What is the best shampoo for mature hair?

As your hair ages, it often becomes weaker, loses its shine and can start to thin. That’s where specially formulated products come in, with certain shampoos designed to tackle the effects of ageing, help renew your locks and give you back that youthful radiance.

From shrinking hair follicles to a decrease of melanin within the hair strand, there are various reasons why our hair ages. So, what can you do to both prevent and reverse the effects? We’ve put our mature heads together to create a list of the best strengthening, hydrating and thickening shampoos to reach for on your next walk-in shower.

We’ve even broken it down into categories to further help you find your perfect hair match. Starting with…

Best for… dry tresses

Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Shampoo

If your mature hair is dry, damaged and in need of a serious drink, The 10-in-1 Renewal Shampoo could be just the thirst quench you’re seeking. As the name suggests, this moisturising shampoo contains 10 benefits for dry hair, including age-defying properties as well as colour protection.

An extensive ingredient list, including organic shea butter, marula oil and biotin ensures a nutrient-rich, ultra nourished and super hydrated result making your tresses much more moisturised and manageable. Bonus points for the deliciously fruity smell.

For extra soft, shiny and manageable hair, follow it up with the conditioner and nourishing hair masque from the same range.

Richard Ward Chelsea London Anti-Ageing Argan Shampoo

As the hairdresser of choice to HRH, The Duchess of Cambridge, Richard Ward is the go-to for smooth, shiny locks. So it makes sense that he’s created a softening shampoo, enriched with an anti-ageing formula. It helps to create volume, add thickness and leave hair feeling super soft.

Available at Waitrose and John Lewis, This royal product comes with a not so royal price tag, making it even more tempting to pick up on your next shopping trip.

Kerastase Densifique Shampoo

As hair can gradually start to thin over time, you may want to inject a little volume into your locks. Luckily, that’s the main focus of this revitalising shampoo. Designed for those with more mature wavy or curly locks, this treatment is created with hyaluronic acid and gluco-peptides to plump up limp, fine and lacklustre hair, fast results are to be expected with this specially formulated shampoo.

Pair with the Kerastase Fondant Densité Conditioner to fully hydrate and strengthen your hair.

Dove Pro Age Shampoo

You can’t go wrong with this classic brand name. Dove’s Pro Age Shampoo is designed to inject strength and hydration into ageing hair, leaving you with a thicker, fuller and much stronger mane.

Containing a unique MicroMoisture Serum™ formula, this product helps to moisturise mature hair from the very roots, while also helping to restore breakage and brittle hair. If strength is what you’re missing from your tresses, pair this popular shampoo with the Dove Pro Age Conditioner to complete the look.

Best for… thinning/volume deprived strands

RevitaLash: Thickening Shampoo

If you’ve heard of the original RevitaLash, famous for thickening lashes for the last few years, you might be keen to try their new thickening range, specifically for hair.

Containing a whole host of unique thickening ingredients, as well as specific elements to soothe and nourish the scalp, this shampoo is ideal for thinning hair that has lost volume over the years. The specialist ‘Phyto-infused formula’ helps to transform hair into its fullest, thickest self.

Follow up with the Thickening Conditioner for ultra-hydrated and voluminous tresses.

Nexxus Youth Renewal Shampoo

To help with the signs of ageing hair, this treatment is the ideal all-rounder. Helping to add volume, keep colour and halt breakage and brittleness in its anti-ageing tracks, the Nexxus Youth Renewal Shampoo is specifically aimed at more mature hair. In fact, it’s formulated to combat the 8 visible signs of ageing hair:

• volume reduction
• loss of shine
• dullness
• unruliness
• breakage
• brittleness
• roughness
• loss of colour vibrancy

As your hair loses protein with each passing day, this specially created shampoo could be your new go-to for maintaining that youthful, shiny glow. Need we say more?

Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo for Progressed Thinning

If you find your ageing hair is starting to thin, consider the benefits of using Nioxin Cleanser Shampoo. Designed to help create thicker, fuller tresses, it’s a great choice to inject a little extra oomph.

From peppermint oil to wake up the scalp from the first use to Active Renewal technology to remove product build-up, dirt, dandruff and all other pollutants and toxins, it leaves hair looking shiny and healthy.

This cleansing shampoo is part of a specially designed three-step formula to thicken up more mature hair alongside protecting every strand against further damage. It’s suitable for all hair types, particularly if you’re starting to experience hair loss.

JHIRMACK Ageless Shampoo

With an intriguing list of ingredients, including folic acid and green tea extract, and an even more intriguing affordable price tag, this revitalising shampoo is the ideal choice to brighten up dull, damaged hair attributed to ageing.

Developed especially for all shades of silver and grey hair, this number one rated product helps to remove yellow, brassy tones and give that silver sheen a little extra spice. If your hair has lost its shine and frizz has set up shop, it’s as close to youth in a bottle as you can get.

Best for… sensitive scalps

Verb Ghost Shampoo

Grey hair? What grey hair? If you’re looking to reverse the ageing of your hair, this weightless shampoo is an excellent choice. Thanks to its active ingredient, nourishing Moringa oil, it infuses the hair shaft with essential moisture, both conditioning and leaving your hair tangle-free. It also helps brighten and replenish your tresses, making frizz a thing of the past.

Every bit as weightless as the name suggests, this shampoo is a great option for those with mature hair and more sensitive scalps. It also helps that it’s completely free of parabens, gluten and sulphates, making irritation an unlikely side effect. It’s also cruelty-free, so the pluses just keep on coming.

Josh Rosebrook Balance Shampoo

Created for normal to oily scalp conditions, this super softening shampoo contains natural plant oils to soothe and treat your scalp, stimulate follicle circulation and encourage new hair growth.

An extensive list of softening and cleansing ingredients create an effective shampoo. From strengthening and softening Aloe Vera to hydrating African Black Soap and moisturising coconut and camelina seed oil, your hair will feel ultra-soft, shiny and most importantly, protected.

Formulated for all hair textures and types, while the price tag may be one of slightly more eye-watering proportions, the benefits of this super balancing shampoo will leave your scalp anything but irritated.

Best for… the eco-friendly mind

Aveda Invati solutions for thinning hair: Exfoliating Shampoo

94% naturally derived and vegan, Aveda’s Invati Exfoliating Shampoo comes in a rich or more lightweight formula, depending on your hair type. With the clue in the title, this moisturising shampoo gently exfoliates the scalp, creating the perfect basis for thicker and fuller hair.

Over time, this shampoo helps to restore plumpness, while also preventing the need to wash your mature hair as often. Free from sulphates, parabens, synthetic fragrance and gluten to name but a few, this shampoo is ideal for those who are looking for a more eco-friendly option with an affordable price tag.

Finish the process with the thickening conditioner and weekly scalp revitaliser treatment to really keep things thick and strong.

Monat Intense Repair Shampoo

If you’re looking for a more natural anti-ageing shampoo for your mature hair, the Monat Intense Repair range is an impressive choice. Ideal for all hair types, textures and colours, it’s a great all-round purchase.

Its primary purpose is to give the hair a much-needed lift, but it also assists in the promotion of new hair growth, helping you to maintain a youthful look. Better yet, it smells divine, courtesy of its intoxicating, rosemary aroma. Not only will your hair be stronger, softer and shinier, it will stay smelling fresh all day long. A win-win.

Living Proof Restore Shampoo

Another one to consider when looking at eco-friendly options is the Living Proof Restore Shampoo. Offering a range of nourishing and revitalising benefits, from stronger hair to hydration and noticeable shine, it’s an ideal shampoo for ageing hair.

No matter if your locks are poker straight or you’re embracing natural curls, this sulphate and paraben-free product is suitable for all hair types and will leave you with soft, salon-worthy tresses. As another cruelty-free choice, it’s living proof that eco-friendly can also be mature hair friendly.

Once you’ve chosen the right shampoo for your more mature mane, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the ideal bathroom set-up to really let it work its magic. Choose from our luxurious Walk-in Baths, stylish Walk-in Showers and contemporary Wet Rooms, so you can create more manageable locks in a much more manageable space.