6 Best Conditioners for Thick Hair to Boost Your Haircare Game!

Written by Alvira Dsouza, Hair Expert
Updated on Feb 12, 2024
Best Conditioners for Thick Hair to Boost Your Haircare Game!
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Bringing your A-game to the field of hair care is a must, and the best conditioners for thick hair are the ones to give that extra bounce to the locks. As essential as shampoos are, the same goes for your conditioners too. Thick and long hair deserves the care and attention to moisten and hydrate in the summers to avoid getting dry and frizzy.

Our contributor Kate Ross, a Hair Specialist, says, “Users can generally expect improved manageability, reduced frizz, and enhanced shine after using quality conditioners. These products are designed to smooth the hair cuticle, add moisture, and reduce static, which collectively contribute to these benefits.”

"My hair is pretty wavy. And it's coarse and color-treated so I'm big on conditioner and conditioning masks," says Gwyneth Paltrow, American actress. We have sorted through the best-of-the-best conditioners to help with everything from taming frizz to repairing heat damage. Read on our top list of 6 best hair conditioners for thick hair that you shouldn't miss out on!

6 Best Conditioners for Thick Hair

SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Conditioner ensures you have no more knots, snarls, or tangles but better-moisturized hair. The versatile formulation gently washes away pollutants leaving you with innately frizz-free, healthy waves and curls. The texture and consistency feel like fresh cream and provide a fresh scent with every wash. Acquired with fair trade practices, and improved with the goodness of shea butter blended with coconut, neem oil, and silk protein, it leaves your strands and tresses as soft as silk!

Key ingredients: coconut oil, hibiscus extracts, aloe vera, neem oil, shea butter

Pros
  • Pleasant scent
  • Frizz-free hair
  • Mineral oil-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Hair feels smooth
Cons
  • Contains alcohol
  • Best for All Types of Hair

    Pureology Hydrate Conditioner

    Pureology Hydrate Conditioner
  • Pureology is one such brand that focuses on overall haircare and as the name suggests this conditioner is perfect for hydration. The combination of jojoba, green tea, sage, and a signature aromatherapy blend of mint and greens come together to result in this emollient formulation. Plus, the sunflower seeds and vitamin E work against the UV rays to save your strands from environmental damage. This conditioner is the waterboy for dry and color-treated hair requiring ultimate moisture. The conditioner is the best conditioner for thick wavy hair.

    Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, green tea, sage, mint

    Pros
    • Perfect for medium to thick hair
    • Vegan
    • Hydrates
    • Refreshing scent
    • Stable design
    Cons
    • On the pricier range
    • Contains alcohol
  • Most Affordable Conditioner

    OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner

    OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
  • This conditioner gives the sheen like a salon but stands perfect for everyday use. Its renewing formula helps strengthen, soften, and smoothen your locks into their silkiest potential. OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner is a sulfate-free formula that penetrates the hair shaft, reviving dry damaged hair. Those with thick, hard-to-handle hair locks will surely love this deeply nourishing formula that also deals with frizz like a pro. It's one of the best conditioners for thick coarse hair!

    Key ingredients: Argan oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter, aloe vera, keratin, and glycerin

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Compostable
    • Moisturizes
    • Paraben-free
    • Perfect for dry and damaged curls
    Cons
    • Not cruelty-free
  • Best for Hydration

    Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner

    Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner
  • Grab this conditioner if you value the natural definition of your curls. The formulation is blended with rich coconut oil, papaya butter, and wholesome plumeria extract. The creamy texture and gentle effect on the scalp are perfect for delicate skin and help elasticize even the most fragile hair strands. The Maui “Quench” formulation is the combo needed in the summer to moisten and hydrate the driest hair in the land and do wonders for low-porosity hair!

    Key ingredients: coconut water, aloe juice, papaya butter, plumeria extract

    Pros
    • Provides shine
    • Detangles hair
    • Pleasant scent
    • Hydrates
    • Paraben-free
    Cons
    • Hard to use or squeeze the product
  • Best Cruelty-free Conditioner

    Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Leave-in Conditioner

    Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Leave-in Conditioner
  • Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Leave-in Conditioner reaches in a fancy spray bottle to get a grip on frizz and flyaways. Without harsh ingredients or unidentified toxins, It's one of the best conditioner for thick frizzy hair. The product has the consistency of cream-to-mist that scatters evenly in every pump. Just spritz and comb it out for better-textured hair in minutes. If you are on the lookout for quick hair styling, this non-greasy spray-in conditioner is a great pick.

    Key Ingredients: Aloe juice and citric acid

    Pros
    • Eliminates frizz
    • Free of parabens, palm oil, and gluten
    • Travel-friendly
    • Dries quickly
    • Cruelty-free
    Cons
    • Poor packaging quality
  • Pantene Pro-V Conditioner

    Pantene Pro-V Conditioner
  • This conditioner is sure to turn your world upside down with its ultimate delivery of quality hair treatment. Featuring micro-moisturizers that wrap each strand evenly and strengthen them. Being a humectant that draws moisture in, panthenol is said by experts to help nourish and moisturize hair and skin rather than dry it out (1). It has a good amount of humectants that provide moisture and tame frizz, making it best for the summer when it’s hot and dehydrating. Another great conditioner for frizzy hair!

    Key ingredients: Panthenol, argania spinosa kernel oil, and citric acid

    Pros
    • Cost-effective
    • Softens hair
    • Perfect for dry hair
    • Pleasant scent
    • Stable bottle design
    Cons
    • Too many build-ups

    How to Choose the Best Conditioners for Thick Hair?

    Formula: Ingredients that contain protein and the goodness of jojoba oils and argan oil can strengthen and boost the quality of your hair you have. When you have thick or coarse hair, moisturizing is crucial since natural oils cannot transport moisture evenly throughout the hair strands. Fragile hair texture might develop as a result of a lack of natural moisture.

    Price: Don't judge a book by its cover. Some great conditioners come at a hefty cost while providing natural treatment at a pocket-friendly cost. Our selection above consists of a good mix of both to help you consider based on ingredients and formulation but not on the single basis of cost.

    Benefits: It's a savior for those struggling to balance the amount of moisture and care it needs. Conditioners are key to smoothing strands for a shiny, soft, healthy finish.

    Talking about witnessing the results of hair conditioners, our contributor Kate Ross, says, “Typically, you might start seeing improvements in your hair condition within a few weeks of regular use of conditioners. This can vary depending on your hair type and the condition it's in when you start. Regular use helps in hydrating and nourishing the hair, leading to better texture and health over time.”

    How to Use the Best Conditioners for Thick Hair?

    1. After having a head bath, properly rinse your hair with water.
    2. Take a dime-sized amount to cover your strands evenly.
    3. Be sure to properly apply it on the ends of your hair. Avoid applying conditioner to your scalp.
    4. Run your fingers through the ends of your hair to let the conditioner soak.
    5. Let it work for a minute or two.
    6. You're finished once you've thoroughly rinsed the conditioner away.

    Thick hair requires attention and patience for it to appear frizz-free when hit with extreme heat. They may end up becoming coarse or dry and may even break. That's where this handy list of best conditioners for thick hair comes in to provide the touch of care it truly needs. Our list of best conditioners for thick hair encapsulates the best bunch, and we hope you find the ideal pick. Happy shopping!

    Contributor: Kate Ross, Hair and Beauty Specialist - Irresistible Me

    FAQ's

    Should people with thick hair use conditioners?
    Yes, they must. The use of a moisturizing conditioner is essential for thick hair as it contains more oils that soften and smooth the hair.
    Should you condition thick hair every day?
    A recommended amount of thrice a week is good for non-oily thick hair, and if having oily thick hair try to wash twice a week.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Our in-house haircare expert Alvira claims that conditioners which are specifically developed for thick hair have the capacity to take care of dense and coarse strands. They nourish and penetrate deeply into the shaft, supplying hydration and moisture to prevent tangles and frizz. After trying all 6 of the recommended conditioners, she concluded that there was one that topped the list. SheaMoisture’s Curl & Shine Conditioner gently cleansed her hair, leaving it free from frizz. The nourishing ingredients and pleasant scent add to the goodness that it has to offer.

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Pinkvilla to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Thermal analysis of hair treated with oxidative hair dye under influence of conditioners agents- 

    https://akjournals.com/view/journals/10973/106/2/article-p399.xml

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Alvira Dsouza
    Hair Expert

    With a keen eye for detail and a passion for hairstyling, Alvira is a certified Hair Expert who brings the latest tre More