These Shampoos for Fine Hair are Loved by Hairstylists and Thousands of Reviewers

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Raise your hand if you've been personally victimized by having fine hair. (Because same!) Those with fine hair understand the beauty struggle of their hairstyles lacking body and volume. Hairstylists say fine hair is also most prone to breakage from heat damage and chemical treatments, such as keratin and hair dye. That's where shampoos for fine hair come into play — they're nourishing enough to strengthen delicate strands without weighing them down. Shampoos for fine hair add some much-needed volume to flat hair so users can achieve bouncy bombshell hair like '90s Cindy Crawford or Denise Richards in season seven of Friends.

Best Shampoos for Fine Hair

• Best Overall: Nexxus Unbreakable Care Anti-Breakage Shampoo

• Best Budget-Friendly: Andrew Fitzsimons Body Volume Boosting Shampoo

• For Color-Treated Hair: Kevin Murphy Angel Wash

• Best for Dry Hair: Better Natured Moisturizing Shampoo

• Best Salon-Quality: OUAI Fine Hair Shampoo
  
  

How We Chose

Since I haven't found a shampoo for fine hair that I'm obsessed with and believe is worth your hard-earned money, our guide only features fine hair shampoos that professional hairstylists recommend.

What's Included

Three of these suggested products are $16 or less, including Margot Robbie's favorite Nexxus Unbreakable Care Anti-Breakage Shampoo. The pros suggested three shampoos created by celebrity hairstylists (Kevin Murphy, OUAI, and Andrew Fitzsimons), so you know they're on point. There's also a Nioxin shampoo that can help regrow fine, lightly thinning tresses and the splurge-worthy shu uemura Muroto Volume Lightweight Care Shampoo to help rebalance the scalp.

What's Not Included

That said, I considered featuring celebrity hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez's pick, which is the Yes Honey! shampoo, but it's only available via DoorDash and Dollar General stores IRL. Since there are a limited number of stores, and I want to ensure all of the products on this list are readily available regardless of your geographic location, it was eliminated from this story. It's also worth noting that while Alvarez, who styles Shakira, Maluma, and Becky G, says it's a great, budget-friendly pick, the limited online reviews were primarily negative, hence another reason it was cut.

Regardless of which of these final hairstylist-approved shampoos for fine hair you purchase, expect more voluminous, bouncy, and of course, clean hair. And don't forget to keep scrolling after the slides for our FAQ section with professional tips and techniques to make the most of your new shampoo for fine hair.

Unbreakable Care Anti-Breakage Shampoo

Kicking off this list is a product loved by experts, Margot Robbie, and hundreds of Amazon reviewers. Given its impressive ingredient list and affordable price tag, I knew this was our best overall shampoo for fine hair.

Bryce Scarlett, Robbie's longtime hairstylist, recently shared that he prepped her hair for the Met Gala with this shampoo and matching conditioner to create a "modern take on the '90s supermodel hair that Cindy had walking down the runway."

They're not the only fan — Adeola Olaoluwa, a hairstylist at The Frontal Queen calls this shampoo a gem. "It's enriched with biotin and keratin, which adds strength and flexibility to your fine locks. Plus, it has a delightful floral scent that will make you want to sniff your hair all day long," she says. It also combines amino acids and collagen for a stronger, thicker-looking mane.

More: Beauty Editor Picks: Best New Products for Summer

Body Volume Boosting Shampoo

Celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons has his own line of well-priced haircare products available at Ulta, so naturally the Irish professional is a fan of his own creation. "It is specifically formulated to thicken and texturize fine hair to look and feel bouncier and fuller-bodied. Not only is it a great and effective product for volume, but it works hard to rebuild the strength of your locks," says Fitzsimons.

But don't worry, online reviewers can't get enough of his caffeine-infused shampoo for fine hair. "I fell in love with this shampoo, although didn't expect much. I have natural frizzy, thin, and tangled hair, so this shampoo has brought some difference! The hair feels a lot fuller and looks more voluminous, reduced split ends, and smells so good," says a 5-star review.

The Andrew Fitzsimons Body Volume Boosting Shampoo also earned the Conscious Beauty at Ulta seal of approval, indicating the brand is vegan, doesn’t test on animals, and makes giving back one of their core principles. Brands with this seal mist also include packaging made of 50% or more bio-sourced or recycled material or must be recyclable or refillable.

Angel Wash

Olaoluwa boldly declares the Kevin Murphy Angel Wash shampoo is a holy grail product for fine-haired beauties. "It's infused with green tea and lavender, giving your tresses a serious boost. The luscious scent will transport you to a tropical paradise, and your hair will thank you for the added volume and bounce," she says.

Infused with a blend of essential vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, and essential oils, this best-in-class shampoo will help nourish fine, fragile, color-treated, and damaged hair. It's designed to help protect tresses from harmful free radicals that deplete highlights and make them look dull.

"I’ve used Kevin Murphy for about 2 1/2 weeks and the difference is already noticeable. My hair is shiny, healthy-looking, [and it's] no longer dry and frizzy. I can comb through it while it’s wet with ease and I get so many compliments on it," adds one 5-star online review.

Moisturizing Shampoo

Celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis is all about this hydrating shampoo to restore moisture, softness, and shine. "An amazing shampoo for fine hair is Better Natured’s Moisturizing Shampoo. It doesn’t include any harmful ingredients, is vegan, and doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate," he says.

The LA-based pro also appreciates that it's made with 86% of naturally derived ingredients, such as the incredibly hydrating blend of coconut, Tahitian Palm, and white orchid.

Online reviewers are also stoked about this $20 shampoo for fine hair that provides gentle suds. Some even use phrases, like "my favorite shampoo, hands down" and "the perfect solution" to describe it.

To quote a 5-star Amazon review, "After one wash, I noticed a huge difference, my strands look a lot better, and I now have some body and shine back into my lifeless hair. I would absolutely recommend [it] to anyone interested, you won’t be disappointed."

Gluttony Volumising Shampoo

Celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith considers this the Goldilocks of shampoos for fine hair. "It’s crucial to keep finer strands protected and not overburdened and so lighter products that keep the hair feeling healthy, not tangled or over stripped but also not weighed down is the way to go," he explains.

Enter his all-time favorite suggestion: EVO Gluttony Volumising Shampoo. "Thanks to its perfect balance of actually leaving the hair feeling healthy and manageable. It also helps to increase the thickness of each individual strand, especially when combined with the Bride of Gluttony conditioner," he tells us.

The London-based hair pro continues, "Many people with fine hair avoid the use of conditioner for fear of lankness but using the correct conditioner will make your fine hair easier to manage and can even make it look and feel fuller too."

One Amazon reviewer adds this shampoo helps his hair look more vibrant and lush. "My hair seems much happier. I don't think it has regrown hair or anything like that, but I do think the hair I have looks way better and the hair loss stopped to a large extent," says their 5-star review.

Fine Hair Shampoo

Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin may be known for her work with the Kardashians and Hailey Bieber, but her haircare line OUAI deserves some respect. Not only does her award-winning products actually deliver results, but it has earned major snaps from Olaoluwa.

"Oh, darling, let me spill the tea on the best shampoos for your fabulous fine hair! If you're looking for a salon-quality option, I highly recommend the OUAI fine hair shampoo. It's specifically formulated for fine hair and creates instant va-va-voom volume without sacrificing moisture," she says.

Beyond creating instant volume, this OUAI shampoo makes dryness and breakage a thing of the past. The color-safe shampoo utilizes biotin, keratin, and chia seed oil to nourish fine hair.

"I am obsessed with this shampoo. The smell is divine. I’ve been using this with the fine conditioner and leave-in conditioner for 3 weeks now, and I’m noticing my hair doesn’t get greasy as fast (even after workouts), and still smells amazing," says a 5-star review.

System 5 Scalp Cleaning Shampoo

As previously mentioned, someone can have fine hair that's thinning, meaning they're losing precious strands that happen to be very small in diameter. Help stop light-to-mild thinning with the Nixon System 5 Scalp Cleaning Shampoo.

"Through my professional experience and personal client testimonies, I have seen Nioxin offers a broad spectrum of solutions for fine and thinning hair. It is my go-to for fuller, thicker hair in just 30 days. From the first use, you will experience a shift in the strength, volume, [and] density of your hair," says hairstylist Sofia Perez.

She loves the Nioxin shampoo because it removes impurities, like excess oil, dirt, and flakes, to prep fine hair for a conditioner. The Houston-based professional appreciates that it contains some of her favorite hair growing ingredients, like peppermint oil and biotin.

Muroto Volume Lightweight Care Shampoo

Patti Vaccaro, a master stylist at The Yves Durif Salon, argues it's 100% worth splurging on this shampoo for fine hair. She advises using shampoos that say "lightweight, gentle, and volume" on the label — and shu uemura's shampoo meets her standard.

"It’s gentle and weightless, has no parabens, and is good for color-treated hair. It contains depsea water, which is a good source of minerals," Vaccaro says of her hands-down top suggestion.

Muroto shampoo is designed to rebalance the scalp's natural oils, ensuring oily and dry scalps aren't overproducing or underproducing natural oils. This shampoo for fine hair also protects against environmental damage and helps preserve the integrity of color-treated hair while adding bounce and movement.

"I have used this shampoo for YEARS! I have very fine, straight hair that struggles to hold any volume and gets oily very quickly. This shampoo leaves my hair feeling so clean and is the only shampoo that consistently gives me any volume. I love the clean, fresh scent too! Totally worth the money," gushes one satisfied Sephora reviewer.

Luxe Argan Shampoo

Rounding out our list is a shampoo for fine hair from Hidden Crown, a celeb-loved extension brand. This option is safe for natural hair and extensions, which requires an extra gentle option to prevent tangle.

Celebrity hairstylist Bradley Leake, who helps Selling Sunset and Vanderpump Rules stars primp for events, considers this his favorite shampoo for fine hair. He loves that the sulfate-, silicone-, and paraben-free shampoo contains argan oil, an ingredient known for moisturizing and protecting hair from everyday damage.

"And it works wonders on extensions as well. People with fine hair tend to use extensions more often to give the illusion of fuller thicker hair, so this shampoo would be ideal for them as well. It has a wonderful scent and leaves your hair looking moisturized, healthy, and flawless," he says.

What to Consider

What exactly does this all mean for those with fine hair? Our experts agree it's essential to know the ingredients in shampoo for fine hair, so as our beauty editor, I had to ask them about their favorites. I got the pros to reveal their go-to hair cleansers and share their no-fail expert techniques and tips for using these products correctly. So get ready for the fullest hair of your life with these expert-loved, highly-rated shampoos for fine hair that start at just $16.

Fine Hair vs. Thin Hair

Wait, so what exactly is fine hair, and how does it differ from thin hair? "Fine hair is all about those individual strands being on the narrower side, giving your mane a sleek and delicate appearance. Now, thin hair, on the other hand, refers to the density — the number of strands you've got," explains Olaoluwa.

Interestingly, Fitzsimons and Smith note thin or thinning hair can still be thick (or dense), while fine hair is not. Smith says, "We can have a lot of fine hair or thinner but coarse hair, and it's vital to assess the size of your strands to know how best to care for them. If your hair gets damaged or tangles up easily despite feeling like your ponytail is thick, or you still struggle with feeling your hair is flatter or more lank, there’s a good chance your hair is fine."

Best Overall Ingredients

As highlighted earlier, the right ingredients will set you up for major hair success. "When shopping for shampoos for fine hair, look for strengthening products that can add volume. Fine hair lacks protein and tends to fall flat, so purchasing a shampoo that has a volumizing effect with strengthening properties will help you add body and nourish your strands," notes Fitzsimons, who has styled everyone from Adele and Mariah Carey to Kim Kardashian.

Ahead are some expert-loved ingredients to keep an eye out for when selecting shampoo for fine hair.

• Fitzsimons notes that caffeine and rice protein work together to enhance the hair and scalp's ability to bind moisture and boost volume.

• Biotin is a type of vitamin B-7 common in nail and hair growth supplements, and Vitamin B-3, sometimes called niacin, is beneficial for fine hair, highlights celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis.

• Vitamin B-5, commonly called panthenol, is excellent for adding thickness and body to each strand, says Olaoluwa.

• Francis and Olaoluwa consider keratin, a protein that contributes to the structure and maintenance of our hair, skin, and nails, as one of the best ingredients for fine, frizzy hair and to ensure the tresses are shiny and smooth.

• Wheat protein helps strengthen and fortify fine tresses, giving them that extra resilience boost, says Olaoluwa.

• Prefer botanical extracts? Olaoluwa appreciates shampoos for fine hair made with aloe vera or green tea because they nourish our locks without weighing them down.

Best Ingredients by Hair Texture

Fine hair isn't limited to just one specific texture, so Francis, who styles Hannah Waddingham, Kristin Davis, and Olivia Coleman, breaks down the best ingredients based on someone's hair type.

➥ Best Ingredients for Wavy, Curly, and Coily Hair Textures

Dealing with textured tresses? Francis says it's all bout hydrating ingredients, like shea butter and glycerin. He advises using a shampoo for fine hair infused with argan, jojoba, coconut, sunflower, grapeseed, or blackseed oils for extra moisture.

➥ Best Ingredients for Straight Hair

Francis recommends incorporating Vitamins C and E and coconut, soybean, almond, and sunflower oils to smooth straight hair.

➥ When All Else Fails, Always Opt for Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Every single hairstylist I consulted warned against using shampoos for fine hair that contain sulfates. A sulfate-free shampoo strengthens damaged hair and prevents color from fading. Similarly, our experts advise using paraben- and silicone-free products because parabens can cause irritation, and sulfates leave hair feeling waxy and lead to product buildup, making the hair heavy and dull over time.

"Fine hair is more prone to flatness and build up, leading to more frequent wash days, which is why you need to make sure your products are working with you, not against you. For my clients with fine hair, I recommend prioritizing the ingredient list first to ensure there are no hash sulfates, silicones, or parabens. Then look for shampoos specifically designed to clarify and volumize," says Alvarez.

FAQ

Best Way to Use a Fine Hair Shampoo

Shampooing techniques will vary by experts and personal preference. Still, given that I can access the industry's top hairstyling leaders, I wanted to share their guidance so that you can easily adapt their tips to your routine.

1. Start With Wet Hair: "Start by wetting your locks with lukewarm water — no need to scorch those precious strands," says Olaoluwa.

2. Amount: Olaoluwa and Francis argue that fine hair does not require a lot of product, so work a small amount (up to one pump of shampoo, depending on hair length) into the hands.
   

3. Be Gentle: Carefully work the shampoo into a lather on the scalp, allowing it to rinse away impurities, such as product buildup, oil, and dandruff.

4. Focus on the roots: "It’s best to really put the majority of the focus on the root area, usually massaging the shampoo into the scalp for 30-60 seconds," advises Francis.

5. But don't neglect the strands: Sometimes, a quick massage on the length of the hair is necessary, so Francis suggests rinsing the shampoo with water in the shower is enough to cleanse the hair.

6. Lastly, use cold water: Rinse with cold water for a glossy finish.

➥ Conditioner

Since fine hair can easily be weighed down, Francis advises applying conditioner from the strands' midlength down to the tips.

➥ Frequency

As for how often to shampoo fine hair, our expert's guidance varies. For example, Fitzsimons advises those with fine hair to shampoo 3-4 times weekly and use a conditioner around 2-3 times a week to not weigh the strands down. In contrast, others prefer shampooing fine hair 1-3 times weekly.

➥ The bottom line

Do what works best for your haircare needs. If you notice your fine oily hair needs regular shampooing, then stick to Fitzsimons' 3-4 times a week suggestion. If your hair can go longer without shampoos or you don't have the bandwidth to wash often, feel free to stretch it as you see fit.

You Might Also Like

• The Paris Hilton Housewares Collection Brings ‘That’s Hot’ Energy to Your Kitchen

• 16 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Perfect for Rocking Out in Quiet Bliss

• Beyoncé Uses This $26 Amazon Product for Her Glossy Blonde Hair