Shoppers With Fine Hair Swear by These Conditioners to Add Weightless Shine and Body (2024)

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Rose oil extract, baobab leaf, rice protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.33 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

According to pro hairstylist Sky Kim of Serge Normant at John Frieda in New York City, this Christophe Robin conditioner is a great choice for those with fine hair. Not only is this protective, detangling rinse formulated specifically for fine strands, it's easy to work with. Thanks to rose oil extract and baobab leaves, the gentle formula 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."

Key Ingredients: Wheat protein, vitamin B complex | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 13 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

OGX Biotin & Collagen Conditioner is formulated with hydrolyzed wheat and B vitamins, a powerhouse blend designed to give fine hair a boost. The result? Plumped-up strands and a noticeably fuller, better-looking mop that leaves static behind. Best of all, it's available for under $10, so you can achieve your dream hair without going over your budget. We also love that its silky-smooth results and top-notch detangling make styling hair an easier experience.

Key Ingredients: Rosemary, arginine | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This classic drugstore brand not only promotes and preserves healthy hair, but it also aids hair growth—a key benefit of its ingredient rosemary oil . Expect smoother hair, from root to tip, thanks to this vegan formula that claims to strengthen hair 15x more than without it. You’ll also love its inviting floral, woodsy scent that lingers long after hair wash day. Use this sparingly for better-looking (and feeling) ends, or as a deep conditioning treatment weekly.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, bamboo, hydrolyzed proteins | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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 moisturize your locks and revitalize brittle strands without weighing them down. This pro product stands the test of humidity, so don’t fear washing your hair the day of—your tresses will still feel soft to the touch.

Key Ingredients: Karmatin, marula oil, moringa seed oil, murumuru seed butter | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Breakage is no match for this weightless hydrating conditioner from Vegamour. Powered by Karmatin™, a vegan silk alternative to keratin and silicone, this softening rinse starts repairing damaged hair in just one wash. You can count on ingredients like marula and moringa seed oils, plus murumuru seed butter to fight static, deliver shine, and leave hair silky smooth, too. "This conditioner from Vegamour is truly one-of-a-kind. It harnesses the power of Karmatin to bond hair follicles together,” says Byrdie associate commerce editor Caitlyn Martyn. “Ever since I started using it, I've noticed a huge difference in the feel and manageability of my fine hair."

Key Ingredients: Cotton flower | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 33.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If it's volume you're after, Biolage’s Volume Bloom Conditioner has you covered. Whether you have coily, wavy, or straight hair, this fortifying formula (which includes cotton flower) is meant to immediately thicken and lift the follicles while delivering long-term nourishment. We like that this pick helps combat static and leaves hair detangled and soft to the touch. Plus, you get more bang for your buck with over 33 ounces of product.

Key Ingredients: Chia seed oil, biotin, hydrolyzed keratin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This formula from Ouai was designed to hydrate, soften, and add volume to fine hair while being completely lightweight. Thanks to ingredients such as chia seed oil, biotin, and hydrolyzed keratin, smoothing the conditioner through hair is easy and doesn’t require any pulling or tugging. It’s hydrating and softening enough to give dry ends that boost of life without any lingering residue. It has a pretty strong fragrance that features lemon, rose, jasmine, and musk. Some people love it, but it can be really intense for those with a sensitive sense of smell.

Key Ingredients: Cupuaçu butter, castor oil | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With ingredients like Peruvian cupuaçu and Mexican blue agave, this pick from Ceremonia optimizes moisture retention, leading to a more hydrated and manageable mane. “I have wavy hair that skews more oily, and using a little bit of this conditioner keeps my hair smooth, defined, and frizz-free,” says Byrdie contributor Grace Gavilanes. “I also really love that Ceremonia is a Latina-founded brand, and truly delivers when it comes to top-notch hair care.”

Key Ingredients: Indian gooseberry, silk, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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. While this pick—boasting a citrus-forward scent—is formulated for those with fine hair, it’s also effective for those with wavy or curly hair types.

Key Ingredients: Biotin, amino acids, shea butter, oleanolic acid | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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." Housed in a stylish bottle, the formula boasts a flawless five-star rating and powerhouse ingredients such as biotin, oleanolic acid (an ingredient that fights follicle aging), strengthening rice protein, and hydrating shea butter. It’s known to keep the hair healthy and strong, unveiling a more manageable, hydrated mane.

Key Ingredients: Healthy Hair Molecule (patented), wheat protein, soy protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Featuring the brand's patented "Healthy Hair Molecule," Living Proof's Full Conditioner is chock-full of protein-rich ingredients (like wheat and soy protein) that work to bring limp hair back to life. While this pick features a lightweight texture and feel, you can still expect fuller, softer, and easier-to-manage locks without residue. Plus, we like this salon-quality conditioner for helping to prevent split ends and breakage.

Key Ingredients: Ginseng root extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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. You’ll also likely experience less breakage and static—a common result from heat styling—after consistent use. Bonus: You might even see a decrease in hair loss.

Key Ingredients: Moringa seed oil, quinoa protein, sunflower seed extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're dealing with hair that's dry with a lot of static, you'll want something that smooths without weighing you down, like Verb Ghost Conditioner. Signature ingredients like moringa seed oil and quinoa protein coat each strand with lightweight protection while addressing split ends and leaving a shiny, sleek finish in its wake. It works well on all hair types and helps achieve slicked-back hair looks without relying on loads of hair gel.

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For fine, curly hair, we recommend CHI Magnified Volume Conditioner. The formula, which is infused with hydrolyzed silk and panthenol, effortlessly detangles and combats static. Plus, while it's working its way through your hair, it helps strengthen, volumize, and smooth coily strands, leaving your hair shiny, bouncy, and more manageable. You’ll fall in love with your hair again thanks to this pick, which defines and enhances your curls’ staying power.

Key Ingredients: Pink pomelo, artichoke leaf | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Kim also loves Virtue's Full Conditioner. This super nourishing formula (starring ingredients like pink pomelo and artichoke leaf) delivers weightless moisture to each strand while still improving the health of your hair. You can expect your hair to appear more lifted and have a bounce that lasts all day. Plus, its scent—a blend of fruits and flowers—isn’t overpowering, and bears notes of white pear, mint, and citrus. It pairs perfectly with every hair type, including hair that’s been chemically treated.

Key Ingredients: Black castor oil, biotin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 13 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The TGIN Miracle RepaiRx line is designed to strengthen and nourish brittle hair thanks to its powerhouse blend of ingredients, like black castor oil and biotin. By replenishing your scalp with coconut oil and black honey, this conditioner promises stronger, shinier, smoother hair without any added weight. Because it’s so hydrating and defining, your hair looks better and better with each use.

Key Ingredients: Baobab oil, castor oil, silk amino acids, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

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. The best part? This pick is known to help hair growth as well as repair and easily detangle brittle hair. It’s also suitable for all hair types.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, biotech-produced polysaccharide, K18PEPTIDE™ | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you can’t quit weekly blowouts or find yourself sunbathing on a regular basis, chances are your hair has undergone noticeable damage (think: drier, more fragile hair). One way to combat this? Turning to this protective conditioner from K18. Crafted with the brand’s proprietary peptide blend, this pick is formulated to protect hair from damage for up to three days, shielding it from the inside out. You can expect shinier, smoother hair in virtually no time.

Key Ingredients: Provitamin B5, biotin, coconut oil, saw palmetto extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

R+Co Dallas Conditioner leans on hydrating ingredients to soften fine hair while coating each strand with the strength and protection it needs. Loaded with hair-loving ingredients such as provitamin B5, biotin, and coconut oil, hair feels soft yet strong. And with saw palmetto (an ingredient that works to prevent hair loss), you can expect thicker-looking hair with the body you crave.

Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, shea butter, cocoa butter | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 2.35 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

In addition to serving as a more eco-friendly approach to hair care, this conditioning bar from SUPERZERO calls for plant-based bond repair to strengthen hair, repair damage, and enhance shine. Unlike many liquid conditioners, this bar—made with 100% active 360 triflex complex—improves hair health and builds more bonds. This new kind of conditioner is perfect for those looking to soften and hydrate their strands while saying no to plastics.

FAQ

• Is conditioner good for fine hair?

  Yes, conditioner is good for fine hair. Even if you’re worried that it might weigh your hair down, it shouldn’t, provided you’re using the right one for your hair type. Conditioners for fine hair can also be volumizing, helping to create the illusion of your hair being thicker.

• Do you need to deep condition fine hair?

  Fine hair can benefit from deep conditioning just like all hair types can. Deep conditioners are especially useful for your fine hair if it has been processed or is regularly styled with heat, whether blow-drying, curling, or flat ironing. Guy Tang, hair colorist and creator of #Mydentity, tells Byrdie that "deep conditioning treatments are essential to help repair damaged or compromised hair.” He recommends that his clients with color-treated hair use a deep conditioner frequently to help restore the damaged hair shaft and replace vital hair nutrients.

• How often should you use conditioner if you have fine hair?

  Unless your fine hair doesn’t tangle at all (which is uncommon) you’ll likely benefit from using conditioner each time you wash your hair. If your hair doesn’t tangle, and you feel like conditioner makes it greasy quickly, you can use conditioner every other time you wash. It can also be useful to avoid conditioning near your roots because that is where oils gather—focus on conditioning your ends.

• Can you leave conditioner in your fine hair for too long?

  Yes, you can certainly leave any conditioner in your hair too long, and your hair will not benefit from it. Leaving the conditioner in longer than you’re supposed to can lead to the hair shaft getting clogged, which is unhealthy for it. Additionally, you can cause breakage as well as scalp irritation if you leave your conditioner on too long. If you’re looking for a conditioner that can be left in after rinsing without issue, simply add a leave-in conditioner to your hair care routine. Opt for a leave-in that's lightweight or made for fine hair.