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Not to rain on anyone’s hair care parade, but even the best conditioners for thinning hair won’t spur magical regrowth where there wasn’t any before. “Conditioners cannot grow hair,” Christine Shaver, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Bernstein Medical Center in New York City, tells SELF. Nor can they directly improve your hair’s density, she adds.
Dr. Shaver notes that many conditioners are too heavy for thin, thinning, and fine hair: They can leave your hair looking limp or flat. However, ones made with lightweight ingredients that strengthen and moisturize (without turning your hair into an oil slick) can improve its volume and fullness.
To save you a little trial and error, we tested some of the most popular products on the market and pored over past SELF Healthy Beauty Award winners. The result? A selection of truly great options to try if you think your hair could use a boost. Read on to find your new go-to conditioner and learn more about thinning hair from experts.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Living Proof Full Conditioner, $34
- Best Budget Pick: Being BIG HAIR Volumizing Conditioner, $7
- Best Splurge: Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Conditioner, $55
- Best Volumizing Pick: Method Pure Peace Volumizing Conditioner, $11
- Best for Natural Hair: Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Conditioner, $11
- Best for Dry, Flaky Scalps: Nécessaire The Conditioner, $30
- Best for Curly Hair: Herbal Essences Apricot Oil Curl Define Conditioner, $12
- Best Deep Conditioner: K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask, $75
Shop the best conditioners for thinning hair
Achieve lift-off with these lightweight—but effective—conditioners.
Best Overall: Living Proof Full Conditioner
Our tester, who has naturally thin hair, saw an immediate change after using Living Proof’s Full Conditioner. “My hair had noticeably more texture,” she says. “It definitely made my hair feel fuller and gave it some extra heft.”
Living Proof uses a proprietary ingredient that has similar properties to silicone, a common ingredient in hair care products that some people like to avoid because it can contribute to buildup. This version is formulated to help your hair feel sleek and shiny without adding weight or excess product.
One caveat is that this really is a conditioner for flat, thin hair—not dehydrated strands. “It didn't make my hair supersoft and silky, so if you want that this isn’t the product for you,” our tester says. “But if you’re going for max fullness, it really does boost your hair.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extremely volumizing | Not especially softening |
| Adds texture | |
| Long-lasting (a little goes a long way) | |
| High-end scent |
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin (a reliable moisturizer for all hair types)
Best Budget Pick: Being Big Hair Volumizing Conditioner
You can go big on a budget with Being’s Volumizing Conditioner, which is made to amp up both fine and straight hair (at a drugstore price). Its key ingredients are macadamia oil, which nourishes hair without weighing it down, and avocado oil, which strengthens and hydrates. Together, they help your hair look and feel plumper.
Thanks to its conditioning, plant-based oils, the Big Hair Volumizing Conditioner is also a good pick for people who deal with breakage, damage, and split ends.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Under $10 | Not the best choice for wavy, curly, or coily hair |
| Provides tons of lightweight moisture | |
| Easy-to-use squeeze bottle |
Other notable ingredients
Shea butter (another plant-derived moisturizer that also has soothing properties)
Best Splurge: Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Conditioner
If you hate how thick conditioners feel in your hair, give Oribe’s Serene Scalp Densifying Conditioner a try. Our tester, who has fine and frizzy hair, describes its consistency as “milky” and “just thick enough to detangle and condition without adding any extra gunk to your hair or scalp.” She also noted that it left her hair feeling silky-soft.
This conditioner contains a blend of plant extracts to hydrate hair, plus strengthening agents like pea sprout extract, which may improve your hair’s fullness.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight consistency | Over $50 |
| Boosts shine | |
| Controls frizz |
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, vitamin E (another common moisturizer)
Best Volumizing Pick: Method Pure Peace Volumizing Conditioner
This 2024 Healthy Beauty Award–winner won’t just pump up the volume, it’ll add texture to your hair too. That’s because it contains hydrolyzed quinoa protein, an especially useful ingredient if you want bouncier, better-defined curls. And you don’t have to sacrifice hydration for said volume: Our awards tester said their hair dried nice and soft, with plenty of body.
“I was especially pleased with how strong my hair was after using this product,” our tester said. “Other conditioners can sometimes make my hair feel thin and wispy; this did the opposite—it was restorative and made me feel like I had a nice, lush mane.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Softening | Some Amazon reviewers found it slightly drying |
| Smells great | |
| Good for curly hair | |
| Under $15 |
Other notable ingredients
Argan oil and coconut oil (two highly nourishing, plant-derived hydrators)
Best for Natural Hair: Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Conditioner
Rosemary oil isn’t a surefire hair loss treatment (despite the hype), but it does have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which can help keep your hair and scalp healthy. Oh, and it smells fantastic too, as our tester noted when they tried Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Strengthening Conditioner for the 2023 Healthy Beauty Awards.
“The rosemary mint smell is heavenly, and it really feels like a breath of fresh air on your scalp,” our tester said. “The product is light in texture but really permeates my hair, leaving it soft and silky. It’s a great deep conditioner if you leave it on for a prolonged amount of time, and it makes it super easy to detangle coily hair.”
Just steer clear if you have a super-sensitive scalp—rosemary oil can be irritating for some.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tackles tangles | Rosemary oil can be irritating for some |
| Refreshing scent | |
| Under $15 |
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, olive oil, avocado oil
Best for Dry, Flaky Scalps: Nécessaire The Conditioner
Here’s another Healthy Beauty Award–winner from 2023: The Conditioner from Nécessaire has a simple yet effective formula that our tester loved. “It’s a 10/10 for me. It’s not only made with good-for-you ingredients, but it also doesn’t weigh down my fine strands or leave my roots greasy,” she said. “It left my hair feeling soft, smooth, and silky after each wash.”
Those good-for-you elements she mentioned include hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and panthenol, all of which can help address hair elasticity and scalp dryness.
For the record, if you deal with dandruff (and not just a dry scalp), look for hair care products containing antifungal ingredients like zinc pyrithione or selenium sulfide instead—they’re better suited to address the root (heh) of your problem.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fragrance-free | Not formulated to combat dandruff |
| Hydrates hair from root to tip | Over $25 |
| Relieves itchiness |
Other notable ingredients
Avocado oil
Best for Curly Hair: Herbal Essences Apricot Oil Curl Define Conditioner
If it’s been a minute since you’ve used Herbal Essences’s products, it’s time for a little nostalgia trip. The brand’s Apricot Oil Curl Define Conditioner won a Healthy Beauty Award last year for its impressively lightweight, plant-driven formula. Camellia oleifera seed oil, aloe vera, and, as you may have guessed from the product’s name, apricot oil work together to soften your hair and bring out its natural curl.
“I usually use a cowash, but this is a good alternative for when I shampoo my hair,” our tester said. “My hair has felt softer and well moisturized every time I’ve used it.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Softens hair | Some Target reviewers found it wasn’t hydrating enough |
| Sulfate-free formula is great for fine and thin hair | |
| Under $15 |
Other notable ingredients
Glutamic acid (a humectant that draws water to your skin)
Best Deep Conditioner: K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask
Using a deep conditioner might feel like self-sabotage to someone with thin hair—wouldn’t such a rich, creamy product just turn your hair into a lifeless mess? However, if your hair’s loss of density is due to breakage, it can be worth your while to incorporate an extra-nourishing conditioner into your weekly or monthly routine.
Elizabeth Houshmand, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas, previously recommended K18’s Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask to SELF, noting its reparative formula. The star ingredient is wheat protein, which can help address structural damage to your hair’s shafts.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Formulated for hair repair | Most expensive pick on our list |
| Only needs to sit for four minutes to take effect | |
| Great for bleached and color-treated hair |
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E, a peptide complex that may further help strengthen hair
FAQs
What are the most common causes of thinning hair?
If you have “thinning hair,” that means your hair is losing its density. This is often the result of androgenetic alopecia or genetic male/female pattern baldness, Dr. Shaver says. With this condition, your hair growth cycle changes to the point where your hair takes longer to grow back after shedding. Additionally, your individual hair strands shrink and become thinner.
You may also have hair loss due to excess shedding, which can happen because of stress, vitamin deficiencies, or hormonal fluctuations (often during postpartum changes or menopause), Amy Spizuoco, DO, FAOCD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist based in New York City, tells SELF.
Breakage can give the impression of hair loss—it often happens when your hair is dry and damaged. You may notice increased damage if you have certain autoimmune diseases; frequently heat-style, dye, or chemically treat your hair; or wear your hair in tight styles (this is specifically known as traction alopecia).
What can you do to prevent thinning hair?
If your hair loss is genetic or related to aging, there isn’t much you can do to prevent it. But if lifestyle factors are to blame (a dermatologist can help determine the cause of your hair loss), there are a few changes you can make to reduce their impact on your hair. For example, you can address nutritional deficiencies in your diet, wear your hair in looser styles, and think about strategies to manage the stresses of your daily life (we know this one’s easier said than done). And, of course, a good hair care routine—especially a good conditioner—can help prevent future breakage.
Finally, it bears repeating: Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about changes in your hair. “You should seek help from a dermatologist about thinning hair if the change is sudden, progressive, or accompanied by symptoms such as itching, tingling or burning,” Dr. Shaver says.
What should you look for in a conditioner if you have fine, thin, or thinning hair?
As we mentioned previously, lightweight moisture is the name of the game. Look for products containing nourishing ingredients that don’t weigh your hair down—like hyaluronic acid, which can add lots of moisture and even make your hair look “plumper,” Dr. Spizuoco says. For bonus points, check out products that have ingredients like keratin, plant proteins, and amino acids (in addition to traditional hydrators). These will help keep your hair strong.
If you’re not opposed to using products with silicones, they can make a big difference in your hair’s appearance. By coating the shaft, they prevent moisture loss and make your hair look fuller. Specifically, keep an eye out for dimethicone, cetearyl methicone, and cetyl dimethicone to get these effects.
Related:
- The Best Products for Shinier, Stronger Gray Hair
- 6 Scalp-Friendly Shampoo Bars That’ll Leave Your Hair Feeling Squeaky Clean
- The Best Mascaras for Sensitive Eyes That Won’t Leave You Teary
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