The 15 Best Hair Growth Shampoos Of 2023, For Every Hair Type

A clean, refreshed scalp is vital to keep the hair follicle in good condition—and by allowing buildup to accumulate, you risk the chance of increased shedding. On the flip side, however, you want to make sure the hair fiber isn't stripped in the process: Dry, brittle hair leads to breakage—putting a halt to any lengthening or fullness goals. 

It's a tall order, finding a shampoo that meets those requirements. Additionally, everyone has their own unique hair types and quirks—like if you highlight your hair, you'll want something that can tend to the color as well. 

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Proteins, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: Fuller-looking hair in 90 days

Cons: Contains essential oils if you're sensitive to those

This brand's cult-favorite hair growth serum has amassed a huge, loyal following thanks to its efficacy. Well, those powerful plant-based ingredients make a star appearance in this gentle shampoo: The micro-encapsulated phyto-actives penetrate the scalp, delivering the nourishing growth-enhancing ingredients. What makes it particularly useful for damaged hair is the vegan silk protein complex that helps smooth and restore damaged strands with continued use. As if that's not enough, wild-harvested marula, baobab, and ximenia oils further condition the hair, too. 

What board-certified dermatologist Neera Nathan, M.D., says about the formula: 

Pros: Contains prebiotics to feed the scalp microbiome, Clinical results show it reduces dryness and flakes

Cons: Pricey, especially with the set

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Proteins, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: 94% naturally-derived

Cons: Some found it to be drying for the scalp

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

While fine hair and thin hair are often used synonymously, there’s technically a difference. Fine hair refers to the diameter of the strand itself, while thin refers to the density (or how many strands you have on your head). So when speaking about the needs of fine hair in particular, you should find formulas that will give hair lift and won’t weigh the style down with too much moisture or heaviness. This shampoo offers a deep clean, lightweight hydration, as well as feeding it antioxidants and biotin—somehow, all in one bottle. 

What our tester says:

Pros: Color-safe

Cons: Contains fragrance, if you’re sensitive

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Proteins, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin

With a light lather that’s never drying, this gentle number is safe enough for daily use. It’s infused with biotin, vitamin B5 (also called panthenol), and a protein complex to strengthen the hair fiber while also neutralizing free radicals at the scalp. This means the hair you do have is less prone to breakage, and the scalp is in prime condition for healthy growth. For those who appreciate scents—this juicy one is not to be missed, with light, easy notes of jasmine, red apple, and peach. 

What our tester says: 

Pros: Targeted nozzle for easy application to the scalp

Cons: Some are sensitive to salicylic acid

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Castor oil, Hyaluronic acid

Thanks to a few innovative highlights, this option is perfect for those with curly or coily hair. The sulfate-free formula uses micellar water and salicylic acid to lift off buildup and sebum on the scalp; then the hyaluronic acid and castor oil help lock in long-lasting moisture for the skin and hair. The result is a refreshed scalp and bouncy defined curls.

What our tester says: 

Pros: Reduces frizz

Cons: Contains fragrance if you’re sensitive

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Amino acids, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin, Rosemary Extract, Plant oils

The go-to brand of hair colorists everywhere, Olaplex’s bond-building technology mends damaged hair fiber to encourage healthy hair growth. This is particularly important for color-treated hair, as the process is notoriously hard on the cuticles (and why you may experience increased shedding and breakage post coloring appointment if you’re not mindful). The strengthening technology is used throughout the line, including this gentle shampoo.

What our tester says: 

Pros: Full of timeless & hair-healthy ingredients

Cons: Not for daily use

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Castor oil, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: 25,000 testimonials & reviews

Cons: Works best when used with the entire line (which can be pricey)

Ingredient considerations: SLS- & SLES-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Amino acids, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: 94% naturally derived

Cons: Salicylic acid can be strong for sensitive skin

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Amino acids, Cruelty-free, VeganPlant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: Effectively mends damage, Instant gratification (your hair feels so soft after use)

Cons: Silicone heavy

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Proteins, Cruelty-free, Vegan

The clean line uses a unique ingredient called Alpha Keratin 60ku CLINICAL® Protein that is almost bioidentical to the keratin that makes up your hair fibers. This protein is better able to attach onto the hair fiber, where it can fill in gaps due to breakage, heat damage, and so on. Truly: This helps hair look and feel renewed. In addition to this smart protein, this sulfate-free shampoo uses a signal peptide that encourages a robust environment for hair growth, hyaluronic acid for scalp hydration, and red algae extract to keep the hair soft. All around, an all-star formula. 

What our tester says: 

Pros: pH optimized, Color safe

Cons: If you wash your hair daily, you probably don’t need a clarifying shampoo

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Cruelty-free, Vegan

Pros: The base is a soothing, hydrating aloe, Contains antioxidants for free radical protection

Cons: Some complaints that it smells like hair dye

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Amino acids, Fragrance-free, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin, Castor oil, Rosemary extract, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: Budget-friendly price point

Cons: Contains PEGs if you avoid those, Contains fragrance with undisclosed ingredients

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Plant-derived cleansers, Antioxidants, Amino acids, Proteins, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Biotin

Pros: 1% for the Planet member, Can support hair growth without weighing down the roots, Silicone free

Cons: While pre-shampoos are very beneficial for the scalp, they do add another step to the process. Probably not ideal for those who stick to the minimum.

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Antioxidants, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Rosemary extract, Plant oils, Phyto-actives

Pros: Have a subscription model in case you end up loving your formula

Cons: Since it’s customizable, you have to order through them—can’t get it off-the-shelf or through a retailer

Ingredient considerations: All sulfate-free, Fragrance-free, Cruelty-free, Vegan, Customizable

Hair growth is influenced by many factors, from your genes to stress, environment, nutrition, scalp health, and the products you use. It's always best to approach any beauty goal from a holistic perspective—so we encourage you to think about all of these variables when crafting your hair care routine. There's no one, single magic elixir that will do it all for you. 

However, as part of that well-rounded routine, a shampoo that encourages hair growth is a wonderful addition. Shampoos play a very important role in hair growth as they are your primary scalp products, and having a clean scalp is high on the list of priorities. 

When you neglect washing the scalp, it can lead to oxidative stress. "This oxidative stress will affect the quality of your hair growth. It happens when you have product, dirt, and oil building up around your follicle opening—which is where your hair grows out of—and that buildup starts to slowly suffocate your hair root," says trained trichologist and hairstylist Shab Reslan. 

So at the very least, shampoos can encourage a healthy environment for hair by making sure the follicles are free of debris. Many shampoos go a step further by adding ingredients that strengthen or hydrate the hair fiber, which won't actively stimulate growth but will care for the strands you do have (and then limit breakage down the line). You can look for things like humectants, proteins, lipids (like from plant oils), castor oil, and antioxidants. 

Finally, shampoos can also infuse ingredients to stimulate growth itself: There's growing research that some plant-based actives (like peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and peptides) may improve growth rate and thickness. 

In short: Shampoos can play a role in hair growth, among many other things. So if growth is your primary goal, absolutely look into one of these options below—but you should also address other factors like nutrition, stress, sleep, etc. 

The primary job of a shampoo is to clean the scalp, so the most important ingredients are going to be the cleaning agents (such as surfactants). But for hair growth shampoos in particular, you’re going to want to look for additional ingredients that stimulate the scalp, feed the skin and follicle nutrients, and protect the hair fiber.

Like we’ve noted, shampoo alone cannot single-handedly fix hair loss. For best results you need a well-rounded hair care routine that supports growth from multiple angles. 

We believe that if you want healthy hair long term, it’s vital to use both lifestyle remedies and high-quality hair products as part of your routine. 

If hair growth is your primary goal, you need to craft a smart routine from top to bottom. That starts with a shampoo, like one of the above.