you immediate, yet temporary, fullness and those that work long term. We’ve included both in this story because hair thickening products are not one size fits all and honestly, they work best when part of an overall regimen of products from both categories—especially if you’re dealing with actual hair loss as many men are. You’ll likely want to use products from both categories to help address the underlying causes of hair loss and help pump up the volume of your hair in the meantime.

Best Hair Thickening Products

Neither of these categories are better than the other and, like all grooming products, may take some experimentation to find out which works best for you. The biggest thing to remember here is that if you’re hoping to treat the underlying causes of hair loss, give it time. Nearly all treatments take about three to six months of consistent use to begin showing their effects. In the meantime, styling products like powders, sprays and creams can help your hair look thicker. We’ve included products across all categories—including hair growth devices, hair thickening shampoos, and hair growth serums—so you can find the absolute best for you.

What to Consider

Hair Thickening Product vs. Hair Loss Treatment

Granted, you’ll find plenty of products out there that combine both categories (like many on this list), however the general rule of thumb is that thickening products provide superficial thickness to hair to make it look fuller. These are usually styling products like powders, sprays and creams. On the flip side, hair loss treatments address the underlying cause of hair loss, which thins our hair. These include minoxidil foams, serums, LED tools and more. Depending on what you’re hoping to achieve, you may choose one or the other, but if you want both short and long term results, we suggest using both.

How We Selected

Munce is a grooming expert who has more than a decade's worth of experience testing the latest and greatest hair thickening products on the market. For this story, he combed through his extensive testing notes to find the most effective formulas and gadgets for thinning hair. He also consulted with two doctors, including Natalie Kash, MD, and Hardik Doshi, MD, on their professional product recommendations.

Read on for our expert-vetted list of the best hair thickening products.

Volumaniac Spray Powder

A few sprays of this powder at your roots instantly pumps them up to full volume. Unlike other powders, this one is residue-free so won’t leave your hair (or shoulders) looking white or chalky. There’s even a lightweight hold to keep your newly pumped up ‘do in place.

Testing Notes: We found in our testing process that this sprayable powder is far easier to use than your typical powder. Instead of shaking it willy nilly onto your scalp, the ability to easily target the roots of your hair with the spray is a godsend. There is a slight learning curve when using it, however. A little goes a long way and applying too much can make hair feel sticky and we detected a bit of residue that’s not there when you use the proper amount. For short hair, you probably only need one or two sprays. Once you get the hang of it, however, it’s a winner.

Read more: Best Hairsprays for Men

Dallas Biotin Thickening Conditioner

This conditioner is packed with biotin, pro vitamin B5 and saw palmetto berry extract to not only help thickening fine and thinning hair, but it also helps strengthen strands and keep them healthier and shinier (without weighing it down).

Testing Notes: Out of all the thickening conditioners we tried, this one struck the right balance between hydrating our dry hair and giving it a thicker look. It offers immediate thickening benefits, but we found that the more we used it, the longer our hair looked thicker after the shower. Results are still temporary, and not as extreme as some of the styling products on this list, but if you’re going to use a conditioner anyway, this one is as good as they come.

Minoxidil Foam

There’s no better proven ingredient to treat hair loss than minoxidil and this easy to use foam is packed with the stuff. It helps to both retain and regrow hair that’s been lost thanks to Male Pattern Baldness ultimately making your hair thicker and more voluminous.

Testing Notes: We definitely need to point out here that this foam is not going to give you instant thickening results, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this is not for you. But there is a difference between temporary thickening and long term thickening and both have their positives. In terms of treating Male Pattern Baldness, the most common form of hair loss in men, nothing is as proven as minoxidil—plus it’s one of the only FDA-approved drugs to address the issue as well. This foam is easy to use—just apply it to your scalp and massage in. However, it takes anywhere between three to six months to work, so keep in mind if you pick it up that it’s about the long game.

Densifique Densité Shampoo

The luxurious formula of this shampoo isn’t just cosmetic. It also contains “a number of ingredients to help add volume to the hair strand including hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides to create a thickening effect,” says dermatologist and hair expert Natalie Kash, MD.

Testing Notes: As with all shampoos, a thickening shampoo needs, above all, to cleanse your scalp and hair. This one does that very well without leaving your hair feeling dry or your scalp feeling tight. The thickening benefits are great too, and apparent even after the first wash. While the thickening look is temporary, we did notice that the more we used it, the longer the results seemed to last, we’re guessing because of the peptides and ceramides that help to strengthen strands. It’s pricey for the size of the bottle, but if the look of thicker hair is important to you, this is worth the investment.

Revive+ Hair Densifying Foam

Unlike other hair regrowth foams, this contains a proprietary Y100 Compound that targets mitochondrial function of hair cells, which works to extend the life cycle of hair and prevent thinning and shedding.

Testing Notes: Like with Rogaine, this foam isn’t going to give you immediate thickening results. However, if you’re hoping for long term thickening and treatment of signs of hair loss, but don’t want to use a drug, this is a great option. It only takes a little bit of foam to cover your whole scalp or you can use it as a spot treatment on places where you notice thinning like your crown or hairline. Also, keep in mind that even though this does not contain minoxidil, it still takes about thre

RD1 Anti Hair Loss Spray

Not only does this spray help block DHT, the hormonal culprit behind Male Pattern Hair Loss, but it also instantly volumizes hair and pulls double duty as a styling tool. The sleek refillable spray is easy enough to pop in your dopp kit or even your pocket.

Testing Notes: We always like a multi-use product and in our testing process, we found that this spray checks multiple boxes. When used long term, it does help block DHT and address signs of hair loss. After a few months, some of our testers found that their hair was fuller and thicker. In the short term, it also helps to volumize and add texture to hair, thanks to ingredients like sea salt, and not only gives hair the appearance of being thicker, but also helps style it. Further, we appreciate the small, sleek packaging which is easy to carry with you whether you’re reapplying on the go or sticking it on your dopp kit while traveling (plus it’s refillable).

Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo

The biotin and collagen in this formula “are well known for promoting hair volume and overall health,” says Hardik Doshi, MD, lead surgeon at Ample Hair Restoration Clinic in New York City. There’s also wheat protein that helps to strengthen hair and reduce breakage. Best of all, it works just as well as thickening shampoos ten times the price.

Testing Notes: Out of all the inexpensive thickening shampoos we tried, this one thickened the best and left our strands feeling and looking more robust. It’s still not a miracle worker—no shampoo really is—but the difference was noticeable, especially after we used it a few times. Not to mention, our hair looked shinier and healthier, too.

Full Thickening Blow-Dry Cream

If you use a blow dryer, apply some of this cream to damp hair before you dry. You’ll be shocked at how much thicker and more voluminous your hair looks when you’re done - plus your style will last longer.

Testing Notes: We’ve noticed in our testing process that if you’re looking for temporary thickness, nothing can beat styling products. And while there are plenty of styling products on this list that work well on their own, if you really want a huge boost in volume, a hair dryer is your best friend. This cream won’t give you much volume if you let your hair air dry (maybe a teeny tiny bit), but when paired with a blow dryer, the results are pretty amazing. Even on fairly short hair (you want at least enough to be able to brush), it pumps up hair to new heights and leaves it looking shiny and healthy.

Maximista Thickening Spray

A few sprays of this onto damp hair before blow drying not only delivers huge volume to your hair thanks to plumping copolymers thicken hair shafts, but it also conditions and even helps protect hair from UV rays.

Testing Notes: Again, this spray is designed to be paired with a blow dryer, and we found that it gives a shocking amount of volume to thin and fine hair when used the way it was meant to be used. It’s lighter weight than a cream, which is perfect for thin hair to avoid being weighed down and while you can get benefits from using it without a dryer (like UV protection and hair strengthening benefits), you’re really missing out on the volumization effects if you don’t blow dry.

Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum

This hair regrowth and thickening serum contains both pumpkin seed extract and rosemary oil, both of which have been shown to help prevent hair loss as well as a variety of vitamins and other ingredients to promote thicker and healthier hair.

Testing Notes: Using a hair serum is a great complement to a hair thickening and/or regrowth program and out of all the hair serums we tried, this one is one of the best. We like that it’s gentle on the scalp and offers a drug-free alternative to your typical hair growth product. We will say, that without the immediate thickening effects of some other products on this list, it can be hard to keep the faith for the three to six months it takes to start seeing results.

Also, a serum is a bit messier to apply than something like a foam, so it can take some getting used to (and requires a bit of massaging to make sure it gets down to the scalp where it needs to penetrate). Keep that in mind when choosing a product like this because you’ll need to use it every single day.

Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density

Not only does this serum contain Redensyl, which targets hair stem cells to promote density, but it also contains Baicapil, which instantly delivers the look of thicker hair as well as a whole host of other hair-healthy ingredients.

Testing Notes: This serum also requires daily use and shows hair densifying results over time, however we noticed that it does provide a slight thickening effect right away as well. It’s not as extreme as some of the styling products on this list, of course, but it is apparent enough that we noticed a difference. We say it’s more about the long game with this one as well, but there is some immediate gratification.

LED Hair Growth Helmet

It won’t instantly make your hair thicker, but certain wavelengths of red light, like those found in this LED helmet, have been shown to “help reverse signs of genetic hair loss,” says dermatologist Robert Finney, MD, founder of Soho Skin & Hair in New York City. This helmet features 120 bulbs to deliver that light directly to your scalp.

Testing Notes: LED is one of the newest hair loss treatments on the market and in our testing process, we found that it’s by far the easiest to use. There are no products to apply to your scalp; instead you put on the helmet and let it do its thing for 10 minutes. Like any hair loss treatment, it requires commitment and must be used every day—plus results take the usual three to six months to begin showing. It’s a good alternative if you don’t want to continually apply things to your scalp and it’s also a great booster to other products like scalp serums to improve the effects of both. In terms of hair thickening, this is a hair loss treatment, so thickening effects are linked to improvement in overall hair loss and it won’t make your hair look thicker in the short term. But we think it’s worth the wait.

Dryspun Volume Texture Spray

Just a few spritzes of this spray at the roots of your hair instantly pumps them up with crazy volume, even thin or fine hair. In addition, it also adds texture and provides enough hold to keep your volume up all day long.

Testing Notes: In terms of immediate thickening, this spray is one of the best products we found in our testing process. It’s easy to use like a hairspray, but you aim it toward the roots of your hair instead of all over. Not only does it instantly make hair look exponentially thicker, but it also adds texture which adds to the thick look. Keep in mind you need to use this on dry hair only otherwise the thickening effects are not as apparent.

No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo

Here’s a hack: use dry shampoo when you don’t have thickening spray. This one soaks up dirt and oil from our scalp and instantly plumps up hair without any of that telltale white residue left behind.

Testing Notes: Did we mention we like multi-purpose products? Dry shampoo is an oft-overlooked secret weapon because not only does it degrease the scalp and soak up dirt and oil between washes, but it also can be used as a volumizer. As it cleanses, it also adds texture and volume to hair by drying it out. We found this dry shampoo to be very effective at both things with the added value that it’s clear, so it won’t leave chalky white residue on your scalp or hair.

DHT Blocking Shampoo

This shampoo not only cleanses your scalp and strand effectively, but also works to block the formation of DHT, the hormone that’s responsible for Male Pattern Hair Loss. It not only helps you retain more hair but helps to plump and volumize the hair you have.

Testing Notes: Like with some other products on this list, this shampoo is about the long game. It helps to block DHT which contributes to the most common form of hair loss in men, so using it consistently over time will show improvement to thinning and shedding hair. There is a slight thickening effect to the formula, but we found it’s not as noticeable as some of the other thickening shampoos on this list.

We also found that it really works best when combined with other hair loss treatments like a minoxidil foam. Our one gripe is that to really get the full effects, the brand recommends washing twice in a row and keeping the shampoo on your head for three to five minutes before rinsing, to allow the ingredients to penetrate the scalp. If you have time, that’s great, but it’s not for people who are in a rush.

Do Hair Thickening Products Work?

Like all grooming products, not everything is created equal. Most hair thickening products work as long as you use them properly. The most important thing to remember when using any sort of hair thickening treatment, especially those that target the underlying causes of hair loss, is that you use them consistently. Unless otherwise noted, most of these products are meant to be used at least once a day and the general rule of thumb is that they take three to six months for results to start showing.

Other thickening products, like styling products, can give an instant (yet temporary) look of fullness to your hair. Many of these use ingredients like polymers to thicken the hair shafts themselves or others like sea salt or powder to create texture within the hair to make it appear fuller. These, unlike treatment products, are temporary and the results can diminish over time unless you reapply or restyle your hair.

Meet the Experts

• Natalie Kash, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained hair restoration surgeon and co-founder of Root Hair Institute in Bellevue, WA.

• Hardik Doshi, MD, is a lead surgeon at Ample Hair Restoration Clinic in New York, NY.

Shop More of Our Favorite Hair Growth Products

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