This is going to be long as it's actually one of my favorite topics. My feeling is that you have to alternate shampoos that have DHT reducing properties with those that make your hair look the best.
Thanks for the info on Aveda Pure Abundance. Is it best to order it from the Aveda site or Amazon? Amazon has it with free shipping if you order another $7 worth of products.
I just checked Aveda's site and noticed that they make a load of great stuff. Their dandruff product even contains salicylic acid. Has anyone used the Aveda Pure-formance for men? I'm not sure if it makes the hair feel thicker, but the reviews on the site all say it smells great.
Here's a list of the shampoos that I alternate:
Dr. Proctor's Nano Shampoo - the most expensive but leaves my hair feeling the thickest. One bottle usually lasts me a year as I first lather with a cheaper shampoo, rinse, and then put a small (dime size) amount of Nano on for several minutes in the shower. I only use this about 3x a week though, as per the instructions.
Nizoral/occasionally 2% Ketoconazole
Nutrogena T-Gel
Toppik and Couvre shampoo from Spencerforrest.com - Along with the Toppik conditioner, these shampoos really do make the hair feel thicker, as do the quite expensive Toppik fibers that's probably used throughout TV and the film industry.
Jason's Thin to Thick shampoo. Their Biotin shampoo is pretty good, too.
I've also read great things about the ingredients in their tea tree products.
Alterna Life Restore Shampoo for Thinning Hair - This shampoo has been discontinued, but I managed to buy a 32 oz bottle online several years ago.
It's a shame Alterna no longer produces this line because it contained Azelaic Acid, Niacin and Zinc Gluconate. The shampoo can still be found on websites, but their new product is called Alterna Life Solutions Volume Restore Shampoo.
It has some fof the same ingredients as the discontinued product, but I'm not sure if it's being advertised as "DHT reducing" as was the previous formulation.
Other products that I've used and liked are Tricomin and Nioxin. Those are said to have DHT reducing properties, as does Revivogen's shampoo, which also made my hair feel thicker.
As far as conditioners go, my feeling is that they usually smooth the hair and make it feel thinner. The one exception is Toppik. Their conditioner actually makes my hair feel thicker after use. I'm really surprised that Spencerforrest.com doesn't add any ingredients that are said to have DHT reducing properties to their products, as the whole company caters to men with thinning hair.
I hope that this post wasn't overly long for this forum. I have several questions myself. Has anyone tried Revita shampoo? Is the Organix line helpful for thinning hair? They make some very good smelling stuff. Would the coconut oil shampoo or their trea tree products be beneficial in any way?