14 Volumizing Shampoos and Conditioners to Help You Fake Super-Thick Hair, Tried and Tested
“You don’t have extensions?!” is a surprising exclamation I receive at least once a week. And, while I did have bonded extensions the summer after I graduated from college (never again), I haven’t worn them since. (Unless it’s temporary or for a story, mind you.)
Now, there are a few valid reasons for people’s unabashed surprise when they discover all of my hair is real. First, I’ve been highlighting and/or bleaching the heck out of it for about 20 years. Second, I’ve had my fair share of disasters that have significantly damaged the integrity of my hair. Third, although I have a lot of hair, it’s naturally superfine. And fourth, according to every single stylist I encounter, it’s practically impossible to have the length and lightness of my hair simultaneously. (Apparently, I’m an anomaly.)
But my hair didn’t always look like this (it used to be shoulder-length, ultra dry, and very thin and stringy due to breakage), and I attribute its dramatic transformation to a couple of key practices like less heat styling, an amazing colorist who prioritizes the health and integrity of my hair above all else, a healthy and balanced diet, regular trims, and last but not least, volumizing shampoos and conditioners.
Interestingly, I’ve found that volumizing shampoos and conditioners, more so than any other volume-boosting styling products, help the most in the thickening department. (Plus, I’m lazy, so if I can get the most volumizing bang for my buck while in the shower and not via a million other products post-wash, I’m 100% in.)
Below are 14 of the best shampoos and conditioners that encourage instant and long-term volume and get my seal of approval. Keep scrolling!
The Best Volumizing Shampoos & Conditioners, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Living Proof Full Shampoo & Conditioner
- The Under-$10 Pick: OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
- The Splurge That’s *Truly* Worth It: Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
- The Amazon-Famous One: Love Beauty and Planet Volume and Bounty Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
- The Best for Fine Hair: Virtue Full Shampoo & Conditioner
The 14 Best Volumizing Shampoos & Conditioners
Best Overall: Living Proof Full Shampoo & Conditioner
The Under-$10 Pick: OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
The Splurge That’s *Truly* Worth It: Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
The Amazon-Famous One: Love Beauty and Planet Volume and Bounty Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
The A+ Organic Formula: Rahua Voluminous Shampoo & Conditioner
The One That Smells Like Heaven: Christophe Robin Volume Shampoo & Conditioner With Rose Extracts
The Best for Instant Volume and Long-Term Repair: R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
The Best for Fine, Straight Hair: Virtue Full Shampoo & Conditioner
The One With Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews at Sephora: BondiBoost Hair Thickening Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner
The Best for All Hair Types: JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
The Best for Color-Treated Hair: Verb Volume Shampoo & Conditioner
The Best for Anyone With Curl or Frizz: Amika Big Hit Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
The Celebrity Favorite: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
The Best Hairstylist Recommendation: Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
What is volumizing shampoo?
“A volumizing shampoo is designed to add body and fullness to your hair, lifting it at the roots and giving it a thicker feel overall,” says Cavalcante. “Unlike moisturizing or smoothing shampoos, which focus on hydration and frizz control, volumizing shampoos are usually lightweight, so they don’t weigh hair down. They help enhance the texture and lift at the scalp, making hair look naturally fuller and bouncier.”
Who should use volumizing shampoos and conditioners?
According to Cavalcante, those with fine, thin, or limp strands should consider volumizing shampoos and conditioners. That’s not to say that those with thicker hair should steer clear. “If you think about it, who doesn’t want more volume in their hair?!” poses celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan. “Just look at Sabrina Carpenter’s hairstyle, which shows a lot of body in the hair.” In short: Any hair type can use a volumizing shampoo for some extra zhuzh, but those with fine, limp locks may find them especially transformative.
Those with particularly oily scalps can benefit from a volumizing formula, too. “[Volumizing shampoos] usually focus on a deep cleanse of the roots, getting rid of any oils or buildup that might make hair look flat,” Cavalcante notes.
What to Look for in a Volumizing Shampoo
“Look for ingredients like panthenol and hydrolyzed proteins like wheat or silk. These help plump and lift the hair,” Cavalcante adds. “Avoid heavy oils, like coconut and argan, and silicones, which can weigh fine hair down.”
Some volumizing formulas may even be described as “detox” shampoos, so you can also look out for that verbiage on labels, notes McMillan. “Volumizing shampoos are in the same line as a detox shampoo and are formulated to be lightweight with less conditioning agents that can weigh down hair at the roots,” he says.
How We Chose the Best Volumizing Shampoos
When it comes to our testing process at Who What Wear, personal recommendations always come first. Our beauty director, Erin Jahns, first chose the volumizing shampoos and conditioners she specifically swears by for her own mane, making sure to include a variety of price points (because you can find gold-star beauty recs at every budget.) Customer reviews are also important to keep in mind, especially when it comes to wildly popular Amazon favorites. That said, we scoured the review sections of our favorite retailers when compiling our list of 14.
Finally, we also enlisted the help of trusted experts. Cavalcante and McMillan advised us on what to seek out (and avoid!) in a volumizing shampoo, which helped us further narrow down our list and champion our tried-and-true favorites.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Source: WhoWhatWear
