The 15 Best Conditioners for Men in 2022

Best Overall

SheaMoisture Daily Hydrating Conditioner For All Hair Types

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What do buyers say? 86% of 1,800+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

If there could only be one conditioner in the world, SheaMoisture’s would be my pick, as it works to hydrate dry and damaged hair while also keeping curls nourished and plump. Its formula centers on shea butter, coconut oil, and coconut milk—three hero ingredients that provide softening, revitalizing, buoyant results for every hair type.

Price at time of publish: $7

Hair Type: Curly | Size: 13 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Budget

American Crew Daily Conditioner

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There’s a reason we associate American Crew with a majority of barbershops and salons across the US: Because it’s forever a fan favorite and another cost-effective option. It balances oil levels with bark extract and tones your scalp with thyme, rosemary, menthol, and peppermint extracts. And yes, those last two give you a tingly fresh feeling, too.

Price at time of publish: $25

Hair Type: Oily | Size: 15.2 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Drugstore

OGX Extra Strength Extra Volume + Biotin & Collagen Conditioner

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For $5, you can feed your hair its daily-ish dose of biotin, collagen, and protein. OGX’s formula penetrates each strand to leave hair visibly fuller after use, which helps restore volume and texture to hair after a moisture-parching wash.

Price at time of publish: $10

Hair Type: Color-Treated, Thick | Size: 13.0 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Dry Hair

Alaffia EveryDay Shea Conditioner

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You’ll see shea butter as a common ingredient across the roster of conditioners mentioned here, and it’s no accident: Shea is a super conditioner and smoother, and one of the best universal ingredients. That makes it especially perfect for dry hair types, too, who rely on a conditioner to pack on excess nourishment and moisture. Alaffia’s affordable conditioner is not only eye-catching in your shower caddy—it also leaves your hair buoyant, restored, and stronger with each use. It can revive the driest of strands, and also balances pH levels in your hair and scalp.

Price at time of publish: $8

Hair Type: Dry, Normal | Size: 16.0 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Curly Hair

Living Proof Curl Conditioner

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Coiled or curly hair needs a conditioner that amps up the moisture and volume, DeZarate says. “Curl-defining conditioners will enhance the coil, as well as give your curls plenty of hydration,” the celebrity groomer adds. My curly friends’ collective favorite is Living Proof’s, with the brand’s Health Curl Complex that holds together its assortment of curl-care and -styling products. This conditioner enhances and boosts textures of all types—from waves to coils.

Price at time of publish: $35

Hair Type: All | Size: 12.0 or 24.0 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Natural Hair

Bevel Sulfate-Free Conditioner

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Coconut oil and shea butter make yet another appearance, and make Bevel’s conditioner an outstanding one for curls, kinks, and coils. No matter if you wear your hair short or long, it helps define texture and prevent moisture loss, meaning no bad hair days.

Price at time of publish: $11

Hair Type: Textured, Curly, Kinky, Coily | Size: 12.0 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Thick Hair

MATRIX Total Results Mega Sleek Conditioner

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“Thick and dense hair can hold onto a lot more moisture,” DeZarate notes. “For control, heavier [smoothing] conditioners will do best with this type of hair.” MATRIX’s “Mega Sleek” recipe utilizes hydrating and hefty shea butter to smooth and tame the most unruly of thick hairs—and to prevent poofing and frizzing all the while.

Price at time of publish: $17

Hair Type: All | Size: 1.7, 10.1, or 33.8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Thin Hair

Sachajuan Thickening Conditioner

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“Fine and thinning hair really should rely on volumizing and treatment-type conditioners,” DeZarate says. Treatments are best received through leave-in or mask formulas, while the volumizing conditioners are better for the more every day/every-other-day conditionings. The daily ones will coat each strand with tiny keratins/proteins and make them all slightly thicker. The overall impact, spread across all your hairs, is more visible and tangible fullness. I rely on Sachajuan’s thickening conditioner like a crutch for my thinning hair; they’ll use it on me before my funeral, too, so that my hair looks as full on my way out as it does every waking day.

Price at time of publish: $29

Hair Type: All | Size: 8.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Thinning Hair / Hair Growth

Hims Thick Fix Conditioner

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Packed with niacinamide, this conditioner helps stimulate circulation in the scalp, and leaves hair feeling fuller and with a healthy sheen1. Conditioners for thinning hair often prioritize scalp care or density, as opposed to targeting any hormonal byproducts (like many shampoos for thin hair, which might deploy saw palmetto to neutralize hair-shrinking DHT). And yes, Hims sells that, too.

Price at time of publish: $20

Hair Type: All | Size: 6.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Co-Washing

Kevin Murphy Re-Store Repairing Cleansing Treatment

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“Think of co-washing as your fancy version of all of those 2-in-1 shampoo conditioners,” DeZarate says. It’s the methodology that you “wash” your hair with conditioner, along with some thorough scalp scrubbing to lift away grime. Some guys will shampoo once a month or less and then manage the time between with co-washes. “Oil breaks down oil and dirt (yes… hence why makeup removers often utilize oil), so this will break down all that sweat and hair product from the last day or two.” She says that guys with curly and thick hair should especially consider co-washing. And her favorite co-wash is Kevin Murphy. “They’re more concerned with the health of your hair than 90% of brands out there,” DeZarate says. “I know prices are higher, but you always use less product when you’re using a quality one, so it goes much further.”

Price at time of publish: $38

Hair Type: Damaged | Size: 6.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Leave-In

Prose Custom Leave-In Conditioner

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“Leave-in conditioners are best incorporated if they’re already living in your shower (next to your daily shampoo and conditioner),” DeZarate says. “This is the best time to apply them after you’ve already rinsed out your daily conditioner, but your hair is wet and the product can be applied evenly. The other bonus is that if you happen to apply too much product, you’re able to towel dry off the excess or even rinse some out while you’re still in the shower.” My go-to is Prose, simply because they customized the formula and ingredients to my specific needs and goals—and they’ll do the same for you.

Price at time of publish: $26

Hair Type: All | Size: 5.1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Depends on ingredients selected

Best Leave-In for Natural Hair

Qhemet Biologics Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee

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Coconut and moringa oils give Qhemet’s leave-in conditioner the power to nourish and plump curls, while ghee (butter) hydrates each strand and gooseberry extract calms the scalp. It’s a build-up free, buttery-smooth cream that helps detangle curls and coils, then keeps them bouncy all day.

Price at time of publish: $25

Hair Type: Curly, Coily | Size: 8.0 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Hair Mask

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

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A hair mask is like a mega conditioning treatment, which you can cycle into rotation once a week, give or take, depending on how much damage it routinely incurs (from products, hairdryers, and the likes). Briogeo’s mask contains B-vitamins, natural oils, algae, and biotin, all of which give hair a fortification against all of its detractors. Think of it as a weekly supplement for your hair, no matter what type you sprout (it’s nourishing for your scalp, too!).

Price at time of publish: $39

Hair Type: Color-Treated, Dry, Damaged | Size: 2.0, 8.0, or 32.0 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Platinum/Blonde/Silver Hair

Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Conditioner

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Toning platinum or silver hair is hard work. The easiest way, though, is to take a product-forward approach. Invest in a brand with a purple-powered shampoo and conditioner that will prevent your hair from turning brassy or yellow. Amika is my perma-platinum friend’s go-to, and her hair is always perfectly balanced, even with our city’s hard water and high pollution-fighting against her. Some people prefer to use a purple shampoo and a different conditioner (like Olaplex, below), but a purple conditioner like this one is imperative for the infrequent shampooer. Use as directed, and not more, or else you’ll over tone your hair, and it’ll start to look rosy red.

Price at time of publish: $24

Hair Type: Color-Treated | Size: 8.45 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No