Does your hair ever feel flat and lifeless, like it needs a little extra lift? You’re not alone! Many of us dream of big, bouncy hair without spending a fortune at fancy salons. Drugstore shelves are packed with volumizing shampoos promising amazing results, but wading through all those bottles can feel overwhelming. Which one actually works? And which ones will leave your hair feeling weighed down instead of lifted?
Choosing the perfect budget-friendly volumizing shampoo is tricky. You want real volume, not just sticky residue or a high price tag. Finding that sweet spot between effective ingredients and an affordable price is the real challenge many shoppers face.
This post cuts through the noise. We break down the best drugstore volumizing shampoos available right now. You will learn what key ingredients to look for and discover the top contenders that deliver serious lift without emptying your wallet. Get ready to say goodbye to flat hair and hello to fabulous volume!
Top Drugstore Volumizing Shampoo Recommendations
- VOLUME & TEXTURE: The 13-fluid ounce bottle of OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo with a nutrient-infused formula to give your hair 72+ hours of volume & body & healthy hair in just one wash
- HEALTHY HAIR IN JUST 1 WASH: Our new & improved formula protects hair from excessive loss of lipids & proteins which creates frizz & breakage. It gives you healthy hair in 1 wash & protects hair against damage by strengthening your strands
- POWERED BY SCIENCE: LipiPro Shield (TM) Technology gives 2x more protein & lipid protection** & supports hair’s protein & lipid barrier for your heathiest, most resilient hair. It’s formulated without sulfated surfactants, parabens, phthalates, microplastic & dye
- REPAIR DAMAGE: From the #1 Hair Repair Brand,* the nutrient-infused formula designed for volume & texture contains vitamin B7 biotin to help strengthen hair & maintain growth along with collagen, a building block of healthy hair
- 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀: Our volumizing shampoo and conditioner set for fine hair delivers instant lift and long-lasting volume.
- 𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: Hydrate and nourish your scalp and hair with our lightweight shampoo and conditioner for hair growth.
- 𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑: This shampoo thoroughly removes buildup and residue, enhancing hair texture and movement.
- 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 & 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: Enjoy superior colour protection and radiant shine with our hair-thickening shampoo and conditioner.
- PURE PEACE SCENT: A serene fragrance with notes of rose water, sweet peonies + pink sea salt; a delicate floral blend with peaceful sweetness that settles softly for mindful, tranquil moments
- BOOST YOUR SHINE: This volumizing shampoo formula cleanses away dulling buildup and residue. It reveals your hair's natural radiance for a brilliant, healthy-looking finish without weighing things down. Get ready for a good hair day
- HYDRATION FOR YOUR HAIR: Give your strands some moisture. This shampoo delivers visible hydration for a seriously soft and silky feel
- MAJOR VOLUME BOOST: Turn up the volume with our hair thickening shampoo. The formula delivers nourishment for visibly thicker, fuller strands and provides over 2x the hair volume after just one cleansing
- Volumizing shampoo: Removes product build-up and excess oil. Soft gel texture transforms into a luxurious lather that enhances volume for fine hair
- Aroma: Featuring Aveda’s own Pure-Fume aroma with jasmine, peppermint, palmarosa, ylang-ylang, and other pure flower and plant essences
- Amaranth seed extract: Found in our botanical volumizing blend and distilled to the size of a peptide to ensure efficacy. Evenly plumps hair and reduces surface friction for enhanced volume with natural movement
- How to Use: Massage Pure Abundance Volumizing Shampoo into wet hair. Rinse and repeat as needed. Follow with Volumizing Conditioning Rinse
- Herbal Essences Body envy volatizing shampoo has No parabens, silicones, gluten or mineral oil
- Bright notes of citrus
- Lightweight formula cleanses to deliver body and bounce to fine hair
- Lifts hair with no heavy build-up
- FOR FINE OR FLAT HAIR - John Frieda Volume Lift Shampoo, with Air-Silk technology, enhances fullness
- ENHANCES VOLUME IN 1 USE - Maximize the fullness of your hair with Volume Lift full style hair preparation
- FOR COLOUR-TREATED HAIR - Safe to use on color-treated hair to fight limp hair
- SOFTENS HAIR - Volumizing shampoo leaves hair soft with touchable movement and bounce
- VOLUME & TEXTURE: The 25.4-fluid ounce bottle of OGX Thick & Full + Biotin & Collagen Volumizing Shampoo with a nutrient-infused formula to give your hair 72+ hours of volume & body & healthy hair in just one wash
- HEALTHY HAIR IN JUST 1 WASH: Our new & improved formula protects hair from excessive loss of lipids & proteins which creates frizz & breakage. It gives you healthy hair in 1 wash & protects hair against damage by strengthening your strands
- POWERED BY SCIENCE: LipiPro Shield (TM) Technology gives 2x more protein & lipid protection** & supports hair’s protein & lipid barrier for your heathiest, most resilient hair. It’s formulated without sulfated surfactants, parabens, phthalates, microplastic & dye
- REPAIR DAMAGE: From the #1 Hair Repair Brand,* the nutrient-infused formula designed for volume & texture contains vitamin B7 biotin to help strengthen hair & maintain growth along with collagen, a building block of healthy hair
- Microbiome-Friendly Certified to preserve the delicate balance of the scalp's microbiome
- Gently cleansing shampoo, free from SLS/SLES sulfates*, increased volume and fullness up to 66%**
- Designed for fine, limp hair
- Color-safe
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Drugstore Volumizing Shampoos
Thin hair got you down? Drugstore volumizing shampoos promise big lift without the salon price tag. Finding the right one makes a huge difference. This guide helps you choose the best bottle for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When you scan the aisles, look for these important features on the bottle label:
- **Volumizing Agents:** The shampoo should explicitly mention ingredients like polymers or panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5). These ingredients coat the hair shaft, making each strand feel thicker.
- **Lightweight Formula:** Heavy ingredients weigh hair down, defeating the purpose. Look for terms like “lightweight,” “weightless,” or “for fine hair.”
- **Sulfate-Free Options:** Many modern volumizing formulas skip harsh sulfates (like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate). These gentler cleansers clean well without stripping natural oils that provide body.
- **Clarifying Power:** Good volumizers remove product buildup. Buildup flattens hair. Ensure the shampoo cleans thoroughly.
Important Ingredients and Materials
The ingredients inside the bottle determine how well the shampoo works.
Ingredients That Boost Volume:
- **Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5):** This ingredient penetrates the hair shaft, adding moisture and making the hair look fuller.
- **Hydrolyzed Wheat/Rice Protein:** These small protein pieces temporarily bond to the hair, adding structure and volume from the roots.
- **Glycerin:** A humectant that draws moisture into the hair, which can slightly swell the cuticle for more body.
Ingredients to Use with Caution:
Some heavy oils (like thick coconut or shea butter) might be great for dry hair, but they often make fine, flat hair look greasy faster. Check the ingredient list; if you see too many thick butters near the top, put that bottle back if your main goal is volume.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of a drugstore volumizing shampoo depends on its balance.
What Improves Quality:
- **Gentle Cleansing:** A high-quality formula cleanses the scalp effectively to lift roots, but it should not leave hair feeling brittle or straw-like.
- **Scalp Health Focus:** Ingredients that soothe the scalp (like aloe or mild extracts) support healthier hair growth, which contributes to better overall volume.
- **Good Scent:** While not functional, a pleasant, fresh scent improves the overall user experience.
What Reduces Quality:
Overuse of silicones can reduce long-term volume. While silicones provide initial shine, they can build up over time, weighing the hair down severely. If you use a volumizing shampoo regularly, consider “clarifying” once a month to remove this buildup.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the shampoo matters just as much as what you buy.
Best Use Cases:
- **Daily Washing:** If you have very fine, naturally flat hair, a gentle, lightweight volumizer works well for daily use.
- **Post-Workout:** These shampoos are excellent for quickly removing sweat and oil without leaving heavy residue.
- **Before Styling:** Always use a volumizing shampoo before blow-drying or using heat tools. The lift created by the shampoo provides the best foundation for styling.
When you wash, focus the lather primarily on your scalp. Massage gently with your fingertips to stimulate the roots. Let the suds rinse down the lengths of your hair; this is usually enough cleaning for the ends.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Drugstore Volumizing Shampoos
Q: Will volumizing shampoo make my hair grow faster?
A: No. Volumizing shampoo only makes existing hair strands *look* thicker and fuller. It does not speed up the rate at which your hair grows from the root.
Q: Can I use volumizing shampoo if I have color-treated hair?
A: Many modern formulas are safe for color. However, always check the label for “color-safe” wording. Harsh sulfates can fade color quickly.
Q: How often should I use a volumizing shampoo?
A: You can use it every day if your scalp tends to get oily. If your hair is normal or dry, three to four times a week is usually enough.
Q: Why does my hair feel stiff after using this shampoo?
A: Stiffness often means the product is working too hard, or you are using too much protein. Try using less product next time, or switch to a formula that emphasizes lightweight moisture over heavy protein.
Q: Should I use a conditioner with this shampoo?
A: Yes, but use conditioner sparingly. Only apply conditioner from the mid-shaft down to the ends. Never apply it directly to the roots; conditioner weighs down the lift you just created.
Q: Are drugstore volumizing shampoos better than expensive ones?
A: Not necessarily better, but often just as effective for basic volume. The main difference is usually the quality of the added conditioning agents and scent, not the core volumizing ingredients.
Q: What is the difference between “thickening” and “volumizing”?
A: Volumizing lifts hair away from the scalp, creating height. Thickening products try to coat the individual hair strand to make it temporarily feel physically wider or denser.
Q: I have oily roots and dry ends. Will this work?
A: Yes, this is a perfect use case. Use the volumizing shampoo on your whole head to clean the roots, and then focus your conditioner only on the dry ends.
Q: Does volume last all day?
A: Volume created by shampoo is temporary. Heat styling helps lock it in longer. By the next day, most of the lift will naturally settle a bit.
Q: What should I look for if my scalp is sensitive?
A: Avoid strong fragrances and look for shampoos labeled “hypoallergenic” or those containing soothing ingredients like chamomile or aloe vera.
Hi, I’m Mallory Crusta, the heart and mind behind LovelyPetSpot.com.. As a passionate pet enthusiast, I created this space to share my experiences, expertise, and love for all things pets. Whether it’s helpful tips, heartfelt stories, or advice for pet parents, my mission is to make the journey of caring for your furry, feathery, or scaly friends as joyful and fulfilling as possible. Join me in celebrating the incredible bond we share with our animal companions!