Last Updated on August 11, 2020 by Hold the Hairline Team
Finding the best hair loss shampoo can sometimes feel like a wild goose chase. In this article, we have done the heavy lifting for you and identified the best hair loss shampoos for men and women and put them all in one place. Interested in keeping that silky mane flowing strong? The shampoo is a big part of how you care for those luscious locks and the scalp underneath. It makes sense that you wouldn’t want to use just any shampoo, especially if you’re battling balding. Your hair deserves better. Read on my friend.
Hair loss shampoos are an excellent addition to any hair loss prevention regime. They are also a cost-effective and convenient way to start treating hair loss. Sure, not many shampoo products have long term clinical studies completed on their efficacy. However, some of these shampoos are chock full of botanicals and herbs that do have some clinical data backing them up.
Comparison Table: Top 20 Hair Loss Shampoos of 2020
Here is our comparison table of the best hair loss shampoos. In our closer look section further down the page, we provide additional information on each shampoo.
The following shampoo systems are worth more than a passing glance in your hunt for the best shampoo for you. They are in order of price per ounce, going from lowest to highest, so that you can easily find a hair loss shampoo within your budget.aa
| Image | Product | Cleansers | Cost | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nioxin Cleanser and Scalp Therapy | Nettle, Saw Palmetto, Peppermint Oil, Biotin | $0.63/Fl Oz |  |
 | Groganics Deep Freeze Follicle Cleanser Shampoo | Saw Palmetto, Shea Butter, Nettle | $1.21/Fl Oz | |
 | Hims Hair Stimulator DHT Blocker Shampoo | Salicylic Acid, Biotin, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Nettle Leaf, Niacin | $1.40/Fl Oz | |
 | Honeydew All Natural Hair Loss Shampoo | Green Tea, Tea Tree, Argan Oil, Biotin, Rosemary, Jojoba | $1.55/Fl Oz | |
 | Hair Restoration Laboratories DHT Blocking Professional Strength Shampoo | Caffeine, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Pygeum Bark, Biotin, Beta Sisosterol, Phyllanthus Emblica | $1.87/Fl Oz | |
 | Pura d'or Premium Organic Argan Oil Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo | Argan Oil, Biotin, Saw Palmetto, Pumpkin Seed, Pygeum, He Shou Wu, Green Tea | $1.97/Fl Oz | |
 | Revivogen Bio-Cleansing Shampoo | Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Soy Protein, Zinc, Linolenic Acid, Niacin, Saw Palmetto | $2.17/Fl Oz | |
 | RX 4 Hair Loss Shampoo | Aloe Vera, Argan Oil, Saw Palmetto, Wheat Protein, Vitamin B6, Grape Seed Oil | $2.34/Fl Oz | |
 | Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | Ketoconazole | $2.36/Fl Oz | |
 | HairMax Density Stimul8 Shampoo | Saw Palmetto, Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree, Gotu Kola | $2.40/Fl Oz | |
 | Good Lab Blooming + Thickening Shampoo | Biotin, Caffeine, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Nettle, Saw Plametto, Tripeptides | $2.94/Fl Oz | |
 | ShapiroMD Triple Action Hair Therapy Formula | Saw Palmetto, Caffeine, EGCG, Wheat Proteins | $3.12/Fl Oz | |
 | Lipogaine Big 3 Shampoo | Biotin, Ketoconazole, Niacin, Copper Tripeptides, Saw Palmetto, Nettle Extract | $3.12/Fl Oz | |
 | Regenepure DR Hair Loss Shampoo & Scalp Treatment | Vitamin B6, Jojoba Oil, Emu Oil, Linolenic Acid | $3.13/Fl Oz | |
 | Lipogaine The Big 5 Shampoo | Tea Tree, Caffeine, Jojoba, Black Castor Oil, Saw Palmetto, Nettle Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, He Shou Wu | $3.25/Fl Oz | |
 | Hair Genesis Revitalizing Shampoo | Beta Sisosterol, Saw Palmetto, Genestien, Alpha Lipoic Acid | $4.57/Fl Oz | |
 | Revita Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo | Copper Peptides, Caffeine, Amino Acids, Emu Oil, Biotin, Apple Polyphenol | $4.60/Fl Oz | |
 | HairGenics Pronexa Clinical Strength Hair Regrowth Therapy | Aloe Vera, Biotin, Saw Palmetto, Seaweed Extract, Silk Protein | $4.99/Fl Oz | |
 | Ultrax Labs Hair Surge Caffeine Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo | Caffeine, Ketoconazole, Saw Palmetto | $5.49/Fl Oz | |
 | PhytoWorx Organic Hair Loss Shampoo | Plant Stem Cells, Peppermint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus | $7.49/Fl Oz | |
Closer Look: 20 Best Hair Loss Shampoos in 2020
Any of these shampoos will help you win the battle against hair loss, and some may even stimulate new growth. Some are focused on delivering a few key ingredients. Still, other hair loss shampoo products use a “scattershot” approach, packing as many known DHT blocking ingredients in their formulas as possible.
We’ve listed these shampoos in a price ascending format (reflecting our comparison table). This list is composed of popular options that are worth your time and are worthy contenders for the best hair loss shampoos for women and men.
1. Nioxin Shampoo System
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $0.63
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Nettle, Saw Palmetto, Peppermint Oil, Biotin
- Hair Type: Fine
Nioxin is a Proctor and Gamble product that has been around since 1987. Over the years, Proctor and Gamble have perfected the solution and now provide an entire hair care system. They promise their advanced hair technologies will help you “make the most of the hair you have.”
Not only does Nioxin promise that its system will deliver on denser-looking hair, but it also includes a long list of ingredients that inhibit the conversion of testosterone into DHT. These ingredients include nettle extract and saw palmetto. While Nioxin does include ingredients which studies have indicated help block DHT, the primary focus of Nioxin is to improve the cosmetic appearance of thinning hair.
Nioxin is available in literally dozens of options, but the most common packages are two-step (shampoo & conditioner) and three-step (shampoo & conditioner & leave-in scalp treatment). While there are no hard studies done on the efficacy of Nioxin, P&G has pointed to a study where 70% of Nioxin users notice denser, thicker-looking hair after four weeks using the Nioxin 3-part system.
We think these cosmetic effects are mainly a result of the leave-in treatment that includes a variety of proteins, which bind to hair follicles and make them appear thicker. If you’re solely searching for cosmetic enhancement, just pick up the leave-in Scalp Treatment product.
2. Groganics Deep Freeze Follicle Cleanser Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $1.21
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Saw Palmetto, Shea Butter, Nettle
- Hair Type: Dry, Dandruff
Groganics cools and soothes your scalp, not only preventing flakes and dandruff, but it also promotes healthy hair growth. It will also soften and condition your hair as it cleans. To read a more detailed review of this particular shampoo, you can check out our page about Natural DHT blockers and the best products that contain them.
3. Hims ‘The Hair Stimulator’ DHT Blocker Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $1.40
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Biotin, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Nettle Leaf, Niacin
- Hair Type: All Hair Types
The Hair Stimulator is a shampoo from the new, fresh & hip brand Hims. The branding is really on point but let’s dig into the ingredients. Biotin, nettle leaf, tea tree, and salicylic acid are the notables. There’s some evidence to indicate that biotin and salicylic acid reduce scalp DHT levels. Additionally, Hims offers a comprehensive hair loss kit (includes the shampoo) for about $40 bucks a month that gets you hair loss prevention on multiple fronts. For a complete review of Hims, check out our page here.
4. Honeydew All-Natural Hair Loss Shampoo- Cost Per Fl Oz: $1.55
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Green Tea, Tea Tree, Argan Oil, Biotin, Rosemary, Jojoba
- Hair Type: Any Hair Type
This shampoo has one of the top ratings of any shampoo sold online. Honeydew must be doing something right! Green tea, biotin, argan oil, and jojoba oil are some of the highlight ingredients in this shampoo. If you really enjoy organic and all-natural products and don’t want to risk damaging your hair, this is a great option. There are no harsh chemicals in this product and it features a strong blend of essential oils.
5. Hair Restoration Labratories’ DHT Blocking Shampoo- Cost Per Fl Oz: $1.87
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Pygeum Bark, Biotin, Beta-Sitosterol, Phyllanthus Emblica
- Hair Type: All Hair Types
Hair Restoration Laboratories’ is a smaller company dedicated to bringing your hair back to its full health. Not only is it chock full of great DHT Blocking ingredients, but it’s also free of sulfates, artificial ingredients, parabens, and silicones. You can feel great about restoring your hair with something that’s also good for the environment.
6. Pura d’or Premium Hair Loss Prevention Organic Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $1.97
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Argan Oil, Biotin, Saw Palmetto, Pumpkin Seed, Pygeum, He Shou Wu, Green Tea
- Hair Type: All Hair Types
If you’re looking for an au naturel option, look no further. This shampoo has been an Amazon bestseller since 2012. It smells great, lathers well, and has no harsh chemicals mixed in. Pura d’or has eliminated all the bad stuff from this shampoo—no Parabens or SLS. It does have a ton of good stuff too! Practically every clinically proven natural ingredient that aids against hair loss is packed into this shampoo. Nettles extract, he shou wu (fo-ti), argan oil, B vitamins, biotin, and saw palmetto.
Pura d’or makes a very bold claim with this product: “continued use WILL prevent further hair loss.” While we doubt it will “prevent further hair loss” for everyone, it does have an all-star line up of ingredients. Even if it doesn’t completely stop hair loss, this organic shampoo is certainly the safest for your hair out of our top 5. This shampoo is designed for daily use.
Pura d’or also have a hair loss conditioner compliment to this shampoo but we think it’s a bit overkill to use both(as a bottle of this stuff runs on the pricey side)—but if you love the shampoo the conditioner is also a very popular product that couldn’t hurt. Leave it in for about 3 minutes and let your scalp absorb all those vitamins and minerals.
Note that this shampoo from Pura d’or is the “Gold Label” version of their shampoo featured in the first image above which has countless other ingredients.
If you want to go “all out,” or your research has indicated one of the additional ingredients might produce significant results, by all means, pick it up instead as the price difference isn’t too much. The standard version is a tad less expensive and is featured in the image to the right.
7. Revivogen MD Bio-Cleansing Shampoo for Thinning Hair
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $2.17
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Soy Protein, Zinc, Linolenic Acid, Niacin, Saw Palmetto
- Hair Type: Fine Hair
Some shampoos that are made for thinning hair can actually be harsh on the scalp, and cause problems more distracting than hair loss. This is a great alternative for all hair and skin types, as it is a gentle cleanser that soothes irritation and helps liven hair volume. It’s also gentle enough for daily use.
8. RX4 Hair Loss Unisex Organic Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $2.34
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Argan Oil, Saw Palmetto, Wheat Protein, Vitamin B6, Grape Seed Oil
- Hair Type: All Hair Types, Safe for Color Treated
This is a great natural alternative for those who are a bit pickier about what goes in your hair and down the drain. Zero toxins and no harsh chemicals mean this is safe for you to use. The consumer ratings on this are a bit hit or miss, but it seems as if those who commit to it long term find the benefits to be well worth it.
9. Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $2.36
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Ketoconazole
- Hair Type: Dry Hair, Dandruff
Nizoral is the gold-standard in hair loss prevention. Its main ingredient is ketoconazole. The nice thing about Nizoral is that you only need to use it twice a week (because ketoconazole binds to the proteins in your hair so it will keep working many days after use). If you were to use it daily your scalp would be drier than a desert and itchy as all heck.
This product will kill all the fungus that contributes to dandruff and simultaneously remove any scalp-DHT activity. How does it remove DHT? Nizoral has androgen blocking properties, which makes it an effective anti-inflammatory for those battling hair loss.
Hair thins because of DHT, which comes about from hormone activity in your scalp. The androgen blocking properties in Nizoral inhibit those processes.
Many users of this shampoo report that Nizoral has reduced their hair loss. We think it is one of the most effective topical counter-measures to hair loss prevention and that it has earned its place as one of the “Big 3” of hair loss prevention: Nizoral, Propecia, and Rogaine. We highly recommend Nizoral as an integral part of anyone’s regime.
10. HairMax Density Shampoo- Cost Per Fl Oz: $2.40
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Saw Palmetto, Peppermint Oil, Tea Tree, Gotu Kola
- Hair Type: All Hair Types, Safe for color and chemically treated
HairMax is known for its lasercomb products — an FDA approved hair loss treatment. They’ve started to branch out and now they offer a supplement, topical, and this shampoo (as well as a matching conditioner). One of the standout ingredients in this shampoo is the Gotu Kola. We have a full write up about Gotu Kola and its relationship to hair loss here.
11. Good Lab Blooming + Thickening Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $2.94
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Biotin, Caffeine, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Nettle, Saw Plametto, Tripeptides
- Hair Type: Normal to Dry
DHT blockers and thickening agents combine forces to come to the rescue of the hair follicle in dire straights. Good Lab packs this shampoo with just about every ingredient that has any clinical data whatsoever supporting it. Included is their hair boost blend, a patented combination of ingredients to help fight DHT. For its full effect, you might want to consider using this shampoo with the Good Lab conditioner and thickening serum.
12. Shapiro MD Triple Action Hair Therapy Formula- Cost Per Fl Oz: $3.12
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Saw Palmetto, Caffeine, EGCG, Wheat Proteins
- Hair Type: All Hair Types
This shampoo is backed by two successful dermatologists: Steven Shapiro and Michael Borenstein. Saw palmetto, caffeine, and EGCG are the three DHT blockers listed in this shampoo. A nice touch on their website is that they actually list all the evidence supporting their shampoo & conditioner combo in their “Work Sited Sources” section.
13. Lipogaine The Big 3 Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $3.12
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Biotin, Ketoconazole, Niacin, Copper Tripeptides, Saw Palmetto, Nettle Extract
- Hair Type: All Hair Types
Lipogaine has a sterling reputation and we highly recommend their Big 3 Shampoo. Their products incorporate ingredients that have a lot of data backing up their efficacy. In this shampoo, you’ll find ketoconazole, copper peptides, saw palmetto, biotin, emu oil, niacin, and nettle extract. That is a rock-solid list!
14. Regenepure DR Hair Loss Shampoo & Scalp Treatment
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $3.13
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Vitamin B6, Jojoba Oil, Emu Oil, Linolenic Acid
- Hair Type: All Hair Types, Color Safe, Keratin Treated Safe
Regenepure won’t strip hair of its natural oils and produces radiant and healthy results. There are a host of ingredients that help stimulate hair growth, including saw palmetto, emu oil, and caffeine.
15. Lipogaine The Big 5 Shampoo- Cost Per Fl Oz: $3.25
- Cleansers: Tea Tree, Caffeine, Jojoba, Black Castor Oil, Saw Palmetto, Nettle Extract, Beta-Sitosterol, He Shou Wu
- Hair Type: Any Hair, Color Safe
Unlike The Big 3 Shampoo from Lipogaine, The Big 5 does not contain ketoconazole or copper peptides. However, it does have everything else The Big 3 has + 17 natural hair stimulating ingredients. We view this shampoo as more of a natural thickening shampoo whereas The Big 3 is going to be a little harsher on the scalp but better at nuking scalp DHT. Both shampoos are excellent products from trusted brand Lipogaine. We do know of some users that had had success rotating the Lipogaine shampoos and use The Big 3 every 3rd day or so and incorporate The Big 5 into their daily routine.
16. DS Laboratories Revita Hair Growth Shampoo- Cost Per Fl Oz: $4.60
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Copper Peptides, Ketoconazole, Caffeine, Amino Acids, Emu Oil, Biotin, Apple Polyphenol
- Hair Type: All Hair Types
DS Laboratories product is a pioneer of the hair loss shampoo and created one of the most popular shampoos on the market today. While the reviews are mixed out there (as with any hair loss shampoo), the reviews trend toward favorable with Revita. There are those who have claimed significant positive hair growth results.
Most individuals claim that continued use has not led to new hair growth, though it has helped them prevent any further hair from falling out. What is repeated over and over again from our readers and others who have used the product is that they love the feel of their scalp & hair afterward as well as that their hair looks thicker after use.
A Closer Look at the Ingredients
It has a very powerful mix of ingredients that addresses many of the known causes of hair loss. Revita contains emu oil and copper peptides, which help your hair follicles absorb the key nutrients in the shampoo. A revision to the product recently removed Ketoconazole, which eliminates dandruff by killing off the fungi that cause it. So if you’re looking for that particular ingredient this will no longer be a good option for you.
Apple polyphenol improves circulation to the scalp while taurine, caffeine, and carnitine work together to increase cell energy in the scalp, increasing hair growth. Furthermore, it contains amino acids, MSM, and biotin which are all essential ingredients to growing healthy thick hair.
DS Laboratories have covered all the bases with this shampoo, circulation, cleansing action, and anti-DHT properties. It starts acting on the first day of use but most users of the shampoo start to see results after about 4-6 months of use. When you wash with the shampoo, you leave it on the scalp for about 2 minutes before rinsing to allow your scalp to absorb all the ingredients. For the best results, DS Laboratories suggests using Revita at least 5 times per week.
One of the downsides to the product is that you pay hand over foot for all those special ingredients DS packed into this bottle. It’s not the cheap crap that most manufacturers throw into your standard shampoos. It is expensive stuff, and using it daily means there’s no real way of making it last a long time either. The bottom line is you have to bite the bullet but with all the ingredients in this bottle, you’re getting your money’s worth.
17. Hair Genesis Revitalizing Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $4.57
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Beta Sisosterol, Saw Palmetto, Genestien, Alpha, Lipoic Acid
- Hair Type: Not ideal for curly hair
This is a hair care product that’s supposed to help your hair grow as much as possible. It contains many of the same active ingredients that leading hair loss vitamins and supplements contain. They boast it to be natural, safe, and effective. The triple threat of hair loss shampoos for men.
18. HairGenics Pronexa Hair Regrowth Therapy Shampoo- Cost Per Fl Oz: $4.99
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Biotin, Saw Palmetto, Seaweed Extract, Silk Protein
- Hair Type: Any Hair Type, Not ideal for brittle hair from chemical treatment or coloring
HairGenics have made an impeccable salon-quality Biotin hair growth shampoo. Pronexa will thicken your hair, and you will start to see improvement near your scalp in a very short amount of time.
19. Ultrax Labs Hair Surge Caffeine Stimulating Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $5.49
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Ketoconazole, Saw Palmetto
- Hair Type: Any Hair Types, Might cause frizz
If you just want a no-frills, simple product with proven ingredients Ultrax Labs’ product fits the bill. The three cornerstone ingredients in Hair Surge shampoo is caffeine, saw palmetto, and 0.2% ketoconazole—all proven in clinical studies to aid in stimulating hair growth.
Ultra-Labs claims their special micro blend caffeine technology and ketoconazole compounds stimulate hair growth and extend the life cycle of hair follicles. These claims are in fact backed by ongoing studies.
It has some pretty amazing reviews all over the net and some of our readers have had decent results with the product.
If you don’t believe the hype it may be worth it to give this a 6-month trial and see if it works for you as well. It’s held one of the top spots in Amazon Top Rated: The Best in Hair Regrowth Shampoos for quite some time (and was #1 top-rated in 2013)!
20. PhytoWorx Organic Hair Loss Shampoo
- Cost Per Fl Oz: $7.49
- Cleansers and Key Ingredients: Plant Stem Cells, Peppermint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Aloe Vera, Licorice Extract
- Hair Type: Any Hair Types, Color Safe
PhytoWorx Organic Hair Loss Shampoo contains Stem Cells from plants that will promote hair growth. This new technology from Switzerland is one of a kind and contains essential oils that will also heal your scalp and roots.
General Thoughts on Shampoos for Hair Loss
Studies have indicated that one of the ways to slow hair loss is by maintaining a healthy scalp environment. Regular shampooing aids in the prevention of genetic hair loss by removing excess sebum containing elevated levels of DHT. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet hair loss shampoo on the market that will regrow a full head of hair in a couple of weeks.
The good news is there are shampoos out there that will help keep the hair that you do still have and make it appear thicker and fuller. One important thing to note is that the only ingredient with a great deal of evidence as to its effectiveness to aid the prevention of hair loss is ketoconazole.
This is not to say other products won’t work. But if you’re looking for something tested and proven, you will want to look for that in the ingredient list. We have an article on ketoconazole for hair loss that is also worth checking out.
Not everyone will have the same results using these different shampoos—everyone’s body chemistry is different. That’s not to say these products don’t work, some individuals have had great results. However, those with truly spectacular results are in the minority.
Will it Work?
Hair loss shampoo probably won’t help you defeat hair loss on its own, but it certainly should be used as another weapon in your arsenal. Many of these products do contain ingredients that are beneficial for hair loss and scalp health—every little bit helps. Let’s face it, you have to wash your hair with something and that something might as well aid in hair loss prevention.
Advantages of Using Hair Loss Shampoo
Aside from just coming in a fancy bottle, there are many benefits to using hair loss shampoo:
- Cleanses scalp DHT. DHT causes hair loss, so anything you can do to combat it will turn the tides of battle in your favor. Hair loss shampoos reduce DHT levels in your scalp.
- Clears blocked pores. Sometimes dandruff, DHT buildup, and other scalp conditions can cause a blockage which leads to further loss of hair. Ingredients like salicylic acid help with this.
- Improved scalp circulation. These shampoos contain ingredients such as niacin that improve circulation to the scalp, helping follicles get the nutrients they need to keep growing strong.
- Thinning hair will thicken. Many hair loss shampoos include thickening agents which will make each individual strand of hair larger providing more coverage.
- Overall improved appearance. Additionally, keeping your hair healthy with a higher quality product will improve the appearance of your hair.
What is DHT Blocker Shampoo?
A DHT Blocker Shampoo is any shampoo formula that contains known DHT inhibiting agents. DHT inhibiting agents usually act by preventing 5 alpha-reductase from converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Leading research agrees that DHT is the foremost cause of hair loss. DHT binds to sensitive hair follicles causing them to shrink and eventually to stop producing hair altogether.
Some of the more commonly known natural DHT blockers are saw palmetto and nettles root but there are many lesser-known herbs that have been discovered to act in some way to reduce DHT. DHT blocking shampoos sometimes use as many of these herbs as economically possible, while others only include a few of the more popular ones. All of the shampoos that made our top 5 list below are known to be anti-DHT shampoos.
However, each formula contains a different mix of ingredients and will act on preventing the hair loss process in a unique way. Perhaps one of the best things about these anti-DHT shampoos is that they are mostly natural and organic compositions with little to no side effects. Probably your biggest risk in using one of these shampoos is a red or itchy scalp, which typically goes away after a couple of hours following your shower.
