Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo Review

One of the worst combination when it comes to hair is having oily hair that always looks flat and lifeless, with concerning falling tendencies and no volume at all.

As a mid-thirties woman, I spent many years trying to find a shampoo to thicken my hair, eliminate excess oil, and give my hair volume, texture, and looks.

No matter what I tried, and I tried plenty, my hair was always returning to its “natural” state: stuck to my scalp as if it was bacon strips, flat, dull, greasy, and thin as always.

All these once in two-three days.

My hair stylist finally took notice of my pain and recommended me the Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo.

She said I needed a chemical-free shampoo, enriched with hair nutrients and a formula to help me get rid of the excess grease while gaining volume and hair fullness.

I normally use some homemade natural hair care masks occasionally and I dye my hair so I thought a protecting and nourishing shampoo to solve the thin, oily, falling problem might be what I always wanted.

After careful consideration and research, I ended up buying the Boldify shampoo.

After one month of use, I decided to tell other people about my experience with this shampoo so they can also make an educated choice should they need to manage the same hair issues like me.

View the full Boldify Range on Amazon.com >

Things to Consider before Buying the Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo

People with oily skin and hair can easily relate to my problem. No matter what you do, no matter how many times you wash your hair during the week, it seems that nothing works.

I began dying my hair for somewhat the same reason: remove excess oil and make my hair look at least decent.

To top all that, my hair is also thin and it falls to a concerning extent.

This is why I wanted a product to fit the bill on all aspects: prevent hair loss, remove excess oil, protect and nourish the scalp and hair, safeguard the color, and make my hair gain volume and thickness – hopefully, without having to wash my hair daily.

My stylist recommended me the Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo because it contains to sulfate, no parabens, and no alcohol. Moreover, it comes with biotin, botanical rosemary, Aloe Vera, and Pro-Vitamin B5 – great ingredients to boost the looks and health of my hair.

I introduced the shampoo in my weekly regimen: three hair washes a week and the use of a very good conditioner I was not ready to remove from my normal hair care routine.

I waited for a month to make sure the results stack and hold. Now, I am prepared to share some of my recommendations on what you need to think about before using this shampoo.

Possible side effects:
The shampoo should not cause any side effect. On the contrary, it is free of other chemicals you usually find in cosmetic and personal care products and it is also gluten free if you are sensitive to everything gluten.

However, this is not a fully organic product and it does contain perfume and artificial components that you might be allergic to.

My recommendation is for you to carefully read the label and make sure you buy it in full knowledge of its composition.

I found the shampoo to sting my eyes – maybe not more than other shampoos – but if you expect no-cry washes, you may want to look for alternatives.

Efficiency:
I did not expect much of this shampoo, to be honest. Sure, there are dozens of satisfied customers out there singing its praises, but I played the pessimist card: it is better to be pleasantly surprised than painfully disappointed.

After my trial month, I was pleasantly surprised and that says something.

People with thin, oily, and falling hair know what I am talking about: it is hard to find a shampoo to cover all your needs in the same time. This one did.

However, what you have to know is that the results will not produce miracles overnight.

You need to give it time and have some patience.

I saw some results after the first two weeks, but I waited for a full month to make sure I was on the right track with this shampoo.

Scent:
The shampoo contains artificial fragrance and a combination of herbal scents. If you want to wash your hair and teleport to a heavenly flower garden, I am sorry to say it is not the case.

To my best guess, this shampoo somehow smells of green apple, but I am not 100% certain.

Do not get me wrong, the smell is decent, but this is all there is. I cannot swear that you will not like the scent. After all, smell is something very personal for each one of us.

Type of hair and skin:
While it is natural to expect some eye sting from any shampoo, my husband, who also used it, said it made his scalp sting a little.

He has dry skin and he is sensitive to almost all types of personal care products, including his shaving gel.

Nonetheless, he said the shampoo really did its job with his dry, frizzy hair so he went on using it, not minding the sting. I would recommend you do a skin test before using this shampoo.

My guess it is not that mild with sensitive skin or people having some dermatological problems (like my husband does).

Instructions:
Follow the instructions carefully before using this shampoo. It does not come with its own conditioner, but I used my regular conditioner for oily hair and they worked together just fine.

Who Should Buy This Shampoo

Sulfate free shampoos are a good alternative to hair care if you want to limit the amount of chemicals affecting your body. This shampoo promises no sulfates, no parabens, and no alcohol, but it does come with its fair share of artificial ingredients.

I would recommend this shampoo to people having oily hair that has little to no body, texture, and volume.

The shampoo comes with plenty of interesting ingredients that focus on hair fall and balding.

Rosemary oils and extracts reduce inflammation, exert antibacterial effects, reduce androgen activity, prevent fibrosis, and increase blood flow, thus helping with hair loss while simultaneously encouraging hair regrowth.

I am not in a dire situation on hair loss and neither is my husband. We are concerned about it, of course, as sometimes our combined hairs seem to take over the entire house, but we are not getting bald just yet.

I noticed that my hair got a bit stronger – in just one month, it reduced its falling and breaking rates, so I guess that prolonged use may help people regain their hair back.

Who Should Not Buy This Shampoo

If you are allergic or sensitive to any of this shampoo’s ingredients, you should look for something else. You should also look for something else if you want a natural/organic product.

While my stylist recommended it, she also told me about fully organic sulfate free shampoos to try in case this one did not work. I am satisfied with this one, but if you want a full organic approach, look for something else.

If you have a sensitive nose, or you expect your shampoo to smell like bottled happiness you’d like to also eat, you may also look for something else.

Make sure you make a skin test before – if you have dermatological problems, extremely dry and sensitive skin, and so on, you should look for a full organic product, or at least one with a milder formula.

Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo

This Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo contains both natural and artificial ingredients. My stylist recommended me this shampoo because its biotin and B5 ingredients – which she considered to be good choices for my hair problems.

I picked the shampoo, however, because its Aloe Vera composition. I use Aloe for skin care and I know it is good for hair care as well.

Aloe helps remove the dead skin cells that clog the pores on the scalp. By opening the hair follicles, nutrients can easily reach the hair resulting in stronger follicles.

Stronger follicles mean less breakage and less split ends. In addition, aloe is excellent for oily skin and hair as it nourishes and moisturizes without producing even more grease.

Another great ingredient that convinced me to buy the shampoo was the rosemary extract. While I hoped the shampoo would smell of rosemary, it did not.

However, the rosemary in the shampoo alleviated some of my scalp itchiness, leaving behind a refreshing feel, squeaky-clean hair and scalp, smoothness, shine, volume, and texture. I also enjoyed that my hair was easier to detangle and look normal for once.

The shampoo contains other natural ingredients, mixed with artificial ones.

I was pleased with the results and so was my husband, so here are a few things you should know in short:

Pros

Effective for thin oily hair
Good for hair volume and fullness
Unisex

Cons

Scent may not be on your liking
You may experience side effects
Not 100% organic

Features and Benefits

A woman can reach that point in life when her oily hair becomes more than enough. No matter how you style it, care for it, dye it, and feed it with natural hair masks, at some point nothing works anymore.

I used the Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo expecting it to lower my oily hair problem and give my hair the thickness, volume, and body it needed.

I also wanted to limit my hair falling and breaking – and it did. I did not experience hair regrowth, so I cannot vouch for this effect.

Overall, these are the shampoo’s features and benefits I found to be the most important.

The shampoo is rich in ingredients with hair care and medicinal properties. This is good, because the product allows cleaner scalp, anti-bacterial protection, free radicals protection, and UV and pollution protection. Biotin increases hair growth and makes hair thick and strong, which is something to enjoy.
The shampoo controls sebum and excess oil. This was one of my main goals, to limit my hair and scalp greasiness, and I am satisfied with the results so far.
The shampoo offers multiple hair benefits, besides solving my flat bacon hair problem. It also helped with my husband’s dry hair – more moisture and better looks – and it protected my hair color in the same time.
The shampoo’s formula is beneficial for falling hair. As I said, I will not swear for hair regrowth just yet, but the mix of Aloe Vera, natural tea oil, marigold flower extract, German chamomile, rosemary, and cucumber in this shampoo limited my hair falling. My husband was also pleased with the results, as he also sheds plenty of his dry thin hair.
The shampoo is unisex. With the risk of repeating myself, I found that this shampoo works well for both men and women, so I will emphasize on this matter.

The shampoo is cruelty free. Using any product tested on animals is out of the question in my family, so I appreciated the cruelty free label on this shampoo. If you are concerned with animal testing, I suggest you always ask the manufacturer and make sure they offer you a response to your inquiry.
The shampoo is made in the USA. As an ardent supporter of local economies and entrepreneurial ventures, the “USA made” label was a factor that convinced me to buy this shampoo. Not many people care – and of course we buy plenty of imported stuff – but if I can contribute to a local business I will.

The shampoo works great with your conditioner of choice. The company also sells a conditioner with this shampoo but I did not try it yet. My only hope for decent hair lied in the conditioner I used for some years now, and my loyalty to it is yet to be broken. The two products did not clash with each other. In addition, the shampoo’s results were great even after I used all sorts of natural hair masks.
It is affordable. Well, it is pricier than other similar shampoos, but I found it offered great value for money. If you are going to use it as a family product, you may need to buy it more often and thus feel the expenses, but if you have terrible hair as I do, some things are priceless.

FAQs

1. What Is Boldify Thicken + Volume Shampoo?

Boldify’s shampoo is designed primarily for people who want their hair to appear fuller and more voluminous.

That’s an important distinction.

A thickening shampoo can improve the appearance and feel of fine hair, but washing your hair with a volumizing shampoo isn’t the same thing as permanently increasing the number of hairs growing from your scalp.

That means I’d approach Boldify as a cosmetic volumizing product, rather than a hair-loss treatment.

If your main complaint is limp hair that doesn’t seem to have much body, though, that’s where a product like this can potentially make a difference.

2. Is Boldify Shampoo Really Sulfate-Free?

Yes.

Boldify describes its Thicken + Volume Shampoo as sulfate-free. Its current ingredient list uses cleansing agents including Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate rather than traditional sulfate cleansers such as sodium lauryl sulfate.

It’s worth pointing out that sulfate-free doesn’t automatically mean ultra-gentle for everyone. Individual surfactants can still feel different depending on your scalp and hair type.

But if you’re deliberately avoiding traditional sulfates, Boldify fits that requirement.

3. What’s in the Formula?

The ingredient list is actually quite interesting.

Among the ingredients are:

Hydrolyzed rice protein
Biotin
Arginine
Panthenol
Glycerin
Copper tripeptide-1
Amaranthus caudatus seed extract
Amino acids including alanine, glycine, serine and valine
Sodium PCA
Sodium lactate

The formula also contains fragrance.

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Rice protein is particularly interesting in a thickening shampoo because proteins can help hair feel more substantial and conditioned.

It doesn’t mean the individual hairs permanently become thicker, but it can contribute to that fuller, more substantial feeling that you’re hoping to get from a thickening shampoo.

Biotin

Biotin is a familiar ingredient in products marketed toward fuller-looking hair.

However, I’d be careful about interpreting its presence in a shampoo as proof that the product will stimulate hair growth.

A rinse-off shampoo isn’t equivalent to a clinically proven treatment for hair loss.

Panthenol

Panthenol is a conditioning ingredient that can help hair feel smoother and more manageable.

For fine hair, that’s useful because you want volume without making the strands feel dry and rough.

4. How Does It Smell?

Boldify describes its signature fragrance as fresh and bright, with notes including bergamot, sage, jasmine and honeydew.

So this isn’t an entirely fragrance-free formula.

If you love a fresh, clean-smelling shampoo, you may enjoy it.

If you’re extremely sensitive to fragrance or deliberately avoid perfume in hair products, this is something I’d take into consideration before purchasing.

5. Does It Actually Make Hair Look Thicker?

This is the big question.

According to Boldify’s current customer reviews, the response is very positive. The brand’s website currently displays a 4.9/5 rating from 32 reviews, with 29 five-star and three four-star reviews.

One verified customer reported noticeably more volume, while another said they could see a difference after using the shampoo consistently for around four to five weeks.

Those are encouraging experiences, but I’d still keep expectations realistic.

A shampoo can make hair:

Look fuller
Feel more substantial
Have more body
Appear less flat
Style with more volume

But it can’t magically transform fine hair into naturally thick hair overnight.

I Like the Idea of Giving It Time

One thing I noticed in the customer feedback is that at least some users don’t describe the results as instant.

One reviewer reported that the shampoo was initially a “slow burn” but that the difference became noticeable after several weeks of use.

That’s actually how I’d approach a product like this.

Rather than washing your hair once and immediately deciding whether it has transformed your life, use it consistently and pay attention to:

How does my hair feel after washing?
Does it style more easily?
Does it hold volume for longer?
Does it look fuller at the roots?

Those are more useful measures than expecting a dramatic overnight change.

6. What About Fine, Thin Hair?

This is where I think Boldify makes the most sense.

Fine hair can easily become weighed down by rich conditioners, oils and heavy styling products.

A shampoo designed specifically to create a fuller appearance can therefore be a useful part of a fine-hair routine.

The trick is to avoid loading the lengths with too many heavy products afterward.

I’d use a lightweight conditioner primarily on the ends and keep heavier creams and oils away from the roots.

7. Does It Help With Hair Loss?

This is where I would draw a line.

Boldify’s marketing is focused on fuller, thicker-looking hair, but a cosmetic thickening shampoo shouldn’t be confused with a medical treatment for hair loss.

If you’re experiencing noticeable shedding, bald patches, a widening part or a sudden change in hair density, I’d recommend discussing the cause with a doctor or dermatologist rather than relying on a shampoo.

A volumizing shampoo can make existing hair look better, but that’s different from treating the underlying reason for hair loss.

8. Is It Good for Color-Treated Hair?

Yes. Boldify says the formula is color-safe, and its product information also describes the formula as paraben-free.

That’s a useful feature if you’re regularly coloring, highlighting or lightening your hair.

Color-treated hair can sometimes be more fragile, so I’d still pair a volumizing shampoo with an appropriate conditioner and avoid excessive heat styling.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Sulfate-free
Designed specifically for fuller-looking hair
Contains hydrolyzed rice protein
Contains biotin
Contains panthenol
Contains amino acids
Color-safe
Vegan according to the brand
Cruelty-free according to the brand
Dermatologist tested
Stylist approved
Positive current customer feedback
Suitable for people wanting more body and volume

Cons
More expensive than many drugstore shampoos
Contains fragrance
Won’t permanently increase hair density
May not suit people who prefer completely fragrance-free products
Results are likely to vary depending on hair type
People with genuine hair loss shouldn’t rely on it as a treatment

How I’d Use Boldify Shampoo

I’d keep my routine fairly straightforward.

Start by thoroughly wetting your hair.

Apply a modest amount of shampoo to the scalp and massage gently with your fingertips. You don’t need to aggressively scrub the scalp — gentle cleansing is enough.

Rinse thoroughly.

If your hair is very oily or has lots of styling product in it, you may prefer a second wash.

Then use a lightweight conditioner, concentrating it mainly on the lengths and ends.

For maximum volume, I’d avoid putting heavy oils or thick leave-in products directly on the roots.

Conclusion

Oily hair is an issue people take very seriously. Oily skin and oily hair lead to adjacent issues, which make you look bad and experience side effects. This is why I enjoyed the shampoo: it removed excess oil, leaves the scalp clean and not itchy, and helps you get more volume and thickness.

I enjoyed the mix of botanical ingredients mixed with artificial ones, helping the product foam and lather well. One issue with the product is that it is not 100% organic. I mixed the shampoo with my regular conditioner and they worked together just fine. I also used some hair care masks and everything was just fine.

Another advantage of this shampoo was that it does not behave like regular sulfate free shampoos. It comes with a thick texture and density that allows good lather. However, if you want a fully organic sulfate free shampoo, you should look at the alternatives presented above. I learned that sulfate free shampoos did not lather well, so this is something to consider.

The fragrance of this shampoo may be a small issue. It does not smell well, but if you are not bothered, the shampoo should work just fine. While I expected better scent, I went over the issue and enjoyed the end-results.

Overall, I enjoyed the results this shampoo offered. My hair got stronger, more voluminous, shinier, silkier and healthier-looking. Most importantly, I enjoyed the oil reduction and the fullness of my hair. My husband also enjoyed the shampoo. I can say it worked well for our very different types of hair. There are other sulfate free shampoos on the market – some cheaper and some more expensive; some fully organic and some not; however, I can honestly say this shampoo is family friendly and a nice addition to your hair care collection.

If you have extremely sensitive and dry skin with dermatological problems, you may want to look for other alternatives. The shampoo stings the scalp a little – or so my husband says – so you may want to be safer than sorry.

Is this product the best sulfate free shampoo on the market? Maybe not. Surely, you can find other sulfate free shampoos to better meet your needs and expectations. However, if you simply have oily hair and want more volume, this is something to try. If you want more – such as color protection, UV protection, moisturizing, hair falling and breaking control, and less dandruff, then the Boldify Sulfate Free Hair Thickening Shampoo may be exactly what you needed.