Does Hair Thickening Shampoo for Men Really Work? A Stylist's Verdict

Hair thickening shampoo is one of the many wonders of the haircare world. The concept of a bottle of miracle shampoo that promises to thicken and strengthen your hair is an appealing one. But does it really work?

As with the majority of cosmetic and haircare products, it really depends on the quality of the shampoo you've chosen. In other words, you get what you pay for. If you're hoping a thickening shampoo will help give your hair a boost, you should put down the shampoo bottle from the supermarket shelf and turn your eye to products made with clinically proven ingredients.

Here at Salt Grooming, we've spent years developing and formulating a collection of men's haircare essentials, including our own patented and clinically proven Thickening Shampoo. Along the way, we've tested and refined our formulas to make sure they deliver real results, so we know a thing or two about what makes these products work (and not work).

With that in mind, we're going to delve into your most commonly asked questions about thickening shampoos, including whether they work, how long it takes to see results, and what goes into these powerful bottles.

As the name implies, thickening shampoos create the appearance of fuller-looking hair and stimulate hair growth using ingredients that address the root causes of thinning hair.

Formulations will vary across products, but, for the most part, they'll contain active ingredients such as Vitamin B5, Caffeine, and other plant derivatives proven to target the scalp, promote hair growth, and maintain the integrity of healthy hair.

But the sole purpose of these products isn't just to accelerate hair growth. Just like all other shampoos, they’re formulated to help cleanse, condition, and nourish your scalp, too. 

Over the course of a day, your hair accumulates dirt, grime, and pollutants that can damage your hair and scalp. A thickening shampoo will cleanse your scalp and hair, help remove any buildup, and leave it looking and feeling fresh.

Anyone and everyone can use a thickening shampoo.

If your natural hair lacks volume, a thickening shampoo will help to add some oomph to your trim by boosting your hair’s volume and thickness. 

Or if you take pride in your hair and want to give it the best care you can, a thickening shampoo is an excellent choice. Not only will it help to make your hair look fuller, but it’ll also give your scalp and strands extra nourishment for hair that looks better for longer.

But those who will benefit most from a thickening shampoo are those with fine, thin hair or men experiencing male pattern hair loss.

Our Thickening Shampoo contains ingredients that target the root of the problem and help re-energise the follicles. 

Saw Palmetto is a botanical extract that blocks the production of DHT, which is the hormone responsible for male pattern hair loss. By blocking these hormones and using ingredients to stimulate hair growth – like Caffeine, Red Clover Leaf, and Ginkgo Biloba – you'll start to see those thinning patches on your head fill in with thicker, healthier-looking hair.

If you’re experiencing male pattern hair loss, it could be due to several factors. A few examples include:

• Genetics – genes that come with a predisposition to balding can be passed down through generations.

• Stress – prolonged stress has been linked to hair loss in both men and women.

• Hormone imbalances – hormonal imbalances can cause hair loss in men due to the levels of DHT, a hormone responsible for male pattern hair loss.

• Diet – poor nutrition can impact the health of your scalp and hair follicles, leading to male pattern baldness.

It's actually the most common cause of hair loss in men, with 16% of 18-29 year olds experiencing moderate to extensive hair loss. 

So, while it may be disheartening, know that you are not alone. With the help of scientifically-backed products, you can reduce the effects of male pattern baldness and fight back against hair loss.

Yes, thickening shampoo really does work. It's not just another haircare fad – it's a clinically proven solution to improving the appearance of thin, flat, or balding hair.

Those ingredients we mentioned earlier? They work harmoniously to create a powerful formula that helps to stimulate hair growth from the follicles. 

The cleansing ingredients also play a big part in helping to thicken hair – new hair can't grow if there's build-up blocking the follicles, so keeping your mop squeaky clean is an important part of any hair revival plan.

One of the main ingredients that power thickening shampoo is caffeine – a very effective and clinically proven stimulant in hair growth. 

Applying caffeine topically to your scalp or within a shampoo formula counteracts balding caused by the testosterone hormone. 

Testosterone can convert to another hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which can cause hair follicles to become damaged, resulting in hair loss. 

The caffeine’s job is to ‘block’ the effects of DHT and instead stimulate the growth of hair follicles, increasing the rate of hair growth.

But it’s not just caffeine that stimulates hair growth. Ginkgo Biloba is another key ingredient that you’ll find in our Thickening Shampoo, which also promotes healthy hair growth – it’s more scarce than caffeine but just as effective. This plant possesses great anti-oxidant characteristics that improve blood flow and circulation to the scalp. 

By increasing blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles, we’re also encouraging nutrients and oxygen to reach the scalp, helping the hair follicles grow longer hair.

Vitamin B3 is another renowned ingredient in the hair growth world, and you’ll find it in many haircare products, not just thickening shampoo for men. 

This is a really important vitamin for hair growth and overall health, aiding in improving blood flow to the scalp and encouraging nutrients and oxygen to stimulate the hair follicles.

You shouldn't just rely on the shampoo to do all the work for you, though. You can help the hair thickening process along by including a few other steps into your routine.

Firstly, ensure you get all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair growth. B vitamins, especially biotin, are important for healthy hair. You can get these through supplements or from eating plenty of leafy greens, avocado, nuts, and seeds.

You could also use a scalp scrub every week to improve circulation and remove any dead skin cells that may be blocking your follicles. Just as you use a facial exfoliator on a weekly basis, you should give your noggin the same attention.

Buddying up your thickening shampoo with a thickening conditioner can also significantly help. These products will contain ingredients similar to the shampoo and work alongside it to help give your hair a thicker, fuller look.

The results you see will, of course, largely be down to your hair type and genetics, but the product you use is really important, too. 

After having heard of many unsuccessful stories of tried and tested shampoos and unmet promises, we set out to create a shampoo that won't let you down.

As with all our cutting-edge formulations, we partnered with Britain’s leading cosmeceutical scientists to develop an advanced formula using clinically proven ingredients. 

Our Thickening Shampoo visibly thickens hair from the first wash, thanks to our powerful combination of ingredients. It cleanses, nourishes, hydrates, and stimulates the scalp whilst providing superior protection against damage and breakage.

It's not just us that think it's great, either – hear it from our customers:

So, in short, yes, thickening shampoos for men really do work – so long as you use a high-quality product and stick to a consistent routine.

Bag your Salt Grooming Thickening Shampoo online today, or order our Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner Set for a powerful haircare duo that'll leave your locks looking fuller and feeling thicker.