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After the stress of the past few years, your hair may not be living its best life right now. And spending more time staring at your own face on video calls means you're more likely to notice if it’s not looking as, ahem, lustrous as you’d like.
Or maybe there are a few more strands than usual clogging up the shower drain? Good news: there’s a shampoo for that.
Okay, we can’t promise voluminous curls like Timothee Chalamet or enough hair to pad out a Thor-worthy man-bun, but there are a few products that can minimise breakage and promote growth, leaving you with not only more hair, but healthier lengths too.
We tested the best hair growth shampoos for men (and their corresponding conditioners, if they have them). Here's a glance at our winners, but scroll on for more information on the testing process.
1
2
3
Best for volume
Bumble and Bumble Full Potential Hair Preserving Shampoo
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4
Best for hair growth
L'Oréal Professionnel Serioxyl Clarifying & Densifying Shampoo
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5
6
Best for brittle strands
Kerastase Genesis Bain Hydra-Fortifiant
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7
Best for improving hair health
Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo
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8
Best vegan option
Aveda Botanical Repair by Aveda Strengthening Shampoo
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9
Best scalp-exfoliating shampoo
Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo
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10
Best for strengthening
Percy & Reed Give Me Strength Strengthening Shampoo
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Can Shampoos Really Regrow Hair?
We’ll cut to the chase. No shampoo will be able to give you the same volume you had in your teens, but they can help create a healthy environment to encourage strands to grow as strong as possible.
If you have genetic hair loss, then you need something more heavy-duty than a thickening shampoo. Male pattern baldness is a one-way street and without a hair transplant, the best you can do is hold onto what you've still got. The likes of minoxidil and finasteride have been shown to help there, but they do mess with your testosterone levels and can cause dryness and irritation. The shampoos we've tested here are for more everyday – and reversible – hair loss issues.
How We Test Hair Growth Shampoos
Our panel of 700 testers – all self-diagnosed with mild to extreme hair loss or thinning – tried a range of shampoos for between one and two months. The products aimed to correct at least one of the three main causes of hair loss: breakage, thinning and root or scalp issues.
Testers noted any differences to their hair’s condition and appearance and fed back on how their scalp felt throughout the trial period.
In the lab, our experts tested anti-breakage shampoos by combing through hair switches that had been treated with each product and comparing them to untreated switches. The easier the treated switches were to comb, the lower the risk of breakages and fallout.
For products that claim to thicken and stimulate roots, our lab team used a HairMetrix machine to analyse exactly how much impact each shampoo had on hair thickness and density. For all the shampoos on our list, we’ve stated whether they contain parabens, sulphates and silicones, in case any of those are a dealbreaker.
Note: These products are not designed to treat those with medical or hereditary conditions such as alopecia or male pattern baldness. Please seek a medical professional for advice.
The majority of our testers said this shampoo provided an instant volumising effect to ends, making hair look thicker and fuller.
Our panel found this was especially gentle on those with sensitive scalps and left a shinier head of hair as a result. An added bonus is the fragrance, a blend of vetiver and amber.
Key specifications
Volume | 200ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | No |
Sulphate free | Yes |
Dirty innuendos aside, the ‘Stimulate Me’ shampoo from celebrity hairdresser Kevin Murphy’s range came out on top for hydrating parched hair, while simultaneously stimulating growth.
Our testers noticed less shedding, and all agreed that their hair loss issues had improved by the end of the trial. It proved effective at boosting thickness in the lab, too.
Key specifications
Volume | 250ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
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This shampoo left hair shiny and silky, making it easier to style after washing. It also provided a pleasant tingling sensation to the scalp, which testers said they enjoyed.
While testers didn’t spot any significant hair growth, there was a noticeable difference in how full the hair looked, as well as reduced hair breakage.
Key specifications
Volume | 250ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | N |
Sulphate free | Yes |
If speed is of the essence for tackling those sparse spots, this shampoo had a visible impact on ramping up hair growth.
It impressed our lab team by improving both hair density and thickness, while it left our testers raving about their newfound fullness up top and it soothed itchy scalps to boot.
Key specifications
Volume | 250ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
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Lid looking more Boris than Beckham? It's time to find a product with some seriously smoothing powers.
This shampoo left parched, messy mops looking and feeling much thicker, healthier and altogether smarter. So much so that we challenge you to stop running your fingers through it.
Key specifications
Volume | 300ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | No |
If dry, brittle hair is getting you down, grab this guy to rectify things, stat. It thoroughly cleaned roots, leaving most testers with replenished, healthier heads of hair.
The thick lather helped battle any product build-up, with many testers agreeing that it left hair softer and in better condition than before. Talk about a transformation.
Key specifications
Volume | 250ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
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If you’re not quite sold on the silver fox look, this anti-shedding shampoo promises to keep hair ageing to a minimum.
It aced our lab test for improving thickness and density, and our panel liked its gel-like texture and scent. Hair was left feeling stronger and looking healthier.
Key specifications
Volume | 250ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
No dating profile is complete without an animal-loving picture, but why not go the extra mile and invest in this vegan shampoo for your shower.
It helped detangle knots for proud man bun owners, and many thought their hair looked stronger and more hydrated after washing. It got the job done quickly, too, with one tester enjoying immediate results.
Key specifications
Volume | 200ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
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Dandruff is a common problem, but it can be embarrassing, so let's nip it in the bud. This shampoo contains BHAs (aka beta hydroxy acids, aka an acne-busting skincare staple) to exfoliate dead skin gently.
The idea of putting acids on your scalp may sound alarming, but no testers reported any irritation, and everyone found it effective at sending dry flakes packing. It helped to reduce shedding and left hair looking thicker.
Key specifications
Volume | 200ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
10
Best for strengthening
Percy & Reed Give Me Strength Strengthening Shampoo
Now 18% Off
It’s common sense, really: if your hair is stronger, it’s less likely to fall out and leave you with baldy bits.
This shampoo gave thirsty strands some much needed H2O, taming flyaways and reducing fallout. This all helped make hair more manageable for combing and styling, with many testers seeing fewer breakages and more volume at the roots.
Key specifications
Volume | 250ml |
---|---|
Paraben free | Yes |
Silicone free | Yes |
Sulphate free | Yes |
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing.