Many guys would trade their left pinky to have thick, coarse hair. But while many of us watch our hair thin and recede, it’s the guys with thick hair who wish it was all a little more manageable. Thick hair is tough to tame. It dries out and balloons under humidity. It grows out like a mushroom, never fully sitting down over itself. It frizzes when you need it to stay in place. It coils left when you want it to stand right. It stands right when you want it to coil left.

Thick hair has a mind of its own. And managing it starts with the right products—primarily your conditioning agents. These are the products that can soften the hair and nourish it enough so that it bends and rests whichever way you tell it to. The best conditioner for thick hair will also give hair a healthy shine—but never an excessive, greasy glow—and they ready your strands for whichever styling product you plan to apply. With a good conditioning regimen, you can also count on your hairstyle lasting the entire day, and not drooping or poofing by noontime.

So, check out our picks the best conditioner for thick hair, below. Whatever your core need is—curly hair, dry hair, tangled or frizzy, there’s something for you. It’s going to make your life a lot easier, and you’ll remember how lucky you are to have thick, voluminous hair. It’s no curse after all.

Best anti-humidity conditioner

OGX kukui oil conditioner$11

Amazon

One of the bummers of having thick, voluminous hair is the poofing, mushroom-like effects of humidity. It strips your hair of moisture and blows it right up. You can build yourself a proactive defense against the humid elements, though, by picking anti-humidity, heat-shielding products, like OGX's kukui oil line. The oil is a Hawaiian ingredient that helps soothe, smooth, and shield hair. And as a bonus, it delivers a healthy, eye-catching shine.Best for taming and softening curls

Oribe conditioner for moisture and control$49

Nordstrom

If you have unruly waves or curls, then don't throw in the towel on taming them. It can be done; all you need is the regimen to soften and control them (again, from the elements like humidity, or even sun damage). Oribe's conditioner deeply nourishes your beautifully textured hairs, but also disciplines them so that you can apply stylers without worry of midday dishevelment. The result is smooth, cooperative texture.Best drugstore pick

Pantene Pro-V thick hair conditioner$8

Walgreens

You can have all the nourishing benefits of argan and avocado oils without paying boutique prices. You know Pantene Pro V from its slow-motion hair-flipping commercials, and the brand delivers on its promise for camera-ready hair. This product in particular penetrates each thick strand, to soften, hydrate, and shield against humidity; that way, your hair cooperates with any styling efforts. (Hair flip.)Best for fighting frizz

Davines smoothing conditioner$33

Amazon

By using olive extract, Davines' conditioner deflates frizz and restores healthy buoyancy, hydration, and control to your hair. Combine it with the brand's matching leave-in conditioner for a double-down defense against frizzing, fraying, and poofing.Best leave-in conditioner for coils

Pattern coil and curl leave-in conditioner$25

Ulta

Pattern is the new curl-targeted hair care brand from actress and activist Tracee Ellis Ross, and this leave-in conditioner is an A-list approach to nourishing your tight coils and curls. It gives them the right lift, separation, and buoyancy to maintain your desired style all day, without any added weight or buildup. The addition of honey and hydrating oils preserves moisture and delivers a healthy shine.Best detangling leave-in conditioner

Paul Mitchell leave-in conditioner$11.50

Amazon

Apply this leave-in conditioner to clean, wet hair after a shower, and it will preserve moisture, improve texture, fight frizzing, and smooth any style. The secret ingredient here is awapuhi, Hawaiian wild ginger, which works to keep hair healthy and vibrant—like you just came from the salon.Best ultra-hydrating conditioner

Nexxus conditioner for normal-to-dry hair$13

Amazon

A caviar and protein complex makes Nexxus one of the industry's most hydrating and nourishing conditioners. If you suffer from excessive dryness (or would simply benefit from added moisture on occasion), then stock up and use it on the daily to preserve body, smoothness, definition, moisture, and shine.Best conditioner for silver, blonde, or gray hair

Drybar brightening conditioner$27

Nordstrom

Stiffness and dullness are the main gripes of people with dyed or naturally gray hair. It's hard to keep those hairs hydrated and cooperative—and to prevent them from looking dull in the process. A brightening conditioner, like Drybar's, works double time to bright out the vibrancy of these tones–and in blonde hair, too—while also nourishing, softening, and detangling.

Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQBathroom and Shower