Before you get in the shower, put Garnier Fructis conditioner on your DRY hair. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then wet it in the shower, shampoo it, and rinse. Your hair will be less puffy because it absorbed the conditioner first. Works for me. Try it and let me know!
I have thick hair as well and I use gariner just the reg stuff in the green bottle for normal hair. Not the cream version of it that makes me hair oily.