Men with fine or thinner hair who want more volume and a fuller look, especially before a lightweight styling product. It is a retail shampoo for everyday home use. American Crew pairs it with Boost Powder as a two-step routine, but it works ahead of any light styler. Men with thick, coarse hair who already have plenty of volume will get less out of it.

Fine hair tends to look flatter the moment it is washed with a heavy, conditioning shampoo. Boost Pre-Styling Shampoo goes the other way: it cleans with light conditioning and no silicones, and American Crew built it to give instant lift and body so hair appears fuller before any product goes in. That head start means a small amount of a light styler, such as the brand's Boost Powder, is enough to finish the style. It is also formulated to keep the scalp balanced, which matters when you wash often.

• Wet hair thoroughly
• Massage a small amount into hair and scalp and lather
• Rinse well
• With damp or dry hair, finish with a styling product; American Crew pairs it with Boost Powder for extra body and volume

Pros

• Gives instant lift and a visibly fuller look to fine or thin hair
• Light conditioning, so hair is not weighed down after washing
• Vegan and silicone-free, so there is no silicone build-up to flatten the roots
• Formulated to keep the scalp's microbiome balanced

Cons

• Sulfate-based cleanser (ammonium lauryl sulfate), not for people avoiding sulfates
• Fragranced with citrus oils, which can bother a sensitive scalp
• Thick or very dry hair may want a richer conditioner after it