16 Hair Growth Shampoos That Actually Work
Experts weigh in on the most effective over-the-counter options.
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Hair loss, like finding your first gray hair, is likely to make anyone scream. Sure, you can analyze your diet or increase your workout frequency to find the culprit; lest we forget, genetics, excessive heat styling, and plain old stress are also triggers. However, sometimes, the real enemy of progress could be the products sitting in your wash-day collection. Luckily, shampoos can do a lot more than just cleanse away oil and build-up—they can encourage hair health and growth, too.
Whether you opt for supplements like hair growth vitamins, high-tech hair loss devices, or weekly hair growth treatment oils, hair loss shampoos and conditioners are often used to re-grow patchy areas (edges included!), add density to thin hair, and prevent thinning in the first place.
When it comes to hair growth shampoo, you have two options: prescriptions or over-the-counter treatments. Prescription shampoos like ketoconazole are “anti-androgenetic,” which means they prevent two hormones associated with triggering hair loss from activating—testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)—by “targeting hair growth at the site of the follicle and helping to interrupt the hormone cycle locally that causes thinning,” explains Dr. Eric Schweiger of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC. Meanwhile, “over-the-counter growth shampoos typically contain amino acids and antioxidants to provide the components to rebuild hair as well as reduce damage and inflammation,” Schweiger adds.
According to Krupa Koestline, cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants, there are some ingredients to look for that have proven benefits in hair growth stimulation: zinc, keratin, procyanidin B2, biotin, ginseng, caffeine, peppermint, arginine, amino acids like cysteine and tyrosine, vegetable proteins from wheat or soy, and tri-copper peptides. Additionally, natural remedies like rosemary oil, pumpkin seed oil, and rice water have all been shown to help with hair growth as well.
Schwieger also backs these ingredients as effective and cautions against using shampoo with parabens, sulfates, and fragrances, which can irritate hair and reduce moisture. Additionally, cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson of BeautyStat says to look into ingredients like salicylic acid, which exfoliates the scalp and improves blood flow, and biotin, which nourishes the hair follicles, can also be beneficial in a hair growth shampoo.
Our picks for the best hair growth shampoos in 2024
Depending on what’s causing your hair loss, consulting with a doctor, trichologist, or dermatologist is always a good first step. To find the best drugstore shampoos that can improve hair growth and density, we consulted some of the best minds in the industry—including the above experts as well as board-certified hair loss expert and surgeon Dr. William Yates and Dr. Nava Greenfield of Schweiger Dermatology Group. Ahead, shop the 16 best hair growth shampoos available, according to experts and customer reviews.
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