Coarse hair is hard to manage and susceptible to frizz and dryness. The wrong shampoo and conditioner can make things worse by leaving the hair dull, limp, or drier than it was before. But the best shampoos and conditioners for thick, coarse hair restore shine and softness. Read on to learn more.
| The best shampoos and conditioners for thick, coarse hair | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| Redken All Soft Mega Shampoo and Conditioner |
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| Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Excellium Taming Duo |
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| Wella Invigo Brilliance Shampoo & Conditioner for Coarse Colored Hair |
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| MATRIX Total Results Mega Sleek Shampoo |
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| BIOSILK Silk Therapy Duo Set Shampoo and Conditioner |
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| Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Combination Set |
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| GIOVANNI Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo |
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| WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Hair Conditioner |
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| Maui Moisture Smooth & Repair Anti-Frizz Curl Shampoo |
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| Shampoo for Men by Bevel |
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How do I deal with thick and coarse hair?
It’s tempting to try to force coarse, thick hair to cooperate by heat-styling it or using extra styling product. That might even be appropriate on occasion, but it’s not a long-term solution. It’s better to use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to soften the hair and keep it healthy.
Hard water and harsh weather will try to upset the balance. But if you’re using a nourishing shampoo and conditioner, you’ll find that your hair can stay smooth despite what life throws at it.
Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Thick, Coarse Hair in 2024
Redken All Soft Mega Shampoo and Conditioner
Let’s start with the best shampoo for dry, damaged hair. It’s a salon-quality product that’s happily available for retail sale. Redken makes two versions of it and this is the one (All Soft Mega) for thick, coarse hair. It cancels out the negative effects of hard water, saltwater, and over-styling.
The shampoo is quite conditioning all by itself, leaving the hair shiny and soft. But you’ll get better results if you follow up with the conditioner. The leave-in conditioner helps even more with detangling.
The beneficial ingredients include aloe, plant protein, and Sacha Inchi oil. However, if you’re trying to avoid sulfates or silicone, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Also, it contains salt which may interfere with a keratin treatment.
Pros:
- Formulated especially for damaged, dry hair that’s thick and coarse
- Leaves the hair shiny, soft, and easy to detangle
- Features plant protein, aloe, and Sacha Inchi oil
Cons:
- Not for keratin-treated styles
- Not sulfate-free or silicone-free
Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Excellium Taming Duo
Here’s the best shampoo for dry and frizzy hair. It’s designed to rejuvenate “coarse, colored mature hair”. It makes the most of Coenzyme Q10 and omega-3 lipids that stimulate keratin production to smooth the hair. That’s why the shampoo and conditioner literally tame wiry, unmanageable hair and virtually eliminate frizz.
Moreover, the products are made to keep hair dye color from washing down the drain. Users say they extend the lifetime of their color treatments and leave their hair feeling like silk. It’s much less difficult to brush and style. Fortunately, most reviewers like the scent as well.
Pros:
- Perfect for taming dry, frizzy hair
- Stimulate keratin production with Coenzyme Q10 and omega-3 to smooth each strand
- Protect color-treated hair
Cons:
- It’s very difficult to obtain a list of ingredients if you can’t hold the bottle in your hand
Wella Invigo Brilliance Shampoo & Conditioner for Coarse Colored Hair
Here’s a shampoo that keeps a color-treated style vibrant for up to seven weeks. Be sure to select the version for coarse hair as there’s also one for fine or normal hair. The best conditioner for damaged hair makes up the other half of this set.
If your old shampoo gives you dandruff or leaves your hair limp, you’ve got to try this one. It actually contains diamond dust for extra gloss. Plus, it smooths and softens each strand for a professional-looking finish. You can say goodbye to frizz, too.
The active ingredients include lime caviar, vitamin E, and histidine. These are antioxidant-rich for extra protection against fading and dryness. They also contribute to the woodsy citrus cocktail scent.
Pros:
- Prevents color-treated styles from fading for up to seven weeks
- Smooths and repairs coarse, damaged hair
- Prevents frizz and leaves hair glossy and manageable
Cons:
- Not sulfate-free or paraben-free
MATRIX Total Results Mega Sleek Shampoo
If you’re going to do one, do them both. Get this set with both shampoo and conditioner for rebellious hair. The shampoo is enriched with shea butter, one of the best ingredients for eliminating frizz. This natural moisturizer seals in hydration and keeps humidity from wrecking your style. Furthermore, it’s gentle enough to use every day.
It may take a few washes to get your hair under control, but then you’ll never want to stop using these products. Users say just a small amount of shampoo and conditioner goes a long way.
Pros:
- Tame frizz and manage unruly hair with shea butter
- Proteins leave each strand sleek and smooth
- Guards against breakage
- Paraben-free
Cons:
- The shampoo is not sulfate-free or salt-free
BIOSILK Silk Therapy Duo Set Shampoo and Conditioner
Silk protein might be just what you need to make your hair manageable. It seeps inside the strands to condition them from the inside out. As a result, the hair becomes shinier and more elastic. And that’s just the shampoo.
The conditioner also has silk protein alongside UV filters and botanicals. The UV protection prevents natural color and color treatments from fading. It also protects the hair from drying out and aging prematurely. Meanwhile, comfrey, lavender, clary, and peppermint stimulate growth and rejuvenate.
Reviewers say the sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner are lifesavers. They leave the hair the softest it’s been in years, even overcoming damage caused by heat styling and color treatments. What’s more, they are safe for keratin-treated hair as they contain no salt.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free and salt-free shampoo and conditioner with silk protein and botanicals
- Restore elasticity and shine
- Protect against UV damage
Cons:
- We try to be picky, but just couldn’t find a downside to these products. However, if you are sensitive to artificial fragrances or wheat protein, check the label
Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Combination Set
What about the best shampoo for coarse, curly hair? We’re fans of these products that detangle and define curls. They smell like coconut and shea butter, a unisex fragrance that appeals to women and men alike. The scent is not surprising since those are two of the essential ingredients.
The shampoo and conditioner offer multiple benefits. Not only do they tame frizz, but they also add shine and leave the hair feeling like silk. Plus, you never have to worry about residue from build-up.
Although all hair types may benefit from this sulfate-free shampoo, both it and the conditioner are formulated for curly and wavy hair.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner that detangle and define curls
- Add shine while leaving the hair silky soft
- No residue or build-up
Cons:
- Too moisturizing for fine hair
GIOVANNI Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo
If you have oily hair, this creamy, pearlescent shampoo isn’t ideal for you. But those with dry, coarse, damaged hair will love it. The sulfate-free formula rejuvenates with delicious natural organics like apple, grapefruit, rosemary, and mango.
We’re pleased to report that it’s color-safe and suitable for curly and textured hair, too. While it prevents breakage, it protects each strand from the scalp to the tip and cleanses without causing dryness.
Be sure to grab the matching vegan and cruelty-free conditioner. Both smell citrusy.
Pros:
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Sulfate-free and moisturizing for dry, coarse, curly, textured, and damaged hair
- Rejuvenates with organic extracts and protects against breakage
Cons:
- None
WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Hair Conditioner
How about the best shampoo for thick hair and a sensitive scalp? You’ll get instant results with this one. If you’ve been enduring itching and flaking, it’s time to detox and deep-cleanse. This shampoo with apple cider vinegar unclogs follicles and sweeps away flakes. It uses nourishing natural oils to make dull hair shiny and bouncy.
Furthermore, it guards against dryness and damage caused by heat styling and harsh weather. Don’t be surprised if your hair grows in thicker because the formula has nettle, saw palmetto, and argan oil. But because it’s a conditioning shampoo, it leaves thick hair easy to brush.
Also, the formula is color-safe, sulfate-free, plant-based, and silicone-free, too. Even the fragrance is pleasant – you’ll never know that it contains vinegar!
The accompanying conditioner doesn’t have vinegar, but it does contain Nature’s best moisturizers like coconut, avocado, and sweet almond oil. If you have naturally oily hair, only apply it from the middle of the shaft to the tip, not the scalp.
Pros:
- Brings back shine and manageability
- Cleanses the scalp, unclog follicles, relieves itching and flaking
- Sulfate-free, silicone-free, color-safe, and plant-based
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons:
- None
Maui Moisture Smooth & Repair Anti-Frizz Curl Shampoo
Haircare products can be expensive, especially the ones from a salon. So here’s the best drugstore shampoo for thick, coarse hair. It’s inexpensive and effective. Also important, it’s sulfate-free and safe for color-treated hair. (Nevertheless, it contains sodium chloride which is a no-no for keratin treatments).
When you pour it into your hand, take a deep breath of the tasty vanilla scent. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s going to linger on your hair. When you wash with it, it smooths and softens the coarsest styles and makes it so much easier to detangle.
The frizz-free magic comes from aloe, coconut, and Kukui nut oils along with actual vanilla bean. In fact, unlike many shampoos, it’s not water-based. The first ingredient on the list is aloe vera juice. Moreover, the formula has no silicone, artificial colors, parabens, or animal ingredients.
Pros:
- Delicious vanilla bean fragrance (contains real vanilla)
- Sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free
- De-frizzes, detangles, and softens the coarsest hair
- Features aloe vera juice, coconut, and Kukui nut oil
Cons:
- None
Shampoo for Men by Bevel
It’s described as a luxury men’s shampoo, but there’s no reason why women can’t enjoy it. It’s especially formulated for textured, coarse, and curly styles. It cleanses the scalp and the thickest of hair without removing the natural oil. Although it may be conditioning enough for your needs, there’s also a matching conditioner and a curl cream.
Although it’s free of sulfates, parabens, artificial colors, and phthalates, it has a soft masculine fragrance.
Pros:
- Specialty shampoo for coarse, textured, and curly styles
- Cleanses without stripping oil
- No sulfates, parabens, dyes, or phthalates
Cons:
- None
Conclusion
Any old shampoo won’t do if you have coarse, thick hair. But the right haircare products will tame and soften it to make it easier to brush and style.
We hope our reviews helped you find your new favorite shampoo and conditioner today. If you’re thrilled with the results, please come back and tell us about your experience.