Can a hair growth shampoo really give you longer locks? 14 bottles we trust
Does your hair seem vertically challenged? If so, you’re far from alone. It's the reason why myriad hair growth shampoos, gummies and supplements have flooded your local Boots in recent years.
And yet, with so many formulas out there promising to give you strands long enough to rival a Love Island contestant, how do you know if they really work? Rather than truly having the ability to add inches to your strands, are these products money down the drain?
We spoke to the experts and put products to the test to find out if these next-gen shampoos are miracle workers or marketing BS. Stay with us for the honest truth.
Or skip straight to our roundup of the best hair growth shampoos that actually work:
Do hair growth shampoos really work?
Dr Max Malik, aesthetic dermatologist and hair-restoration surgeon, warns that hair growth shampoos may not live up to the hype. ‘Over-the-counter versions of these shampoos and other hair growth treatments are now widely sold. It's a huge industry. However, there is actually minimal evidence in support of these treatments,' he says.
Kingsley agrees that the buzzy claims made by hair growth shampoos may be misleading, drawing attention to the many factors that can hamper their success.
‘It’s important to note that the effectiveness of a product is not just reliant on the ingredients inside. It’s heavily dependent on the concentrations of the ingredients, the quality of them and how they are formulated into the product,’ she explains.
What’s more, Kingsley suggests that the way these shampoos are used may determine whether they work or not. ‘For instance, many ingredients need to be left on the scalp for an extended period of time and/or be used daily, in order to be effective,’ she says.
London Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo
Tend to chuck your hair into a top knot when you're at the gym? Chances are you’ve caused a bit of breakage. Wrapping hair too tightly leads to damage, but there’s no need to panic — we found this shampoo aced our tests when it came to preventing breakages, leaving hair noticeably stronger and softer.
Serié Expert Pro Longer Shampoo
There’s nothing quite like that squeaky clean feeling after a hot and sweaty workout. We found this product lathered up nicely, leaving scalps feeling refreshed, without dehydrating frayed ends. The final result? Hair looked volumised and testers noticed less fall out.
Give Me Strength Strengthening Shampoo
Some damage being done to your hair isn't a disaster, but you should aim to rectify the situation before it becomes one.
This shampoo promises to help. Mixing hydrating aloe vera with replenishing keratin, it left our entire panel with fewer split ends and most with thicker strands. One tester was in raptures over her ‘softer, thicker and more manageable’ mane, with many others noticing less fallout and shedding.
Ultimate Blends Honey Treasures Shampoo
This golden elixir from Garnier is geared towards broken and brittle ends and formulated to fortify against further damage and breakage. Our panel praised the ‘thick, creamy’ texture and said it gave a great lather, leaving hair looking thicker and shinier after the eight-week trial period.
One tester also admitted they ‘couldn't stop running [their] hands through it!’ Oh, and a 400ml bottle costs less than your morning coffee. Count us in.
Pantene Grow Strong Shampoo
This bamboo-rich formula costs less than a fiver and claims to leave your strands as strong as your core post-barre.
Our testers with curly hair reported fewer breakages, tamed frizz and some added bounce. Many others praised the its smoothing and nourishing powers (when used with the conditioner), which left locks shinier and cleaner.
Extreme Shampoo
This popular salon brand claims to prevent breakages and strengthen fragile strands with its pH-balancing formula.
It successfully reduced split ends — our entire panel noticed the difference — and our lab test found it helped to limit breakages. It also cleaned scalps gently and added volume to roots, while those with colour-treated hair enjoyed a boost in vibrancy.
Women 7-in-1 Thickening Treatment
We can’t all be blessed with tumbling locks like Gigi Hadid, but this shampoo did make a real difference when it came to locks appearing fuller and thicker. We spotted less fall out and it had the added bonus of leaving ends looking glossy.
Grow Root Stimulating Shampoo
Take care of the roots and the ends will take care of themselves — that’s our motto. This acts like your morning HIIT class for lacklustre scalps, giving them an invigorating burst of energy. It led to some significant hair growth, with fewer split ends and less fallout.
Get Set Grow Shampoo
Dryness getting you down? This vegan shampoo features our holy grail hydrating ingredient, hyaluronic acid, and its cute packaging will brighten up your next #shelfie.
Everyone was pleased to see fewer split ends, with many raving about how much healthier, thicker and stronger their hair felt. In fact, most agreed that it helped improve their hair loss issues altogether.
Absolute Collagen Thickening Shampoo
We're avid supporters of squeezing in some anti-ageing collagen wherever you can (supplements, skincare — we'll take it), so we were intrigued to see if it worked on our hair, too.
It boosted hydration for most of our panel and stood out for helping to minimise shedding and breakages. The creamy lather was ace at getting scalps squeaky-clean, with many testers seeing healthier, fuller heads of hair.
Flaky/Itchy Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
If a stressed-out scalp is the source of your hair-growth issues, this shampoo could be the answer. Especially gentle, it’s the best non-drying dandruff treatment we’ve tried.
Resistance Bain Extentioniste
A fan favourite and staple for the shower, Kérastase relies on amino acids in this shampoo to cleanse, fortify and protect damaged hair — promoting brighter, healthier and stronger locks.
Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Shampoo
Six years in the making, this clever plant-powered shampoo instantly fortifies hair that's been dealt some serious damage.
Specialist PhD chemists have harnessed individual technologies that treat the hair on three levels, meaning the formula is able to reinforce hair integrity at the core, treat the cuticle and prevent breakages. Expect fuller, longer, healthier strands.
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