The best conditioner for fine hair will sufficiently moisturise strands while, crucially, not weighing them down. Though it varies from person to person, fine hair is often susceptible to flatness due to too-heavy products or, if it's longer, the weight of the hair itself – so your conditioner shouldn't be too rich if you're to avoid this. Depending on your scalp, you may also find that yours gets greasy quickly and therefore don't want your conditioner to speed up the process. But there are formulas that strike the perfect balance between nourishing and lightweight (and we've tried many of them to compile this very guide).
Regardless of your hair type, using the best shampoo and conditioner is the cornerstone of a good haircare regime. As well as having strands that are fine in terms of width, you may also have a head of hair that is on the thin side. This can be due to any number of reasons, from genetics to hormones or generally getting older, but as a result you may also be keen to retain as much volume in your hair.
A combination of genetics and hormones means that my already fine hair has become a little less dense over the last few years. So, I've been on a quest to learn the best way to make the most of what I have – with the assistance of some brilliant products and the best hair dryer for fine hair – and make my hair look as voluminous as possible.
My hair has a very slight wave, has been bleached and my scalp gets greasy super quickly. As such, I'm always on the hunt for products that will address these concerns without weighing my hair down. When testing for woman&home's guide to the best shampoos for fine hair, my main priorities were scalp health and hair growth, as well as a much-needed injection of volume. This time around, I focused on detangling, conditioning, strengthening and nourishing the hair while keeping it light and volumised. Ahead are the formulas I rated best, including picks that work for thinning hair and hair loss, too.
The best conditioner for fine hair or thinning hair, tested by our beauty experts
Best conditioner for fine hair overall
RRP: £33
Not to be dramatic, but Plumping Rinse by KEVIN.MURPHY is the best conditioner for fine hair that we've ever tried - and we've tried a a lot of them. It's chock full of nourishing and strengthening ingredients including rice protein, biotin, shea butter and oleanolic acid.
Initially, we thought it seemed a little thick for a conditioner designed for finer hair, but it felt light as a feather. Our hair felt thicker and stronger – even while still wet – and the fragrance was lovely, too. We saw instant lift and strength from root to tip. For an extra boost while styling, you can also try KEVIN.MURPHY's POWDER.PUFF, which provides weightless lift and texture while also nourishing your hair.
Reasons to buy: A sulphate-free option that adds instant volume
Reasons to avoid: It's not cheap
Best drugstore conditioner for fine hair
RRP: £10.99
Shea Moisture's name comes from the inclusion of shea butter, an ingredient that might normally put finer-haired consumers off. However, this particular wonder product manages to nourish the hair without weighing it down; with its superfruit complex, marula oil and biotin, this conditioner strengthens and nourished our parched ends without leaving our hair greasy.
This conditioner has a clean laundry scent and although it feels a little thicker than we'd normally like, it's got a super smooth consistency that doesn't feel too heavy and a little goes a long way. It reduced flyaways and, overall, left our hair feeling silky smooth.
Reasons to buy: Cruelty-free and affordable
Reasons to avoid: It's hard to fault it at this price
Best conditioner for fine, straight hair
RRP: £42
Virtue's Full Conditioner has all kinds of ingredients. Most notable is the brand's star ingredient, Alpha Keratin 60ku, a protein complex unique to Virtue.
There's no denying that this is a pricey product, but a little goes a long way and the bottle feels like it lasts forever. We loved this conditioner's light texture, which instantly plumped our hair and left our crunchy ends feeling buttery soft. Where we really saw the benefit was regarding frizz, something we often experience – even after a trip to the gym on a humid day our hair still looked shiny, lifted and smooth.
Not only did our hair look great, but it smelled fabulous, too. A mixture of citrus, pears, spearmint and leafy greens combines to make a really clean scent.
Reasons to buy: Hydrating and reduces frizz
Reasons to avoid: Expensive
Best conditioner with argan oil for fine hair
RRP: £20.85
Moroccanoil’s Extra Volume conditioner has cold-pressed argan oil and vitamin A and, despite being quite lightweight, really nourishes the hair. This active ingredient encourages the hair to grow stronger and healthier while also leaving it super shiny.
The conditioner managed to quench our dry ends while also feeling light on our fine hair. It absorbed into our thirsty strands in no time and we were impressed by the amount of bounce our blow dry had after using it – even without the use of a volumising spray.
The product has a lovely scent, though it is quite overpowering and may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Reasons to buy: Gets to work fast
Reasons to avoid: Heavily fragranced
The best conditioner for fine hair for instant volume
RRP: £24
Philip Kingsley is synonymous with healthy heads and this particular conditioner is packed with hair-loving ingredients including strand-plumping wheat protein, which we noticed working even when our hair was still wet. Despite feeling thicker and plumper, our hair also felt remarkably light once dry and looked shiny and healthy, too. We used it alongside the brand's Body Building shampoo and, if you want an extra dose of va-va-voom, we'd recommend use their Maximizer Root Volumising Spray, too. When we say our hair visibly doubled in size we are not kidding.
We will say that this may not be an ideal product if your hair is feeling very damaged, but if you use a hair mask like the iconic Elasticizerweekly or fortnightly, you'll really see a difference.
Reasons to buy: Protein-rich and smells great
Reasons to avoid: May be too light for damaged and/or dry hair
Best lightweight conditioner for fine hair
RRP: £30
This protective, detangling conditioner is crafted specifically for fine hair and its gel-like consistency is ideal for weightless hydration. The conditioner is laden with rose oil and baobab leaf extracts, which work to lock in moisture without leaving behind any residue. It also maintains the hair's acid pH, which keeps coloured hair looking tip-top – always a plus in our books.
It's a gorgeously scented option that restored the volume and body of our hair, while also working to smooth and restore our hair fibres to a silky smooth state. The consistency of this product also means that our tresses, which usually look greasy fairly quickly, felt super clean even the day after washing.
Reasons to buy: Lightweight gel formula, smells great
Reasons to avoid: Quite pricey
Best conditioner for damaged fine hair
RRP: £52
The price tag of Oribe's Hair Alchemy Resilience Conditioner is far from low, but if your hair is quite damaged and you can treat yourself, it's worth it. Plus, this product lasts well and will do wonders for your hair.
It hydrates strands and locks in moisture with a thicker consistency than we expected, but felt lovely and light when we rubbed it between our hands to apply.
It has a beautiful, subtle scent and the rich ingredients work together to fortify and strengthen the hair. Something we love about this product is that it helps to repair existing damage and prevent it, too. If you use a lot of heat on your hair or bleach it, this conditioner would definitely benefit your haircare routine. Our hair felt stronger and thicker, even while still wet.
Reasons to buy: Lightweight yet deeply hydrating
Reasons to avoid: Very expensive
Best leave in conditioner for fine hair
RRP: £38
For some people with very fine hair that has a tendency to go limp, the thought of using conditioner at all may be something you're reluctant to get on board with. But a leave in conditioner might feel completely counter-intuitive. The thing is, Philip B Weightless Conditioning Water is just that: weightless. A hair treatment that packs as much hydration as a hair mask without flattening the hair?
This "water" is filled with hair-friendly plant extracts and has the loveliest scent from the magnolia flower. With just a few spritzes to our towel-dried hair, we said goodbye to tangles and flyaways. Anohter thing we love about this product is that you can apply it to dry hair, too. It absorbs and dries just like regular water does, but with all the extra hydrating properties that helps healthy hair to look its best. Just be prepared for the price.
Reasons to buy: Smells great and is ultra lightweight
Reasons to avoid: Expensive
Best plumping conditioner for fine hair
RRP: £40.03
Kérastase products are nearly always a safe bet and this conditioner contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid and intra-cylane. These ingredients work to strengthen hair fibres from damage while also helping boost the hair's volume and shine.
We've got to admit that this product packs an impressive punch, quenching our patched ends without weight. What we really enjoy about this conditioner is how quickly it detangled our hair; we could feel it coating every one of our strands, leaving them silky smooth. For us, its downfall relates to the fragrance and it is quite expensive – but, as we've said before, consider the longevity involved in more expensive shampoos and conditioners, especially when caring for the health of thinning hair.
Reasons to buy: Plumps and hydrates hair
Reasons to avoid: Another pricey option
Best conditioner for fine hair with colour protection
RRP: £17.98
The first thing we noticed about this conditioner was its gel-like texture, which felt lovely and light and soaked in quickly, getting to work on pesky knots and general dryness. We were pleased by the fragrance of this product, how quickly it sprung into action and how our hair looked afterwards.
We can also report that the product's built-in colour protection did its job on our freshly dyed hair, helping it look bright, shiny and bouncy. However, if you prefer formulas without these ingredients it is worth noting that this product contained sulfates. Sadly, it isn't cruelty-free.
Reasons to buy: Gentle on coloured hair
Reasons to avoid: Not cruelty-free
Best conditioner for fine hair with heat and UV protection
RRP: £31
Sachajuan's protein and mineral-filled thickening Conditioner promotes both the health and volume of finer hair. If you favour a more minimalist-looking bottle, Sachajuan is one for you.
We found this conditioner worked wonders on our thirsty ends and also helped stave off frizz, even on a humid day. Our strands felt repaired and shinier as well as seeming plumper. As this conditioner also contains the added benefits of heat and UV protection, it's a great option if you usually blow dry or like to style your hair with heat. However, we personally weren't a fan of this conditioner's fragrance as it was just a bit too heavy.
Reasons to buy: Contains heat protection, cruelty-free
Reasons to avoid: Scent won't be for everyone
Best conditioner for fine hair for fragrance
RRP: £22
Davines is a stunning salon brand with a range of gorgeous haircare products that are cruelty-free, sulphate-free and manufactured with 100% clean energy. We have tried a few of their conditioners but MELU is the standout option for fine (and quick to go flat) hair like ours.
The first thing we noticed was the gorgeous scent of this conditioner and its thickness (expect hair mask consistency). Our hair was left silky smooth but with no leftover residue or heaviness. One small downside? We weren't so keen on having to scoop out the product rather than dispensing from a bottle.
Reasons to buy: Gorgeous, light formula that smells amazing.
Reasons to avoid: You may prefer a bottle to the tub packaging
How we tested the best conditioner for fine hair
I took on the task of testing several products for this feature, as I'm all too acquainted with searching for the best hair products for baby-fine hair. My hair is thin, slightly wavy and gets greasy very quickly, so I'm well-versed in what to look for.
To refine an edit of the very best conditioners for fine hair to suit various budget levels, I tried several products across all price points. You might be wondering is expensive shampoo better – and if it's also worth spending more on conditioner – and, in my honest opinion, if you have fine, thin, or thinning hair, spending a little extra on how you cleanse and condition your scalp and hair is entirely worth it.
What key ingredients help boost fine or thinning hair's volume?
Lisa Caddy, Consultant Trichologist at Philip Kingsley tells us that ingredients that work with the components of the hair, such as keratin, are effective for volumising fine hair. "Cellulose is a thickening agent also frequently used to give hair more volume," she adds.
Vitamins are essential for boosting the volume of fine hair and Nicole Petty, hair expert at Milk + Blush, says vitamin B5 is a great ingredient as it can deeply penetrate the hair shaft and increase moisture retention, which helps to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. “Vitamins C and E are essential for boosting collagen production and improving blood circulation that can help with hair growth and iron absorption," she adds.
To improve blood circulation in the scalp and encourage hair growth and volume, you can massage lighter natural oils into your scalp and roots. These are great for fine hair, Petty says, with sunflower, almond, and coconut oil all offering benefits. "Sunflower oil is an anti-inflammatory that can prevent dandruff and bacterial buildup that causes scalp dryness and itchiness," she continues. "Meanwhile, applying coconut oil on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair can prevent protein loss and minimise breakage, which fine hair is susceptible to."
What ingredients should you avoid if you have fine hair or thinning hair?
Having thin hair means that some ingredients that often feature in conditioners are worth avoiding. "Heavy oils and styling products are not ideal for fine hair, as it possesses fewer layers of hair cuticle that, if weighed down, can make the hair look flat and lifeless," says Petty.
Another ingredient that can have an impact, according to Petty, is silicones, which can build up on the hair over time (they help to create a smooth feel in the hair). However, Petty notes that they can "prevent other products from properly penetrating the hair shaft", which may in some cases lead to dryness and, in turn, breakage. One way to combat this is by adding a clarifying shampoo to your regime to give your hair a very deep clean and thoroughly remove build-up.
How do you properly shampoo and condition your hair?
"Shampoo is intended for the scalp and conditioner is for the hair," says Caddy, who reminds us that conditioner should only be applied to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair - never to your scalp. Before rinsing, she recommends you "use a wide tooth come to work out the tangles."
Petty echoes Caddy's advice about not applying conditioner directly to the scalp, as this will cause your roots to lose volume and oil production to occur faster, meaning you will have to wash it sooner. "It is best to split your hair into sections to ensure it is fully saturated and focus on the hair from the chin downwards," she says. "Leave it to sit for at least three minutes or longer to maximise its effectiveness, before rinsing it out with cold water for one minute to help seal and smooth the cuticle and dry with a microfibre towel." Petty also suggests that, once a week, you swap out your conditioner for one of the best hair masks to quench dehydrated ends.
How often should you wash fine hair or thinning hair?
How often should you wash your hair depends on a few different factors, such as how much oil your scalp produces to the density, texture and thickness of the hair itself. However, Cowley says she always recommends that her clients shampoo their hair as soon as it gets greasy.
"As fine hair is easily weighed down by oil and build-up that can make it look flat and greasy, it will need cleansing more frequently," says Petty. "However, be careful not to over wash it, as this can cause your scalp to become dry, flaky and damaged." This, she warns, will in turn cause your scalp to increase oil production to compensate for the lack of moisture, meaning your hair could end up getting greasy more quickly as a result.
That being said, Petty also says that underwashing can have an equally damaging impact as it can cause product, oil and dead skin to accumulate and, as a result, you may see flaking. “If you’re naturally more prone to greasier hair, this could actually be a sign that your scalp is dry and may be overproducing oils to try to balance this out," she says. Though it might seem counterintuitive, Petty says that reducing hair washes [from daily] and using scalp oils can help to remedy this.
"Train your hair to require a wash every other day (three to four times a week), use lightweight and deep cleansing shampoos that rid the scalp of dirt and look for thickening ingredients such as keratin and panthenol." If you're concerned about your hair looking greasy, one of the best dry shampoos for oily hair can help to absorb excess oil between washes.
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