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Long, healthy hair seems like a thing of dreams for those struggling with hair growth. And, sure, it’s one thing to make sure your hair is strong, but it’s another to ensure that I’ll actually grow long. So if you’re experiencing breaking or shedding, or your hair just seems to be the stagnant same length it’s always been, it might be time to boost your wash routine with some hair-growth shampoos. No, you’re not going to wake up to a flowing Rapunzel mane after a onetime use; however, a good hair-growth shampoo will give your hair the nutrient support it needs to enhance growth over time.
If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to shopping for the best hair-growth shampoos, that’s where we come in. With the help of some of our favorite hair-care experts and dermatologists, we’ve rounded up a selective list of hair-growth shampoos that are guaranteed to boost your hair-growth goals and make those long locks of your dreams a reality.
So you’re wondering about the best hair-growth shampoos?
➼ FAQS
➼ Our top picks
➼ More tried-and-true options
➼ Our experts
Our Top Picks
Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane and bisabol | Size: 8.6 oz | Vegan and Cruelty Free
Dr. Iris Rubin founded hair-care brand SEEN with a mission to create a product that not only promotes healthy hair but also skin, with formulas that are clinically proven to be both noncomedogenic (a.k.a. won’t clog your pores) and safe for those with sensitive skin. The award-winning sulfate-free shampoo — praised by the National Eczema Association as one of the best hair shampoos for sensitive skin — is formulated with ingredients like hemisqualane, a plant-sugar-derived alternative to silicone that reduces frizz, and bisabol, which helps to smooth skin properties.
Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Caffeine, and Lauric Acid | Size: 8.1 oz
Called a “game changer” hair product by trichologist and Nioxin top artist Gabby Henderson, and a favorite of the Cut’s fashion and beauty writer Asia Milia Ware, Nioxin is what you need if you’re looking for a top hair product for strength and growth. With a five-star rating and rave reviews on Ulta, this shampoo nourishes and deeply cleanses hair to promote growth, with 93 percent of people reporting less hair fall in 12 weeks, according to Nioxin’s benefits.
Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Biosurfactant, prebiotics, and vegan protein | Size: 8.1 oz | Vegan
If you’re someone who’s been on a personal hair-growth journey for some time now, then you’re probably already familiar with Nutrafol and its best-selling Hair Growth Supplements. Now you can pair the supplements with the brand’s latest shampoo and conditioner products. (And as someone who has used the supplements and noticed a true difference in my hair texture and growth, naturally, I jumped at the chance to try out these wash products.) Made with prebiotics that help strengthen the scalp barrier and natural ingredients such as Australian wild berries, an antioxidant, the product works to protect the scalp and provide it with nourishment and hydration. The physician-formulated shampoo also visibly improves hair volume, strength, and texture in just two weeks of consistent use.
Hair Type: Damage, thinning hair| Key Ingredients: Cannabidiol | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free
Co-developed by dermatologists, Vegamour’s shampoo is a top-rated favorite. Designed for those experiencing severe shedding and stunted growth, the popular volumizing shampoo helps to remove buildup without stripping or drying out strands, especially for fragile hair textures. For the best results while using the shampoo, the directions recommend you lather a quarter-size amount onto wet hair and leave in for one minute in order to let the active ingredient (cannabidiol, a.k.a. CBD) set into the hair before rinsing it out. And to top it off, the shampoo has a refreshing citrusy scent, which makes washing your hair even more blissful.
More Tried-and-True Options
Hair Type: Damaged, brittle | Key Ingredients: Biotin, amino acids, castor oil, soy proteins | Size: 10.1 oz
If you’re prone to breakage, Redken’s “anti-snap” formula is for you. With a complex blend of amino acids and arginine, this shampoo works to strengthen and fortify damaged and brittle hair — making it stronger to avoid that breakage you so fear. The shampoo also works to manage and treat dry, damaged hair for softer locks that aren’t stripped of nutrients. An added plus for the shampoo: Its lightweight formula doesn’t weigh the hair down or make it oily — ideal for those with fine and thin hair (like myself) who are hesitant to use anything that might make the hair appear limp with no body.
Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed rice and fermented rice powder, biotin, and rose powder | Size: Contains four packets of Step 1 and four packets of Step 2 | Cruelty-Free
When Beyoncé announced she was launching a hair-care line earlier this year, all of us here at the Cut couldn’t wait to try each and every Cécred product. And while everyone really, really liked the Clarifying Shampoo and Scalp Scrub and the Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, when it comes to hair growth, Cécred’s Dr. Kari Williams recommends this Protein Ritual from the line. “This treatment is excellent for promoting length retention and strengthening the hair. It combines powerful ingredients like hydrolyzed rice protein, biotin, and fermented rice powder to fortify the hair, reduce breakage, and support overall hair vitality with hair that is two times shinier,” she says of the two-step ritual, which makes hair three times more resistant to breakage for longer, stronger hair. “The inclusion of rose powder and antioxidants also helps maintain a healthy scalp, which is essential for strong, resilient hair.”
Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Burnet root extract, Japanese tea rose, swertia chirata extract | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free
No matter what your hair is going through — dry hair, split ends, breakage, slow hair growth, even mild postpartum thinning and hair loss— Evolis is the shampoo your hair needs. The sulfate-free formula, enriched with baobab to hydrate hair and protect it from styling tools, cleanses strands while protecting hair from breakage and split ends. The shampoo also helps to smooth hair, taming unwanted frizz and enhancing shine. And while your hair won’t grow overnight, the five-star product has received rave reviews from customers, with one saying, “After 120 days I really started to see a lot more growth,” in addition to “tons of baby hairs growing in!”
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FAQs
What are the best ingredients to look out for in hair-growth shampoos and products?
Biotin and niacin, a.k.a. vitamin B3, are some of the key elements for healthy growth, while ingredients like sulfates and alcohols are what you want to steer clear of in a hair-growth product. “When looking for shampoos that support hair growth, focus on ingredients like biotin; niacin, which improves blood circulation to the scalp; hyaluronic acid that helps retain moisture in the hair, keeping it healthy and reducing breakage; hydrolyzed proteins (such as rice or keratin); and antioxidants like vitamin E or green tea extract,” says Dr. Kari Williams, director of education at Beyoncé’s own Cécred. “These ingredients strengthen the hair shaft, reduce breakage, and promote a healthy scalp environment, which is essential for hair growth.” Echoing Dr. Williams’s sentiments, Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist and Nutrafol expert, says ultimately, you’re looking for ingredients that “promote hydration such as fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids, and bio-based cleansers that improve the microbiome without stripping natural oils.”
And above all, Dr. Iris Rubin, founder of SEEN Haircare, stresses the importance of using ingredients that benefit a healthy scalp, which is “essential” for hair growth. “Minoxidil is the gold-standard topical product for hair growth. At this time, [it] is the only topical ingredient that is FDA-approved for hair growth. However, you won’t find it in shampoo because it needs to remain on the scalp in order to work (rather than being rinsed away).”
Ok so, what about the ‘worst’ ingredients?
Ingredients like sulfates and alcohols (like isopropyl alcohol) can strip the hair of those natural oils you need for growth, which can lead to “dryness, irritation, and breakage. Silicones, while not necessarily harmful, can also build up on the scalp over time, potentially clogging hair follicles and impeding healthy hair growth,” adds Dr. Williams.
How long does it take to really see results?
While results vary from person to person due to hair type and product usage, most of our experts agree that it can usually take three to four months of using a hair-growth shampoo or product to see any meaningful changes. “Seeing noticeable results in hair strength and length retention typically takes about four to six weeks of consistent use. However, for more substantial changes related to the hair-growth cycle, such as improved hair density or reduced shedding, it can take three to four months of consistent use,” says Dr. Williams. “Hair grows in cycles, and it takes time for the benefits of nourishing ingredients to become visible in new hair growth. Patience and consistency are key.”
Does hair thinning also impact hair growing and vice versa?
According to Dr. Engelman, it does. “Hair thinning and hair growth are interconnected. Thinning occurs when hair follicles shrink, leading to finer, shorter hair and fewer active follicles. This reduced activity impacts overall hair growth, as fewer strands reach the optimal length and thickness,” she says. “Conversely, stimulating hair growth can help address thinning by encouraging healthier, more robust follicles to produce thicker hair.”
What are the best shampoos for hair thinning?
If you are someone struggling with thinning hair or hair loss, making it extra difficult to grow out hair, Dr. David Kim of New York’s Idriss Dermatology recommends shampoos with an anti-inflammatory effect. “For fuller healthier skin, you have to stimulate your hair follicles, reduce inflammation, and prolong the growth phase. This cannot be achieved with a shampoo alone but it plays an important role in reducing inflammation,” he says.
At the end of the day, do hair-growth shampoos really work?
Will you wake up with an extra-long Rapunzel-like mane shortly after using a hair-growth shampoo? No. But will hair-growth shampoos over time supplement your overall hair-growth mission? Yes. “Hair-growth shampoos can support length retention and help maintain a healthy scalp environment, which is crucial for overall hair health,” says Dr. Williams, especially when using products with the “right ingredients” that “can reduce breakage and support the natural growth cycle, making it easier to retain length.” Shampoos and conditioners alone can’t magically make your hair grow, but avoiding the wrong kinds of products will further support a healthy scalp, a.k.a. your key to hair growth. Overwashing your hair with harsh shampoos (some that claim to support growth) strips the scalp, making it vulnerable to dryness and irritation.
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Our Experts
- Dr. Iris Rubin, founder, SEEN Haircare
- Dr. Kari Williams, director of education at Cécred
- Dr. David Kim, board-certified dermotologist at New York’s Idriss Dermatology
- Dr. Dendy Engelman, Nutrafol expert and board-certified dermatologist
- Gabby Henderson, New York–based trichologist and Nioxin top artist
