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The right ingredients can help fine hair appear thicker, more lustrous, and achieve greater volume.1Many conditioners out there make big promises about their ability to strengthen, plump, and thicken hair. These claims might seem too good to be true—and some certainly are—but we found several rinses that actually live up to the hype. From strengtheners and fortifiers to volumizers and thickeners, we rounded up standout options for every budget.
To give your mane the va-va-voom it craves, check out the best conditioners for fine hair below.
Best Overall
Christophe Robin Delicate Volumizing Conditioner with Rose Extracts
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Courtesy of Sephora
- Won’t weigh hair down
- Creamy, rich texture
- Nice scent
- Could be more hydrating
Who else recommends it? PureWow and Today both picked Christophe Robin Volumizing Conditioner.2
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“I would choose the Christophe Robin Volume Conditioner with Rose extracts,” says hairstylist Sky Kim of Serge Normant at John Frieda in New York City. This protective, detangling rinse is formulated specifically for fine strands.
Thanks to hero ingredients, it works to strengthen and volumize while restoring individual hair fibers and leaving a natural shine in its wake. Plus, as Kim notes, “It’s super light and smells good.”
Price at time of publish: $34
Key Ingredients: Baobab leaf, omega-3s, rice protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.33 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore
OGX Extra Strength Extra Volume + Biotin & Collagen Conditioner
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- Strengthening formula
- Adds body
- Gentle
- Can contribute to buildup if used daily
OGX Biotin & Collagen Conditioner is formulated with hydrolyzed wheat and B vitamins, a powerhouse blend. The result? Plumped-up strands and a noticeably fuller, better-looking mop.
Price at time of publish: $10
Key Ingredients: Wheat protein, vitamin B complex | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 13.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Splurge
Oribe Conditioner for Magnificent Volume
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- Hydrating, strengthening formula
- Boosts volume
- Rinses clean
- Can leave hair a little dry
If you’re going to splurge on hair care products, Oribe is always a safe bet. The brand’s Conditioner for Magnificent Volume leans on natural ingredients like Japanese bamboo and shea butter, plus high-tech polymers meant to plump your locks without weighing them down.
Price at time of publish: $48
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, bamboo, hydrolyzed proteins | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Volumizing
Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Conditioner
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Courtesy of Briogeo Hair
- Nice scent
- Hair looks thicker and fuller
- Available in multiple sizes
- Can leave hair a little dry
If it’s volume you’re after, Briogeo’s Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Conditioner has you covered. Whether you have coily, wavy, or straight hair, this fortifying formula is meant to immediately thicken and lift the follicles while delivering long-term nourishment.
Price at time of publish: $28
Key Ingredients: Biotin, ginseng, maltodextrin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Strengthening
TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Strengthening Conditioner
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- Hydrating formula
- Hair looks shinier after use
- Adds softness and body
- Not a dramatic thickening effect
The TGIN Miracle RepaiRx line is designed to strengthen and nourish brittle hair. By replenishing your scalp with coconut oil and black honey, this conditioner promises stronger, shinier, smoother hair without any added weight.
Price at time of publish: $14
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, honey | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 13.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Thickening
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Conditioner
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Courtesy of Sephora
- Available in multiple sizes
- Helps detangle hair
- Hair feels soft
- Strong scent
This thickening conditioner pulls out all the stops for fine hair. According to the brand, the nourishing formula contains emblica, a strand-swelling ingredient sourced from Indian gooseberries. What’s more, feather-light silk fibers are meant to help detangle and moisturize without weighing you down.
Price at time of publish: $33
Key Ingredients: Indian gooseberry, silk, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Hair Growth
Kevin Murphy Plumping Rinse
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Courtesy of Walmart
- Nice packaging
- Helps thicken and add body
- Smells great
- Not Byrdie Clean
Caprice Hammon, a hairstylist at Session Studio LLC in Portland, Oregon, tells Byrdie, “Out of the lines I use, I like the Plumping Rinse by Kevin Murphy. It has ingredients to help stimulate hair growth.”
Price at time of publish: $42
Key Ingredients: Amino acids, shea butter, nettle extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Fullness
Living Proof Full Conditioner
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Courtesy of Sephora
- Hair feels soft and full
- Available in multiple sizes
- Doesn’t weigh hair down
- Not Byrdie Clean
Featuring the brand’s patented “Healthy Hair Molecule,” Living Proof’s Full Conditioner is formulated to give thin, limp hair new life. You can expect fuller, plumper locks that behave just like naturally thick tresses.
Price at time of publish: $29
Key Ingredients: Healthy Hair Molecule (patented), wheat protein, soy protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Fortifying
Keranique Volumizing Keratin Conditioner for Thinning Hair
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- Strengthening formula
- Lightly conditions
- Nice scent
- Product texture is on the thin side
Keranique Volumizing Keratin Conditioner is designed to protect and strengthen fine or brittle hair. The unique cream-gel formula coats and enriches each strand with a fortifying keratin complex to create a smoother, more voluminous mane, according to the brand.
Price at time of publish: $21
Key Ingredients: Ginseng root extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Anti-Frizz
Verb Ghost Conditioner
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- Hair looks shiny
- Won’t weigh hair down
- Available in multiple sizes
- Could be more hydrating
If you’re dealing with thin, frizzy hair, you’ll want something that smooths without weighing you down, like Verb Ghost Conditioner. Signature ingredients coat each strand with lightweight protection while addressing split ends and leaving a shiny, sleek finish in its wake.
Price at time of publish: $20
Key Ingredients: Moringa seed oil, quinoa protein, sunflower seed extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 12.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Damaged Hair
The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage & Repair Antidote Conditioner
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- Hair feels stronger and thicker
- Boosts shine
- Lightweight yet hydrating
- Product is on the thick side
Containing kalahari, mongongo, and baobab oils, this conditioner by The Mane Choice is inspired by the formulas used by ancient Egyptians. It’s lightweight and gentle enough for daily use and delivers nourished, restored, and strengthened locks.
Price at time of publish: $20
Key Ingredients: Baobab oil, castor oil, silk amino acids, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Curly Hair
CHI Magnified Volume Conditioner
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- Detangles hair
- Hair looks shiny
- Available in multiple sizes
- Not Byrdie Clean
For fine, curly hair, we recommend CHI Magnified Volume Conditioner. It effortlessly detangles while working to strengthen, volumize, and smooth coily strands, leaving your hair shiny, bouncy, and more manageable.
Price at time of publish: $18
Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 12.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Nourishing
Virtue Full Conditioner
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- Adds body and shine
- Nice packaging
- Available in multiple sizes
- A little expensive
“Another option is Virtue’s Full Conditioner, which smells good and is nourishing, too,” says Kim. This thickening rinse delivers weightless moisture while creating lift and body that lasts all day.
Price at time of publish: $42
Key Ingredients: Pink pomelo, artichoke leaf | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best with Biotin
R+Co DALLAS Biotin Thickening Conditioner
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- Hair feels soft and full
- Nice scent
- Won’t weigh hair down
- Not Byrdie Clean
R+Co Dallas Conditioner leans on hydrating ingredients to soften fine hair while coating each strand with the strength and protection it needs. And with saw palmetto berry extract, you can expect thicker-looking hair with the body you crave.
Price at time of publish: $34
Key Ingredients: Provitamin B5, biotin, coconut oil, saw palmetto extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
When it comes to conditioners for fine hair, Christophe Robin Delicate Volumizing Conditioner With Rose Extracts shines above the rest. Featuring rice protein, omega-3s, and baobab extract, the lightweight formula promises to volumize, restore, and strengthen hair while leaving behind natural shine and a delicious scent. For something a little more affordable, you can’t go wrong with OGX Extra Volume Biotin & Collagen Conditioner. And if you’re all-in for a high-end product, you won’t regret splurging on Oribe Conditioner for Magnificent Volume.
What to Look For When Buying Conditioner for Fine Hair
Intended Hair Type
One of the most important things to look for when buying conditioner for fine hair is the intended hair type. Many options indicate that they’re made for thin strands on the label or product description. However, if it doesn’t say so explicitly, look for keywords like “volumizing,” “thickening,” or “full.” These terms typically imply a conditioner is formulated to either plump the strands or at least make them look thicker.
Biotin
Many shampoos and conditioners for fine hair contain biotin (vitamin B7). The nutrient is often claimed to help nourish and fortify thin strands while encouraging hair growth.
Other Ingredients
Aside from biotin, there are a few other ingredients to look out for when buying conditioners for fine hair. These include nourishing ingredients like collagen, coconut oil, shea butter, avocado, and other omegas.
If you want something that promises to plump your hair, look for conditioners with niacinamide, amino acids, emblica, hydrolyzed soy protein, saw palmetto, peptides, silk powder, or silica silylate. These thickening agents are meant to either swell the individual strands or wrap them in a starchy texture that makes them temporarily thicker.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland specializes in cosmetics and self-care products. As someone with inherently fine hair, she’s tried many thickening conditioners over the years. From this list, she’s partial to Kevin Murphy Plumping Rinse, R+Co Dallas Conditioner, and CHI Magnified Volume Conditioner.