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The 7 Best Volumizing Shampoos for Flat Hair: 2022 Buying Guide

Do you ever feel like you’re in a bit of a rut when it comes to combating lifeless strands? Where, no matter what hair products you try, your hair still seems to fall flat?

We’ve all been there. There are many culprits for flat hair, including excess grease, hair loss, over-styling, and simply using the wrong product.

Fortunately, there’s a way that you can volumize and plump up your flat hair. The key here is finding the right volumizing shampoos for your hair type.

Here’s a quick view if you’re in a hurry:

ImageTitleEditor's RankPrice
Product ImageAcure Vivacious Volume ShampooBest OverallSee Price
Product ImageOGX Thick + Full Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Volumizing ShampooRunner UpSee Price
Product ImageMoroccanoil Extra Volume ShampooBest SplurgeSee Price
Product ImageHempz Sweet Pineapple and Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing ShampooBest Natural ShampooSee Price
Product ImageBiolage Volume Bloom ShampooBest for Shiny HairSee Price
Product ImageEthique Eco-friendly Volumizing Shampoo BarBest Eco-friendly ShampooSee Price
Product ImageMokita Naturals Biotin Hair Volumizing Thickening ShampooBest for Hair Regrowth & ThickeningSee Price

 

Best Volumizing Shampoos for Flat Hair

Some shampoos work with your hair, while others work against it. If you have product buildup or live in an area with hard water, you’ll likely need a volumizing and clarifying shampoo in one so that it doesn’t weigh your hair down.

On the other hand, if your hair is color-treated or dry, you’ll want to invest in a formula that will moisturize and help reverse damage.

Volumizing Shampoos for Flat Hair

Below, our experts have compiled a full review of the seven best volumizing shampoos for flat hair. We’ve broken down which shampoo is suitable for which hair type so you can have your instant volume boost. No more wasting money on hair products that just don’t do the trick!

 

1. Acure Vivacious Volume Shampoo – Best Overall

In need of a pick-me-up for flat, lifeless hair? This volumizing shampoo is a miracle worker for boosting hair volume and health. The best part is, it’s all done with natural ingredients like echinacea, pumpkin seed oil, and peppermint, so you can use it every single day if your heart desires. Plus, its minty scent reminds us of spending a relaxing day at the spa.

Specs:

  • Brand: Acure
  • Hair Type: Fine, thin, straight
  • Liquid Volume: 12 fluid ounces
  • Item Weight: 0.75 pounds

Pros:

  • Intense volume for flat hair from the root
  • Cleans hair without weighing it down like other natural formulas
  • Vegan-friendly, cruelty-free plant-based formula
  • Free of sulfates and parabens
  • The shampoo is gentle enough to be used daily

Cons:

  • Some users report it doesn’t lather as well as they hoped
  • Is not created specifically for color-treated hair

 

2. OGX Thick + Full Biotin & Collagen Extra Strength Volumizing Shampoo – Runner Up/Best Budget Option

This highly popular sulfate-free shampoo has over 13,000 reviews on Amazon. The nourishing formula is packed with biotin and collagen, giving your hair extra volume and strength from deep inside the follicle. Users rave that it gives their hair intense volume without weighing it down, which is amazing for a sulfate-free shampoo.

Specs:

  • Brand: OGX
  • Hair Type: Fine, flat
  • Liquid Volume: 13 fluid ounces
  • Item Weight: 0.95 pounds

Pros:

  • Lightweight formula thickens and gives hair extreme volume
  • Full of amino acids to strengthen and improve hair health
  • Works to add volume for every hair type, including color-treated hair
  • Very affordable
  • Free of sulfates

Cons:

  • The formula is not gluten-free
  • There is a misconception among buyers that this product will fight hair loss

 

3. Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo – Best Splurge

This award-winning shampoo pumps up flat strands in fine hair with the help of plumping ingredients like linden bud extract. Similar to the classic formula, this shampoo is also packed with argan oil for intense hydration and shine. And if you’re a fan of shampoos that are free of harsh chemicals and won’t strip your hair, then look no further.

Specs:

  • Brand: Moroccanoil
  • Hair Type: Fine, color-treated
  • Liquid Volume: 8.5 fluid ounces
  • Item Weight: 0.62 pounds

Pros:

  • Boosts volume in dull, limp hair
  • Loaded with argan oil to increase moisture and shine
  • Free of sulfates, phosphates, and parabens
  • Signature Moroccanoil scent smells amazing
  • Gentle enough to use daily

Cons:

  • Not budget-friendly
  • Not suitable for users who prefer a fragrance-free formula

 

4. Hempz Sweet Pineapple and Honey Melon Herbal Volumizing Shampoo – Best Natural Shampoo

Just when you think there’s no hope for volumizing flat hair, along comes an all-natural formula that saves the day. Incredible at the increasing body for any hair type, this shampoo is perfect for anyone who needs a little help with both thickening and hair repair. Hempz is well-known for creating products that smell heavenly, and this Sweet Pineapple and Honey Melon shampoo is no different.

Specs:

  • Brand: Hempz
  • Hair Type: Thin, fine, color-treated
  • Liquid Volume: 33.8 fluid ounces
  • Item Weight: 2.4 pounds

Pros:

  • The formula is made with all-natural extracts
  • Anti-humectant ingredients fight frizz on damp and humid days
  • Thickens, volumizes, and stimulates natural growth in thinning hair
  • Shea butter and fruit extracts smooth and softens the hair while adding shine
  • Safe on color-treated hair

Cons:

  • Not ideal for shoppers who prefer fragrance-free products
  • Some users report they wished it lathered more

 

5. Biolage Volume Bloom Shampoo – Best for Shiny Hair

Biolage consistently makes it on our reviews of top shampoos not only because of their quality ingredients but also because their formulas are always effective. The paraben-free Volume Bloom formula is no exception when it comes to improving the overall health of your hair. It’s also infused with cotton flowers to expand the hair shaft and deliver bouncy volume and intense hydration.

Specs:

  • Brand: Biolage
  • Hair Type: Fine
  • Liquid Volume: 13.5 fluid ounces
  • Item Weight: 1 pound

Pros:

  • Expanding cotton flower delivers extreme volume
  • Lightweight formula doesn’t weigh hair down
  • Cleanses hair without stripping
  • Suitable for color-treated hair
  • Free of parabens

Cons:

  • Formula is not free of sulfates
  • Not budget-friendly

 

6. Ethique Eco-friendly Volumizing Shampoo Bar – Best Eco-friendly Shampoo

If you’ve never tried a volumizing shampoo bar, you’ll soon be wondering where it’s been your whole life. A single bar is equivalent to three shampoo bottles, only without the plastic. It’s good for the environment but even better for your hair. Not only are you helping save the planet, but you also get soft, bouncy, volumized hair. It’s a win-win!

Specs:

  • Brand: Ethique
  • Hair Type: Needs volume, dry, normal
  • Item Weight: 0.24 pounds

Pros:

  • Made with high-quality shampoo and zero soap
  • Strengthens and thickens hair needing a volume boost
  • Very cost-effective since you get three bottles of shampoo per bar
  • Eco-friendly and vegan
  • Completely compostable, plastic and waste-free

Cons:

  • Contains sulfites
  • Some users report it doesn’t last up to a year as advertised

 

7. Mokita Naturals Biotin Hair Volumizing Thickening Shampoo – Best for Hair Regrowth & Thickening

Searching for a shampoo that not only thickens your strands but is also packed with biotin for hair growth and strength? Then you’re in luck, as this formula works wonders on flat hair of all types. One user raves: “This shampoo has changed my life. This is probably going to be the only shampoo I use for a long time as long as I can get it.”

Specs:

  • Brand: Mokita
  • Hair Type: Thinning, fine
  • Liquid Volume: 8.5 fluid ounces
  • Item Weight: 0.62 pounds

Pros:

  • Promotes better hair growth, strengthens, and repairs
  • Natural botanicals volumize hair from root to tip
  • Clarifying formula removes buildup and balances hair’s pH levels
  • Free of sulfates and parabens
  • Gentle enough to use every day
  • Comes with a money-back guarantee of 90 days

Cons:

  • Not budget-friendly
  • Doesn’t come in an overly large bottle

 

Buyer’s Guide – What to Look for in Volumizing Shampoos

What to Look for in Volumizing Shampoos

It’s no secret that reading the label of most shampoo bottles can make almost anyone feel clueless. The ingredient list might as well be written in a foreign language, so it’s no wonder it can be hard to know what to look for to fix your hair woes. For that reason, we’ll take a look at some of the top ingredients to look for in a volumizing shampoo below.

Biotin – You may have heard of taking biotin supplements orally to boost hair health, but did you know it’s also effective in your shampoo? Applying it to the scalp also boosts your body’s biotin levels, which promote hair growth, strength, and thickness. So, by all means, stock up on a shampoo that’s loaded with biotin!

Collagen – Here’s another ingredient that is great for volumizing hair. Collagen is full of amino acids that are used to build keratin. What does this mean for you? Any formula with collagen can help promote healthier hair growth. Not to mention, collagen helps prevent damage to your hair follicles and fights hair thinning caused by aging.

Cotton Flower – Cotton is full of linoleic acid and Vitamin E, which are essential to stimulate the scalp. This promotes hair growth and strengthens your strands by increasing blood flow to your roots. While we don’t often see this ingredient listed on many shampoo labels, it’s a good one to look out for growth, hair health, and increasing volume and thickness as a result.

By following these tips for finding the right shampoo for your hair type, you can achieve voluminous hair. Not only that, but you’ll also be giving your mane the nourishment it needs for stronger, thicker hair.