The Best Deep Conditioners for Legit Every Hair Type (2024)

I coated my hair in this deep conditioner after a bleach-and-tone a month ago, and it immediately took my hair from stringy and limp to soft, fluffy, and moisturized. The formula is spiked with a whole slew of oils and butters (ahem, coconut oil, shea butter, baobab seed oil, avocado oil, and mango seed butter) to both penetrate and hydrate my actual strands, as well as seal in hydration so my hair stayed smooth and soft even after rinsing. Not to mention, it made my hair hella shiny. Of all the deep conditioners I tested, it was, without a doubt, the most moisturizing.

• Protein: Medium
• Key ingredients: Coconut oil and shea butter (moisturizers)
• Hair type: Very dry to "normal" hair

THE REVIEWS: “I have very coarse, dry, 3c hair,” writes one reviewer. “This mask oozes moisture into it. It smoothes away the frizz and stands up to humidity. It smells amazing. I highly recommend you try this if you have thick, coarse, dry, or curly hair.”

And whenever I use this rich deep conditioner, my hair has that ultra-glossy, ~glass hair~ vibe. The formula temporarily smooths my ends with dimethicone, plus gives it a sealed coating with castor oil, locking in moisture. It also helps strengthen my hair with vegetable protein and peptides, which make it look and feel healthier.

• Protein: Low
• Key ingredients: Castor oil, vegetable protein, peptides, dimethicone (temporarily smoothing)
• Hair type: All

THE REVIEWS: One review reads, "This is my favorite hair mask of all time. I saw immediate results. The texture Is unique and silky and make the hair feel unreal amazing."

I was unaware that a rinse-off hair mask could give me fuller, thicker hair, but here we are. The formula’s hero ingredient is amla extract, which is full of fatty acids that can plump up your hair cuticles to make your strands appear healthier and more voluminous. And don’t worry about it leaving your hair greasy: The formula relies on lightweight kukui nut oil and a little bit of coconut oil to hydrate and smooth, without weighing down your roots.

• Protein: Medium
• Key ingredients: Amla extract (volumizing); kukui nut oil and coconut oil (moisturizers)
• Hair type: All

THE REVIEWS: “She makes you thick!” writes one reviewer. “This product serves as an incredible conditioning mask as well as a thickening mask. My hair felt like it nearly doubled in volume. I have flat lifeless hair if left on its own. I've used plenty of products, but nothing has ever worked like this before. My hair feels SO soft as well! LOVE this!”

Listen: Frizz is natural, normal, and absolutely nothing that needs to be “tamed” or “controlled” (get outta here with that language). Still, if you’re going for a sleek, silky look and want to smooth your frizz and flyaways as much as possible, try this cult-favorite mask from the v-smart researchers at Living Proof. It’s formulated with a patented molecule called OFPMA that actually repels humidity so it can’t poof up your hair as easily, along with emollients like shea butter and jojoba esters that help moisturize your hair to keep it soft and smooth.

• Protein: Low
• Key ingredients: OFPMA (humidity-blocking) and shea butter (moisturizing)
• Hair type: Dry to "normal" hair

THE REVIEWS: “Living Proof No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask is a nice, thick cream that is easy to distribute through my wet 2c/3b hair,” writes one tester. “It smells good without being overly scented and rinses out easily leaving my hair feeling smooth and hydrated.”

First of all, if you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning, you’re not alone (hi, same). And second, the only things that can make your hair grow faster are genetics, hormones, and prescription-strength ingredients. So although this deep conditioner from Virtue can’t grow your hair overnight, it can moisturize thinning strands and soothe your irritated scalp, creating a healthier foundation for hair to grow back. The ingredients list is also packed with strengthening keratin and rice protein to help minimize breakage, along with skin-soothing niacinamide and camellia leaf extract to calm any follicle irritation that could exacerbate hair loss.

• Protein: High
• Key ingredients: Keratin, biotin (strengthening); niacinamide (soothing)
• Hair type: Very dry to "normal" hair

THE REVIEWS: “I have lost a lot of hair postpartum and suffered hair loss,” writes one tester in a review. “I used this treatment and saw visible improvement in the volume of my hair. It’s keeping my hair healthy and thicker. I’m very happy with it!”

This bond-repairing deep conditioner uses a patented, tongue-twisting ingredient called bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate to reconnect broken hair bonds caused by excessive hair coloring and chemical treatments. And surprisingly, it’s low in proteins and moisture, making it perfect for damaged hair that’s also fine, thin, and easily weighed down. Smooth it through your hair once every two weeks to repair your hair, and make sure to incorporate a moisture-only deep conditioner once a week too to hydrate.

• Protein: Low
• Key ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (bond-repairing) and soybean oil (moisturizing)
• Hair type: All

THE REVIEWS: “My hair was in horrible condition after using some products,” one tester writes. “After a few washes, I started to see a difference in my hair’s texture, and I was losing less in the shower. Saved my hair and keeps my color longer!”

Most deep conditioners just sit on top of my fine, low-porosity hair, leaving it super greasy. Hair porosity, as a reminder, is your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture, and having low-porosity hair means my hair has a difficult time absorbing anything, which is why it requires lightweight products. Enter: This sheer conditioning spray that uses just a touch of coconut oil to immediately absorb into my hair without weighing it down. After conditioning—or instead of, if your hair is super fine—spray it on, wait a few minutes, then rinse.

• Protein: Protein free
• Key ingredients: Coconut oil (moisturizing and smoothing)
• Hair type: "Normal" to oily
  

THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, “Oh my gosh, I use this stuff and feel like I have a brand new head of hair! My hair is soft, silky, and smooth. It’s like having that fresh haircut feeling all over again!”

We’ve got all the MVP proteins in this deep conditioner: hydrolyzed corn, wheat, and soy proteins, which work together to fill in the damaged gaps of your hair cuticles, giving them strength and structure (which is especially important after bleaching or chemically treating your hair). Once a month, post-shampoo, comb or rake a blob of this mask from roots to tips, leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse and follow with your usual conditioner.

• Protein: High
• Key ingredients: Avocado oil and sweet almond oil (moisturizers)
• Hair type: Very dry to "normal"

THE REVIEWS: One tester writes, “If you have dry, colored hair, this is a must in your hair routine! I am amazed by how soft and healthy my hair looks after only using it two times.”

If you just got a head full of highlights, went bleach-blonde, or relaxed your hair, you can guarantee that it needs a bunch of TLC right now—including a big dose of healing proteins. Enter: this deep conditioner, which uses a combo of glycerin and aloe leaf juice to lightly hydrate hair, along with a hefty shot of keratin amino acids and hydrolyzed keratin to strengthen. Use this one every 3 to 4 weeks, along with a weekly (!) moisture-only mask from this list.

• Protein: High
• Key ingredients: Keratin amino acids and hydrolyzed keratin (strengthening)
• Hair type: Very dry to dry

THE REVIEWS: “After using tons of bleach and causing damage, this product helped to renew my hair again!” one reviewer writes.

We all have that one friend with a horror story about a chemical treatment gone wrong. If that sounds like you, then (1) go to a professional immediately for damage control, and then (2) grab this deep conditioner. It uses a strong combo of keratin and amino acids to rebuild broken bonds along your hair shaft, along with ceramides to help smooth your ragged hair cuticle.

• Protein: High
• Key ingredients: Babassu oil (moisturizing) and wheat protein (strengthening)
• Hair type: Very dry to dry, damaged

THE REVIEWS: “My hair had been over-bleached and bleached for way too long, and this product brought my hair back to life,” reads one review. “It’s amazing and promise: if your hair needs repair, then this is the product for you!”

This deep-conditioner has max moisture and medium-level protein (thanks to its mix of amino acids in the formula), making it a perfect monthly or bimonthly deep conditioner for ultra-dry, damaged hair (like any color-treated type-4 hair types). Aside from the proteins, this conditioner is also packed with plant oils, like babassu, spearmint, peppermint, and sunflower, to help lock in hydration long after you rinse it out.

• Protein: Medium
• Key ingredients: Babassu oil and glycerin (moisturizers)
• Hair type: Very dry to "normal"

THE REVIEWS: “My hair is 4c natural and shoulder length,” writes one tester in a review. “This deep conditioner is wonderful! My hair comes out flexible, strong, and shiny.”

PSA: Thin, fine hair can also benefit from a monthly deep conditioning treatment, especially if you’ve spent a summer in salty/chlorinated water or a winter in dry-as-hell temps. If you’re worried about grease, reach for this lightweight, protein-free deep conditioner that uses silicones and safflower seed oil to make your hair feel silky-smooth and ultra-shiny—not weighed down.

• Protein: Protein free
• Key ingredients: Safflower seed oil and glycerin (moisturizing)
• Hair type: All

THE REVIEWS: According to one tester, “Best conditioner I have ever used. Moisture is next level. Makes my hair silky soft, is a great detangler, and makes my hair manageable. Love it!”

Finding a deep conditioner that's free of silicones and proteins, but makes your hair smooth as hell? I mean, basically impossible—until Davines did it. This deep conditioner uses a rich dose of babassu butter that’ll help take your hair from super-dry to soft and silky, without making it feel greasy or weighed down.

• Protein: Protein free
• Key ingredients: Babassu oil and hydrogenated farnesene (moisturizers)
• Hair type: Dry to "normal"

THE REVIEWS: “I went from a dark brunette to a light blonde, and the process fried my hair,” one reviewer writes. “This product brought my hair back to life! I use it once a week, and it looks so healthy again.”

If you’re following the Curly Girl Method (CGM)—aka the v popular method of taking care of your curly hair—meet your new moisturizing BFF. This protein-free deep conditioner is free of silicones, alcohols, and waxes (so it won’t build up on your curls), but still manages to hardcore moisturize with shea butter, cocoa butter, and avocado oil. Let it sit on your damp hair for up to an hour, then rinse and repeat weekly or as needed.

• Protein: Protein free
• Key ingredients: Shea butter and avocado oil (moisturizers)
• Hair type: Very dry to "normal"

THE REVIEWS: “I've been using this treatment once a week for about a month in a half,” writes one reviewer. “After every time I've used it, I noticed small improvements each week. Even the first week when I only saw a little bit of improvement, that was HUGE for me, as I had been struggling with my hair since high school. Today, I did the treatment again, and I noticed even more positive changes to my hair.”

This protein-based deep-conditioner also uses a mix of shea butter and hair oils (like, a lotta hair oils: castor, avocado, chia, linseed, and sweet almond oils) to deeply moisturize your dry, curly, or coily hair. Smooth it through your damp hair in sections with the praying hands method, let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse and repeat weekly or biweekly. For even deeper penetration, you can smooth it on dry hair, says Hill.

• Protein: Medium
• Key ingredients: Rice amino acids (strengthening) and avocado oil (moisturizing)
• Hair type: Dry to "normal"

THE REVIEWS: “I haven’t seen my curls look this way since I was a young girl, long before I ever straightened my hair for the first time,” writes one tester. “I am so impressed with the immediate and the long-term results I’ve seen from adding this into my hair care routine.”

This deep-conditioning mask deserves a billion gold stars for its ability to keep blonde hair bright and fresh. The formula is spiked with purple pigments that help neutralize brassy orange tones on blonde and silver or gray hair, while its mango and shea butters keep strands soft and moisturized.

• Protein: Medium
• Key ingredients: Sea buckthorn oil, borage seed oil, mango seed butter (moisturizers)
• Hair type: Dry to "normal"

THE REVIEWS: “This is so far the best purple hair mask that I’ve ever used in my life,” one review reads. “Pleasant subtle scent, gives me an amazing cold tone color afterward, and is very (!) moisturizing. Will definitely be buying again.”

Deep conditioner (often called a hair treatment or hair mask) is used for moisturizing, smoothing, and repairing hair, depending on the formula you choose. Unlike traditional rinse-out conditioners, deep conditioners tend to have super-high concentrations of moisturizing ingredients (like avocado oil, castor oil, shea butter, jojoba oil) and strengthening proteins (like amino acids, keratin, silk, vegetable, etc.).

Deep conditioners are also packed with conditioning surfactants that stick to your strands and act as a sealant to prevent water loss, while also penetrating deep into your strands to hydrate. Though these agents are commonly found in everything from shampoo to heat protectants, they’re especially high in your deep conditioner, because deep conditioners “are formulated to coat your hair fiber while also tightly flattening the scales of your cuticle,” says Hill.

How often you deep-condition your hair will depend on your hair type and how damaged or dry your hair is. Those with dry or coarse hair (regardless of damage level) can—and should!—use a moisturizing, protein-free deep conditioner every week (or every other week for fine hair), then incorporate a protein-filled deep conditioner once a month.

The important rule to keep in mind is “moisture over protein,” meaning when in doubt, load up on the protein-free formulas as often as you want, and save the protein-heavy formulas for once-monthly treatments.

All hair types can benefit from deep conditioner (yes, even fine, thin hair), but you’ll need to look at the formulation to see if it’s right for your hair type to get the best results. “If your hair is chemically altered, whether by hair color, highlights, or straightening or perming chemicals,” says Hill, “or if you have hair that’s coarse, curly, or tightly coiled, you can benefit from a rich, moisturizing deep conditioner.”

Fine hair types, however, or hair types that have a low porosity (meaning products tend to build up on strands and weigh them down) should opt for lightweight deep conditioners with minimal amounts of heavy oils and butters. Generally, the thinner the formula, the lighter it tends to be, so look for deep conditioners in spray bottles, pouches, and pumps rather than in jars, and go for packaging that has words like “milky,” “water,” “rinse,” and “gloss.”

That being said, you won’t ruin your hair if you use a too-heavy deep conditioner on fine hair, or a too-sheer formula on damaged hair—you can always rinse it out or layer more on. The most important factor to remember is protein; too much protein will mess with your hair, so it should be top of mind. Which brings us to…