The 18 Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair Due to Menopause
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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 care of the hair you still have left?
The solution starts with the best shampoos for thinning hair due to menopause.
How you wash your hair impacts its volume and health.
Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Shampoo
- Infused with vitamins and minerals
- Prevents damage and breakage
- Encourages natural hair growth
PURA D’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
- Contains 17 natural DHT blockers
- Saw palmetto, pumpkin seed and nettle
- Tea tree, aloe vera and niacin
John Frieda Volume Lift Weightless Shampoo
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Uses keratin and other strengthening ingredients
- Smells fresh and clean
Which is the best shampoo for thinning hair in females?
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 doctor about solutions like topical treatments.
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 the 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
1. Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Avoids sulfates and harsh chemicals
- Contains glycerin
- Infused with ginseng and caffeine
- Crucial nutrients and vitamins
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.
Pros
- Improves blood circulation
- Doesn’t dry out your skin
- Stimulates hair growth
The Cons
- Doesn’t work great with super oily scalps
2. PURA D’OR Original Gold Label Anti-Thinning Biotin Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Plenty of beneficial nutrients
- 17 natural DHT blockers
- Vitamins and minerals
- Tea tree extract, aloe vera and niacin
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.
Pros
- Deeply cleanses and removes all the flakes
- Doesn’t dry out your skin
- Delivers beneficial nutrients for your scalp
The Cons
- Causes loosening in your curls
3. John Frieda Volume Lift Weightless Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Does great with thin hair
- Balances dryness and moisture
- Uses keratin and other strengthening ingredients
- Hydrates and smoothes
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.
It’s also safe for color-treated hair.
Pros
- It’s safe for color-treated hair
- Helps with itching and flaking scalps
- Moisturizes and fights dried out skin
The Cons
- Has sulfates
4. BIOLAGE Volumebloom Shampoo
Product Overview
Biolage makes a variety of salon shampoos, including this one that adds volume and shine.
It makes fine, thin hair easier to style.
- Suitable for color-treated hair
- Free of parabens and sulfates
- Makes your hair easier to style
- Plenty of nutrients
It’s not sulfate-free, but it doesn’t contain parabens. It’s also suitable for color-treated hair.
Pros
- Creates rich, luxurious foam
- Cleanses all the impurities and moisturizes
- Adds volume and shine
The Cons
- Can dry out your hair
5. OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Volumizing Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Uses biotin
- Perfect for daily usage
- Effective for all types of hair
- Packed with amino acid-rich proteins
Plus, the color-safe shampoo has collagen, the amino acid-rich protein. It strengthens weak and hair.
The formula also has bamboo fiber and wheat protein, the magic that adds thickness and volume.
Pros
- Adds thickness and volume
- Moisturizes your scalp and leaves no flakes
- Uses bamboo fiber and wheat protein
The Cons
- Can cause hair falling
6. Renpure Biotin and Collagen Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Packed with beneficial nutrients and vitamins
- Contains argan oil and horse chestnut
- Free of parabens and harsh chemicals
- Plant-based formula with lots of advantages
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.
Pros
- Promotes a healthy-looking hair
- Removes all the impurities
- Leaves your scalp and hair hydrated
The Cons
- Doesn’t have the best smell
7. L’Oreal Paris Hair Care EverStrong Sulfate-Free Thickening Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Formulated with natural ingredients
- Gentle cleanse and perfect lather
- Uses UV protectors
- Works great with fragile hair
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.
Pros
- Moisturizes and nourishes your hair
- Works best with dried out scalps
- Protects against sun and heat-styling
The Cons
- Doesn’t work for oily and normal hair
8. Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Smells fantastic
- Calming effect on your skin
- Uses argan oil and linden bud extract
- Beneficial nutrients and vitamins
Moreover, the formula has no phosphates, parabens, or sulfates.
You can also choose from moisturizing and smoothing versions of the same shampoo.
Pros
- Moisturizes and cleanses your skin
- Leaves your hair nice and soft
- Improves your hairs manageability and body
The Cons
- Works bad with oily hairs
9. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Works great with tired, dull hair
- Amazing peony scent
- Gentle cleansing and moisturizing
- Best for irritated scalps
Users say that just a little of the shampoo goes a long way, which means a bottle lasts about three months.
Pros
- Provides immediate comfort for dried out scalps
- Leaves an amazing peony scent
- Leaves your hair bouncy and lustrous
The Cons
- Doesn’t smell at all
10. Ultrax Labs Hair Surge | Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Beneficial vitamins and fatty acids
- Nourishing effect
- Uses caffeine to block DHT
- Instant hydration
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.
Pros
- Reduces inflammation and irritation
- Leaves your hair silky smooth
- Prevents hair loss and encourages hair growth
The Cons
- Makes your hair frizz
11. Honeyskin Hair Growth Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Free of sulfates and parabens
- Based on botanicals and natural plants
- pH balanced formula
- Infused with aloe vera
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.
Pros
- Has an antimicrobial and healing effect
- Protects and nourishes the scalp
- Helps keeping a natural balance of the scalp
The Cons
- There’s no smell
12. Lipogaine Hair Stimulating Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Uses argan oil
- Caffeine and saw palmetto
- Infused with biotin
- Has castor and coconut 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.
Pros
- Blocks DHT and promotes blood circulation
- Moisturizes the scalp
- Ensures natural hair growth
The Cons
- Overwhelming perfume
13. Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Gentle shampoo and conditioner
- Deeply cleaning and moisturizing effect
- Packed with herbs and vitamins
- Nataural, delicious smell
It’s mild enough to use every day.
Pros
- Boosts shine and moisturize
- Doesn’t leave inflammation untreated
- It is mild enough to be used every day
The Cons
- Has sulfates and artificial fragrance
14. Herbal Essences, Sulfate-Free Shampoo, BioRenew Honey & Vitamin B
Product Overview
Herbal Essences leaves out the sulfates, parabens, dyes, and silicone. What’s left is a moisturizing shampoo that’s safe for color-treated hair.
It has a lovely honey, jasmine, vanilla fragrance.
- Has honey and vanilla
- Developed with potent botanicals
- Free of parabens, sulfates and artificial fragrances
- Uses jasmine for extra 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.
Pros
- Perfectly moisturizes and nourishes your skin
- It’s safe for color-treated hair
- Works great with sensitive skin
The Cons
- Doesn’t cleanse very thick hair
15. Verb Hydrating Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Uses pro-vitamin B5
- Perfect for very dried out skin
- Infused with quinoa proteins
- Sunflower seed extract and amino acids
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.
Pros
- Does great with frizziness
- Works great with over-dried scalps
- Protects against sun and heat damage
The Cons
- Not the best smell
16. Pantene Shampoo Soothing Rose Water
Product Overview
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.
- Pleasent rose scent
- Contains silicone to clean build-ups
- Repairs damaged hairs
- Contains biotin and other nutrients
They say it leaves the hair “petal-soft,” and I won’t dispute that.
Pros
- Enhances hair growth with different nutrients
- Leaves your hair smelling nice and fresh
- Deeply cleanses and moisturizes your skin
The Cons
- It makes your hair flat
17. ACURE Ultra Hydrating Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Creamy and delicious
- LoremPumpkin and argan oils
- Smells great
- Perfect for dry damaged 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.
Pros
- Cleans your hair and makes it better-looking
- Moisturizes and nourishes your scalp
- Provides all the nutrients for a healthy scalp and hair
The Cons
- Doesn’t work well with thick hair
18. Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo
Product Overview
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.
- Plenty of vitamin E
- Extreme healing effects
- Perfect for daily usage
- Works perfect with hard water
The result is silky soft hair like you forgot you could enjoy.
Pros
- Moisturizes your scalp
- Fixes split ends and broken hairs
- Helps with itchy, flaking scabs
The Cons
- Not the best choice for dry hair
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.
Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Shampoo
Infused with vitamins and minerals
Prevents damage and breakage
Encourages natural hair growth
Aida
Founder & Hair Beauty Specialist
I’m Aida and this is my blog where I write mostly about beauty and make up related stuff, but I like to spice it up a bit with lifestyle and photography posts. Or with whatever that comes to my mind. Hope you will enjoy the reading enough that we will ‘see’ each other more often!
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