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Caring for your hair doesn’t have to take a million steps, and we also don’t have to settle for a rogue 2-in-1 drugstore pick. A great shampoo and conditioner will take you most of the way there, and the picks on this list are for men of all hair types. Foggy mirrors and a great-smelling shower are likely to follow each use.
BEST SHAMPOO
Fellow Seasonal Wash Duo Winter and Summer Shampoos
Fellow understands that one’s hair needs change depending on the season. That’s why we’ve long loved this shampoo duo: The brand’s Summer Wash is a go-to head cleanser in the warmer months, while its Winter Wash won’t risk overdrying strands during cold weather. In The Summer Wash, coconut-derived surfactants and zinc work to regulate the sebum (just in case you’re sweating more than usual), while in the Winter Wash, vegetable-derived surfactants and a dose of amino acids and plant proteins fortify and support hair growth.
BEST CONDITIONER
Grooming Lounge "You Need Conditioner"
Unless you’re dealing with an overwhelming amount of volume and untenable strand thickness — in which case, lucky you — then The Grooming Lounge’s conditioner might change your life. It rehydrates and fortifies every strand, leaving hair visibly thicker post-application. We recommend letting it set for a minute or two before rinsing it off so that it has enough time to bind to your strands and plump them full of nutrients like jojoba seed oil and keratin. It even works to use on non-shampoo days as a hair-thickening rinse.
BEST LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER
Scotch Porter Moisture-Rich Leave-In Hair Conditioner
When it comes to fighting frizz and maintaining definition, curls and coils require a lot more attention than other hair textures. Scotch Porter’s leave-in conditioner coats the strands with aloe, kale proteins, and biotin to prevent moisture loss and improve definition. It also has a refreshing amber-cedar scent that lingers post-application. Use it on longer hair and buzz-length styles alike.
BEST HAIR GEL
American Crew Strong Hold Hair Gel
American Crew’s outstanding styler is part of the new wave of hair gels that impart high hold and medium to high shine without a crunchy, helmet-like finish. On the contrary, its alcohol-free formula has a touchable, flexible hold, thanks to nourishing ingredients like panthenol and safflower seed oil. Pro tip: Mix a dash of it in a matte styler for a boost or use it as a finishing gel on short styles.
BEST DRY SHAMPOO
STMNT Spray Powder
This mattifying powder helps revive lifeless or overly greasy hair. It’s part of one of the industry’s best and most dynamic hair care assortments and even works well as a standalone styler for short, choppy ‘dos. Plus, like all STMNT products, it smells brilliant, with crisp citrus, peppermint, marine, and woody notes.
BEST SCALP TREATMENT
NaturalTech ENERGIZING Superactive Treatment
On the hair retention front, we always recommend speaking with a board-certified dermatologist to devise the best plan for your specific needs. However, it never hurts to supplement those clinical-grade prescriptions with a serum like this one from Davines, which stimulates circulation to boost nutrient delivery to your follicles. (It also balances the scalp’s microbiome with probiotics.)
BEST HAIR MASK
Prose Custom Pre-Shampoo Hair Mask
When it comes to hair products, what works for you might not work for everyone else. That’s the Prose M.O. — fill out the brand’s in-depth questionnaire and receive an entire regimen tailored to your strand density, oil or dryness levels, water hardness, curl pattern, and more. In particular, though, we love the brand’s pre-shampoo hair mask. Deploy it once a week to keep your hair feeling healthy and strong. It also helps mitigate dehydration and disrepair caused by many overly stripping shampoos.