"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
Pros: Proprietary amino cleansing complex cleanses without stripping, peptides plump hair fibers, phytantriol preserves hair color and reduces damage from hot tools.
Cons: Takes several shampoos to thoroughly clean.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Proprietary amino cleansing complex, amaranth peptides, phytantriol
Size: 8 ounces
I was in college the first time I tried (and quickly fell in love with) these original cult favorites from Living Proof. Since then, I've definitely been around the block in terms of how many formulas I've cheated on them with, but whenever I come crawling back, I wonder why I ever strayed. This shampoo and conditioner feature the brand's Proprietary Amino Cleansing Complex, which effortlessly cleanses the hair while warding off breakage and styling-induced damage. The addition of phytantriol also preserves hair color, and the shine, body, and bounce you get are pretty unparalleled.
Customer Review: "Love this shampoo and [conditioner] duo! I don't have fine hair, but I wanted to try a volume formula. I like that this shampoo doesn't weigh my hair down. It's very lightweight. My hair feels clean but not stripped."
The Under-$10 Pick: OGX Thick Full + Biotin Collagen Volumizing Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Budget-friendly, infused with collagen and biotin, helps hair appear thicker with a blend of vitamin B7 and hydrolyzed wheat protein.
Cons: Doesn't contain clean ingredients.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: LipiPro Shield technology, biotin, collagen
Size: 13 ounces
This is the best volumizing shampoo and conditioner you can pick up at the drugstore, and you'll feel the effects the second you get out of the shower and your hair starts to dry. I discovered the duo in a pinch while traveling. (I'd forgotten to pack my much spendier go-tos and needed something effective and budget-friendly.) The shampoo and conditioner are strategically infused with collagen—a crucial building block for healthy hair—plus extra credit hits of biotin and hydrolyzed wheat protein.
Customer Review: "I have super thin and [weak] hair. I have been trying a lot of products, but this is by far the best [one]. I bought it this January, and it lasted four months (I wash my hair every day). It gives nice volume and smooth texture to your hair."
The Splurge That's *Truly* Worth It: Philip Kingsley Density Thickening Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Unique hyper-branched polymers and hydrolyzed pea peptides instantly volumize hair, while BHAs gently exfoliate the scalp for reduced breakage. Formula is sulfate-free.
Cons: Salicylic acid in the formula may not be suitable for those with a sensitive scalp, pricier than other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Hyper-branched polymers, hydrolyzed pea peptides, BHAs
Size: 6.8 ounces
This sulfate-free volumizing duo received a seal of approval from Violet Grey, so you already know it has to be mind-blowingly good. Hyper-branched polymers and hydrolyzed pea peptides add instant volume to thin, fragile hair without stripping or causing dryness. And, because thick, healthy hair starts at the scalp, you also get a helpful dose of exfoliating BHAs, which pave the way for optimal (and fast!) hair growth.
Customer Review: "I didn't expect this shampoo to [help me] overcome losing my hair. But I do like the way my hair looks and feels. My wife says that it has made my hair look a bit thicker. A little overpriced, but I am likely to order it again."
The Amazon-Famous One: Love Beauty and Planet Volume and Bounty Thickening Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Sulfate-free formula with coconut water and mimosa flower to gently cleanse and nourish hair. Coconut oil hydrates and helps strands appear thicker.
Cons: Strong smell.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, organic coconut water, mimosa flower
Size: 13.5 ounces
This lesser-known shampoo and conditioner from Love Planet and Beauty just so happens to be one of the most popular volumizing solutions on Amazon, with nearly 10,000 reviews and a solid 4.4/5 star average rating. Blame it on the thickening, shine-inducing, and hyper-moisturizing trifecta of coconut water, mimosa flower, and coconut oil.
Customer Review: "This product smells amazing. It cleanses all hair types (over-processed/damaged to healthy) really well, without residue. It leaves your hair soft (with just the shampoo alone). I love this product. It is my new favorite."
The A+ Organic Formula: Rahua Voluminous Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Omega-9-rich rahua oil fortifies hair and helps prevent breakage, lavender and eucalyptus extracts offer a calming aromatherapy experience.
Cons: Doesn't really lather (for those who like one in a shampoo) and is pricier than other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Rahua oil, lavender extract, eucalyptus extract
Size: 9.3 ounces
I never loved an organic shampoo and conditioner until I discovered Rahua's truly magical formulations that are not only supremely natural and beautifully crafted but completely life-changing when it comes to the status of your hair. All of their shampoo and conditioners are superb, but if it's next-level volume and body you're after, reach for this twosome. Thanks to green tea antioxidants, citrus juice. lemongrass, omega-9-rich oils, lavender, and eucalyptus, your hair will never feel cleaner or bouncier. Plus, it smells intoxicatingly good (like a spa!).
Customer Review: "I have thin curly hair. One of my magazine subscriptions did a review of shampoos and conditioners. It got a good rating. When I use these products together, it is like a spa day. Love how my hair feels and looks without any other products."
The One That Smells Like Heaven: Christophe Robin Volume Shampoo Conditioner With Rose Extracts
Pros: Enriched with rose water and baobab to gently cleanse but reserve color, restores volume, rose extracts limit loss of color pigments in the hair to keep color fresh.
Cons: Volumizing effect is subtler than other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Rose water, baobab extract, rose extract
Size: 8.3 ounces
Christophe Robin's rose-infused volumizing shampoo and conditioner is an original in the industry, and the fact that it's still a number one player in the volume category speaks to its no-BS efficacy. Stylists love it, celebrities love it, and beauty editors love it. I recently got a blowout with the most incredible bounce and movement but was confused because the stylist hadn't added any other styling products aside from a heat protectant post-wash. When I asked what shampoo and conditioner they used (and I should have known thanks to its delicate, iconic scent), they revealed it was this one. Obviously, I should have known!
Customer Review: "My new favorite volumizing shampoo. Reduces frizz and smooths my color-treated hair while adding much-needed volume since my hair is quite fine and straight. The rose scent is lovely and not synthetic, washes without weighing my hair down, and the next day my hair is still in good shape and not greasy. Love it!"
The Best for Instant Volume and Long-Term Repair: R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Pro-vitamin B5 provides intense hydration, saw palmetto berry extract helps hair appear thicker instantly, coconut oil strengthens hair and prevents future damage.
Cons: Strong scent.
Sulfate-free: No
Key ingredients: Biotin, vitamin B5, saw palmetto berry extract, coconut oil
Size: 8.5 ounces
I love a multitasking beauty MVP, and this is my number one formula when my fine strands need a thorough wash, TLC, and a boost of volume and body. The scent is lovely—cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo, and blonde woods—but it's the sneaky strategic hit of biotin, saw palmetto berry extract, and provitamin B5 that really makes this duo stand out against the competition. Plus, thanks to the added perk of coconut oil, you don't have to sacrifice luster and hydration.
Customer Review: "Love the shampoo and conditioner. Adds a lot of body and thickness to my thinning hair...Dallas is now my new go to. [It] really does a good job [of] making my hair thicker and fuller. Hope it works for you as well as it has for me."
The Best for Fine, Straight Hair: Virtue Full Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Phospholipids help fight frizz and protect against humidity. The formula contains Alpha Keratin 60ku, a healing protein identical to keratin that repairs damage.
Cons: Pricier than other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Phospholipids, Alpha Keratin 60ku, panthenol
Size: 8 ounces
My thin-haired co-workers agree that this volumizing shampoo and conditioner from Virtue is one of the best thickening duos of all time. Unlike many other volume shampoos and conditioners, this twosome excels at everything. Yes, it makes your hair feel about twice as thick, but it also does an expert job of cleaning, hydrating, and leaving colored hair perfectly pristine. The lineup of ingredients includes pink pomelo (which is rich in vitamins A, C, B1, and zinc) in addition to hydrolyzed quinoa and the brand's signature hero, Alpha Keratin 60ku—a human keratin protein that's completely unique to the brand and the hair industry in general.
Customer Review: "I don't often write reviews, but this is worth the time. The smell is light but amazing! It lathers very well, and my scalp feels very clean after. My hair stays clean for longer too. I can go for 6 to 7 days! Must-have for fine hair. The price is worth it."
The One With Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews at Sephora: BondiBoost Hair Thickening Therapy Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Biotin supports healthy hair growth, amaranth extract acts as a natural hair strengthener, ceramides help strengthen damaged strands.
Cons: The formula is thick and needs to be rinsed out thoroughly.
Sulfate-free: No
Key ingredients: Biotin, ceramides, amaranth extract
Size: 17 ounces
Let me preface this by saying that hundreds of five-star ratings are extremely rare in the realm of beauty, especially in tricky categories like shampoo and conditioner. However, this volumizing and thickening formula from BondiBoost has accomplished it! It's gentle, vegan, and an all-star lineup of biotin, amaranth extract, and ceramides help cleanse, volumize, strengthen, and nourish so that every last strand is expanded for an overall *incredibly* thicker-looking result.
Customer Review: "What else to say other than 'It works!' I can see the difference, especially when I alternate between ordinary everyday shampoo and this product every other day. With this, my scalp becomes less visible whether I have it down or up (not balding, but I have fine hair). And I've used other volumizing shampoos, but they weighed heavy in my hair. My go-to now."
The Best for All Hair Types: JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Sulfate-free, squalane, and hemi-squalane improve hair health over time, while caffeine stimulates follicles and supports hair growth. Aloe leaf juice hydrates and soothes the scalp.
Cons: Volumizing effect is subtler than other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Caffeine, hemisqualane, aloe leaf juice
Size: 10 ounces
Celebrity beauty lines are often disappointing, but Jonathan Van Ness kicked it out of the damn park with their namesake haircare line. (I've not tried nor heard about one weak link within the entire collection!) I love that this sulfate-free shampoo has a luxurious lather, and the innovative blend of ingredients like hair follicle-stimulating caffeine, strengthening squalane, plus soothing and hydrating aloe nixes buildup sans stripping while re-upping shine, body, bounce, and instantly visible fullness.
Customer Review: "Absolutely love. As someone with fine hair, I struggle with my hair getting greasy quickly. Somehow this product has SIGNIFICANTLY helped. My hair is very noticeably less greasy without being dry. I use the conditioner too. I will 100% continue to buy this product! THANK YOU, JVN!"
The Best for Color-Treated Hair: Verb Volume Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Provitamin B5 helps naturally thicken hair, sunflower seed extract guards against dryness and color fading, and hydrolyzed soy protein locks in moisture and minimizes frizz.
Cons: Contains artificial fragrance and may not be suitable for those with sensitivities.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Provitamin B5, green tea extract, sunflower extract, hydrolyzed soy protein
Size: 12 ounces
Verb is one of the most affordable yet effective brands you can buy. I go for its hydrating shampoo and conditioner, but I use this volumizing pair for special occasions or when my strands have just been feeling kind of meh. Sometimes I have issues with volume-boosting formulas drying my hair out or resulting in a tangly mess as soon as I step out of the shower. But the brand's expert mix of glycerin, hydrolyzed soy protein, provitamin B5, and sunflower seed extract has yet to do me wrong, leaving my hair looking thicker and healthier.
Customer Review: "I really like this shampoo. It makes my hair feel clean and gives me volume too. My hair also doesn't get as oily as it usually does with this shampoo. It also smells good as well and leaves my hair smelling good. [I] just wish it wasn't so expensive. But I would still recommend it."
The Best for Anyone With Curl or Frizz: Amika Big Hit Volumizing Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Contains caffeine and peppermint oil to stimulate the scalp.
Cons: Conditioner contains silicones, if you avoid those.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Sea buckthorn oil, caffeine, glycerin, peppermint oil
Size: 9.2 ounces
Perky packaging aside, this shampoo and conditioner from Amika does serious work on limp, dirty strands and will forever be a staple in my shower. Hair looks and feels thicker; is thoroughly cleansed of every last inch of oil or buildup; and is weightless, bouncy, and infused with long-term health and length-building benefits thanks to sea buckthorn, glycerin, and caffeine to rejuvenate the scalp.
Customer review: "Incredible shampoo. It does a fantastic job at cleaning my scalp without leaving it dry and flakey. This product is best paired with the volumizing conditioner (aka the best conditioner I've ever used). AND THEY SMELL SO GOOD!!!"
The Celebrity Favorite: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo Conditioner
Pros: Color-safe, biotin strengthens strands, chia seed oil thickens and volumizes, hydrolyzed keratin softens and adds shine.
Cons: Pricier than other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key ingredients: Biotin, chia seed oil, hydrolyzed keratin
Size: 10 ounces
I've heard so many editors and stylists wax poetic about Jen Atkin's line of cult-loved haircare, but it wasn't until fellow fine-haired gal Sydney Sweeney told me she loved it that I gave it a shot myself. This volumizing shampoo and conditioner for fine hair not only boosts volume and body, but the mix of biotin, chia seed oil, and hydrolyzed keratin also tag team to strengthen, hydrate, thicken, and impart lots of shine.
Customer Review: "The shampoo works well with my fine hair. It does clean my hair well and adds more volume to it. I pair it with the conditioner as a set. Both make my hair look healthier."
The Best Hairstylist Recommendation: Hask Biotin Boost Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Pros: Energizes the scalp, packaging is made of 50% recycled material.
Cons: Doesn't lather as well as other options.
Sulfate-free: Yes
Key Ingredients: Biotin, collagen, coffee extract
Size: 12 ounces
"I love this Biotin Boost Shampoo from Hask that includes collagen, coffee, and biotin," says celebrity hairstylist Rogério Cavalcante, owner of The Second Floor Salon. Collagen and biotin are known for their hair-strengthening properties, while coffee extract rejuvenates the follicles, which, in turn, helps stimulate hair growth. We also must call out the budget-friendly price tag—a formula this good under $10 is such a steal.
Customer Review: "Have never used this brand before and I was pretty impressed. Not a lot of shampoo has coffee seed oil which is great for your scalp. Hair looks full, shiny. I like the herbal aroma after wash."
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 atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , 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.
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