As a beauty writer, I am lucky enough to test a lot of shampoo and conditioner formulas. And, while I often discover hair-cleansing duos I’d happily recommend, it’s not often that I find one that makes me want to change up my entire haircare routine. After testing The Nue Co. Super Thick Shampoo and Conditioner duo, a shampoo and condition designed to promote hair growth and thickness, I think I have finally found the perfect light shampoo and conditioner for summer when my hair needs a little hydration in my dry Los Angeles climate.

The Nue Co. Supa Thick Sulfate Free Shampoo for Hair Growth — $22.00

Size: 8.45 ounces

Key Ingredients: Red algae, apple cider vinegar, vitamin B5 

Pros:

• It provides a deep clean without stripping strands
• The pump bottle is easy to use
• It has a low pH, so it helps balance the scalp’s microbiome

Cons:

• The small bottle size
• It doesn’t lather a ton

The Nue Co. Supa Thick Supa Thick Thickening Conditioner for Hair Growth — $24.00

Size: 8.45 ounces

Key Ingredients: Fiberhance TM, NaturePep amaranth, amino acid

Pros:

• It’s easy to apply to strands
• It rinses out well
• It leaves hair feeling super soft

Cons:

• The small bottle size

My honest thoughts about The Nue Co. Supa Thick Shampoo & Conditioner

The shampoo

Before trying the Nue Co. Supa Thick Sulfate Free Shampoo, my roots felt greasy, and my ends felt dry—so I was eager to get my rinse and repeat on. One of the best things about this formula is that it sort of moonlights as a clarifying shampoo, thanks to its inclusion of apple cider vinegar, which gently and effectively lifts away build-up and debris without making the hair feel stripped of natural oils.

And although some apple cider vinegar shampoos have a very noticeable aroma, this one does not. Instead, it has a subtle and natural spa-worthy scent that feels clean and refreshing. In addition to ACV, the shampoo also features red algae and vitamin B5 in its ingredient lineup, which can thicken strands, helps maintain moisture levels, and overall supports a super healthy scalp and hair.

“Vitamin B5 focuses on each individual follicle, moisturizing and hydrating the follicle, strengthening it and protecting it from further damage,” says Dr. Jeannette Graf, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. “Red algae aids in regulating the natural oils in your scalp—balancing these oils prevents further irritation and inflammation to the scalp.”

Although the shampoo doesn’t lather a ton—and I, therefore, used a lot more than I would have liked on my initial test—I found that the pump bottle was very convenient compared to all of the squeeze applicators in my shower. Additionally, the formula applied to the scalp and strands well and wasn’t too thick, but also wasn’t too liquid-y, either. Immediately after rinsing my hair, I noticed an improvement in the cleanliness of my hair which is definitely not always the case with some shampoo formulas. 

Overall, I was impressed by this shampoo and how well it cleaned my hair. I have a naturally dry scalp with accompanying dry hair to match and so using more clarifying formulas isn’t always ideal for me. However, this shampoo is gentle enough, and the apple cider vinegar worked well at not only clarifying strands but also making my scalp feel a little more balanced and less irritated from the dryness. Additionally, the red algae helps with irritation and inflammation, so the formula helped calm my itchy scalp and provide an overall soothing sensation. 

The conditioner

Since The Nue Co. shampoo is slightly clarifying, you need a lightweight yet effective conditioner as a follow-up—and the Supa Thick Thickening Conditioner is the perfect second act. As soon as I squeezed some into my hands, I fell in love with this conditioner. The consistency is lightweight, yet it still has this hair mask feel that worked really well on my dry ends and made them feel hydrated and deep conditioned even while wet. 

The conditioner formula was also easy to apply all over—which is no easy feat when you have long, naturally wavy hair like me—and I didn’t need to leave it on for too long in order to see the benefits. Like the shampoo, the conditioner doesn’t have any artificial fragrance but it features a light and subtle spa-like aroma that smells luxurious and refreshing, which I can always appreciate. Additionally, it rinses out really well and never feels like you have leftover residue like other deeply nourishing formulas. 

Overall, this conditioner was one of the best ones I’ve ever tried. I love it for its consistency, deep conditioning benefits, and incredible scent, and I found it is an excellent formula for the summer when my hair needs a little extra love but also doesn’t like to be weighed down by heavier formulas. While I didn’t notice a significant change in hair growth, the shampoo and conditioner are both designed to promote a healthier scalp, which can promote an environment for growth.

With regular use, I noticed that my scalp felt cleaner for longer (and without that itchy, uncomfortable feeling you get when shampoo strips away too much natural oil) and that my strands felt far more hydrated than before using the cleansing duo. I also noticed that, despite my scalp and hair feeling more moisturized, it never became greasy between washes and always maintained a lightweight yet nourished feel. On top of that, my ends held a curl better—which I achieve with my Dyson Airwrap—and I was even able to extend my hairstyle by two extra days before touching things up.

Does it actually help with hair growth?

While I’m still testing to find out, many customers claim that the Nue Co. formula for both shampoo and conditioner did, in fact, help with growth. One shoppers writes, “I have long, thick, straight hair which previously tended to shed easily. After switching to Supa Thick shampoo, my scalp feels healthier and my hair is stronger. Hair feels smoother all around with less frizz, much less shedding, and my favorite improvement is more noticeable volume.”

Another says, “My hair feels so much thicker and smoother after using this shampoo and conditioner duo for only 2 weeks of daily use! I will be recommending!”

The key ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner are the red algae and vitamin B5. Red algae is a natural anti-inflammatory (great for oily scalps and dandruff) and, as Dr. Graf explains, regulates natural oils for a more balanced scalp. And, according to Dr. Graf, vitamin B5 strengthen and nourishes the hair follicle, which can support hair growth. Above all else, these two ingredients—plus the formula as a whole—work together to provide a healthy scalp microbiome, creating an ideal environment for healthy strands, too. “Having a health scalp microbiome protects the follicles from pathogen, fungus overgrowth, sun damage, and irritation,” explains Dr. Graf. “Protecting and aiding in the health of these follicles and scalp promotes strong and healthy hair growth.”