Whether it’s due to stress, menopause, postpartum changes, or something entirely unexplained, hair loss and thinning hair is a stress point that nobody needs. My hair started thinning in 2010 as a medication side effect of a rheumatoid arthritis drug, and it’s really been getting to me now that I’m in my early 30s. I look at the full, luscious heads of hair that every other person in my family has and I am wildly, gut-wrenchingly jealous.

In some ways, I feel like I’ve been nerfed by my early 20s. A full head of hair is powerful. It’s commanding; youthful; basically a cheat code. When you have great hair, you roll out of bed at a level of put-togetherness that I can only dream of.

Research centres the treatment and effects of male pattern baldness (because when does research ever not centre a cis, white man?) (actually, let’s not talk about that, because that’s occasionally even more horrifying), but female pattern baldness is common, too—as are things like hair loss on T and thinning due to stress. At this point, after over a decade of hair loss, I’m not sure that mine is reversible—but I’m sure as hell going to try.

BondiBoost HG Collection review

In use and results, this one is my favourite. The HG Thinning Hair with Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner formula is minty and refreshing, which makes each product a joy to use. It smells great in and out of the shower and I love that it comes in heavy, pump-style bottles. When I use this consistently, I feel like I start to see that little new-growth “halo” of hair around my scalp—which is pretty fantastic from just a shampoo and conditioner duo. (I’m using their scalp serum as well, but I have to admit that I never use a scalp serum consistently.)

The downside is that I break out like crazy when I use this. I’m not allergic to any of the ingredients, so I’m honestly not sure why. It’s pretty localized to my scalp and hairline, but I’ll catch a couple strays on my face, too. We’re talking big, sensitive, swollen breakouts as well as sebum plugs; the entire gamut.

Unfortunately, this might be a direct side effect of the ingredient that makes this duo so effective. I notice the same results when using products that contain minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine), but this is not a commonly-documented side effect—so unless you’ve also tried Rogaine and it’s broken you out, I think this is a great place to start. It has seemed, to me, to be the most effective of the haircare products I’ve tried so far.

The BondiBoost line is extremely comprehensive. Aside from shampoo and conditioner, it also offers treatment products including a Hair & Scalp Tonic, Intensive Daily Scalp Spray, and Clarifying Pre-Wash Treatment with Lactic Acid and Rosemary.

The Rootist Densify Collection review

I love using The Rootist Densify Shampoo and Conditioner—and the rest of the line, too. I’ve talked about The Rootist before and honestly, my love for their products only grows. Their concentrated, low-water shampoo/conditioner formulas make travelling easy and their products smell so good. The Densify collection is described as smelling like “warm, woody notes with a subtle, comforting musk” and makes me think of palo santo wood.

The Rootist’s shampoo and conditioner duo for thinning hair do a great job of gently cleansing my scalp and hair. They don’t break me out at all and they don’t weigh down my hair in the least. I don’t know that I’d say that I get the hair-growth-halo effect with these products, but my hair looks the fullest with them—it holds body well, comes out bouncy, and gets greasy more slowly than usual. The brand’s Densify and Strengthen collections are both excellent, but I slightly prefer Densify: It smells more expensive and, for my hair, hydrates a little better.

The importance of a clean scalp

What I love about The Rootist is that they, too, have a really comprehensive range for thinning hair than most brands. We know that the scalp can overproduce oil in a way that negatively impacts its microbiome, and that factors like high DHT levels in your hair follicles can affect your hair’s growing period.

I really appreciate that The Rootist doesn’t just offer a shampoo, conditioner, and serum for thinning hair: They also make a Pre-Shampoo Clarifying Scalp Treatment with AHA + Apple Cider Vinegar, which gets my scalp so clean. It tingles a little on my scalp and leaves it feeling amazingly light and fresh when I get out of the shower. Formulated to remove excess oil and balance the pH of your scalp, The Rootist’s Pre-Shampoo is formulated with a “Rootbiotic” ferment, a 9% AHA blend (glycolic acid and lactic acid) to exfoliate your scalp, and a touch of apple cider vinegar and hibiscus flower extract to soothe your skin as it removes buildup.

I have Chinese hair in an Albertan climate, so I’m used to my scalp being pretty unhappy with me. It’s frequently itchy and flaky, and in turn greasy as it overproduces sebum to try and compensate for everything that’s going on environmentally. This scalp treatment helps—I brush out my scalp thoroughly to “massage” off any dry skin, let the Pre-Shampoo sit for 15 minutes, shampoo and condition as normal, and finish with the brand’s Densifying & Thickening Serum for Thinning Hair when I remember.

Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Collection review

The Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner are sold as a set at Sephora, which I really appreciate. When you’re using treatment products, it is so, so important to use the entire treatment—and it’s very nice when said entire treatment is a little cheaper to buy at once.

The GRO+ line contains the brand’s GROActive+Complex, a plant-based hair growth compound. It’s also formulated with microalgae, niacinamide, caffeine, and lactic acid.

I know that luxury haircare trends toward pump-style bottles, but I love Vegamour’s traditional, snap-cap bottles. They’re soft, sensical, and easy to use. The GRO+ Shampoo is lightly exfoliating and lathers really generously—you don’t need a lot of it. Similarly, I feel like I can be very conservative with the GRO+ Conditioner and it still coats every strand.

Of all the products in this post, these are the least fragranced. They’re nice, but not hydrating enough for my colour-treated hair in this climate. The shampoo and conditioner are made to be used with the Vegamour GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum.

Revitalash Thickening Shampoo review

This last product is one that I can’t review both halves of—Revitalash’s conditioners contain silicones, so I can’t use them.

However… there’s something about the Revitalash Thickening Shampoo. It’s super simple but somehow feels like the platonic ideal of shampoos. It’s clear, smells clean, and leaves my scalp feeling so cleansed (but not tight and stripped).

You know when you’re watching a drugstore shampoo ad and the woman in the shower lathers up her hair and takes the absolute best shower of her life? This, somehow, feels kind of like that.

In conclusion

Shampoos, conditioners, and hair growth serums are only one part of the usual hair growth journey—but they’re an easy one, and I’m honestly a bit lazy. I recommend giving the BondiBoost range a try if you love the feeling of having a minty fresh scalp, or opting for The Rootist if you have sensitive skin and want to smell like you’ve just rolled out of a spa.

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Disclaimer: The products in this post were sent in for editorial consideration only. This post contains affiliate links.