Before we get into it, though, (this is important, I swear) – If you haven’t seen my companion article about how to wash & dry your hair properly, I highly suggest you check it out first, because all the groomers I mentioned in my Series Introduction Video said that men are totally crapping the bed in this department and it makes way more of a difference than you think. I promise you’ll learn something new in that article.
Dandruff
Before we dive into the best products for your hair type, I want to address the d-word… No, not that D-word! Dandruff!
Dandruff is almost always the result of 3 things:
- Using harsh shampoos, with sulfates and parabens that strip the hair and scalp of the natural oils and vitamins, leaving your scalp and hair dry and flaky.
- Not washing your hair and massaging your scalp properly.
- Not staying hydrated enough and having a proper diet.
I highly suggest you first try washing your hair properly with quality products as well as upping your water and healthy food intake and see if that doesn’t cure your dandruff issue once and for all.
Hair Loss Shampoo & Conditioner For Thinning or Balding Men
The main goal for choosing a hair loss shampoo and conditioner is you want them to:
- Slow down or prevent hair loss; and
- Thicken hair so it appears fuller
The best way to slow down and prevent hair loss is to have a healthy and clean scalp that’s free of DHT which is found in the sebum that’s produced from your scalp. DHT is the cause of male baldness and is like a leech that slowly kills your hair follicles. To combat this, you should use the best hairloss shampoo on the market by Nizoral every 3 days because it contains the only ingredient on the market that’s proven to prevent hair loss by killing DHT on your scalp. The downside, though, is that it also makes your hair appear limp and lifeless, so you definitely want to combine it with the Nioxin conditioner below to minimize this effect.
On the days you’re not using Nizoral shampoo, switch to Nioxin’s shampoo and conditioner system because it promotes a healthy scalp and gives your hair more density so it looks fuller.
For a hair growth shampoo, you can use Rogaine, but the second you stop using it, the new hair will fall out, so it’s not really recommended. I would add Propecia to your routine, instead, because the medication will definitely halt further hair loss from below the surface, so it’s more effective, but it has some side effects, so that’s up to you to determine if it’s worth it or not.
$14 – Nizoral Shampoo
$20-44 – Determine which Nioxin system is best for you:
System 1: Normal to thin-looking, fine hair
System 2: Noticeably thinning, fine hair
System 3: Normal to thin-looking, fine hair that’s chemically treated
System 4: Noticeably thinning, fine hair that’s chemically treated
System 5: Normal to thin-looking, medium to coarse hair
System 6: Noticeably thinning, medium to coarse hair
$40 – Rogaine
Best Shampoos & Conditioners for Fine Hair
If you have fine hair, then the goal is to make your hair appear thicker and fuller.
Oily and greasy hair is your enemy because it will make your hair look even finer than it is.
The best fine hair shampoo for men is the Plumping Wash and Rinse by Kevin Murphy because it helps strengthen your hair follicles while adding volume by plumping each hair strand for a thicker look. For a more budget-friendly option, V76 by Vaughn’s Energizing shampoo and conditioner are lightweight and won’t strip away the essential oils and vitamins that you need for healthy hair growth but will still get rid of any excess oil on your scalp. All the professionals I spoke with, though, said no question, Kevin Murphy is the absolute best.
$49 – Kevin Murphy Plumping Wash – Note: Although I found the product available online, Kevin Murphy only allows their products to be sold at salons, which you can locate on their website here.
$54 – Kevin Murphy Plumping Rinse
$19 – V76 by Vaughn Energizing Shampoo
$19 – V76 by Vaughn Energizing Conditioner
Coarse / Curly / Kinky Hair
Unlike your thin hair brethren, you can never have enough moisture. You want to choose products with extra moisture, especially when it comes to your conditioner – this will help cut down on the frizz and make your hair more manageable.
Once you apply conditioner you can skip the rinse and have it function as a leave-in conditioner or if you think that’s too weird, you can also get a separate leave-in conditioner to apply after you dry your hair for maximum moisture and smoothness. Apply the product while your hair is still damp.
Kevin Murphy’s Smooth Again Wash and Rinse is definitely the best of the bunch below and came unanimously recommended by the professionals I spoke with.
$80 – Kevin Murphy Smooth Again Wash and Rinse Combo Set
$19 – V76 by Vaughn Hydrating Shampoo
$19 – V76 by Vaughn Hydrating Conditioner
Leave-In Conditioners
$30 – Pure Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
It might sound crazy, but coconut oil works incredibly well as a leave-in conditioner (and skin moisturizer). Take a small amount, warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave and finger comb it into your damp hair after a shower.
$20 – Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Conditioner Leave-In
$6 – Hawaiian Silky 14 in 1 Miracle Worker
Wavy / Straight Hair
For wavy or straight hair, you don’t need anything too crazy. I love the Jack Black All Over Wash because not only is it light and nourishing, but you are able to use it as a face and body wash, as well. Trust me, it sounds weird, and my fiance, Dorian, and some of my other test subjects were very skeptical when trying it, too, but they all said it was great and that it lived up the hype.
If you don’t want the all-in-one solution, then give Kevin Murphy’s shampoo and conditioner a try – their entire line, for all hair types, was highly recommended by all the professionals I spoke with. My test subjects all loved it, as well.
$21 – Jack Black All Over Wash
$49 – Kevin Murphy Stimulate Me Wash
$38 – Kevin Murphy Stimulate Me Rinse (Conditioner)
$19 – V76 by Vaughn Energizing Shampoo
$19 – V76 by Vaughn Energizing Conditioner
That’s it! Hope you found this article about the best men’s shampoos and conditioners helpful!