If you feel like you’re constantly pumping mousses and dry shampoos into your roots, only for them to fall flat mere minutes later, you likely need to take a few steps back. The road to thick, full hair actually starts in the shower – specifically, with a specialist shampoo for fine hair.

But don't think that means you should grab the first volumising bottle you see and lather on up, as finding a shampoo that will actually work well on fine hair and frizzy flyaways isn't quite as easy at is first seems.

As Louise Garbutt, co-owner of hair salon The Loch explains, the secret to a great shampoo for fine hair isn’t necessarily what’s added – it’s what’s not in there. 'Try to avoid silicone and polymers,' she says. 'They weigh the hair down by coating each strand in a plastic-like substance, so it might feel silky but will probably look limp. Check the ingredients list for anything ending in "cone".'

If you've sliced out the silicones and your hair still looks sad after washing, Garbutt recommends adding in a scalp scrub or clarifying shampoo once weekly to remove any build-up of product (especially that dry shampoo you love) and oil. After a recommendation? Living Proof's charcoal-based Triple Detox formula is the beauty team's unequivocal favourite.

Find the right products to stick in your shower and you're half-way there, but to really get the best from your hair you also need to refine your washing technique. According to Garbutt, one of the primary reasons we don’t see success from volumising products is placement: remember, shampoo in the roots, and conditioner only on the mid-lengths and ends. 'Also, always shampoo with warm water to open the cuticle, then rinse your conditioner with cool water, until it runs completely clear,' she says.

Below, see the shampoos for fine hair that team ELLE and their fine-haired friends have tried, loved, and bought on repeat.

The Very Best Shampoos For Fine Hair

1. Kérastase Resistance Bain Volumifique Thickening Shampoo

Formulated with fine and flat lengths in mind, Kérastase's classic volumising shampoo is a clear winner. If your hair gets greasy too quickly, this one will deeply cleanse from root to tip without leaving your ends feeling parched. It's ideal for anyone with thin hair who doesn't want to compromise on hydration, and the finished result is textured body that doesn't look or feel crispy. In fact, it'll impart a shine like no other.

Kérastase Resistance Bain Volumifique Thickening Shampoo

Resistance Bain Volumifique Thickening Shampoo

Kérastase Resistance Bain Volumifique Thickening Shampoo

Now 11% Off
£22 at sephora.co.uk£20 at LookFantastic£20 at hqhair.com

2. Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Cleanse

Iconic global hairstylist Sam McKnight has graced the heads of Princess Diana, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga and collaborated with fashion houses from Chanel and Fendi to Balmain and Burberry, so we trust him when it comes to creating big hair.

As a result, this lightweight lather has quickly become one of our all-time favourite volumising shampoos for fine hair. Not only does it smell incredible, but it also delivers a thorough cleanse that doesn't leave your hair feeling stripped or squeaky. Not to mention, it's also majorly nourishing, enveloping your strands in pro-vitamin b5 and protein-packed fermented rice.

collections Collections

Collections

collections Collections

3. Davines Volu Volume Enhancing Shampoo

Available in both a liquid and solid formula, this volumising hair wash is a hero for limp and lacklustre hair. It's effective at removing oil and dirt, without compromising on the soft, glossy finish we expect from a high-end shampoo. Did we mention the classic shampoo is obtained with 100% clean energy, while its solid counterpart is completely carbon offset? A fantastic investment for anyone looking to go greener with their haircare.

Davines Volu Volume Enhancing Shampoo

Volu Volume Enhancing Shampoo

Davines Volu Volume Enhancing Shampoo

4. Aveda Pure Abundance Volumising Shampoo

If you like your products to be on the natural side but still want them to deliver the goods, then Aveda's long-loved, volume-boosting shampoo is well worth a whirl. The plant-based formula contains coconut-derived surfactants (which are gentler than the much-debated sodium lauryl sulphate), and delivers a supreme lather, sweeping away every last trace of oil and product residue.

This one lends fine hair a touch of weightless nourishment, so you can use it on its own. However, add in the coordinating kaolin-infused conditioner and you'll really notice a boost in body.

Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo

Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo

Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo

Now 17% Off

5. Virtue Full Shampoo

Science-y brand Virtue uses a human-identical form of keratin in its advanced formulas, meaning the hair recognises it and knows exactly how to put it to good use. This super-lightweight volumising shampoo leaves hair clean while swelling lacklustre strands, but it's the long-term nourishing benefits that make it really worthwhile. If your hair is both fine and frazzled, right this way.

Virtue Full Shampoo

Full Shampoo

6. Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo

Do you spend what feels like hours styling your hair, only to have those precisely crafted curls drop out moments later? We feel you. Thankfully, Bumble and Bumble's volumising shampoo is on hand. It'll give hair enough guts to hold styles for much longer, while injecting roots with the kind of fullness usually only attainable via a professional blow-dry.

For maximum results, follow with the conditioner and spritz roots with the world-famous Thickening Treatment once dry.

Bumble and bumble Thickening Shampoo

Thickening Shampoo

Bumble and bumble Thickening Shampoo

Now 20% Off

7. Living Proof Full Shampoo

This is the best choice for fine hair that’s been subjected to a lot of styling products – dry-shampoo addicts, we're talking to you. Not only will it deeply cleanse overloaded roots, sweeping away every last trace of oil, grease and residue, but it’ll leave your lengths feeling noticeably swishier. It’s not the most moisturising of shampoos, but that’s what the matching conditioner is for.

Living Proof Full Shampoo

Full Shampoo

Living Proof Full Shampoo

8. Oribe Magnificent Volume Shampoo

If you're not willing to sacrifice the luxury factor (and why should you?) Oribe is the way to go. The brand's sensorial shampoo lathers generously, rinses away easily, and smells seriously expensive. Think: hair that looks so fresh, people will ask if you've just left the salon. It's worth every penny.

Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume

Shampoo for Magnificent Volume

Oribe Shampoo for Magnificent Volume

9. Redken Extreme Shampoo

This colour-focused option uses pH-balancing formulas to strengthen and fortify hair, with a bold claim of leaving strands three times stronger. The shampoo does indeed deliver a thorough yet gentle clean and, once dried, hair is bestowed with impressive volume.

Redken Extreme Shampoo

Extreme Shampoo

10. Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

Headed by celebrity stylist Jen Atkin (think Kendall Jenner's Met Gala swirls and Hailey Bieber's wedding 'do), Ouai is an It girl in the world of haircare. This body-boosting rinse harness the power of hydrolysed keratin and biotin for strengthened ends for the ultimate tousled finish, no matter your hair's density.

OUAI Fine Hair Shampoo

Fine Hair Shampoo

11. Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo

Fans of Moroccanoil's famed original formula should flock to this gentle lather when struggling with fine, flat strands. Infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil, it gives your hair a weightless body without ever being rich enough to weigh it down.

Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo

Extra Volume Shampoo

12. JVN Embody Volumizing Shampoo

If your hair is dry but also short on body, a deeply nourishing shampoo can sometimes veer a bit too heavy. Pairing caffeine to stimulate root follicles and aloe leaf juice to hydrate and soothe ends, this lightweight formula aids with lacklustre locks struggling with volume and shine.

JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo

Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo

JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo