People with natural, untreated hair who are noticing light or early-stage thinning and want a conditioner that won't weigh hair down while supporting scalp health. It's a consumer product (also used in salons) and is meant to be used as the second step in Nioxin's 3-part System 1 kit, not as a standalone deep conditioner. It's specifically for lighter thinning — Nioxin has separate System numbers (2, 3, 4...) for more progressed thinning or chemically treated hair.

This conditioner is built to complement, not compete with, the System 1 shampoo — it's meant for the specific case of natural hair that's just starting to feel thinner, where you still want moisture and detangling but don't want a heavy conditioner flattening already-fine strands. What sets it apart from a generic conditioner is that it carries the same scalp-supporting actives (niacinamide, biotin, caffeine) as the rest of the System 1 line, plus peppermint and wild mint oils for a noticeable tingling, freshening effect on the scalp. It's worth using as Nioxin intends — as one leg of the 3-step kit — since that's how the brand's reported thickening and density results were measured.

After shampooing with System 1 Cleanser, apply the conditioner from roots to ends. Leave on for 1–3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. For visible results, use as part of the complete 3-step System 1 regimen (cleanser, conditioner, then leave-on scalp treatment) at least 3 times per week; Nioxin reports noticeable results after about 30 days of consistent use.

Pros:

• Lightweight, sulfate-free conditioner formula that won't overload fine or lightly-thinning hair
• Contains niacinamide, biotin, panthenol and caffeine alongside peppermint and wild mint oil for a scalp-focused (not just strand-focused) conditioner
• Designed to work as part of a complete regimen with the matching System 1 shampoo and scalp treatment

Cons:

• Intended to be used within the full 3-step System 1 kit — using it alone likely won't reproduce Nioxin's reported results
• Formulated specifically for natural/untreated hair with light thinning, so it isn't suited to chemically treated hair or more advanced thinning
• The 85%/80%/80% figures come from a self-reported 2016 consumer panel survey (230 US panelists) on the full kit, not a controlled clinical trial of the conditioner alone