I Used the Onion Shampoo TikTok Loves & It Gave My Fine Hair Instant Volume

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

I have a lot of hair, but it’s super fine. So, while I can create the illusion of thick, luscious locks, I can’t get there without the best volumizing hair products. As a beauty editor who has covered haircare for nearly a decade, I’ve learned that shampoo and conditioner formulas matter just as much as styling products like dry shampoo and finishing sprays for volume. Starting with a good base means you can get the lift you desire with minimal effort. 

This rang true for the Tara Onion+ Peptides Volumizing Shampoo and Tara Onion+ Peptides Thickening Conditioner, two wash day formulas that are made with onion extract (yes, I am serious) and gave me instant volume. Onion extract is a nourishing ingredient that can encourage hair growth through supporting collagen production and microcirculation on the scalp. It’s also rich in sulfur, antioxidants, and flavonoids for overall hair health. When combined with other beneficial ingredients such as lavender, rosemary, and rosebay extract in the shampoo and peptides, olive oil, and grapeseed oil in the conditioner, you’ve got a concoction that can improve fullness, promote growth, add shine, calm scalp inflammation, ward off dandruff, and protect against environmental damage before stepping out of the shower.

Related Stories

Concentrated Haircare Is How You Actually Get Glossy Hair—Here Are the Best Products for Shiny Strands

This Nostalgic Millennial Boot Is a Cross-Generation Must-Have

Tara Onion+ Peptides Volumizing Shampoo

$37 Buy Now

Upon squeezing the shampoo formula into my palms, I instantly noticed the scent. The Tara volumizing shampoo has a lightweight yet invigorating floral aroma that feels fresh without that artificial smell (no onion scent here!) and doesn’t irritate my sensitive nose. I also loved the shampoo’s consistency, which lathered well and was easy to scrub into my scalp. Usually, I need to rinse and repeat to get all of the grease and grime out of my roots (I notoriously let my hair go unwashed for days), but I only needed one wash to lift it all away and reveal clean strands. 

Before applying the conditioner, I noticed that my strands felt softer and smoother with the shampoo alone, which is not something that can be said for most of my favorite formulas (I need all the conditioner moisture I can get for these long locks).

Tara Onion+ Peptides Thickening Conditioner

$37 Buy Now

As someone with long hair, thick and hard-to-spread conditioning formulas are some of my biggest hair wash woes. Sure, I appreciate the ultra-nourishing formula, but it needs to easily apply to all of my strands. The Tara Onion+ Peptides Thickening Conditioner is the ideal consistency. It’s thick and feels substantial when squeezed out of the bottle, but easily spreads and soaks into strands without needing a wide-tooth shower comb. It also boasts a similar scent to the shampoo, for a fresh floral aroma that doesn’t smell artificial or irritate my sensitive nose. 

When applying the conditioner to my locks, I felt an instant change in texture. My hair—which is usually on the dry side of the spectrum—started to soften and feel more manageable, allowing me to run my fingers through it without any tangles. After taking my Dyson Airwrap to my hair, that softness lingered (and was also met with some impressive shine—no styling products required). And, of course, that instant volume made it so much easier to achieve a salon-worthy blowout at home.