Thinning hair is something many men and women deal with, and it can really take a hit on your confidence. It changes how you look, making your hair seem flat, lifeless, and less healthy. Did you know that about 40% of women experience noticeable thinning by the time they’re 50? And men often start to see it earlier, sometimes in their 20s or 30s.
The good news is there are ways to make your hair look thicker and fuller—starting with the shampoo you use. Thickening and volumizing shampoos are popular choices, but how do you know which one to pick? Are they really that different, or is it just clever marketing?
Are There Any Differences Between Thickening and Volumizing Shampoo?
Yes, thickening and volumizing shampoos are different! While they both aim to improve the appearance of your hair, they do it in different ways. Volumizing shampoos are focused on giving your hair more lift and bounce, especially at the roots, so your hairstyle looks bigger and fuller. Thickening shampoos, on the other hand, work on each strand of hair, making it feel and look thicker.
What Is Volumizing Shampoo and What Does It Do?
Volumizing shampoo is designed to make your hair look full and lifted, giving it more body and life. It’s perfect if your hair tends to feel flat or limp after washing. These shampoos typically use lightweight ingredients so they don’t weigh your hair down, allowing for that airy, bouncy look.
Common ingredients in volumizing shampoos are:
- Volumizing shampoos often include lightweight formulas that help keep your hair airy and full without adding any heaviness.
- Polymers gently coat each strand, giving your hair extra volume while avoiding a heavy, weighed-down feel.
- To give your roots a natural lift, caffeine is often added. It works by improving blood flow to the scalp, which helps create a fuller appearance.
- With hydrolyzed wheat protein, these shampoos add strength and elasticity to hair, helping it hold its natural bounce and volume.
- Essential oils like peppermint or sage cleanse the scalp, keeping it fresh and supporting a light, voluminous look.
What Is Thickening Shampoo and What Does It Do?
Thickening shampoo works on making each hair strand look and feel thicker. This is ideal if your hair is naturally fine or has started thinning. These shampoos often contain ingredients that temporarily swell hair strands or strengthen them over time, making your hair feel stronger and fuller.
Common ingredients in thickening shampoos are:
- Thickening shampoos often include proteins, like keratin, to strengthen your hair and make every strand appear thicker and healthier.
- Collagen is another important ingredient, as it adds structure to your hair, giving it a plumper and fuller look.
- You’ll also find panthenol (Vitamin B5) in these shampoos, which locks in moisture while swelling the hair shafts to create a thicker appearance.
- For promoting healthier and denser hair growth, biotin is commonly added, making your hair look naturally fuller over time.
- Many thickening shampoos also include saw palmetto extract, which helps block DHT, a hormone linked to hair thinning, to support stronger hair growth.
Key Differences Between Thickening and Volumizing Shampoo
If you’re trying to pick between thickening and volumizing shampoo, it’s important to know they’re not the same thing. Both can help your hair look better, but they work in different ways. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide which one your hair needs.
1. What They Do
Volumizing shampoos are all about adding lift and bounce to your hair. If your hair tends to fall flat or feel heavy, these shampoos help make it lighter and more full-looking. Thickening shampoos work differently. They focus on making each strand of hair look thicker and stronger, which is great for people with thin or weak hair.
Volumizing shampoos are gentle enough for daily use, while thickening shampoos might be better used a few times a week to avoid buildup.
2. What’s Inside
Volumizing shampoos use super-light ingredients, like polymers and wheat proteins, to keep your hair airy. Some even have caffeine to wake up your roots and give them a natural lift.
Thickening shampoos, on the other hand, work with ingredients like keratin and collagen to actually bulk up your strands. You might also see biotin in them, which helps your hair grow thicker over time.
If you have oily or heavy hair, volumizing shampoo is your best bet. If you have thinning or fragile hair, thickening shampoo is probably what you need.
3. How They Affect Your Hair
Volumizing shampoos make your hair look light and fluffy, perfect if you love big hairstyles or bouncy curls. Thickening shampoos make your hair feel stronger and thicker when you touch it, which is great if you want sleek, healthy-looking strands.
Volumizing shampoos work wonders for fine, straight hair, while thickening shampoos are better for wavy or curly textures or hair that’s starting to feel thinner.
4. Focus Area
Volumizing shampoos are great for the scalp. They often have refreshing ingredients to clear any buildup and keep your roots lifted. Thickening shampoos focus more on nourishing the actual hair strands, keeping them strong and healthy so they don’t break as easily.
Choosing Between Thickening and Volumizing Shampoo
Not sure whether you need a thickening or volumizing shampoo? Don’t worry—picking the right one is easier when you know what your hair needs. Here’s a simple guide to help you decide.
1. Look at Your Hair Type
If your hair is fine or feels flat, volumizing shampoo is a solid choice. It gives your hair a lift and makes it feel lighter. But if your hair is thinning or feels weak, a thickening shampoo will help strengthen and thicken each strand.
If the top of your hair looks flat or lifeless, go for volumizing. If you notice your hair breaking a lot, opt for thickening.
2. Look at Your Hair Texture
Volumizing shampoos are great for straight or smooth hair because they add bounce and body. Thickening shampoos, however, are better for wavy or curly hair if it seems thin or less dense.
Straight hair tends to look lifeless, so volumizing shampoo helps. Wavy or curly hair may need thickening for more fullness.
3. Look at Your Hair Woes
If your hair gets greasy quickly and lacks lift, volumizing shampoo is perfect for keeping it fresh and bouncy. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with hair that’s thinning or shedding, thickening shampoo can help make it look and feel stronger.
For flat, oily hair, use volumizing. If you’re seeing less density or more breakage, go with thickening.
4. Look at Your Go-to Hairstyle
Volumizing shampoos are all about helping you achieve fluffy, bouncy styles like voluminous curls and big blowouts. Thickening shampoos are better if you want sleek styles like ponytails or straightened looks that need strong, full strands.
Shampoos Worth Trying
Here are a few top-rated shampoos to check out, depending on your needs.
For Volumizing:
- OGX Bodifying + Bamboo Fiber Shampoo gives your hair a great boost, adding volume without making it feel stiff or heavy.
- Biolage VolumeBloom Shampoo is a gentle choice, perfect for fine hair, leaving it soft and naturally full of body.
- Living Proof Full Shampoo cleans your hair thoroughly while making it look fuller, bouncier, and healthier.
For Thickening
- Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo System 2 is perfect for tackling hair thinning, helping to strengthen your strands while giving them a thicker, fuller look.
- R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo offers a biotin-rich formula that enhances both the fullness and health of your hair.
- Aussie Miracle Volume + Biotin Shampoo is a budget-friendly choice that makes your hair look thicker and adds vibrant energy to your style.
Fuller Hair, Your Way
Using the right shampoo can bring life and volume back to your hair while keeping it healthy. It’s an easy, everyday way to make your strands feel thicker and look amazing. But shampoos aren’t the only option! If you’re facing more serious hair thinning, treatments like FUE, FUT, or hair transplants could be worth considering. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—whether it’s through good haircare or advanced treatments, you’ve got plenty of options to find what works best for you and help you feel confident.