These Top-Tested Products Are Guaranteed to Give You Thicker-Looking Hair (2024)

Spritz your way to fuller hair instantly with this GH Beauty Lab top-tested thickening spray from Bumble and Bumble. In volumizing spray evaluations, it received the highest score for making hair feel thicker, although the volume didn't last as long as some of the others. Testers ranked the salon brand as their favorite mist, with 86% agreeing that they were satisfied with the product and would continue using it.

Tester comments: “My hair looked and felt three times fuller than normal!" one raved. "I really loved the fullness it gave my hair without feeling like I had product in it," said another.

Kristin Ess earned the highest score for performance in the GH Beauty Lab volumizing spray study at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. Testers rated it best for making hair look voluminous and full without deflating, with 82% of testers agreeing it kept hair voluminous all day long. One note about application: some users said that the nozzle squirts rather than sprays.

Tester comments: “I’ve never used a product that works this well on my fine hair," a user marveled. “It provided great volume that lasted two days, until the next shampoo," shared another. "I did not use hairspray, and I did not need it. Fantastic volume!"

The winner of the GH Beauty Lab dry shampoo test, Living Proof not only made hair feel fresh and clean but also lifted strands. An impressive 88% of testers agreed that this product added volume to hair. Darker hair beware: it can leave a white residue if not rubbed in properly.

Tester Comments: “It made my hair look full and great, not greasy," one shared. "I like the volume and freshness it gave my hair," said another.

If you are seeking both fuller and smoother hair, look no further than Aloxxi's serum. GH Beauty Lab data showed that it actually increased the thickness of individual strands and consumers ranked it tops for leaving hair looking fuller and touchably soft, although one noted that it can weigh hair down if you use too much.

Tester Comments: "I like how the serum made my hair feel thicker after I applied it and styled it," a tester said. Another one shared that she likes everything about the product: "It's not sticky, easy to apply and made my hair really feel and look fuller."

The active ingredient in Rogaine, Minoxidil, is the only FDA-approved over-the-counter topical ingredient for the treatment of hair loss. Containing 5% of the active, this lightweight foam helps stimulates hair growth and slows down hair loss. Consistent application is key for best results — and any results do take time and patience — so be sure to thoroughly read and familiarize yourself with the directions before use.

Reviewer Comments: "It took a little time to notice more drastic changes, about four to five months," said one Walmart reviewer. "I almost gave up, but it was worth the wait. My hair is no longer falling out and I have lots of re-growth."

This drugstore bargain spray from Garnier is a GH Beauty Lab chemist go-to and performed well in testing, delivering speedy volumizing effects. In Lab evaluations, testers ranked it tops for its ability to instantly volumize without heaviness and for its fruity scent. Apply slowly as the applicator tends to squirt instead of spray.

Tester Comments: "The lightweight leave-in imparts nice volume to strands whether you are styling your hair or letting it air dry," a reviewer said. Another loved that "it eliminates the need for an additional styling product for fullness and texture" and that "there was absolutely no build-up with this product either."

John Frieda's lightweight mousse was a stellar performer in the GH Beauty Lab volumizing mousse test. In the Lab, it was the best at maintaining hair fullness over time, even through humid conditions. Testers echoed Lab results and reported that the delicately scented foam did not leave hair feeling sticky or greasy, although a few noted that it may leave hair feeling stiff over time.

Tester Comments: "I liked that this product made my hair look so thick, held the fullness and still felt soft," one said. "This is the longest lasting volumizing mousse I have ever tried," raved another.

Get thicker, fuller hair in the shower by sudsing with Kérastase. A winner of the GH Beauty Lab volumizing shampoo and conditioner test and definitely a splurge, it ranked tops for adding volume, making hair feel thicker and leaving hair feeling clean. Note that the shampoo and conditioner set have twist-off caps which might make dispensing a bit difficult in the shower.

Tester Comments: "My hair has so much volume and bounce when I use this product," one raved. "This is the best I have found that gives all day body," says another.

Finding a lightweight hair mask that adds body and hydrates strands can prove to be difficult for those with fine, thin hair. GH Beauty Lab evaluations found that Joico's ingenious gel formula gave strands movement, while making them feel smooth and manageable without any weigh down. FYI: If your hair is already thick and you are just looking for extra body, this mask may not have enough nourishment for your strands.

Tester Comments: "The natural-looking bulk and movement lasted about three days on my hair," one noted. Another tester called it “one of the best masks I have tried for my fine/medium strands."

Bumble and Bumble's dry shampoo was the best powder formula in GH Beauty Lab dry shampoo evaluations, thanks to its hair-boosting ability. Testers reported that it lifted limp strands, was easy to brush out and didn’t irritate the scalp. They also noted that it has a pleasant powdery fresh scent. Just be aware that it could leave visible residue on hair if not rubbed in properly.

Tester Comments: “My hair felt thicker and it definitely added volume,” one said. “It made my hair easier to style, and seemed to thicken it up a bit," added another.

Behind the launch of this Nioxin spray serum is a groundbreaking hair discovery: Hair follicles have receptors for scent (essentially a sense of smell!). Researchers identified a specific aroma, Sandalore — a patented sandalwood scent — that can stimulate the follicles, prompting them to extend hair’s growth cycle. The fragrance is mixed into this spray-on serum along with caffeine, niacinamide and lauric acid, resulting in effective hair-loss reduction, per GH Beauty Lab patent review.

Tester Comments: “It immediately lifts roots for a fuller look, and over time my hair has felt and appeared thicker,” says GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann.

Set your freshly-styled voluminous strands all day long with It's A 10, a GH Beauty Lab hairspray test winner. Lab evaluations showed that it had the strongest hold through humid conditions, while most testers reported that it felt invisible on hair, although a few felt it left hair crunchy.

Tester Comments: "Even with the humid days this last weekend, it kept my hair looking great," one noted. Another raved about the sheer texture: "It's light enough so that I can barely tell I'm wearing it," she said.

Create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair with this Color Wow root coverup, which comes in eight shades to match your hair color. In GH Beauty Lab root touch-up testing, users reported that not only did the powder cover gray roots, blending in well with the rest of hair, but some also noted that it can be brushed onto the scalp near the hairline or part to mask thinning spots. While it's a great temporary fix, it doesn't actually thicken hair.

Tester Comments: "Covered the gray and a few hair loss spots," a tester noted, while another commented that "it might not be bad for the occasional small thinning areas too."

Testers loved that this Good Housekeeping Seal holder added fullness (especially at the roots) without leaving hair feeling crunchy or weighed down. They also agreed that it was easy to apply, thanks to the targeted spray nozzle, and to style hair after applying. While some loved the coconut scent, a few users felt it was too strong.

Tester Comments: "I saw noticeable volume without using rollers," said one. "My hair feels very soft; I can barely tell that there's product in it." Another shared that "it was completely invisible, and not sticky, tacky or greasy."

"The rule of thumb here is to use products that are gentle on the hair but pack a big punch," says Dr. Ziering. Look for the following:

✔️ The right ingredients. Look for products with biotin, collagen, amino acids, peptides and niacinamide. "These ingredients are key for overall hair health to keep the individual hair follicles strong and thick," Dr. Ziering says. Gutterman is also a fan of biotin and recommends castor oil and aloe vera as well as they "work great for general hair health."

✔️ The right formulation. There are many types of hair thickening products that provide different benefits; choose the right match for your needs or layer them in your routine as desired:

• Leave-in products (like serums, mousses, creams and gels) are generally applied to damp hair and can provide the biggest fullness boost, according to Wnek. "They coat hair to make it feel thicker and give it grip to help you manipulate strands into a voluminous look," she says.
• Rinse-off products like shampoos and conditioners "have fewer conditioning ingredients so they won't weigh hair down," Wnek explains. "They can set a good foundation for fullness but are not a replacement for styling products."
• Finishing products like texturizing sprays and dry shampoos are another option to use solo or complement leave-in and rinse-off products, as they "usually contain powders like starches to increase the friction between strands and absorb oil, which creates volume," Wnek says.

All of our experts agree: hair thickening products can definitely work as long as you use them properly and consistently. "Use products as they are prescribed and give them time to work; typically most people notice a subtle difference after several weeks of consistent use because hair thickening products slow down hair fall and improve overall hair health, making your hair shinier and more manageable," says Dr. Ziering. "I also recommend adding one new product or treatment at a time to your haircare regimen so you can see what is working and what is not working."

Wnek adds that how these products work depends on how the product is giving the thickening effect. Products with minoxodil help thicken hair by slowing down hair loss and stimulate hair growth. "Our studies have shown that volumizing sprays and mousses are great styling products that can help shape hair into a fuller appearance and make individual strands feel temporarily thicker," says Wnek. "Additionally, we have seen that hair thickening serums can increase the cross-sectional area of hair strands to some extent, in the case of products like Aloxxi, one of our picks above."

Danusia Wnek conducted the Beauty Lab’s most recent hair thickening spray test; she also researched and selected all of the product picks in this guide. She has spent seven years researching and developing testing protocols for haircare products for the Good Housekeeping Institute in categories including cleansing conditioners, moisturizing and volumizing shampoo and conditioners, volumizing sprays, flat irons, hairdryer brushes and dry shampoos.

Beauty writer Dori Price was the most recent updater of this guide. She has over 15 years of experience researching and writing haircare and hairstyling stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals such as hairstylists, hair colorists and trichologists. She is an expert in all hair product categories, from shampoos, conditioners, treatments, styling products and tools to hair color, professional services and more.