These 11 Shampoos and Conditioners for Hair Growth Are 100% Worth Every Dollar—Experts Agree

It's not as widely spoken about in our day as the buzzy beauty trends cosigned by celebrities may be, but hair loss is by far one of the most relatable things many of us can recognize. While losing anywhere between 50 and 150 strands per day is normal, anything more could be a glaring sign of an underlying issue. Anything from stress, nutritional imbalances, and unsafe vitamin use to the aging process, undiagnosed disease, and tight ponytails can cause thinning and significant hair loss. If you feel like you've been noticing more daily shedding than normal, it's important to see a doctor (a dermatologist or trichologist is a good place to start!) to get some answers.

Despite what the beauty and wellness industries would like you to think, halting hair loss or beefing up your current mane is rarely as simple as swapping out your shampoo and conditioners. That said, certain shampoos and conditioners can be more strategic than others when it comes to hair growth by clearing clogged follicles, boosting microcirculation, refortifying breakage-prone strands, and more.

To help you revamp your wash day product lineup with growth-boosting shampoos and conditioners, we tapped trichologist, cosmetologist, and V&Co. beauty brand ambassador Sophia Emmanuel and trichologist, salon owner, author, and RevAir’s resident expert Ladosha Wright for their easy-to-follow and product recommendations.

The Best Growth-Boosting Shampoos and Conditioners, Listed

• V&Co. Beauty Thicker Please! Shampoo Conditioner Set
• Briogeo Destined for Density Density Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
• Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner Set
• Nutrafol Shampoo Conditioner Duo
• Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Multiplying Volume Set

RevAir Cleansing Oil Shampoo and Deep Conditioning Treatment

V&Co. Beauty Thicker Please! Shampoo and Conditioner Set

Shea Moisture Jamaican Castor Oil Stengthen Restore Shampoo Conditioner Set

Viviscal Densifying Shampoo and Conditioner Set

Carol's Daughter Goddess Strength Hair Care Gift Set

Nioxin Scalp + Hair Thickening System Kit

Fable Mane Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner Set

JS Health 2-Step Vitamin Haircare System

Nutrafol Shampoo Conditioner Duo

Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Multiplying Volume Set

How should I shop for growth-boosting products?

To shop for the best shampoos and conditioners to encourage hair growth, make sure you know what each can do for hair and scalp health. Emmanuel breaks it down for us: "Shampoos are rinse-off products and do not sit on the scalp long enough to stimulate growth. However, shampoos can help support the scalp, creating a healthy environment for hair to grow," she begins. She recommends looking for products that are pH-balanced, in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 (to help reduce dryness, itchy scalp, and dandruff), formulated with peptides, amino acids, and antioxidants, as well as latherable.

Emmanuel also tells us that conditioners are "made for the hair rather than the scalp and can aid in length retention, preserving what grows from the follicle." Conditioners smooth out the cuticle to prevent tangles, frizz, and friction in between hair strands while adding shine. They also seal the cuticle to lock in moisture. For these, be on the lookout for an ingredient list that includes peptides and lightweight humectants.

Wright touches on the importance of knowing which products will best serve your goals with clean ingredients. "Shampoos and conditioners created and marketed for hair loss contain ingredients that are medicines, not cosmetics. The most popular OTC (over-the-counter) shampoo for hair growth contains minoxidil, which is medically proven to regrow hair and is FDA-approved," she says. "Even with OTC brands, consumers must follow up with their favorite styling products to obtain the hairstyle of their choice."

What are the best ingredients for hair growth?

Now that you know how incorporating certain shampoos and conditioners in your product lineup can completely transform the appearance and feel of your strands, we can dive into the nitty-gritty stuff (aka which powerful ingredients make the hair magic happen). While many different blends of ingredients can be spotted on the back of growth-boosting shampoos and conditioners, you can expect to see minoxidil the most.

According to Wright, other popular ingredients may be oils and essences derived from the palmetto and ashwagandha plants and tocopherol. The specific blend of ingredients is chosen for blends not only based on their benefits, but also on their quality. Wright tells us that the high-quality ingredients you should be on the hunt for are harvested in colder climates with "sophisticated extraction methods to ensure purity."

There are also several other ingredients that, while they may fly below the radar, will create the biggest difference in length and volume: more oils that can be found in a well-stocked herb garden. "Studies have shown that rosemary oil works similarly to minoxidil for some people," Emmanuel begins. "Rosemary oil helps dilate blood vessels and improves blood flow to the hair follicles. Peppermint oil increases blood flow and creates a cooling sensation on the scalp for people with an itchy scalp."

Other naturally-derived ingredients to look for on the back of a shampoo or conditioner for hair growth are stress-reducing green tea extract and anti-inflammatory lavender, in addition to the use of caffeine, palmetto, biotin, and niacinamide. If you decide to shop over the counter for shampoos and conditioners aimed a promoting hair growth, Wright warns that the FDA does not approve or monitor what kinds of hair products companies make, and discourages confusing shampoos with FDA-approved medicines.

How can I add them to my wash day lineup?

Incorporating shampoos and conditioners with growth-boosting ingredients into a daily haircare routine is easy as long as you know where they belong in your updated product lineup. "These shampoos and conditioners would replace the current hair products you use to wash and condition your hair," Emmanuel explains. "You can use them as often as you like to cleanse and condition your hair." Wright agrees, but also highlights the importance of weeding out the products that don't work in favor of the products that do for the best results.

Wright also recommends not skipping over the directions for correct use from brand to brand, since a common mistake she sees is the misuse of products. "For example, if a conditioner reads 'instant,' the person will let it sit on the hair for at least 30 minutes, or if the directions read 'use a small amount,' the person will squeeze out a golf ball-sized amount," she begins. Avoid this by making sure the only products in your routine have formulas that will work as expected.

Of all the products she's used during her extensive career as a trichologist and salon owner, Wright loves the shampoos, conditioners, and other products in RevAir’s Extreme Hydration Collection for encouraging hair growth and volume. "I love working with companies that are on the pulse of what professionals and consumers need to apply the information from what is written on the bottle to help them achieve hair growth and the hairstyle of their desires," she says. Emmanuel's top choice in shampoos and conditioners for hair growth? V&Co. Beauty's Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.

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