I've Spent Years Hunting for the Best Conditioners for Fine Hair—Here They Are

As someone with relatively thin, very fine hair, I have spent a huge amount of time looking for the perfect conditioner. You see, the problem with conditioner when you have fine hair is that using it can feel counterproductive. When it comes to shopping for hair products, I’m after formulas that can deliver volume, shine and hydration without (and this is very crucial) a hint of weight. Because thin and fine hair doesn’t tend to do well under weighted pressure.

You see, most hair does require conditioner after washing. Shampoo can strip the hair (and scalp) of its natural moisture, leaving things matted, knotty, dry and prone to breakage. Conditioner is a crucial step in any haircare regimen thanks to its moisture-restoring, shine-boosting, strand-strengthening properties. And while it is perhaps the most enjoyable step of many people’s hair routines, for those with fine or thin hair, the conditioning stage can be make-or-break.

best-conditioners-for-fine-hair-298073-1645454577213-image

(Image credit: @CAMILLECHARRIERE)

Because whatever the formula, conditioner adds weight. It is virtually impossible to condition hair without leaving some form of hydrating coating behind. And when you’re trying your hardest to inject your fine strands with a bit of bouncy, lightweight volume, the conditioning process can prove frustrating. I have, after all, lost count of the number of times I have stepped out of the shower with flat-as-a-pancake, greasy roots as a result of using too rich of a conditioner.

Whether coiled, curly, straight, wavy, bleached, dyed, long or short, fine hair comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, each requiring different levels of hydration. Luckily, my job has meant that my ongoing quest to find the perfect conditioners for fine hair hasn’t had to prove costly. Has it been long and laborious? Absolutely. But having masses of conditioners delivered to my front door every month has proved advantageous for both my fellow fine-haired friends and me. Over the past few years, I have tried hundreds of conditioners on my own hair (which is thin, straight and long) and have passed on countless others to friends with different fine-hair types for research purposes.

As a result, I have managed to compile quite the list of conditioners that strike the perfect balance for fine hair, leaving strands bouncy, glossy, voluminous and, most crucially, feeling weightless. So without further ado, keep scrolling for the very best conditioners for fine hair.

1. Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner

2. Ouai Fine Hair Conditioner

3. Garnier Ultimate Blends No-Rinse Softening Conditioner

4. Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner

5. Kristin Ess The One Signature Conditioner

6. Kérastase Nutritive Lait Vital

7. Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Hair Thickening + Volumizing Conditioner

8. Virtue Recovery Conditioner

9. L'Oréal Paris Hydra Hyaluronic Acid Conditioner

10. Philip Kingsley Body Building Conditioner

11. Kérastase Curl Manifesto Fondant Hydratation Essentielle Conditioner

12. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Conditioner

13. Aveda Sap Moss Weightless Hydration Conditioner

Next up, 6 Hair Colours That Don’t Do Thin Hair Any Favours—and 6 That Absolutely Do.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.