Paul Mitchell Volume Extra Body Shampoo

Fine hair doesn't lack volume because it's defective — it lacks volume because its smaller diameter shaft has less structural mass to hold a lift. The fix isn't a miracle ingredient; it's a formula specifically calibrated to deposit body-building polymers on fine hair without the weight that collapses it. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Shampoo has been doing exactly that since the brand launched, and the formula remains one of the most straightforward and effective volumizing shampoos in professional hair care.

Extra-Body Shampoo uses a targeted body-building system designed specifically for fine or limp hair that needs volume at the cleanse step — before any styling product is applied.

Panthenol (provitamin B5) is the primary active. On fine hair, Panthenol's mechanism is particularly effective: it penetrates the hair shaft and swells the cortex slightly, increasing the physical diameter of each strand and improving elasticity. The cumulative effect over repeated use is hair that holds a style longer, resists flattening through the day, and feels thicker between washes. Panthenol also helps repair minor damage — micro-fractures from heat styling, brushing, and everyday mechanical stress — which matters for fine hair where breakage directly reduces density at the scalp.

Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil provides the silky-smooth finishing effect that stops volumizing shampoos from leaving hair feeling rough or stripped. Wheat Germ Oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids that coat the cuticle with a fine, non-greasy lipid layer — enough conditioning to leave hair manageable and shiny without depositing the weight that deflates fine hair.

Polyquaternium-44 is a flexible film-forming conditioning polymer that provides additional body-building and anti-static properties — helping fine hair separate and hold lift rather than clinging flat to the scalp.

The surfactant system — Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine — provides thorough cleansing with a rich lather. Fine hair benefits from a thorough cleanse at the scalp, as sebum and product buildup weigh strands down at the root and are a primary cause of flatness by mid-afternoon.

When used with Extra-Body Conditioner, clinical testing by an independent third-party laboratory demonstrated 87% more volume compared to untreated hair.

Metro Vancouver note: Coastal humidity adds atmospheric moisture weight to fine hair through the day, accelerating the flatness that fine hair is already prone to. A body-building shampoo that deposits Panthenol at the cleanse step creates a more humidity-resistant lift foundation than relying on styling products alone.

Who It's For Fine, limp, or low-density hair of any length. Particularly effective for hair that loses volume quickly after washing, falls flat in humidity, or feels weighed down by conditioning products. Colour-safe, vegan, and paraben-free. Works as a daily shampoo — the formula is gentle enough for frequent use without stripping.

Also available in the 1 litre size — save 47% per ml →

Key Ingredients

• Panthenol (Provitamin B5) — Penetrates and swells the hair cortex to increase strand diameter; boosts body, repairs damage, and improves elasticity over repeated use
• Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil — Rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids; conditions and smooths the cuticle without weight or residue
• Polyquaternium-44 — Flexible film-forming polymer; adds body, reduces static, and helps fine hair hold lift
• Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine — Mild co-surfactant that moderates the cleansing action and improves foam quality and manageability

HOW TO USE: Massage into wet hair. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat as needed. Follow with Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Conditioner for best results. When used together, clinically proven to deliver 87% more volume vs. untreated hair.