Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

4 Cleansing Conditioners to Simplify Your Hair Routine

Megan Freshley
By

cleansing conditioners
Let’s face it: Men tend to have a complicated relationship with conditioner.

There are even some of you out there (we won’t name names) who forgo conditioner altogether in order to avoid the dreaded “poofy” look — when your hair gets a mind of its own requires a ton of product to bring the whole situation back down to earth. But when you only use shampoo, you’re inviting less-than-touchable texture. No wonder the beanie endures. 

Recommended Videos

So how do you strike the balance between fluffy and greasy and achieve your best possible hair? Men’s cleansing conditioners, also known as co-washes, have been around for a while. But those of you who have a go-to you aren’t too pleased with but haven’t bothered to replace may not have noticed what a huge difference they can make.

Plus, it’s only one step. Save that precious shower time for singing. Here are the best cult-favorite cleansing conditioners to try:

1. R + Co Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner

R+Co Cleansing Conditioner

If your hair still hasn’t recovered from that ironic frosted tips experiment — or any color treatment you might have actually tried — this foaming conditioner will bring your strands back to life. The fragrance, called “Love Bite,” is a mix of Orange, Rhubarb, Cardamom, Juicy Fig, Guava, Blonde Woods, and Amber. Don’t blame us if your date starts huffing your head.

2. Matrix Biolage Cleansing Conditioner

Matrix Biolage cleansing conditioner

Since this blend is soap-free and non-stripping, it won’t bring out the poof. Instead, avocado nourishes and adds tons of shine while smoothing the texture of the hair cuticle. If your hair is straight or fine, this conditioner will leave it feeling clean, soft, and ready for a selfie sesh.

3. Purely Perfect Cleansing Creme

Purely Perfect Cleansing Creme

Count yourself lucky if you can get your hands on Purely Perfect Cleansing Creme. This stuff sells out across the internet on the regular — but never fear, because it always comes back. Its delicate scent will make you feel luxe as all get out, and the aloe vera in the blend will add silkiness and shine to any hair type.

4. Aveda be curly™ co-wash

Aveda Co-wash

If you’ve ever stepped foot in an Aveda salon, you know every product they make smells like it was sent straight from heaven. An earthy, gender-neutral heaven, that is. This lemon, bergamot, and orange-scented number is perfect for thick, textured hair or bountiful curls. It cleanses and moisturizes at the same time for frizz-free bounce and softness.

Whether your hair is straight, textured, curly, fine, thick, receding like it’s gotta run to an appointment, or long and luscious as the mane of Fabio Himself, one of these cleansing conditioners will totally change the way you approach your hair routine.

Related Reading: Valentine’s Day Grooming Tips from Expert David Pirrotta

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Megan Freshley
Megan Freshley
Megan Freshley is a freelance copywriter and poet living in Portland, OR. She's studied at Antioch College and the Esalen…
The Best Dandruff Shampoo for Men to Eliminate White Flakes
best dandruff shampoo for men man with gettyimages

It's getting to be that time of year when we might not mind seeing some white flakes drifting around ... as long as they aren't the kind that drifts down onto our black sport coat, navy sweater, or any other dark clothing that serves as a flashing sign that says "Look world! I have dandruff!"
So, What Is Dandruff Anyway? 
The simple answer: Dead skin that flakes off your scalp. The more complicated version of the answer is that Seborrheic dermatitis, as dandruff is known scientifically, can happen any time of year and for any number of reasons. If we take a deeper, more scientific dive, we learn that there is a microbe present on everyone's scalp called Malassezia globosa. It turns out that fully half of us humans are sensitive to it. As the microbe breaks down the sebum hidden on your noggin, it produces oleic acid, which irritates your scalp and starts a chain reaction of bad things that results in your friends brushing off your clothes. (For a more in-depth -- and partly animated -- explanation, check out this video from Head & Shoulders featuring science vlogger Derek Muller, of the Veritasium vlog. It gets into genetics, treatment...and how we share dandruff with the dinosaurs!)

If you're a man experiencing the horror of dandruff, don't fret. There are shampoos designed to treat dandruff for just about every type of itchy head, utilizing chemicals that help fight back the conditions leading to an itchy scalp and a personal blizzard. Here we've gathered some of the best dandruff shampoos that are easily available over the counter, for you to look calm, cool, and flake-free.
Read more: Best Shampoos
Best Dandruff Shampoos
American Crew Anti-Dandruff Plus Sebum Control Shampoo

Read more
The Best 4-Step Skincare Routine for Aging More Gracefully
best skincare products

It doesn’t matter whether you are in your 20s or 30s -- you still need to take care of your skin to curb the signs of aging like wrinkles and age spots, a man’s worst enemies. If you’re concerned about aging not so gracefully, then be prepared to cultivate a solid skincare regimen.

Building a skincare routine can be overwhelming (or even confusing), as there are volumes of grooming products available on the market. Thankfully, we’re here to help. Below, we’ve gathered the best grooming products from cleansers to moisturizers for our four-step regimen. We hope our routine will make you look more glowing and help you age gracefully. Don’t expect overnight results, though. Be consistent, and you’ll reap the benefits decades from now.

Read more
The 10 Best Day Creams To Complete Your Daily Skincare Routine
Handsome young shirtless man applying cream at his face and looking at himself with smile while standing in front of the mirror.

We get it, you're looking to keep your skincare as simple as possible, but if there's one step you don't want to skip out on, it's using a good day cream. The main function of a day cream is to keep your skin hydrated by sealing in the moisture as well as providing an extra layer of protection from external stressors. A good quality face cream can make all difference in your skincare routine and best of all, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. So there's a day cream to address you specific concern, whether that's sun protection, enlarged pores, sensitive skin, redness, and much more.

We've rounded up some of the best day creams for men to keep your skin looking healthy and smooth.

Read more