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There are a lot of factors that play into having clean and healthy hair as a guy, and one of the greatest is conditioner.
This article will go over the best conditioners for men and what makes each of them unique. That way, you’ll have the information you need to purchase the right conditioner for you.
What’s the Best Conditioner for Men?
Because everyone’s hair is different, there is no one ‘best’ conditioner for men. You also have to consider how not all conditioners do the same thing. They all make hair softer and easier to manage.
But other aspects make all those different conditioner bottles you see in the store different from one another. The unique benefits of the conditioners on our list are what set them apart from other conditioners.
So, you’ll find only the best when it comes to conditioners that provide significant improvements to hair health and specific benefits.
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Conditioners for Men:
- Best Overall: Biotin Conditioner for Hair Growth
- Best for Dry/Damaged Hair: Sheamoisture Daily Hydrating Conditioner
- Best for Thin Hair: Sachajuan Thickening Conditioner
- Best for Curly Hair: Living Proof Curl Conditioner
- Best for Low Porosity Hair: Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: L’Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture Sulfate-Free Conditioner
- Best for Dandruff: Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Conditioner
As you can see, there are many things to consider when selecting a conditioner. And the ones on this list specialize in a specific area instead of being a jack of all trades.
Why You Need a Conditioner
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You could write a whole book on the reasons why hair needs conditioner. However, the most significant reasons are the easiest to understand.
As far as maintaining healthy hair goes, you need both shampoo and conditioner to get the job done as effectively as possible. You can think about the relationship between the two the same way you think about soap and lotion when it comes to maintaining healthy skin.
They are both good on their own but great together. Hair will turn dry if it does not get moisture, and a conditioner is one of the best ways to moisturize hair.
If you only use shampoo, your hair will come out clean, but its texture will turn dry quickly. While the texture of your hair may not matter to you, you should make it a point to start caring about it.
Having clean hair is not enough to maintain its health for as long as possible. It needs extra help from conditioners, oils, or other hair care products.
And conditioner is easy to use, so you won’t have to undergo a complex process to improve the health of your hair. With all that in mind, let’s get into the seven best conditioners for men!
Best Conditioners For Men: Top 7 Picks
In this list, you’ll find the pros, cons, and general user feedback about each entry. Also, each product is purchasable on Amazon.
1. Biotin Conditioner for Hair Growth & Thinning Hair
- Sulfate-free and alcohol-free
- Gets rid of dandruff and dry scalp issues
- Strengthens damaged and thinning hair
- Product texture is somewhat thick
- Pump doesn’t always dispense conditioner properly
The Biotin Conditioner is a great product that covers the must-haves of conditioners. It stimulates the strength of hair and improves hair growth with its moisturizing formula.
And it’s a great choice if you have thick hair, as it does an excellent job of targeting the scalp to offer you relief from any itchiness. Many reviewers rave about this conditioner making their hair look thicker and shinier.
So, if you care about visual differences, you will most definitely get that effect with this conditioner. The Biotin Conditioner also uses mainly natural agents in its formula, unlike some other conditioners that use artificial products.
2. Sheamoisture Daily Hydrating Conditioner
- Focuses on hydrating dry and damaged hair
- Uses shea butter, coconut milk, and coconut oil
- Made for all hair types
- Has a fragrance that is overbearing to some
- Contains heavy amounts of oil
The Sheamoisture Daily Hydrating Conditioner’s main selling point is its combination of shea butter, coconut oil, and coconut milk. It contains no silicone, sulfates, phthalates, petrolatum, parabens, or mineral oil and enhances the softness of any hair type.
Due to the coconut oil in the product, some customer reviews have made mention of their hair being more oily after using this conditioner.
Because of this, you might not like this conditioner if you have very oily hair. On the other hand, this conditioner is excellent if your hair lacks oil and needs extra moisturizing.
The Sheamoisture Daily Hydrating Conditioner is also gentle enough to use daily, so you won’t have to worry about it damaging your hair if you use it regularly.
3. Sachajuan Thickening Conditioner
- Provides volume to hair
- Has UV and heat protection
- Creates a strong base for healthier hair growth
- Only comes in 8.45oz. or 3.53oz
- No pump, making it challenging to squeeze
If you have thinner hair, Sachjuan Thickening Conditioner is an option that should sit at the top of your list of prospects. The Sachajuan Thickening Conditioner brings smooth volume to thinning hair with Ocean Silk and Thickening Technology.
The UV and heat protection also ensures that the hair gets another layer of protection to promote long-lasting growth.
The vast majority of product reviews are positive for this conditioner, as it succeeds in helping thin hair feel significantly fuller. And unlike some other conditioners, this one does not have an extremely thick texture.
While the product is small in size, the design allows for shipment. And if you travel by plane, you won’t have the issue of a conditioner bottle that is too big to take on flights.
4. Living Proof Curl Conditioner
- Improves overall strength of curls
- Makes curls appear more healthy after one use
- Makes it easy to detangle messy curls
- Won't do much for hair that isn't curly
- Thick, so works less well with thinner hair
If you have thick curly hair, then Living Proof Curl Conditioner is without question one of the best conditioners you can use. Its specialization in improving the health of curly hair is exceptional.
After using this product, you will notice improvements in your curls’ definition, smoothness, and overall formation. Living Proof Curl Conditioner is also great for detangling curls, so you will have fewer breaks in your hair from trying to undo messy tangles.
The only real downside to this conditioner is that its specialty in curly hair means that you will see average results if your hair is not curly. Living Proof Curl Conditioner is also free of silicones, phthalates, parabens, and sulfates.
5. Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner
- Great for hair with low porosity
- Works even better with curly hair
- Reduces hair breakage after a single-use
- Only comes in an 8.5 oz size
- Some users say the scent is too strong or too weak
Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner is an excellent conditioner for low porosity hair that can’t retain moisture well.
Its bamboo water and pro-vitamin B5 play vital roles that will allow your hair to become less dry and fragile due to lack of moisture after just a few uses. The Tiare Gardenia extract and Mono Oil are two other essential ingredients in the process.
And they make it easier for curls to form and maintain themselves. This conditioner has perfume as one of the main ingredients, so you will likely notice the strong scent when you use it.
In some product reviews, people said that the scent was so strong that they could smell it for several days, which is something you’ll want to keep in mind if you buy this conditioner.
6. L’Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture Sulfate-Free Conditioner
- Works fine with color treated hair
- Will not strip or mess up the colors
- Safe to use daily
- Scent is hit or miss
- Can feel like you're putting lotion in your hair
The L’Oreal Paris EverPure Moisture Sulfate-Free Conditioner does a lot right. If you have color-treated hair, there is not much to dislike with this conditioner aside from the thicker texture.
It replenishes and strengthens hair and protects hair color with cleansing agents that prevent things like dirt, oil, and other nasty stuff from building up.
This conditioner is sulfate-free and paraben-free, and it contains no harsh salts that can damage your hair. The high amount of moisture it brings to the table with its unique formula makes it an excellent choice for color-treated hair.
So, you can safely use it just as you would any other conditioner. Some product reviews have brought up issues with the conditioner’s thick texture, but if you do not mind that, then it won’t be a downside for you with this particular product.
7. Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Conditioner
- Great for dandruff control
- Treats the scalp directly for flakes
- Gentle enough for daily usage
- Oily base, making it less suitable for naturally oily hair
- Only comes in one size
The Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Conditioner is the go-to option on this list for dealing with dandruff and itchy scalps. It has a fresh scent that isn’t overpowering like many other conditioners.
It also features a pH-balanced formula that directly targets the scalp to bring relief. This conditioner will not blow you away aesthetically, but it makes up for that by working well and working reliably.
Many customer reviews speak glowingly of how gentle this conditioner is on the hair, allowing them to use it regularly without damaging their hair.
One important thing to note is that some reviewers said the product they got from Amazon was not the same quality as the same product they found in the store. So, if you can, consider buying this conditioner from your local supermarket or pharmacy.
Finding the Best Conditioner for Men
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Just seeing our picks for the best conditioner for men isn’t enough — you should also know what we look at before we round up our products. You should consider:
Hair Type
The hair type is arguably the most significant factor that determines how well a conditioner will work. A conditioner made only for curly hair will probably have average results if you use it on the straightest hair in the world.
Buy a conditioner that supports your hair type. That way, you’ll know that if the product does not get the job done, it’s not because it’s incompatible with your hair type.
Sulfates
Sulfates help shampoo remove dirt and oils from hair, but they can also leave hair dry. This is why it’s essential to use conditioners alongside shampoos, as a good conditioner can counteract the drying effect of sulfates.
Make sure to look for a conditioner that does not contain sulfates since those will work the best for bringing moisture back to your hair.
Smell
The smell of a conditioner is another major factor to keep in mind. The last thing you want is to use a conditioner that has a strong scent you dislike and then have to deal with that scent for several days.
There are many different scents out there. Some conditioners even come odorless, so consider checking those out as an alternative.
Ingredients
Because there are a lot of ingredients in any conditioner, there is a chance that some conditioners can contain ingredients you are allergic to. This means that you should always read the main ingredients in any conditioner before buying it.
If you end up having an allergic reaction to a conditioner despite being allergic to none of the main ingredients, check the rest of the ingredients to see what’s inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are answers to a few questions you may still have about conditioners for men:
Can Conditioner Cause Hair Loss?
No. conditioner alone will not cause hair loss. If your hair begins falling out after using conditioner, it’s most likely due to another cause.
Should Men Use Conditioner For Hair?
Yes, men should use conditioner for hair. There are many health benefits to using a conditioner, so it will only have positive effects.
Should A Guy Use Conditioner Every Day?
It depends. You can use a conditioner every day. However, you should generally use it a few times a week.
Is It Good To Wash Your Hair Without Conditioner?
Yes, it is good to wash your hair without conditioner because you are still cleaning it. However, your hair will remain very dry without any conditioner.
Does Shampoo Or Conditioner Go First?
Always do shampoo first and then conditioner. You won’t get the moisturizing benefits of the conditioner if you apply it before the shampoo.
So, What’s the Best Conditioner For Men?
The best conditioner for men comes down to the individual. It’s not the most helpful answer, but it’s the truth as you cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to conditioners and hair.
- Sulfate-free and alcohol-free
- Gets rid of dandruff and dry scalp issues
- Strengthens damaged and thinning hair
- Product texture is somewhat thick
- Pump doesn’t always dispense conditioner properly
However, we can’t say enough good things about the Biotin Conditioner for Hair Growth. It’s affordable, versatile, and sulfate-free, meaning it’ll be much better on your hair that typical store-bought conditioners.
If none of the options on our list appeal to you, use our buying guide to find the right conditioner for your hair!