# Conditioner for thick hair

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/conditioner/for-thick-hair/
Category: Beauty > Conditioner. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 212 counted first-hand reports from Ulta and Sephora shopper reviews, Oct 2020 to Sep 2026.

**Question:** Which conditioner is good for thick hair?

**Short answer:** Pureology Hydrate Conditioner has the best record for thick hair: 31 of 31 shoppers said it softened and detangled their hair and controlled frizz. Each record counts just shoppers who said they have thick hair. Pureology makes three of the five conditioners here and takes the first three places, with Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner at 21 of 23 and Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner at 14 of 15, while OUAI Medium Hair Conditioner has the weakest record here at 9 of 13.

**What stands out:** Price comes up for all five conditioners. 24% of Nanoworks Gold reviews, 13% of OUAI reviews and 12% of Olaplex reviews say it costs too much, and Pureology's Strength Cure and Hydrate draw the same complaint at 7% and 5%.

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Soft and manageable | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pureology Hydrate Conditioner | 31 of 31 | 100% | yes |
| 2 | Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner | 21 of 23 | 91% | yes |
| 3 | Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner | 14 of 15 | 93% | yes |
| 4 | Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner | 18 of 25 | 72% | yes |
| 5 | OUAI Medium Hair Conditioner | 9 of 13 | 69% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Pureology Hydrate Conditioner

All 31 shoppers with thick hair who gave a verdict said it worked, and no other conditioner here has more of them behind it. Of its 59 reviews, 44% call it moisturizing and 44% praise the scent, though some find the scent bad or too strong. A few say it weighs hair down (5%) or costs too much (5%).

- Praised for: Nice scent (44%), Moisturizing (44%), Soft hair (32%)
- Complaints: Bad or strong scent (14%), Weighs hair down (5%), Too expensive (5%)
- Reports counted: 59

### 2. Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner

Scent and softness stand out: 49% of its 45 reviews praise the scent and 42% say hair felt soft. 21 of 23 shoppers with thick hair said it worked. Complaints are scattered: build-up (9%), price (7%) and not being moisturizing enough (7%).

- Praised for: Nice scent (49%), Soft hair (42%), Moisturizing (33%)
- Complaints: Build-up (9%), Too expensive (7%), Bad or strong scent (4%)
- Reports counted: 45

### 3. Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner

Just 15 shoppers with thick hair weighed in, fewer than for the other two Pureology conditioners, and 14 of 15 said it worked. Of its 34 reviews, 35% say hair felt soft and 18% say it adds shine, but 24% say it costs too much.

- Praised for: Soft hair (35%), Nice scent (26%), Moisturizing (21%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (24%), Bad or strong scent (18%)
- Reports counted: 34

### 4. Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

Shoppers with thick hair were less sure of this one than of the Pureology conditioners, with 18 of 25 saying it worked. Of its 59 reviews, 32% say hair felt soft, but 12% say it costs too much, 7% call it greasy and 7% say it weighs hair down.

- Praised for: Soft hair (32%), Moisturizing (19%), Doesn't weigh hair down (14%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (12%), Weighs hair down (7%), Greasy (7%)
- Reports counted: 59

### 5. OUAI Medium Hair Conditioner

This is the weakest record here at 9 of 13, and it rests on a small group of shoppers with thick hair. Of its 15 reviews, 47% praise the scent, but 27% say it isn't moisturizing enough and 13% say it costs too much.

- Praised for: Nice scent (47%), Moisturizing (33%), Detangles (20%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (13%)
- Reports counted: 15

## Questions

**Which conditioner works for thick hair?**

Pureology Hydrate Conditioner has the best record (31 of 31), followed by Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner (21 of 23) and Pureology Nanoworks Gold Conditioner (14 of 15). More shoppers with thick hair weighed in on Pureology Hydrate Conditioner than on any other conditioner here (31 shoppers).

**Is Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner good for thick hair?**

Often, but less reliably than the Pureology picks. 18 of 25 shoppers with thick hair said it worked and 7 said it didn't. Of its 59 reviews, 32% say hair felt soft, while 12% say it costs too much and 7% call it greasy.

**Can a conditioner weigh down thick hair?**

A few reviews say so: it comes up in 7% of Olaplex reviews and 5% of Pureology Hydrate reviews. In 20% of Pureology Strength Cure reviews, shoppers say it doesn't weigh hair down. Check the label for how much to use, then adjust to your hair.

**Do these conditioners smell good?**

Scent is a matter of taste. Pureology Strength Cure reviews praise it at 49%, against 44% for Pureology Hydrate and 47% for OUAI, and some reviews of the three Pureology conditioners also find the scent bad or too strong. If scent matters to you, smell a sample first.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/