How Do I Choose the Best Conditioner for Thick Hair?

A conditioner for thick hair should moisturize the hair without weighing it down or leaving a greasy residue behind. It's also best to look for a conditioner that contains ingredients that smooth the hair cuticle. You may have to choose between leave-in conditioners or hair masks as both of these products could be used as conditioning treatments. Things to avoid include products that add volume or products that thicken the hair.

Moisturizing ingredients are first on the list of things you should look for in a conditioner for thick hair. Ingredients that moisturize and help repair the hair cuticle may leave the hair looking healthier, and may be helpful if your hair is dry or damaged. Sweet almond oil is believed to be a good moisturizer and does not leave the hair looking or feeling greasy. Fig extract may also hydrate the hair without weighing it down.

A conditioner for thick hair should include ingredients that help smooth the hair cuticle, some of which are almond glycerides, keratin, panthenol, and silk amino acids. Smoothing the hair cuticle may be helpful in getting rid of frizz and leaving the hair looking straighter, healthier, and shinier. Getting rid of frizz can help tame the hair and also leave it more manageable.

A leave-in conditioner can be worked into the hair and left for the rest of the day to do its work. These products may penetrate more deeply into the hair because they're not rinsed out, and you may find that you see better results with this type of conditioner. It's also easy to use, because most leave-in products allow you to style your hair as you would normally.

Conditioning masks can be a good option if you're looking for a conditioner for thick hair. These masks are generally thicker in consistency than ordinary conditioners and have to be left on for a few minutes in order to work. If you want to help the product work better, you can apply the mask, heat the hair with a hairdryer, and cover it with a towel. The heat may help the ingredients penetrate into the hair faster, and leaving it in for 15 minutes or more can make the hair softer and silkier.

Products that thicken the hair or that work by adding volume are best avoided if you have thick hair. Using products that thicken the hair even more could leave you with hair that is hard to manage and that looks too thick. Products that add volume should be avoided for the same reason, especially if you have frizzy hair. Volumizing products can cause even more frizz, and this could make thick hair harder to style.