Beauty The Best Thickening Products for Hair That Has Started to Thin Over Time These shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments can help make your hair look and feel stronger. By Nashia Baker Nashia Baker Nashia Baker is a skilled writer and editor in the journalism industry, known for her work interviewing global thought leaders, creatives, and activists, from Aurora James to Stacey Abrams. She has over five years of professional experience and has been a part of the Martha Stewart and Martha Stewart Weddings teams for the last 3 years. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 18, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Westend61 / Getty Images Whatever you do to your hair—whether you regularly dye it or embrace your natural color and texture—it is bound to change over the years, especially as you (and your strands) begin to mature. Hair thinning, in particular, can take place with time. If this does happen to you, don't fret—there are several treatments on the market that can help you achieve thickness and body. There are many reasons why hair density changes over time. One of the most common causes is hereditary-based alopecia, says William Yates, MD, FACS, which is called androgenic alopecia in men and female pattern alopecia in women. "Other causes of hair thinning which are not hereditary are medical diseases, such as autoimmune disorders like lupus, polymyositis, and sarcoidosis," he adds. "Anemia, thyroid issues, and severe malnutrition can also cause thinning of the hair." If you're experiencing any of the above, note that it is still possible to give strands a fuller feel and appearance with specially formulated thickening hair products. "The main component of thickening products are known as humectants," says Dr. Yates. "Humectants add volume by drawing moisture into the external hair shaft to give the hair shaft more thickness and more strengthening properties." We've gathered thickening shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments on the market that will not only plump up each strand, but also nourish them with added shine and softness. Shop the Best Hair Thickening Products Wella Volume Shampoo Kevin Murphy Plumping Wash Sebastian Volupt Volume-Boosting Shampoo Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo Dr. Yates MD Thickening Shampoo Sebastian Volupt Volume-Boosting Conditioner Kevin Murphy Plumping Rinse Living Proof Full Conditioner Kérastase Densifique Thickening Conditioner for Thinning Hair Moroccanoil Thickening Lotion Oribe "Maximista" Thickening Spray Pantene Blends Hair Multiplying Tonic TGIN Hydrating Mousse Wella Invigo Volume Boost Bodifying Foam Dove Style + Care Mousse Volume and Fullness Original Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz Not Your Mother's "Plump For Joy" Thickening Hair Lifter Hair Biology Thickening Treatment With Biotin These Are the 7 Most Effective Hair Loss Treatments, According to Dermatologists and Trichologists The Best Hair Thickening Shampoos 01 of 18 Wella Volume Shampoo Courtesy of Ulta Beauty $16.50, ulta.com To give your hair some volume and body, consider this shampoo filled with nourishing seed oil. It's lightweight, but effectively washes away product residue and oil—and will leave your scalp feeling ultra-clean. 02 of 18 Kevin Murphy Plumping Wash Courtesy of Amazon $40.73, amazon.com Filled with ginger root and nettle extracts, this shampoo adds density to fine hair and strengthens strands with every wash. These ingredients also stimulate blood circulation in the scalp to promote growth. 03 of 18 Sebastian Volupt Volume-Boosting Shampoo Courtesy of Amazon $18, amazon.com This volume-boosting shampoo strengthens strands by penetrating the hair shaft with bamboo extract, which also promotes volume and softness. 04 of 18 Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo Courtesy of Ulta Beauty from $31, ulta.com Vitamin B5 is the key to improving thin hair's volume, shine, and texture, says Jennifer Weiss, a dermatology PA at Marmur Medical—and this shampoo is full of it (pun intended!). "[It] will give your hair added moisture, plumping the follicle and thickening the hair," she adds. 05 of 18 Dr. Yates MD Thickening Shampoo Courtesy of Dr. Yates, MD Hair + Science $19.99, yourhairlossexpert.com Dr. Yates' shampoo formula boasts pumpkin seed oil, zinc, and magnesium—and all three play a role in promoting thicker strands. They refresh the scalp with their anti-inflammatory properties and stimulate circulation around the hair follicles for growth and added strength. The Best Hair Thickening Conditioners 06 of 18 Sebastian Volupt Volume-Boosting Conditioner Courtesy of Amazon $19, ulta.com Your hair will be that much fuller if you pair the Sebastian Volupt Volume-Boosting Shampoo with its matching conditioner, which won't weigh strands down. Cactus and other botanical extracts ensure strands feel light and soft after your shower. 07 of 18 Kevin Murphy Plumping Rinse Courtesy of Amazon $34.09, amazon.com If you follow up the Kevin Murphy Plumping Wash with this thickening conditioner, your strands will look and feel fuller thanks to the product's keratin content; this is one of the formula's main ingredients. "Keratin is a protein found naturally in our hair follicles and it will help to protect and strengthen the outer layer of your hair strands," says Weiss. 08 of 18 Living Proof Full Conditioner Courtesy of Sephora $32, sephora.com This conditioner adds volume to thinning, limp hair of all types, from straight and wavy to curly. Weiss likes this option, as it "is all-natural and contains peptides that will not only hydrate your hair, but also plump the hair follicles." 09 of 18 Kérastase Densifique Thickening Conditioner for Thinning Hair Courtesy of Sephora $44, sephora.com The hyaluronic acid in this thickening conditioner strengthens hair and prevents breakage. Ceramides boost strands' shine and elasticity, while gluco-peptides strengthen hair fibers and reduce breakage. The Best Hair Thickening Leave-In Treatments 10 of 18 Moroccanoil Thickening Lotion Courtesy of Sephora $30, sephora.com If you want fuller hair, this thickening leave-in lotion will deliver that and more. The formula's geranium extract strengthens strands and green tea leaf extract offers nourishing antioxidants. 11 of 18 Oribe "Maximista" Thickening Spray Courtesy of Amazon $39, amazon.com Watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts work together to protect delicate hair from hot tools and damaging UV rays in this thickening spray, which adds a durable lift to hair and provides medium hold, too. Weiss recommends this product for its amino acids, which strengthen hair follicles. 12 of 18 Pantene Blends Hair Multiplying Tonic Courtesy of Walgreens $6.99, walgreens.com Aging hair—especially if it has been chemically treated—will benefit from this leave-in tonic. The bamboo-infused thickening serum adds fullness to hair and also helps prevent breakage. 13 of 18 TGIN Hydrating Mousse Courtesy of Ulta $12.99, ulta.com Those with curly hair types require constant moisture to maintain elasticity. That's where this hydrating mousse comes in. The coconut and argan oils give aging textures a solid amount of hydration, while also providing enduring hold. 14 of 18 Wella Invigo Volume Boost Bodifying Foam Courtesy of Ulta Beauty $18.49, walmart.com When used in tandem with its shampoo counterpart, this body-boosting foam is meant to add volume to even the finest of hair without weighing it down. It's especially helpful during the styling process, since it eliminates static. 15 of 18 Dove Style + Care Mousse Volume and Fullness Courtesy of Walmart $5.98, walmart.com Gain more volume from roots to ends with this lightweight mousse, filled with amino acids. It also combats frizz, dehydration, and split ends and ensures all-day hold. 16 of 18 Original Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz Courtesy of Amazon $33.99, amazon.com This thickening spritz is the perfect product to use before styling your hair, especially if you use hot tools; it's also a heat protectant. It contains Lilly Pilly, an antioxidant known for thickening the hair shaft. 17 of 18 Hair Biology Thickening Treatment With Biotin Courtesy of Target $12.19, target.com Infused with biotin and caffeine, this thickening treatment adheres to and fluffs each strand, resulting in a fuller, healthier look and feel. 18 of 18 Not Your Mother's "Plump For Joy" Thickening Hair Lifter Courtesy of Ulta Beauty $6.99, ulta.com This vegan thickening lifter provides a boost of strength and body at the root. Best of all, the formulas that this ingredient-conscious company makes have everything you want and nothing you don't—which is why this product is sulfate surfactant-, silicone-, paraben-, phthalate-, gluten-, dye-, alcohol-, and cruelty-free. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit