Hair Loss Shampoo: Yes, It's a Myth—But One Ingredient is a Game Changer
There is no such thing as “hair loss shampoo”, although one key ingredient could mitigate hair fall.
July 25, 2024
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When building out your hair loss strategy, don’t be fooled by anything labeled as “hair loss shampoo”—not even if that shampoo has the same ideal ingredients you might find in hair loss supplements. Nothing you use in the shower is going to be on your scalp enough to be amply absorbed by your hair follicles.
Hair loss has a lot to do with things like circulation and genetic predisposition. And shampoos can really only address things at the surface of your scalp; that’s why you can seek out an anti-dandruff shampoo but not an anti-hair-loss one. If you want to retain your hair, you can only do this through finasteride, minoxidil, LLLT, and PRP, and you can support those efforts with strategic hair supplements. Don’t pin your hopes on shampoo—at least not as your solution to hair loss. You need to treat the problem with targeted medicines.
The One Shampoo Ingredient That Might Help
But on the topic of dandruff shampoo: The single best ingredient in shampoo that can likely reduce hair loss is ketoconazole, which is also very likely the favorite anti-dandruff ingredient of your dermatologist. Limited studies exist, but those that have been conducted all seem to point to the fact that the antimicrobial ketoconazole can also help mitigate the accumulation of the follicle-shrinking hormonal byproduct (DHT, or dihydrotestosterone). The ingredient is not FDA-cleared for hair loss, so keep expectations dialed in.
Most studies have measured a 2% shampoo formula, which remains available through a prescription, while 1% shampoos are available over the counter. I suggest speaking with your dermatologist about getting a 2% ketoconazole shampoo if you think it’s imperative; otherwise, what’s the harm in incorporating a 1% option. These tend to be very drying on scalp and hair alike, so I really suggest limiting use to once weekly (or even less so) if you aren’t actively fighting dandruff. I see it as a nice “tempering” of the scalp for the times when you aren’t experiencing dandruff—a nice way to keep it gone. Again, since shampoo should not be the foundation of your hair retention plan, please err on the conservative side of usage here.
Nizoral is the name brand in this arena, and pretty much every dermatologist I have ever interviewed on this topic will recommend Nizoral above anything else:
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Other Shampoos to Consider for Thinning Hair
We’ve got an entire article on styling and caring for thinning hair (and one for fine/thin hair), and I think it’s smarter to invest your efforts in shampoos that maximize volume and fullness, or at least focus on scalp-stimulating benefits; then, rely on tried-and-true hair loss treatments to fight your hair fall. You could also check out our hair stylers article to look for things that help build volume and maximize potential based on your strand density and length.
As for shampoos that are great for maximizing potential: Davines kills it in this shampoo category, with their volumizing and energizing shampoos. They also have an outstanding thickening conditioner, too. Here’s a showcase:
You can do a weekly hair mask like R+Co’s Dallas Biotin Thickening Treatment to pump nutrients directly into the strands, and to coat the hairs with a short-term densifying film. (This is how thickening conditioners work, too.)
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