A shampoo for hair loss can't necessarily reverse all types of thinning like a magic wand, but the right formula can support a healthier scalp and help tackle underlying issues that may be contributing to excess shedding.

As certified trichologist Izabella Bordignon explains, ”Hair loss is far more complex than simply choosing the right shampoo. There are many different causes of hair loss, including genetics, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies and scalp conditions." Then again, shampoo is still one of the hair products you’ll use most frequently. So, as much as tackling hair loss often requires more than a change of products, choosing the right shampoo and conditioner duo for your concerns will support a healthier scalp environment and complement your wider treatment plan.

To help narrow down the options, I asked Bordignon to recommend the formulas she looks to as a professional – from pharmacy favourites to salon brands. These are the ones she suggested.

Read more: **Best hair oils, tested **

The best anti hair loss shampoos for 2026 are:

  • Best overall– Nizoral anti-dandruff treatment shampoo: £6.38, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for hair loss from dandruff– Vichy dercos anti-dandruff and anti-itch dermatological shampoo: £16.50, Boots.com
  • Best for hair loss from stress– Davines energizing shampoo: £25.75, Cultbeauty.co.uk
  • Best psoriasis-safe formula– Polytar scalp shampoo: £8.99, Boots.com
  • Best for fine hair– Philip Kingsley density thickening shampoo: £32, Boots.com

Meet the expert

  • Izabella Bordignonis a certified trichologist, cosmetologist and London salon founder with more than eight years experience working in the field. She specialises in hair thinning, scalp pain, inflammation and itchiness, dandruff and dry scalps, and hair texture changes.

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  • Bestshampoo for hair loss overall

  • Why we love it- Ketoconazole has supportive evidence for scalp health

  • Take note- Can be drying if overused

Nizoral’s anti-dandruff shampoo earned a full five stars from Bordignon, who describes the formula as “particularly beneficial for individuals with seborrhoeic dermatitis, itching or persistent flaking alongside increased shedding.”

She tells me, “Nizoral stands out because ketoconazole has been investigated not only for dandruff control but also for its potential supportive role in androgenetic alopecia.

“While it shouldn't replace established hair-loss treatments such as minoxidil or finasteride, research suggests ketoconazole may help reduce scalp inflammation and create a healthier follicular environment.”

Key specifications:

  • Size:60ml
  • Active ingredient:Ketoconazole to kill fungus and relieve inflammation

  • Usage:Twice a week for two to four weeks initially, then once every one to two weeks once dandruff has eased

  • Bestshampoo for hair loss from dandruff

  • Why we love it- Effectively controls flakes while calming the scalp

  • Take note- May feel drying on the hair for some users

According to Bordignon, “Vichy dercos anti-dandruff shampoo is an excellent option for people experiencing hair shedding linked to scalp inflammation or seborrhoeic dermatitis.” She praises its combination of selenium disulphide and salicylic acid, and informs me that this “helps eliminate flakes, reduce itching and restore a healthier scalp environment, an important foundation for healthy hair growth.”

While caveating that “it isn't a treatment for androgenetic alopecia,” she finds that “improving scalp health can help minimise inflammation-related shedding and support overall hair quality.”

Key specifications:

  • Size:200ml
  • Active ingredients:Exfoliating salicylic acid and anti-fungal selenium disulphide

  • Usage:Three times a week for four weeks during a dandruff breakout, then one to two times a week to maintain results

  • Bestshampoo for hair loss from stress

  • Why we love it- Gentle formula with antioxidant-rich botanical extracts

  • Take note- Premium price point

Bordignon describes Davines’s energizing shampoo as “an excellent maintenance shampoo for those looking to support scalp health and improve the cosmetic appearance of thinning hair.” Speaking to its plant-led ingredients, she understands “the evidence for many plant extracts remains limited compared with pharmaceutical ingredients,” but reassures me that the energizing shampoo’s “well-balanced formulation makes it a good option for people experiencing temporary shedding linked to stress or seasonal changes.”

“The shampoo cleanses effectively without disrupting the scalp barrier and leaves hair looking fuller and healthier,” she summarises.

Key specifications:

  • Size:250ml
  • Active ingredients:Protective mung bean extract, regulatory crimson clover extract, niacinamide, antioxidants, caffeine

  • Usage:Every other day for one month during initial treatment phase, followed by twice a week use for two months to maintain results

  • Bestpsoriasis-safe shampoo for hair loss

  • Why we love it- Highly effective for inflammatory scalp conditions

  • Take note- Strong medicinal scent

“Polytar isn't marketed as a hair-loss shampoo, but it deserves recognition for its ability to manage inflammatory scalp conditions such as psoriasis and severe seborrhoeic dermatitis,” Bordignon claims.

This is because, she elaborates, “Persistent inflammation can contribute to increased hair shedding, and controlling these scalp disorders is often the first step in restoring a healthier environment for the hair follicle.”

She lists its benefits as reductions in scaling, itching and irritation and dubs the formula “particularly valuable for individuals whose hair loss is secondary to chronic scalp disease rather than androgenetic alopecia.”

Key specifications:

  • Size:150ml
  • Active ingredients:4% anti-inflammatory coal tar solution to remove dead skin and slow down hyper-rapid skin cell production (which causes dandruff)

  • Usage:Once or twice a week for a maximum of four weeks, leaving the product in contact with the scalp for no longer than five-minutes

  • Bestshampoo for hair loss in fine hair

  • Why we love it- Adds noticeable body without weighing hair down

  • Take note- Premium price compared with pharmacy shampoos

Philip Kingsley’s density thickening shampoo won’t reverse hair loss, but rather, “focuses on improving the appearance and resilience of fine, thinning hair while supporting overall scalp health,” clarifies Bordignon. “It helps optimise the scalp environment and leaves hair looking fuller, softer and more manageable,” she adds.

She runs me through how it works – “the sulphate-free formula cleanses gently without disrupting the scalp barrier” – and suggests people use the shampoo as a complementary product alongside an “evidence-based hair loss treatment.”

“Particularly for those seeking improved volume alongside healthier-looking hair,” she advises.

Key specifications:

  • Size:200ml
  • Active ingredients:Exfoliating BHAs, peptides to plump strands, hyper-branched polymers to boost volume

  • Usage:Daily use, exfoliating into the scalp for one minute

  • Bestshampoo to disguise hair loss

  • Why we love it- Reduces breakage

  • Improves fibre strength

  • Take note- Doesn't directly treat hair-loss disorders

  • Pricey compared to others

Kérastase’s genesis nourishing shampoo is Bordignon’s pick for reducing the appearance of thinning. How does it work, exactly? “Ingredients such as ginger root and edelweiss stem cells are combined with conditioning agents that improve fibre resilience and leave hair feeling stronger and smoother,” she details, adding that this formula is “particularly suitable for chemically treated or heat-damaged hair prone to snapping.”

Not to be mistaken for a shampoo that can bring back lost hair, Bordignon stresses that “one of the most common misconceptions is confusing hair breakage with hair loss.” So before you check out, she cautions that this shampoo is “specifically formulated to strengthen weakened hair fibres, reducing breakage during washing and styling.” In essence, it improves the state of what’s there, versus helping ressurect patches where strands have been lost.

Key specifications:

  • Size:250ml
  • Active ingredients:Protective ginger root, antioxidant edelweiss, amino acids (arginine), caffeine

  • Usage:Daily or two to three times per week, rinse and repeating with each wash

  • Bestshampoo for hair loss from breakage

  • Why we love it- Strengthens weakened hair fibres while cleansing gently

  • Take note- Primarily targets breakage rather than follicle-driven hair loss

Another pick for thinning caused by breakage, Bordignon outlines how the Redken acidic grow shampoo “combines strengthening technology with gentle cleansing to reinforce weakened hair fibres and minimise breakage during washing and styling.”

She poses that “healthier, stronger strands create the appearance of greater hair density, even though the shampoo does not directly stimulate follicle activity.” As for who should use it, she instructs, “It's particularly beneficial for colour-treated, chemically processed or heat-damaged hair, making it an excellent option for anyone whose hair appears thinner because of cumulative fibre damage.”

Key specifications:

  • Size:300ml
  • Active ingredients:Exfoliating azelaic and salicylic acid, probiotics, caffeine
  • Usage:Daily or as often as you’d normally shampoo