Hormonal changes are making your hair fall out.
It’s frustrating because your confidence is taking a hit.
What can you do to boost hair growth?
And how can you take better care of your hair?
The solution is using specialized shampoos for thinning hair due to menopause.
How you wash your hair impacts its volume and health.

What is the best shampoo for thinning hair?

First off, you should know that no shampoo will cure hair loss.
Hair loss is a common symptom during menopause (1).
It’s smart to speak to your dermatologist about solutions like topical treatments and perhaps taking specialized supplements.
One of the most common options is Minoxidil to counteract androgenetic alopecia.
But shampoos with the right ingredients may help hair grow back. They also make it thicker and shinier.
Since your hormones are in flux, it’s essential to use mild shampoos that are kind to your scalp.
To protect your hair from further damage, you need to avoid harsh chemicals like sulfates (2).
Sulfates are what create a thick lather. They strip moisture from the skin. You don’t need them to clean your scalp or hair. The biggest culprits are sodium lauryl and sodium laureth sulfate.
Alcohol is also drying if it’s not “fatty” alcohol like those that begin with the letters C or S.
Also, sodium chloride, or salt, thickens the shampoo, but it can make your head itchy.
Sometimes artificial fragrances and dyes can cause allergic reactions, too.
There are plenty of moisturizing shampoos that cleanse thoroughly without any of these ingredients.
You’ll see the best shampoos for menopausal hair in the reviews below.

What else can you do to halt hair loss during menopause?

Besides switching to a better shampoo, you can reduce stress, get more rest, and improve your diet.
I know that’s easy to say and hard to do. Hot flashes are disrupting your sleep, and a busy lifestyle doesn’t help, either.
But there are treatments for female pattern hair loss. One of them is Minoxidil, often sold under the brand name Rogaine (3).
It treats androgenetic alopecia, which affects both men and women. That condition is caused by androgen hormones.
It affects hair follicles by shrinking them and delaying the growth cycle. Pretty soon, they are producing finer hair and less of it.
If you’ve had family members on either side of the family with pattern hair loss, you’re at risk of developing the same problem.
If you choose to use Minoxidil to treat the problem, it takes at least 2 months to turn it around. In the meantime, you may notice contact dermatitis on the scalp. To ease itching and treat dryness, it helps to use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
You might find that hair growth shampoos have the right blend of ingredients for that purpose.

Top Shampoos for Thinning Hair Due to Menopause

Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Shampoo

Here’s a hair loss shampoo that’s suitable for menopausal women. It’s salon-quality.
Not only does it strengthen your existing hair, but it also stimulates growth.
How does it work?
First, it avoids sulfates that strip the natural oil and moisture from the scalp and hair.
Next, it hydrates by drawing in water with glycerin, an excellent humectant.
Then, ginseng and caffeine encourage hair follicles by improving circulation to deliver essential nutrients.
One of those nutrients is Vitamin E, a crucial antioxidant for skin and hair.
The formula also helps prevent breakage and split ends.

PURA D’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo

What happens if you use a DHT-blocking shampoo?
For one, it may slow or halt hair loss. Of course, it’s always best to combine a hair growth shampoo with topical treatment or medication.
But if you’re leery of popping pills, start your treatment with a shampoo like this one.
It contains 17 DHT blockers plus vitamins and minerals to encourage hair growth.
The DHT blockers include saw palmetto, pumpkin seed, and nettle. The formula also has tea tree to reduce itching, aloe to improve moisture, and niacin to deliver nutrients.
The manufacturer surveyed users after 8 weeks of daily shampooings. These customers reported thicker, healthier hair and noticeably fewer strands caught in the brush.

John Frieda Volume Lift Weightless Shampoo

I know I just said to avoid sulfates, and that’s still true if you have a sensitive scalp or parched hair.
If you have normal to oily hair, it depends on the formula of the shampoo. That’s because manufacturers include moisturizers and conditioners to counterbalance the sulfates.
Otherwise, we’d all be walking around with hair as dry as if we washed it with dish soap.
With that said, John Frieda’s volumizing shampoo is a salon product. Yes, it contains sulfates, which is why it’s recommended you use the matching conditioner with it.
It’s suitable for thin and flat hair as it adds fullness and bounce. You should notice an improvement after only one use because of ingredients such as keratin.
It’s also safe for color-treated hair.

BIOLAGE Volumebloom Shampoo

Biolage makes a variety of salon shampoos, including this one that adds volume and shine.
It makes fine, thin hair easier to style.
It’s not sulfate-free, but it doesn’t contain parabens. It’s also suitable for color-treated hair.

OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Volumizing Shampoo

OGX makes a variety of shampoos that are delightful to use.
Here’s one that thickens the hair and adds body.
It’s enriched with biotin, also known as vitamin B7. Biotin is a necessary building block for healthy hair and nails.
Plus, the color-safe shampoo has collagen, the amino acid-rich protein. It has a strengthening and nourishing effect on your hair.
The formula also has bamboo fiber and wheat protein, the magic that adds thickness and volume.

Renpure Biotin and Collagen Shampoo

Skip the chemicals and go natural.
Renpure doesn’t include salt, sulfates, dyes, parabens, or gluten. This is a plant-based shampoo from a reputable manufacturer.
It removes impurities with coconut-based cleansers to keep your scalp and hair hydrated. Then it imparts vitamins, minerals, and protein by way of natural extracts.
For example, it contains argan oil and horse chestnut. These promote the growth of healthy, shiny hair.

L’Oreal Paris Hair Care EverStrong Sulfate-Free Thickening Shampoo

Are there drugstore shampoos for women with thinning hair? You better believe it.
Happily, many are sulfate-free like this one.
L’Oreal offers more than one option, including thickening, moisturizing, volumizing, and repair shampoos. You can also get one designed for curls and another to treat dandruff.
I chose the thickening shampoo as it is kind to fragile hair. It adds volume without using salt or harsh surfactants.
Instead, it uses rosemary to encourage healthier hair to grow.
If you blow-dry or heat-style your hair, follow up with the Break Proof Lotion. It protects against heat damage and UV radiation.

Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo

If you love hair care products that smell fantastic, you need to try Moroccanoil’s volumizing shampoo.
It’s ideal for fine and flat hair as it improves manageability and body. It leaves the hair soft and glossy, too.
Besides argan oil, it has linden bud extract. The latter penetrates into the cuticle to fatten each strand.
Moreover, the formula has no phosphates, parabens, or sulfates.
You can also choose from moisturizing and smoothing versions of the same shampoo.

Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Shampoo

Paul Mitchell has a custom shampoo to meet every need. This one has gentle cleansers to revive tired, dull hair.
It adds body to limp, fine strands to leave them bouncy and lustrous.
Users say that just a little of the shampoo goes a long way, which means a bottle lasts about three months.

Ultrax Labs Hair Surge | Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo

Hair Surge is the caffeinated shampoo that everyone wants to try.
It boosts hair growth and reduces inflammation. It can also help diminish dandruff.
Caffeine, when applied topically, stimulates growth. It also helps prevent hair loss.
That’s because caffeine blocks DHT from damaging the follicles.
DHT is a derivative of the hormone testosterone. It’s linked to hair loss because it miniaturizes and weakens follicles on the head.
Alongside caffeine, saw palmetto also seems to help slow hair loss in clinical trials. The shampoo has it as well.

Honeyskin Hair Growth Shampoo

Why does it matter if your shampoo is pH-balanced?
It’s because acidity matters to your skin. Your scalp will be less dry and healthier when you use a shampoo like this one with pH 5.5.
But that’s not the only benefit. The shampoo is based on botanicals and organic superfoods to moisturize and condition the hair and scalp.
Instead of water, the base ingredient is aloe vera. It also has Manuka honey with antimicrobial properties, plus cehami for healing.
Finally, it’s free of parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and gluten.

Lipogaine Hair Stimulating Shampoo

Lipogaine has been in business since 2009. Their shampoo promises to reduce hair loss and stimulate the growth of thick and healthy hair. If you don’t love it, you can get a refund.
It’s based on a blend of caffeine, argan oil, biotin, saw palmetto, and castor oil.
Argan oil is a traditional remedy for dry hair and skin. It’s proven to moisturize without clogging pores.
Meanwhile, caffeine and saw palmetto keep DHT from binding with your hair follicles and putting them out of business.
Lastly, biotin and castor oil promote growth.

Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Shampoo

Here’s another sulfate-free shampoo that smells delicious. It’s packed with herbs, vitamins, and natural extracts.
For best results, leave it on your scalp for at least 2 minutes before you rinse. Then follow up with the accompanying conditioner.
It’s mild enough to use every day.

Herbal Essences, Sulfate-Free Shampoo, BioRenew Honey & Vitamin B

Herbal Essences leaves out sulfates, parabens, dyes, and silicone. What’s left is a moisturizing shampoo that’s safe for color-treated hair.
It has lovely honey, jasmine, and vanilla fragrance.
But what’s best about it is how it leaves the hair impressively soft and manageable.
That’s no surprise as it’s developed with potent botanicals verified by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Verb Hydrating Shampoo

Verb’s moisturizing shampoo prevents tangles and keeps hair dye vibrant.
It contains mild cleansers and moisturizing ingredients. Pro-vitamin B5, quinoa protein, and amino acids reduce frizziness, leaving the hair smooth.
Meanwhile, sunflower seed extract provides UV protection against color fading.
It’s completely free of parabens, sulfates, and gluten, plus it’s cruelty-free.
But if moisture isn’t the issue, try the volumizing shampoo, or the ghost shampoo to repair damaged hair.

Pantene Shampoo Soothing Rose Water

If you love the smell of roses, it can’t hurt to try Pantene’s new sulfate-free shampoo.
Like everything else from this company, it has a provitamin nutrient blend. In this case, there’s also rose extract.
They say it leaves the hair “petal-soft,” and I won’t dispute that.

ACURE Ultra Hydrating Shampoo

Now, in the 21st century, even with all the troubles we’ve had lately on the planet, people are kinder and more thoughtful about the world around them. It’s evident in the proliferation of vegan and cruelty-free products like this shampoo.
It’s nice to know that you can protect the environment while still doing right by your hair.
The formula doesn’t contain sulfates, formaldehyde, or parabens, either.
It cleanses well, then leaves the hair sleek and manageable.
Part of the magic comes from pumpkin seed and argan oils. These are conditioners that are healthy for the hair and scalp.

Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo

Did you know that hard water can make your hair fall out?
It also makes hair dry, limp, rough, and dull.
If you think hard water is the problem, you need to try this unique shampoo. One wash removes copper, iron, calcium, and magnesium residue.
The result is silky soft hair like you forgot you could enjoy.

Conclusion

There’s hope for your hair.
Start the recovery process by switching to a mild shampoo that will repair and enhance your appearance.
If it has DHT blockers and hair growth ingredients, that’s all the better.
If you discovered your new favorite shampoo today, please come back and tell us about it in the comments below.
Sources:
1. https://nwhn.org/menopause-hair-loss/ National Women’s Health Network, published June 29, 2017, accessed June 17, 2020
2. https://www.treehugger.com/common-shampoo-ingredients-cause-hair-loss-4858624 by Melissa Breyer, published May 21, 2020, accessed June 17, 2020
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/treating-female-pattern-hair-loss published   November 14, 2018, accessed June 17, 2020