We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Beauty Hair Hair Products & Tools The 8 Best Volumizing Shampoos to Give Your Hair a Boost, Tested & Reviewed Lifting your roots and spirits, all at once. By Lauren Harano Lauren Harano Lauren has been a contributing writer for InStyle since August 2022 where she covers all things beauty—from the best lip glosses to hair care essentials. InStyle's editorial guidelines and Bianca Kratky Bianca Kratky Bianca Kratky is a fashion & beauty writer at InStyle. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on January 15, 2025 @ 09:51AM In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Testing Process What to Keep in Mind Your Questions, Answered Complete the Routine Why Shop With Us Photo: InStyle If your hair is looking drab, there’s a good chance your shampoo is to blame. Relying on hair dryers and texturizing sprays to add volume isn’t sustainable, so we turn to the support of a volumizing shampoo instead. A volumizing shampoo is just what it sounds like—it cleanses the scalp of pore-clogging oils, pesky product buildup, and other junk like a regular shampoo would, but with the added benefit of uplifting the roots for a blowout effect. They also work overtime, providing hair with hydration, moisture, and a glossy finish. “Beautiful, volumized hair starts by treating your hair right, knowing your texture, and using the right products,” says Yvey Valcin, hairstylist and founder of Yvey Salon. To find the right products, we tested best-selling volumizing shampoos, spending four weeks adding them to our routines. Twelve women with different hair types observed how each shampoo cleansed their scalps, lathered, smelled, and of course, added volume to their hair. Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE Verb Volume Shampoo at Ulta $22 $11 Jump to Review Best Budget: Odele Volumizing Shampoo at Ulta $25 Jump to Review Best Moisturizing: Amika Big Hit Volumizing Shampoo at Amazon $28 Jump to Review Best Shampoo Bar: Davines VOLU Volumizing Shampoo Bar for Fine Hair at Amazon $27 Jump to Review Best Long-Lasting Volume: Living Proof Full Shampoo at Nordstrom $34 Jump to Review Best Clarifying: Biolage Volume Bloom Shampoo at Amazon $24 Jump to Review Best for Curly Hair: Pattern Hydration Shampoo at Amazon $21 Jump to Review Best Softening: Redken Shampoo at Amazon $27 Jump to Review Best Overall Verb Volume Shampoo PHOTO: Sephora $22 $11 at Ulta View on Verbproducts.com View on Ecosmetics.com Why We Love It: The way this shampoo lathered was extremely satisfying. As our tester rubbed the cream in, she noticed how luxurious it felt, removing buildup and oil without stripping her scalp. The excessive foam took a little longer to rinse out compared to other products she’s tried, but it left her hair looking extremely nourished—even without a conditioner. After her hair dried, the shampoo's effects were evident: Her roots lifted significantly, and the results only improved with continuous usage. It even controlled her frizz and added a hydrated, glossy look to her strands. Who It's For: Our tester has black-dyed, wavy-to-curly hair, and this product worked perfectly for her hair type. Verb also recommends it for thin to medium hair types. Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, pro-vitamins B5 | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Yes | Size: 12 oz InStyle Alexa, tester with 2B hair who washes 2 to 3 times a week: “Since it lathered really easily, it helped clear my scalp a lot to give it the extra lift and volume. I really liked the smell, it was very fresh and did not overpower my senses.” Best Budget Odele Volumizing Shampoo PHOTO: Ulta $25 at Ulta $12 at Target View on Odelebeauty.com Why We Love It: This shampoo gave our tester a lovely natural-looking lift at her roots. The volume increase was pretty subtle at first, but it lasted a few days and didn’t die down between washes the way her hair normally does. Each use made the volume increase more visible, and this became apparent even without a blow dryer. Although there is a fragrance, it’s so light that our tester hardly noticed it. The lather was top-tier as well and didn’t strip her hair bone-dry. Who It's For: The light scent and clean ingredients (vegan, sulfate-free) make it safe for sensitive scalps. Not only that but the product is marketed as a gender-neutral shampoo. Since it worked so well on our tester, we recommend it to anyone with fine hair prone to buildup. Key Ingredients: Rice protein, citric acid | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Yes | Size: 13, 32 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Kristin, tester with 1B hair who washes twice a week: “I loved the subtle volume it gave my hair, just enough to look natural. It was also pretty evenly distributed throughout the hair but especially noticeable at the root.” Best Moisturizing Amika Big Hit Volumizing Shampoo PHOTO: Sephora $28 at Amazon $28 at Sephora $28 at Kohls.com Why We Love It: Amika Volumizing Shampoo cleanses thoroughly, lathers satisfyingly, and even moisturizes hair. Despite our tester having really fine hair, this product never weighed down her strands. She typically relies on a conditioner to bring softness back into her hair after shampooing, but this one made her hair less dry and tangled. She noticed a considerable lift at her roots that was never present with other shampoos. This newly found volume also came with smoother strands, which she says made styling her hair easier. As for the scent, she called it a “typical salon smell,” which she described as clean and subtle enough that it doesn’t linger too long. Who It's For: Our tester recommends this to anyone who feels like their hair often seems heavy and weighed down. She also says it helped a lot with styling her bangs—and anyone with a fringe knows that's a huge win! Key Ingredients: Caffeine, glycerin, sea buckthorn | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Yes | Size: 9.2, 33.8 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Roselynn, tester with fine hair who washes 2 to 3 times a week: “I don't tend to gravitate towards volumizing shampoos since I don't feel like they do anything. However, I really enjoyed this one. My hair felt lighter, more voluminous, and easier to style.” Best Shampoo Bar Davines VOLU Volumizing Shampoo Bar for Fine Hair PHOTO: Sephora $27 at Amazon $27 at Nordstrom $27 at Sephora Why We Love It: Our tester saw some incredible results with this volumizing shampoo bar. Although handling it was a little awkward for a first-time bar user, her hair's appearance impressed her enough to keep using the soap. Her hair felt full and healthy, with an immediate increase in volume after a single use. There was a good lift at the roots and throughout the entire head of hair. It doesn’t lather like a traditional shampoo, so it’s difficult to tell whether it’s working its magic while scrubbing in the formula. However, it rinsed out all the dirt and grime, leaving her scalp feeling refreshed. Who It's For: Anyone who prefers a shampoo bar over a bottled liquid shampoo. And while our tester has color-treated hair, it showed no adverse effects. The scent is also not overpowering, so anyone with a sensitive nose might prefer this option. Key Ingredients: Turnip root extract | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Yes | Size: 3.5 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Carrie, tester with 1B hair who washes once or twice a week: “My results were instantaneous and lasted for the entire day, so I would say it was definitely effective. My hair feels healthy, full, easy to style, and has great volume now.” Best Long-Lasting Volume Living Proof Full Shampoo PHOTO: Nordstrom $34 at Nordstrom View on Livingproof.com View on Spacenk.com Why We Love It: This shampoo worked over time to provide a volumized look. While our tester didn’t notice any immediate changes after the first wash, within two weeks, she (and even her friends) could see an improvement in volume. To her surprise, it even lasted for multiple days, which she said she had never experienced before. Only a small amount of product is required to go through her full head of hair, although it’s worth noting she has fine hair. This shampoo lathered beautifully and took out all the grime and oils in a simple sweep. It felt neither heavy nor harsh, leaving her natural oils unharmed and able to nourish her strands. Overall, her hair looked fuller and healthier from top to bottom. Who It's For: This is a great option for women with fine hair who desire long-lasting volume that stays between washes. It’s nourishing, so those with dry hair will also benefit from this shampoo. Key Ingredients: Amaranth peptides, marine algae polysaccharide, phytantriol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Yes | Size: 2, 8, 24 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Ciara, tester with 1C hair who washes twice a week: “I have tried ‘thickening’ shampoos and conditioners and have not liked them due to the feel they leave in my hair—not very clean or effective. This product is the opposite and is the perfect consistency for my hair type.” Best Clarifying Biolage Volume Bloom Shampoo PHOTO: Ulta $24 at Amazon $24 at Ulta $38 $37 at Walmart Why We Love It: Volumizing shampoos can be pricey, but it’s worth it when you find out it only takes a tiny amount to lather over a whole head of thick, long hair. And the results? Greater volume from roots to ends after a single use. The long-term benefits included nourished-looking hair and a squeaky-clean scalp. Seriously, our tester is a frequent user of hairsprays, mousse, and styling tools, yet this shampoo took it all out like it’s no big feat. One thing to note, however, is that in addition to adding volume, it added a little frizz to her light curls—something she appreciated as it made her hair look fuller, but may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The scent, on the other hand, is so refreshing and nice that it likely suits most palates. Who It's For: We recommend this for anyone who likes a voluminous look and isn't afraid of a bit of frizz. It even works well on long, thick, and heavy hair, which is not common for volumizing shampoos. Key Ingredients: Glycerin, cotton flower | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Yes | Size: 13.5, 33.8 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Joanna, tester with 2A/2B hair who washes 1 or 2 times a week: “Wow, this stuff made my hair and scalp feel so clean! It did not leave my hair feeling over-stripped, stringy, or dry, or else I would not have continued to use it.” Best for Curly Hair Pattern Hydration Shampoo PHOTO: Amazon $21 at Amazon $45 $21 at Nordstrom $45 $21 at Ulta Why We Love It: Our tester with curly hair has tried a bunch of volumizing shampoos, but none have impressed her as much as this one from Pattern. While in the past she dealt with shampoos that were extremely drying, “this one goes in like a moisturizing shampoo, but with a volumizing shampoo’s benefits,” she says. Her curls looked much shinier, softer, and less frizzy after introducing this product to her routine. And while blow-drying certainly helped add more volume, a simple air-drying session did wonders as well. The only downside was that this product requires a bit of effort to lather and distribute—most of the time, our tester relied on a scalp massager to really get out all the dirt and grime. Who It's For: This is a fantastic option for women with naturally curly hair looking to add a bit of shine, lift, and hydration. Rather than dry out and frizz up your hair, this makes it look healthy and bouncy. Key Ingredients: Aloe, honey, coconut oil | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Yes | Size: 3, 9.8, 25 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Mia, tester with 2B hair who washes every other day: “I love the way this product leaves my hair looking. So many shampoos leave your hair feeling and looking dry, and this one makes my hair look full and healthy.” Best Softening Redken Shampoo PHOTO: Amazon $27 at Amazon $27 at Ulta View on Redken.com Why We Love It: More than just adding a ton of volume, this shampoo softened our tester’s type 1C hair. Already after her first wash, she could see and feel how silky her texture had become. The shampoo lathered beautifully, removing her post-workout sweat, oil, and grime in a single session without making her ends brittle or straw-like. Brushing and air-drying her hair revealed the lift at her roots, but blow-drying it really unearthed the shampoo’s full potential—and it lasted the entire day. Just note that the product has a strong floral scent to it, which lingers at first but then dissipates after a short time. Who It's For: Fine hair, thin hair, and heat-damaged hair in need of a little TLC will benefit from this nourishing shampoo, which adds shine and softness back into strands. Those with sensitive noses might not appreciate the floral scent, however. Key Ingredients: Filloxane, citric acid | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Yes | Size: 10.1, 33.8 oz PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Michelle, tester with 1C hair who washes 3 times a week: “After continued use of the product, I saw my texture soften, strands become shinier, and my volume increase.” Our Testing Process In order to find the best volumizing shampoos, our team of beauty testers received one volumizing shampoo each and incorporated it into their shower routines for four weeks. They took before and after photos, marking the progress in their hair. Each product was judged based on how it lathered, cleansed, and added volume. Any adverse effects, like drying, discomfort, and bad scents, were also noted. Only the shampoos with the most promising results earned a spot on this list. InStyle What to Keep in Mind Your Hair Type: “Analyzing your hair type is paramount in choosing what volumizing shampoo to use,” says Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Luna Viola. “For example, if your hair is fine, a low-residue shampoo will be more effective at not weighing the hair down, and therefore, easier to volumize.” On the other hand, if you have thick or coarse hair that’s in need of a volume boost, opt for a shampoo that incorporates texturizing ingredients. These shampoos will be able to clean roots while also taming frizz and adding natural fullness. Scalp Health: Your scalp needs to remain nice and clean for optimal health. “Usually, when someone is looking to add volume, it’s because their hair is fine or thinning,” says Helen Reavey, a board-certified trichologist and celebrity hairstylist (whose clients include Harry Styles, Amal Clooney, and Marisa Tomei). “To combat this, many people pile on the products to add shine, lock in moisture, and grow the hair. However, too much product buildup can damage the scalp, ultimately stunting hair growth and overall health.” Therefore, Reavey recommends “being cognizant of how often you use volumizing shampoos’ based on if your scalp is dry or oily.” Active Ingredients: When it comes to hair care products, it’s important to know what’s in them as well as what’s not in them. “I recommend steering clear of formulations that are full of sulfates and silicones, which are often used to smooth the hair and lock in moisture. However, over time they can build up on the hair and weigh it down, leading to less volume,” says Reavey. “Similarly, parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances can dry the hair out, leading to an increased risk of hair thinning and fallout.” Instead, look for products with glucose, glycerin, or betaine, as they can help add healthy volume. “Volumizing shampoos are typically formulated with lightweight ingredients, such as hydrating amino acids, that aim to not weigh the hair and roots down, but still provide moisture and shine,” says Reavey. However, Valcin warns that “any product that provides volume and texture can easily dry the hair over time." Your Questions, Answered What is the difference between volumizing and thickening shampoo? Volumizing shampoo works to plump the roots and lift them up, creating the look of bouncy and full hair. “Most volumizing shampoos create the illusion of thickness by temporarily plumping up the roots and strands of hair, eliminating hair gaps,” explains Viola. “Many also incorporate humectants into the formula, which will draw in moisture from the surroundings to boost moisture,” says hairstylist and colorist Cassandra Olivia. Thickening shampoo works to increase the hair strand’s diameter itself, making it stronger and less likely to fall out. It should be noted, however, that thicker hair tends to be heavier and can weigh down at the roots, making it look like it has less volume. It’s important to know what results you are seeking when shopping for volumizing or thickening shampoo. Can you use volumizing shampoo every day? Because volumizing products can dry out hair, try to use them sparingly. “To avoid dryness, it’s best to use a volumizing shampoo twice or a maximum of three times a week” says Valcin. If your hair is extremely dry, you can try using a moisturizing hair mask, a hydrating hair serum, or a deep conditioner to give it the moisture boost it needs after using a volumizing shampoo. Those with oily hair can get away with washing their hair more frequently. Is volumizing shampoo bad for hair? To keep hair from drying out, Valcin recommends alternating the shampoo you use. “Volumizing shampoo is not bad for your hair as long as it is not the only type of shampoo being used,” he says. “Most volumizing shampoos contain some type of alcohol which over time causes each hair strand to lose its strength and can lead to breakage. It is critical to have other shampoos to alternate with. I recommend using moisturizing or thickening shampoo in between uses of a volumizing shampoo.” Complete the Routine Before you check out, here are some other hair care essentials you might need for your shower routine. Redken Volume Injection Conditioner: Many volumizing shampoos have a conditioning counterpart to go with them. If a single product isn’t enough to add volume, we recommend completing the routine with a conditioner. L’ange Hair Le Volume Blow Dryer Brush: A hot air brush can really help bring out a volumizing shampoo’s full potential. The combination of the two is sure to bring maximum volume to your hair. Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil: Volumizing shampoos can feel drying. Especially if you’re following it up with a hot tool, it’s vital to lock in moisture with some hair oil. We recommend this honey-infused hair oil from Gisou. Why Shop With Us Bianca Kratky, who recently updated this article, is an InStyle writer with four years of experience covering fashion and beauty. The original author, Lauren Harano, has over seven years of experience in the beauty industry. The two are knowledgeable in skincare, makeup, and hair care, and have tested hundreds of products throughout their careers. The following experts spoke with InStyle for this story: Cassandra Olivia is a hairstylist and colorist.Yvey Valcin is a hairstylist and founder of Yvey Salon.Luna Viola is a Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist. Helen Reavey is a board-certified trichologist, celebrity hairstylist, and founder of Act + Acre.