Generally, it happens over time, gradually creeping up on you so that you don’t notice anything until, one day, in the bathroom mirror, you can see a little more skin on your scalp than you’d like.
You do the bald patch test—nope, there’s hair still there, just not as much of it as there was a couple of months ago. Hmmm…the hair’s got thinner. This can’t be good news.
If you noticed your hair started to get visibly thinner, what would you do? We now live in a world of hope that technology is moving fast enough to solve all our problems.
But what about looking after thinning hair? What should we do? How should we care for it? And is there any truth in the claims of thickening shampoos?
Read on to discover more…
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Who Needs Thickening Shampoo?
Thickening shampoos can be used by anyone who has thin hair. It may be that someone has always had very fine, thin hair and wants to give it a boost.
Other people might notice hair loss and thinning of the hair starts to occur as they get older. Statistics tell us that extensive hair loss is experienced by 16 percent of men in the US between the ages of 18 to 29 years. Fifty-three percent of men are affected in the age range 40 to 49.
So we can clearly see that hair loss and thinning out becomes more of a problem in slightly more advanced years.
What Is Thickening Shampoo?
A hair thickening, or hair volumizing shampoo is designed to cause the hair strands to temporarily swell and appear thicker, giving the appearance of extra volume to your hair.
The effectiveness of hair thickening shampoo varies from product to product due to the use of various different ingredients. The effects of these kinds of shampoos generally last until the hair is next washed, but they don’t have an accumulative factor or contribute to more permanent hair thickness.
While you can wash your hair with thickening shampoo on successive washes, the active ingredients that cause the hairs to swell have a tendency to build up on the hair.
For best practice, switch to a different shampoo every few washes to get rid of any product buildup and keep your hair from becoming dull and lifeless.
Other Steps to Thicker, Fuller Hair
In addition to using thickening shampoo, there are a number of other things you can do to help with hair loss and thinning.
Here are our top tips for promoting hair growth and fullness:
Reduce Stress
Experts from the Mayo Clinic highlight a link between high stress levels and hair loss, but also report that this is reversible. Regular meditation and exercise can help with stress, and there are handy apps available to help manage stress.
Evaluate Your Diet
Research has linked hair loss to deficiencies of important minerals such as zinc and iron, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs from what you eat.
Oysters and other shellfish, good-quality, lean beef, eggs, peas, whole grains, nuts and seeds are all good sources of zinc. Iron is best sourced from the blue-green algae spirulina, liver, high-quality beef, lentils and dark chocolate.
Regular intake of good quality protein is important, too, since hair is made of a type of protein called keratin, which cannot be produced without using derivatives of the protein we eat. Now there’s an excuse for a steak night!
Regular Massage
May also help to encourage hair growth. It’s possible that increasing the circulation of the blood to the scalp might help promote healthy hair growth, especially if you use an oil high in linoleic acid.
A small research trial observed the effects of regular topical application and massage of the scalp using safflower oil, which is typically made up of 60 to 70 percent linoleic acid. The study reported significant improvements in hair loss with regular topical application.
Spikenard oil, also used for reducing stress, boosting the immune system and relieving insomnia, has been studied for its effects on hair regrowth in research using non-human participants.
The study found that topical application of spikenard oil resulted in a hair regrowth rate of as much as 30 percent. The other uses for spikenard oil confirm it’s safe to use, and given the research results, I’d definitely interested in giving spikenard oil a go.
Hair Dyes
Anecdotally, some people report that coloring their hair just a shade or two darker helps to give the appearance of slightly thicker hair.
This is worth considering if you’re very conscious of your thinning hair, especially if you’re already considering hair color for covering those few pesky grays.
It’s important to bear in mind, though, that coloring your hair does take a bit of upkeep; it needs to be done regularly as the roots begin to show.
About Biotin
Biotin is a water-soluble substance which we also know as vitamin B7.
There has been lots of discussion and speculation about the role of biotin in hair restoration, and many volumizing and thickening shampoos list biotin as an active ingredient in their products. This suggests that applying biotin to your hair and scalp helps to promote hair growth and thickening of the hair.
In reality, much of the research on biotin does identify it as a substance which assists in hair growth, but indicates the need to take it internally in order for it to be effective.
Scientists have highlighted biotin as a key ingredient of many different metabolic processes in the body, and suggest a metabolic mechanism of action which occurs in response to consuming biotin whereby it helps to encourage hair regrowth and thickening.
In short, taking a biotin supplement may well help to improve hair loss, but beware of shampoos and other hair products that boast biotin as one of the active ingredients aimed at improving hair loss.
What Is the Best Hair Thickening Shampoo for Men?
We’ve carefully selected several different thickening and hair loss treatment shampoos and reviewed them to highlight the good and bad points for each product.
Here are our top five products for closer inspection…
Every Man Jack
2In1 Thickening Shampoo This shampoo and conditioner promises gentle cleansing, removal of buildup and excess oil and contains ingredients to soften and condition the hair, leaving it stronger, thicker and fuller. Users agreed that this shampoo leaves hair in excellent condition, and even people who’ve always had thin hair noticed a difference. The majority of users reported that this shampoo made their hair appear much thicker, although a minority of users reported no noticeable difference. The people who felt this product worked well and commented that it would take a lot for them to change to an alternative product, especially given the excellent price. In fact, some people had issues with their family wanting to get in on the act too!
Thumos
Male Hair Loss Shampoo This shampoo is marketed as an ‘extremely masculine’ shampoo, which combines may different ingredients designed to encourage hair regrowth and prevent future hair loss, improve scalp and hair follicle health, leaving hair in good condition. Many users agreed, reporting an improvement within two to three weeks of use, though others didn’t notice any improvement in the same time frame. People loved the scent, which has a hint of coconut, and the sleek design of the bottle. In addition to noticing hair regrowth, many people also found less hair fall when washing and brushing their hair. Overall, this shampoo was a big hit with users, and most people thought it was great value for money.
Earth Chemistry
Volumizing Shampoo Earth Chemistry prides itself on producing small batches of products using higher quality ingredients. People found this shampoo pleasant to use, commenting that it lathered very well and had a nice fresh scent. Many users were impressed with how much volume and thickness was added to their hair with this shampoo. Some people reported that this product had the best thickening effect of any product they’ve ever tried. The only problem people found with this product was that the detoxifying effects of this shampoo can adversely affect chemical color treatments from the hair, so beware if you use color to disguise those greys!
Maple Holistics
Amaze Shampoo This popular product contains a combination of jojoba oil, cypress, lemon, basil and argan oil to promote thicker hair, remove build up and absorb excess oil. Many people agreed that this shampoo worked well to make their hair feel thicker and really liked the pleasant lemon scent. Most users reported that this shampoo lathered well and left their hair in excellent condition. Many people commented that their hair didn’t feel at all dry when using this product, although a small number of users found their scalp felt too dry with continued use. For the majority of people, this was a very impressive shampoo in respect of quality and value for money.
Maple Holistics
Degrease Shampoo This was a popular product with many users, who found it very pleasant to use. Many people liked the fact that this shampoo lathers well, and has a very pleasant scent which isn’t too overpowering or too feminine. Many people found this shampoo gave their hair more volume and a thicker appearance while also making hair feel clean, without drying out the scalp. A few users, however, found their hair became too dry. Other people reported it also helped to reduce dandruff symptoms. Overall, most people felt that this was a good-quality shampoo that was well worth the cost.
our #1 rated
Pros
Natural shampoo.
Fortifies and strengthens hair.
Volumizing.
Suitable for all hair types.
Hair appears visibly thicker for many users.
Leaves hair in very good condition.
Pleasant fragrance.
Cons
A small number of users didn’t notice any difference.
our #2 rated
Pros
Encourages hair regrowth.
Prevents hair loss.
Leaves hair and scalp in great condition.
Prevents hair breakage.
Volumizing.
Decreases hair fall.
Cons
A few users didn’t notice any improvement in the first few weeks of use.
our #3 rated
Pros
Eco-friendly—100 percent plant based.
Sulfate free.
Preservative free.
Gluten free.
Promotes thick hair.
Made in the US.
Biodegradable.
Volumizing.
Cons
May adversely affect dyed hair.
our #4 rated
Pros
100 percent natural.
Cruelty free.
Sulfate free.
Antimicrobial.
Antiseptic.
Fortifies hair follicles for thicker hair.
Prevents shedding.
Money back guarantee.
Cons
Too drying on the scalp for a minority of users.
our #5 rated
Pros
Natural shampoo.
Sulfate free.
Antibacterial.
Leaves hair feeling clean and soft.
Doesn’t dry hair out.
Safe for color treated hair.
Cons
Some users found it made their hair too dry.
Our Choice
All of the products we reviewed were effective in helping to restore hair thickness and promote hair regrowth. The one that really stood out from the crowd, however, was the Every Man Jack Two-in-One Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.
This product was extremely popular with users who gave rave reviews about the strength, thickness and volume they noticed after using it on their hair.
Add in some cool packaging, a nice fresh scent, hair that feels in great condition, and we can see why this product started more than a few family debates about who gets to use it!
Finally, at the lowest price of all the products we reviewed, this combined shampoo and conditioner not only offers great quality, it also gives excellent value for money.
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