Conditioner for dry, thick, wavy hair?

[minipie]

as above please!

Age 12 DD’s hair is nothing like mine. It’s thick, long, wavy (not curly) and tends towards being dry. It’s really thirsty and eats normal conditioners for breakfast. Mine is thin and fine and I avoid heavy or rich conditioners so I’ve no idea where to start with hers!

Can anyone suggest some conditioners that might be good? Ideally not too pricey as she needs to use quite a lot, and if possible available at Boots or supermarkets rather than a special order.

Open to masks and oils too

Thank you

I like the Aussie SOS range for my long, thick, wavy hair. You can get a regular conditioner and the thicker 3 minute miracle style one too which tbh I just use all the time.

Also a leave-in spray could help. I like the Pantene 3-second gloss one. I tip my head upside down and spray both sides while my hair is still damp.

Aveeno almond. Quite hard to get in shops but available usually at Boots and from Amazon.

I agree with the Aussie recommendation. There’s a tub I buy - the name of it escapes me - it’s the Aussie sos range, purple tub. You can use it both after shampoo or instead of and then when it’s wet, apply liberally. It won’t work on dry hair. It’s amazing stuff.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Brazilian Sleek range has saved my hair! I’ve got hair just like your daughters (although mine is now a chin length bob) and this stuff is awesome. Shampoo as normal and then apply copious conditioner and leave it in for 3 mins before rinsing.

Bumble and Bumble super rich conditioner.

I also spray my hair with Mane ‘n Tail Detangler Spray when my hair is dry.

Bumble and bumble hardly fits the not too pricey category!

Honestly as someone who has lived with with thick, dry, bushy hair for almost 50 years, just get something cheap with a thick consistency and that says moisturising on the bottle, and let her use loads of it. Comb it through with a wide tooth comb. Don't wash too often, twice a week is plenty. Avoid heat drying where you can. Don't brush it too much, and especially not when it's dry. If you need to brush/detangle, spray with water first (you can add a squirt of conditioner to the water) before brushing. Look for a leave in conditioner too, I like the Charles Worthington moisture seal one.

just get something cheap with a thick consistency and that says moisturising on the bottle, and let her use loads of it. Comb it through with a wide tooth comb. Don't wash too often, twice a week is plenty. Avoid heat drying where you can. Don't brush it too much, and especially not when it's dry.

This. Own brand is fine. The Aussie stuff has changed formula - Aldi does a similar range. Mane'n'tail shampoo is rubbish.

I buy the huge bottles of Tresemme moisturising conditioner, available in Boots and at the supermarket. I wash my hair at the start of my shower and leave the conditioner in whilst I wash the rest of me. Has worked well for me for years.

I have similar hair and use Cantu, i think it's about £12 for the conditioner but it's huge and lasts for months

Thank you, I will look at all of these!

She used to shampoo once a week and co wash the rest of the time but with puberty that isn’t cutting it, it gets waxy/oily at the roots and needs shampoo more often. So that’s probably why it’s drier now.

We do have Aussie leave in spray conditioner but she can get through a bottle in a week …

I have similar hair and actually don't use conditioner, it makes my hair worse. On occasion I use a mask, I apply it to dry hair a few minutes before I wash it. My hair prefers reverse conditioning (i.e. before shampooing). I also only wash it twice a week.

I'd also recommend a silk pillowcase, cotton sucks the moisture out of my hair terribly.

I use the Faith in Nature curly shampoo and conditioner. I have noticed a huge improvement even against more expensive salon brands!

She could try double shampooing once a week or maybe every six days, so when she washes, rinse the shampoo off and then shampoo her hair again. Also running a bit of conditioner though her hair whilst it is wet, and after she has rinsed the rest off might keep the moisture in a bit.

This type of hair can be quite dry. I avoid sulfates and use:

OGX coconut milk shampoo
Haskins coconut conditioner

Bonus is they smell amazing - coconut.

Another high street option is Loreal Dream Lengths but I think they changed the formula. Worth a try again though. Very good at defrizzing.

Herbal Essences also does a hydrating one, think it's the blue coconut one.

Basically coconut is hydrating.

To make it mode manageable, I also recommend a blow dry anti frizz cream. If you prefer serum Loreal anti frizz serum. Wouldn't be without something to put on after the washing before drying.

I don't wash more than once a week if I'm honest. Sometimes twice or just a fringe wash mid week.

It's an effort to blow dry so I save that for when I want to make an effort.

But putting it back into a low French bun is really good when it's wet- I do that and just dry and style the fringe mainly. Helps to tame any frizz when it dries.

Thanks !

I have ordered some moisturising Tresemme shampoo and conditioner - coconut based - so will start with that and see.

Silk pillowcase is an idea, thanks - need to check with her as she’s fussy on some sensory stuff - and I’m intrigued by double shampooing once a week - I can see that might do a deep clean but without the drying of shampooing twice a week.

She doesn’t blow dry ever! Suppose it may come in time.

I need to encourage her to condition at the start of the shower and leave it in longer.

I was the same kid. Use some natural plant oil on it when dry and it will be soft and defined. Also can mix conditioner with water in a spray bottle and use as a leave-on treatment. Don't brush when dry... I wish my thin straight-haired mum had known that! I always looked so fluffy.

The advice I've followed for years is to apply the shampoo to the roots of the hair, but to do little more than rinse it through the rest of your hair, so you're not stripping it of all the protective oils/moisture/whatever.