7 Best Hair Loss Shampoos for Men & Women That Work [2021]

There are very few things worse than losing your hair.

It can be incredibly frustrating and even unavoidable for some individuals. Though, there are solutions to combat these frustrations. As you might already know, a primary reason for hair loss is genetics. Hair loss and hair thinning affects both men and women. It can significantly hamper an individual’s psychological state.

Luckily, many products may offer solutions to your dismay. Whether you’re suffering from male pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia, or are just looking for thicker hair, using hair loss shampoo as a hair growth product can go a long way.

Just interested in our #1 pick? We’ve included here for your convenience. Please read below to see how we came up with our top 7 picks, and why Revita is our #1 choice for the best hair loss shampoo.

What should I know about hair loss shampoos?

1. You do not have to recreate the wheel. If something works for you, then stick with it. More importantly, research the ingredients of the shampoos you’re currently using. Also look at the ones that claim to stop hair loss and grow new hair. You may be surprised at your findings! Not all hair growth claims are backed with scientific data.
2. Ketoconazole. If you remember anything from this post, remember that this ingredient is necessary for healthy hair. You will find this in any reputable hair loss shampoo. Simply put, Ketoconazole is a knockout in any hair-fighting match.
3. Be consistent. When searching hair growth shampoo, stick with it for a minimum of at least 6 months. If you use a conditioner (which is recommended), keep this consistent for the duration of this time. Remember, Rome was not built in a day.

Which ingredients should I look for in hair loss shampoos?

Research is still in its early stages for hair loss shampoos and their effects. But, these four ingredients continually hit it out of the park for healthy hair development:

1. Ketoconazole. Are you surprised to see this again? Studies show the most effective use of this antifungal medication was through application of 2% ketoconazole shampoo. Use it two to four days a week. Leave the shampoo on for at least three to five minutes after each application. If this ingredient is listed in your shampoo, you have a strong contender.
2. Caffeine. “No, Peter, do not pour your coffee cup on your head!” In all actuality, caffeine enhances the length of hair shafts. It also stimulates growth of keratinocyte, the largest cell found in a body’s epidermis (outer layer of skin). This ingredient shouldn’t be confused with one’s caffeine consumption. That can actually hamper hair cell development.
3. Biotin. Outside of caffeine, this is a term you are likely familiar with. Biotin is crucial to skin cell development, which in turn affects hair follicles. Think… if your hair follicles are weak or unhealthy, hair loss occurs. One area outside of shampoos to increase Biotin absorption is in your diet. Consider eating more eggs, peanuts, liver, cauliflower, and bananas.
4. Saw Palmetto. In one study, almost half of the men treated with this had a near 12 percent increase in their total hair count. This ingredient has been used for hundreds of years. It witholds the unique ability to block the development of DHT, which is linked to male hair loss.

Our Top Eight Hair Loss Shampoo Picks

With the vast number of hair loss shampoos on the market, this list is by no means all-inclusive. We’ve included our top 8 hair loss shampoos. We base this on a variety of factors, from price to ease of use and ingredient list. The shampoos are listed in order based on ingredients, price, transparency, and effectiveness.

1. Revita High Performance Hair-Stimulating Shampoo

With Revita, the results speak for themselves. They did a study containing 500 men and women. They were between the ages of 18 and 55. 90% of participants using Revita’s product experienced a decrease in hair loss. 85% had an improvement in the “overall appearance” of their hair.

At a more reasonable price, some ingredients in Revita are caffeine, biotin, ketoconazole, emu oil, and vitamin B2. There’s also essential amino acids for hair follicle development. As far as downsides, the primary one was some users found their hair drier after consistent use. But other than this, it’s a formidable giant in the field of hair loss shampoo with a proven track record and is our #1 pick as the best hair loss shampoo on the market.

2. Lipogaine Big 5 All-Natural Shampoo

Perhaps a dark horse, the five ingredients in Lipogaine’s latest addition (compared to its Big 3 option) are biotin, caffeine, argan oil, castor oil, and saw palmetto. All of which combine to actively fight hair loss in individuals and help to generate healthy hair growth.

Compared to the other products, the castor oil in this shampoo fights hair loss. It safely works on all hair types, including color-treated hair. This is the most cost-effective product on the list. Consider pairing this with a conditioner to avoid the unwanted effect of a dryer scalp.

3. Ultrax Labs Hair Surge – Caffeine Hair Loss Growth Stimulating Shampoo

Rated the best “Shampoo for Hair Regrowth Stimulation” in 2016, Ultrax contains caffeine, ketoconazole, and saw palmetto. These three essential ingredients were mentioned above.

It comes at a higher price, but thousands of testimonials and reviews online back this legitimate product. And if you’re still unconvinced, Hair Surge offers a 90-day money-back guarantee.

4. Pure Biology Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo

Pure Biology’s product combines stem cell-derived ingredients. They stimulate cells and your hair follicle to grow hair. Perfect for anyone worried about having thin hair.

It also include saw palmetto, green tea (caffeine), biotin, keratin, and other amino acids and natural extracts. This paraben-free, non-GMO blend is made within the United States. It’s been proven to reduce hair loss by 21 percent within just 21 days. It’s a quality stimulator and shampoo to implement into your routine, retailing at a reasonable price.

5. HairGenesis Activating Shampoo

Developed by Geno Marcovici, Ph.D, this product claims to be the first botanical remedy for hair loss. Specifically aimed at those with male pattern baldness. It has a collection of the essential components present in the oral formulation.

They have been presented to block DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) from binding to the follicles of the hair. This damaging DHT can be eliminated before it can lead to hair damage. Since it is botanical, the main ingredients of this shampoo include evening primrose oil, citric acid, biotin, borage oil, green tea extract and saw palmetto berry extract.

6. Revivogen Bio-Cleansing Shampoo

This shampoo is a medicated, all-natural product. This consists of scientifically supported ingredients (Saw Palmetto, Zinc, Vitamin B6, Azelaic acid ALA, and GLA) that help prevent DHT production.

It’s binding to the follicles of hair. Revivogen Bio-Cleansing Shampoo cleanses the scalp, controls scalp irritation, and removes DHT and Sebum. It also gives a refreshing and cooling effect on the scalp.

7. Nioxin System 4

The Nioxin System 4 is a 4-part system specially created for normal, fine, thin-looking, or chemically treated hair. It amplifies the texture of the hair while giving colored hair moisture balance. It also refreshes the scalp.

The product works as a cleanser. It helps get rid of environmental residues and fatty acids from the hair and scalp. It also removes sebum that can clog the follicle. Nioxin System 3 consists of botanicals and antioxidants that help to give a rejuvenated scalp environment. Although hair regrowth is not guaranteed with this product, Nioxin System 3 for most consumers has enhanced their overall hair quality and health.

Hair Loss Shampoo Buying Guide

There are so many forms of hair loss products that choosing the right form can be challenging. However, a hair loss shampoo should be at the top of your list of treatments to try. Simple, quick, and effective, hair loss shampoos can meet all the things you need.

Choosing the specific hair loss shampoo out of all the different shampoo options out there is where it can get quite a bit more difficult. Not only are there many different companies, each with their own hair loss shampoo. Some companies have multiple hair loss shampoos for you to choose from. This is why understanding what to look for in a hair loss shampoo is so important.

While there will still be a few options after weeding through them, this knowledge can be a big help in choosing which shampoo you want to buy.

Why To Go With A Hair Loss Shampoo

The most obvious reason why a hair loss shampoo might be nice for you is because of the ease of it. Switching out your regular shampoo with one specifically for hair loss is so easy to do. This switch won’t change anything about your daily routine at all, nor will it take up more time. Since you always shampoo your hair when you shower, you will have no trouble remembering to use it. This is better than pills or other topical treatments, which require you to remember to take or use them.

For busy schedules, shampoo is the clear choice. A hair loss shampoo is also perfect if you are only just starting to lose your hair or simply want a preventative measure. In fact, hair loss shampoo as a precautionary measure is especially useful if your family has a history of hair loss at an early age.

There is all manner of hair loss shampoos ranging from gentle to medicated. Some all-natural options contain only the best natural ingredients such as coconut oil, tea tree oil, castor oil, argan oil, and biotin.

Meanwhile, the medicated options are stronger if you are already losing your hair. Both shampoo options will have their own advantages, and you can alternate shampoos as a hair loss treatment to get the best of both. This allows you to pick the shampoo that best fits your situation and needs. This variety also gives you the opportunity to find a shampoo that fits your hair type. After all, an oily hair loss shampoo will not fit your needs if you already struggle with oily hair.

Finally, hair shampoos can be used in conjunction with most other hair treatments. In serious cases, multiple forms of attack to cut back on your hair loss is a very good thing. Depending on the exact shampoo, it can even be used while microneedling.

When A Hair Loss Shampoo Might Not Be For You

There are times and situations when it might be in your best interest to avoid hair loss shampoos.

One such situation is if you had surgery, stitches, or any sort of injury on your scalp. In these instances, it is often best not to use any shampoo at all, in particular ones that may have chemicals in them. Speaking about chemicals, most hair loss shampoos have various chemicals in them. Most of these chemicals are meant to help your hair in some way, but they are still chemicals nonetheless. Any chemical that you use on something as sensitive as your scalp stands the chance of causing some form of side effect.

Sometimes a hair growth shampoo that doesn’t work for you may even cause you to lose your hair. At the same time, when a hair loss shampoo starts repairing your hair, sometimes it can trigger your hair to fall out, or cause thinning hair, at first before stimulating the growth of new hair. Though this is technically a step in the right direction, this is still not something you want. True, there are natural hair loss shampoos that don’t have these potentially harmful ingredients in them. However, these don’t have the tendency to not work as well.

Finally, keep in mind that shampoos of any type are only external treatments. These are not going to deal with root problems or penetrate deeply into your hair follicles. They are also only going to help as long as you use them.

Also, if you have lost almost all your hair already, using shampoo on what little hair you have left is not likely to help you at all. There comes a certain point when you need something more powerful than a shampoo to help your hair loss.

How To Pick A Hair Loss Shampoo

While many hair loss shampoos are similar, there are some that can boast of being genuinely unique. For example, some options focus on one specific cause of hair loss and treat that one thing. Other options treat multiple different problems that cause your hair to thin.

Dandruff can, in some cases, cause hair loss. Therefore, some hair loss shampoos will target dandruff, fungal infections, parasites, and other things. These are perfect shampoos if you are suffering from any of these problems that are leading to hair problems.

Other hair loss shampoos focus on DHT, a leading cause of hair loss. Hair loss shampoos that in some way block DHT can use a variety of methods. This is perfect if you, or someone from your family, is suffering from hair loss because of genetic reasons.

A few hair loss shampoos focus on infusing your scalp with the nutrients that your hair needs. These often ask you to let the shampoo sit in your hair so that these nutrients can be absorbed into your scalp.

There are a handful of hair loss shampoos that try to take multiple methods at once. These will have one or two ingredients to block DHT while being mostly comprised of other ingredients that contain nutrients or that fight infection.

Finally, some options are made for certain hair types, such as oily hair or dry hair. There are a few hair loss shampoo options that fit other problems, but these are the main ones that these shampoos make an effort to target.

Any of these are great for your hair. It is up to you to decide which of these you need most. This is the first step to choosing the right hair loss shampoo for you.

What You Want In It

There are certain ingredients great to have in any shampoo, especially hair loss ones. Protein is a good example of this. Being one of the building blocks that go into your hair, protein in any form is needed for your hair. Some specific forms of protein that you may see include keratin, amino acids, hydrolyzed proteins, and a few others.

On this same note, vitamins are equally important for thinning hair. Treatments that have multiple different vitamins in them are best. You want these to be some of the first ingredients listed since this means that they are the main ingredients. You are looking for a hair loss product that contains B vitamins, Vitamin E, and almost any other type of vitamin. Moisturizers are also good in hair loss shampoos. You may also be looking for a biotin shampoo as well.

Some of the best options for thin hair are coconut oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and other oils that are popular and easy to recognize. In fact, essential oils of all kinds are great for your hair. Peppermint essential oil in hair loss shampoos help to invigorate your scalp and is quite common. Lavender oil is soothing for irritated scalps. Aside from oils, plant extracts of all types are also extremely beneficial.

Salicylic acid, though not natural, can exfoliate your scalp and help with scalp circulation too ultimately leading towards additional hair growth. Shampoos that have hydrocortisone or ketoconazole help and are worth a try. The latter is an ingredient that can combat fungus to keep your scalp healthy.

Rendensyl is a newer but useful ingredient as well. Pattern baldness is best helped with the use of DHT blockers. Some admirable natural ingredients for this are saw palmetto, argan oil, pumpkin seed oil, and stinging nettle. Green tea extract and minoxidil are comparable options, and both are great ingredients too.

What You Want To Avoid

There is a list of ingredients that can be in hair loss shampoos that you don’t want in your hair. First, ‘filler’ ingredients are ones that serve no purpose. These do nothing for your hair and can, in fact, harm your hair, strip it, or any number of other things.

There are some shampoo ingredients that are called ‘thickening’ ingredients. These are not called that because they thicken the shampoo; they are meant to thicken your hair. Good in small amounts, when they are used too frequently these ingredients have the tendency to clog up your pores. This is why you must be wary of hair loss shampoos that call themselves thickening shampoos. Clogging up the pores on your scalp is obviously not going to help your hair any, though the ingredients may help your hair when you first start using it.

Sulfur is another ingredient you don’t want in your hair. While it may seem nice in that sulfur helps shampoo get that lather you love, this comes at a cost. Sulfur also strips your hair of its protective oils, making it dry out, sometimes enough to become brittle.

Hair loss companies can make all sorts of claims about what their ingredients do for you. You should look for proof of these statements, test results, or studies. Without proof, these claims are just that: claims. It is entirely possible that these are empty claims. Finally, you will find that some ingredient lists contain ingredients that are straightforward and easy to recognize.

Meanwhile, others may make you scratch your head as you try to figure out how to even pronounce them properly. This is a clear indicator that you may not want this on your scalp.

Some Other Preferences To Consider

Aside from the ingredients that you definitely don’t want in your shampoo, the rest is a matter of preference. Some of this preference can be largely comprised of things you know simply don’t work for you. This also includes things that you know you react to.

Ingredients that you are allergic to are out of the question for obvious reasons. Allergic reactions can cause hair loss and hair breakage all by themselves. A common allergen found in shampoos is wheat products, but certain chemicals can also cause an allergic reaction as well. As mentioned, chemicals of any kind can be bad. So, natural or not is a decision that you will have to make. Some hair loss shampoos are full of chemicals and nothing else. These are effective but not suited to those trying to live a healthy lifestyle.

There are varying degrees of natural options, and this is where some hard decisions can come into play. Fully natural products of any kind will be quite pricy. Conversely, some may claim to be natural while having only a handful of truly natural ingredients. However, these latter will be more affordable than the purer shampoos.

Most people like to have some form of balance, choosing shampoos that have a fair amount of natural ingredients while not being too expensive. What this balance looks like for you is entirely your preference. Also up to you are the tactics you wish your shampoo to take. This is where you have to decide if you want your shampoo to focus on blocking DHT, increasing your blood flow, treating fungal infections, or some other tactic.

Finally, you can simply decide that you prefer a well-known brand over a smaller or newer one. Older brands have often proven themselves more trustworthy. However, newer brands are often more innovative.

Final Hair Loss Product Buying Guide Notes

It is your decision what hair loss shampoo you want to use, or if you want to even use one at all. That said, you may be benefited by getting a second opinion. A dermatologist can look at your hair, listen to your concerns, and then recommend a certain type of shampoo. One thing is certain, the sooner you start using a hair loss shampoo, the sooner it will be able to help your hair.

Postponing this can result in irreversible damage to your hair follicles if you choose to do nothing for your hair. A final thing to keep in mind, whatever shampoo you pick, is that you should let it sit on your scalp.

The longer something sits on your scalp, the more of it can absorb into your scalp via your blood vessels. This little tip of letting it stay for even a minute or two can help you get the most of your shampoo.

Hair Loss Shampoo FAQs

What ingredients should you look for in hair loss shampoo?

We’ve found that the best hair loss shampoo contains Ketoconazole, biotin, caffeine, biotin, and saw palmetto all are important elements to anyone looking for serious hair regrowth.

What hair loss shampoos should you avoid?

Any hair loss shampoos that do not provide any science behind their makeup should be left alone. Sulfur should be avoided. Thickening shampoo, bitoin shampoo, caffeine shampoo are good but when the shampoo only contains that ingredient, you can find better for healthy hair growth. Any good hair loss shampoo is going to run you $15+. For those suffering from male pattern baldness, using hair loss shampoo, along with minoxidil (Rogaine), is going to be your best bet. If your hair loss shampoo is causing hair breakage should be stopped immediately.

Should I use other products with hair loss shampoo?

Absolutely! Hair regrowth shampoo can be used in conjuction with things such as minoxidil, finasteride, coconut oil, or pretty much anything else you’re utilizing. There is no one size fits all as a hair loss treatment (at least not yet).

Takeaway

It can be tricky choosing the best hair growth shampoo for your hair loss and hair growth needs. Just like any investment, companies make outlandish and hardly believable claims that may not actually be backed by merit. It will take patience, trial-and-error, and a little bit of diligence on your part.

But, you’re equipped with knowledge. This knowledge can help you choose the best hair shampoo for your scalp. In the end, your head will truly thank you and you’ll end up with lots of healthy hair growth! Let us know below what you think about our list and hair loss shampoos. Leave a comment and we will respond as soon as we can.

Happy shampooing!

Tired of chasing down hair growth solutions without the results you’re after? Make sure you’re using the 3 hair loss products known to work before experimenting with alternative solutions. You may be surprised with how effective those 3 alone can be.