Nioxin shampoo comes from Eva Graham, who founded the brand in 1987 on the idea that hair can only thrive on a healthy scalp. Here is System 1 with the conditioners and density serums I would pair with it.
Nioxin Shampoo and Eva Graham's Idea That Hair Starts at the Scalp
Eva Graham founded Nioxin Research Laboratories in 1987 after her own experience with hair loss, starting it with very little money and one conviction, that hair can only thrive on a healthy scalp. She described the scalp as an extension of the face that needs the right ingredients to breathe and function, and her first products went straight into salons. By the time Procter & Gamble bought it in 2008, Nioxin was still a family-run company in Lithia Springs, Georgia, sold through salons in more than 40 countries, and it is now part of Wella. Nioxin shampoo is organized into numbered systems, and System 1 is the first of them, so check the brand's chart to match your own hair. Next to it, Kérastase's Genesis shampoo removes scalp buildup and strengthens hair, from the Paris salon brand that launched in 1964. Vegamour's Gro+ shampoo is a gentle cleanser with a peptide and caffeine, and Bumble and bumble's thickening shampoo gives instant fullness. Shampoos help hair look fuller but cannot regrow it, so see a dermatologist if you notice sudden or patchy shedding.
Light conditioners
The second row keeps weight off the roots. Kérastase's Genesis conditioner strengthens and adds shine. Vegamour's Gro+ conditioner supports fragile hair, from the brand Daniel Hodgdon started with a lash serum in 2016. Dr. Groot, launched in 2017 by South Korea's LG Household & Health Care, takes its name from grow root and says its team of 138 scientists holds 528 registered patents; its biotin conditioner is scalp-safe. Crown Affair's volumizing conditioner is a thickening formula that adds bounce and body. Keep conditioner on the lengths if you have fine hair. Rinse with cool water to finish, which keeps the cuticle smooth.
Density serums, and the skip
Living Proof came out of an MIT lab in 2005, and its density serum is made for thinning and graying hair. Briogeo, from Nancy Twine, who left finance to start it, makes a serum for the scalp. The Ordinary, launched in 2016 by Brandon Truaxe's company Deciem with products named after their ingredients, makes a multi-peptide serum that helps hair look thicker. IGK's density treatment comes from four stylists who opened salons before they made products. What I would skip is trying all four. Choose one serum, use it daily for three months and take photos, since change is slow.
Four density serums
Sticking with it
Scalp routines only work with patience. Wash every day or two if your scalp is oily. Massage the shampoo in for a full minute before rinsing. And if nothing has changed after a few months, a dermatologist can check for causes a shampoo cannot fix. Bring your photos to the appointment, since they help show the pattern over time. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together The Best Shampoo for Dry Frizzy Hair Starts at the Cuticle and Maui Shampoo.
