We Try Hundreds of Hair Products, and These 9 Create Shiny, Voluminous Results

Your hair can thin out for medical issues, as a postpartum symptom, and many other reasons, but there are shampoos that actively work to prevent this loss and restore hair growth. When we compared 21 top-rated shampoos for thinning hair, the Briogeo Destined for Destiny shampoo delivered. Our tester had dry, thinning hair and used the shampoo consistently for two months. 

They saw immediate improvement in hair loss and even regrowth on the areas that had caused previous concern. The shampoo is formulated with ingredients like green coffee oil, caffeine, zinc, biotin, and copper peptides which all contribute to healthier hair. We noticed an improvement in hair volume, texture, and shine, and though it’s expensive given the size, we think it’s absolutely worth it.

Size: 8 oz. | Key Ingredients: Energy complex, zinc, copper peptides, biotin | Hair Type: All hair types

Our Ratings

• Feel

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Oil Absorption

  5/5

When you have oily hair (coming from personal experience) it’s a constant struggle of trying not to over-wash while also keeping your hair looking clean. Shampoos designed for oily hair, like this one from Nécessaire, allow you to wash more frequently without causing excess sebum (oil production) since it doesn’t strip away your natural oils. 

“When it comes to shampoo and conditioner you always want to look for products that are sulfate and paraben free,” says Julius Michael. “They won’t strip your hair of the natural oils you need for shine, they won’t leave build up creating dull limp locks, and most importantly they clean and condition your hair while adding essential vitamins back into your hair cuticle.”

We were so impressed with the results — after weeks of using the shampoo, our testers’ hair consistently felt lightweight and looked so fluffy and clean. Our tester had experienced pretty regular scalp itchiness before trying this shampoo and it has completely relieved that sensation. When we tested 15 shampoos for oily hair over the course of six weeks, The Shampoo by Nécessaire was an obvious winner in terms of feel, performance, and oil absorption.

Size: 8.4 oz. | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, aloe vera juice | Hair Type: All hair types

Our Ratings

• Cleansing Ability

  5/5

• Oil Absorption

  5/5

• Scent

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

“Anti-dandruff shampoos are generally antifungal and act against the agents causing inflammation and flaking of the scalp,” NYU Langone dermatological surgeon Mary L. Stevenson tells PEOPLE. She says they’re made with ingredients that “help counter the cause” of those symptoms and “soothe the inflammation in doing so.”

We tested 22 dandruff shampoos over three months to see the long-term effects of each, and the Neutrogena shampoo showed stellar performance from the first wash. We appreciated its ability to lift product buildup on the scalp, and our testers had noticeably cleaner hair after each wash. The formula is gentle enough to use every day and it doesn’t have the medicinal scent that some dandruff shampoos have. It didn’t lather quite as much as a standard shampoo, but the salicylic acid targeted dead skin cells and oil buildup and left the hair really clean and healthy (sans dandruff!).

Size: 4.5 oz. | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Hair Type: All types especially those who experience extremely dry skin on the scalp

Our Ratings

• Bristles

  5/5

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Serum Penetration

  5/5

When it comes to your scalp health, a good massage can do wonders for stimulating the skin. “Using a scalp massager can help to exfoliate dead skin cells on the scalp and aid in product penetration,” Dr. Robinson tells PEOPLE. “Scalp massagers can also help to alleviate tension in the scalp which may help to support overall health of the hair and the scalp,” Garshick adds. 

During our testing, we compared 21 scalp massagers for a month to assess the effectiveness of each. It felt like a luxury spa treatment to massage shampoo into our testers’ hair with the brush during showers, and it actually helped create a better lather than when you use your hands to apply shampoo. The tool has gentle bristles and a comfortable handle to grip during use. 

For dry hair, it also helps massage conditioning treatments in your hair as well as other products. “You might find using a scalp massager with dry shampoo helps to distribute the dry shampoo more effectively if you have thick hair,” adds Dr. Robinson. It doesn’t tangle your hair, comes in a lovely storage box, and is fairly affordable given the quality.

Materials: Silicone and plastic | Hair types: All hair types

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Feel

  5/5

• Hair Shine/Sheen

  5/5

Another winner from Olaplex, this hair oil restores the bonds in your hair, so it not only helps to style your hair, it benefits its health. We were impressed with how it boosted the vibrancy of our tester’s hair color, provided heat protection, and reduced frizz. Our team loved the feel of the oil — it stood out from the 29 other hair oils we tested. It’s lightweight and made our tester’s hair feel soft and silky.

We continued long-term testing this hair oil for six months, and our tester was completely dazzled by the results. Their frizz was regularly tamed and the hair oil nourished their sometimes dry ends. Our tester even used the Olaplex oil as a heat protectant for their extensions and it worked beautifully. 

Star Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, grapeseed oil, fermented green tea oil | Key Benefits: Repairs broken bonds, offers heat and UV protection, fights frizz, help maintain color vibrancy | Size: 1 oz.

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Comfort

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

When it comes to curly locks, there’s no better brush than the Curls Ultimate Detangler Brush. It swiftly moves through your hair, detangling the strands without disrupting the curl pattern. Our tester loved how much definition and bounce their hair had after brushing it. One of the best features of this brush are the customizable bristle rows that can move around to suit your specific hair pattern — with one set for thinner hair sections and one for thick.

Our tester said this brush “creates curls you dream about.” We love the lightweight frame of this brush, though it does have a wide handle which might not be everyone’s preference. The brush detangled our tester’s hair in just one pass, minimizing frizz, and providing a nice scalp massage. After testing 25 brushes for curly hair, the Curls Ultimate brush more than earned its place as our best overall pick.

Bristle Material: Nylon | Curl Type: Wavy, curly, very curly, coily

Our Ratings

• Application

  5/5

• Absorption

  5/5

• Efficacy

  5/5

• Hair Feel

  4.9/5

• Overall Look

  5/5

Hot tools like hot air brushes and blow dryers are a common part of the hair styling process, so it’s important to protect your hair using a form of heat protectant. “I always recommend that everyone use a heat protector on their hair if they are using heat to style, whether it is a blow dryer or hot tool and even to protect from sun damage,” says Julius Michael.

Our team tested dozens of heat protectants and Living Proof impressed us the most with its versatility across different hair types and other benefits like frizz reduction, hydration, and breakage prevention. For good measure we also tested the heat protectants on a piece of bread and the section that had spray on it remained untoasted while the rest of the slice had a crispy texture. Though this formula didn’t create as much volume as we’d have liked, it’s color safe, and works as a detangler and UV protectant too.

Size: 1.7 oz., 8 oz. | Benefits: Detangles and softens strands, UV protection, nourishes dry hair | Temperature Protection: Up to 450°F

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Features

  5/5

• Drying Performance

  5/5

• Overall Look

  5/5

• Value

  5/5

This budget-friendly hair dryer has taken our top spot two years running, so there’s no question it’s the hair dryer you should reach for first. It earned perfect scores in every single test (the only dryer we tested that did so). We were highly impressed with the speed, power, and special settings like a turbo boost and a cold shot feature to smooth the hair. Plus it only takes 20 minutes to complete a blowout with this hair dryer. 

“My go-to styling is a beautiful, voluminous blowout,” says Joseph Michael. He shares the trick that “blow-drying the hair with it being more wet, rather than rough dried, will allow the blow dry to last longer and not frizz up as quickly.”

Thanks to several attachments, including a diffuser, the Hot Tools hair dryer works effectively for all hair types. Considering how well the tool actually dried the hair — creating both volume and definition — as well as the low price, we’ve consistently ranked the Hot Tools pick as our best overall hair dryer.

Hair type: All | Weight: 2.75 lbs. | Wattage: 2000 | Settings: 4 heat / 3 speed / cool shot / turbo / volume or smooth | Attachments: 2 concentrators, diffuser