13 Best Deep Conditioners for 2023

A good deep conditioner can be the trick you need to bring body, shine, and smoothness back to hair that’s seen better days. While you can buy a stand-alone treatment, you can also turn any regular conditioner into a deep conditioner simply by letting it sit a bit longer in your hair. 

And depending on your hair type, you can even choose not to completely rinse your conditioner out to achieve more softness and manageability between wash days. No matter your hair type or concern, we’ve rounded up the best deep conditioners to ensure more good hair days are in your future. 

Best deep conditioner overview:

• Best overall: Overtone The Remedy
• Best budget: Suave Hyaluronic Acid Infusion Long Lasting Hydration Conditioner
• Best for coily hair: 4C Only Too Thicke Deep Conditioner For 4C Hair
• Best hydrating: Phytojoba Moisturizing Mask
• Best anti-frizz: MoroccanOil Smoothing Conditioner
• Best repairing: Curlsmith Multi-Tasking Conditioner
• Best for dry scalp: Aveda Scalp Solutions Replenishing Conditioner
• Best for curls and waves: DevaCurl One Condition Original
• Best protective: 3 More Inches Angelica Rose Conditioner
• Best strengthening: Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector
• Best for blondes: Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Conditioner
• Best for damaged hair: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner

How we chose the best deep conditioners

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including hair type, benefits, and more to create a short list of the top deep conditioners. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best deep conditioner for each category.

Our picks for the best deep conditioners

A conditioner must be equally effective on all hair types, textures, and even chemically processed or color-treated hair for it to be awarded as the Best Overall. Overtone is a brand that’s made a name for itself because of its gentle color-depositing shampoos and conditioners. 

But if your tresses need a pick-me-up between coloring days, The Remedy is a colorless deep conditioner that works in 10 to 15 minutes to infuse intense hydration no matter your hair type or color. This vegan, cruelty-free formula is ideal as a pretreatment before coloring, or anytime your strands look like they could use a little TLC.

Hair type: All, including color-treated, damaged, and chemically processed | Benefits: Hydration | Size: 8 oz

When you’re working with a budget, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality. Suave is a health and body brand that focuses on quality formulas at reasonable prices. If your hair could use a moisture boost, the Hyaluronic Acid Infusion Long Lasting Hydration Conditioner is the perfect treat for parched strands.

Along with lightweight moisture, you’ll get increased shine and a QuenchLock technology that leverages microparticles to lock in hydration and minimize the risk of breakage — which translates to stronger envy-worthy hair.

Hair type: All, including color-treated, damaged, and chemically processed | Benefits: Hydration, shine, strengthening | Size: 12.6 oz

The more texture your hair has, the drier it tends to be. And 4C heads know that maintaining moisture can be a tall order. 4C Only is a haircare brand born out of the desire to specifically address the needs of this often overlooked segment of the hair community. 

The Too Thick Deep Conditioner is an ultra-hydrating conditioner that pulls double duty as a detangler. Its slippery texture allows wide-toothed combs and detangling brushes slide through the hair like butter.

Hair type: Type 4 | Benefits: Hydration, detangling | Size: 12 oz

Dry hair just doesn’t perform as it should. If your tresses are looking a bit dull, or your styling efforts aren’t yielding the right results, it might be time for a deep treatment. The Phytojoba Moisturizing Mask leverages the power of jojoba oil, along with angelica root extract and sweet orange essential oil, to not only improve moisture retention but revive your hair’s elasticity and give it some serious shine. Better yet, it can also work to soften your hair.

Hair type: All | Benefits: Hydration, softening, shine | Size: 5.29 oz

No one likes frizz. But it can sneak up on you and leave you with an unexpected bad hair day. MoroccanOil’s Smoothing Conditioner can put an end to that with a conditioner that doubles as a detangler and leverages the power of amino acids to strengthen and align your hair’s keratin structure. Argan oil and argan butter work together to smooth your hair, making this pick ideal for curly and more textured hair types.

Hair type: Curly, coily, frizzy | Benefits: Strengthening, smoothing | Size: 8.5 oz

If you’re trying to cut down on your in-shower clutter, this 3-in-1 conditioner from Curlsmith may do the trick. Along with imparting much-needed hydration, this pick doubles as a protein treatment to strengthen your hair and minimize breakage. Likewise, it can serve as a leave-in conditioner for increased manageability. We like that it can also be used on all hair types. 

Low porosity hair types will appreciate that they can use this on their hair, too. However, some reviewers experienced excessive dryness due to the added protein. The brand doesn’t disclose the amount of protein contained in the product.

Hair type: All, low porosity | Benefits: Strengthening, hydration | Size: 8 oz

Your hair isn’t the only thing that needs a little love. Great hair starts with a scalp that’s in tip-top shape. Aveda’s Scalp Solutions Replenishing Conditioner is specifically designed for oily to dry scalps to hydrate your scalp and stimulate blood flow properly. 

Moringa and babassu oils moisturize both your scalp and hair. In clinical tests, this vegan formula was proven to improve scalp hydration by 92% after just one week — and 128% after two weeks of consistent use.

Hair type: All | Benefits: Hair and scalp hydration | Size: 6.7 oz

For those with wavy, curly, and coily hair types, you know how critical moisture balance can be to bring out the best in your crown. One Condition Original from DevaCurl is designed to infuse moisture and show off your tresses at their best. This rich, creamy conditioner can double as a detangler while also controlling frizz and nourishing your hair. 

Meanwhile, it offers a light texture that won’t leave your hair looking weighed down. However, we did note that many reviewers commented on a possible formula change that might impact how well this product ultimately works for your hair.

Hair type: Wavy, curly, coily | Benefits: Hydrating, anti-frizz | Size: 12 oz

Anyone who’s trying to grow their hair knows that their ends are fragile. Michael Van Clarke’s 3 More Inches haircare line is specifically designed to help save those last inches so that you can retain length and meet your hair growth goals. 

The Angelica Rose Conditioner hydrates and strengthens your hair by combining the power of provitamin B5 with cashmere amino acids and plant extracts to protect your hair from environmental stressors. This pick also works as a natural UV filter and leverages the power of essential oils to cleanse and nourish your hair.

Hair type: All | Benefits: Strengthening, protecting | Size: 8.45 oz

Olaplex is a fan favorite for haircare and is synonymous with improving the look, feel, and health of your hair. The No.3 Hair Perfector is a deep treatment that repairs and strengthens all hair types. This is a true deep conditioner, billed as a treatment, that’s pH balanced and intended for once-a-week use to reduce breakage. 

The treatment has been scientifically proven to repair the hair and leave it three times stronger than before. It’s especially ideal for people with visible damage, such as extreme dryness or overprocessed hair.

Hair type: All | Benefits: Strengthening, anti-breakage | Size: 3.3 oz

Color-treated hair can’t just have any kind of conditioner slapped on it, or you risk having that lush hue become faded and sad. Drybar’s Blonde Ale Brightening Conditioner is a purple conditioner specifically designed for blondes that tones and brightens for that fresh-from-the-salon effect. 

It features a color-enhancing formula that can also serve as a detangler. It offers plenty of hydration and softens hair texture for better manageability. This pick is safe for all hair types and features a vegan, cruelty-free formula.

Hair type: All, color-treated | Benefits: Color-enhancing, detangling, softening, hydrating, shine | Size: 8 oz

Breakage is the bane for anyone with hair. But there’s a solution — a repairing conditioner that reinforces your hair’s damaged amino acid bonds. This color-safe, sulfate-free conditioner prevents color fading and leverages the power of citric acid to restore broken bonds. 

The brand promises that with consistent use and when used as part of the overall Acidic Bonding Concentrate system, this conditioner will result in 56% less breakage, 82% less visible split ends, and hair that’s 11 times smoother. This option is said to be safe for all hair types and textures.

Hair type: All | Benefits: Strengthening, anti-breakage, smoothing | Size: 5.1 oz

Bring your hair back to a happy place

Hair is very important to most, so it’s only natural that people will invest a lot of time, energy, and money into it. While you need to find a product that addresses your specific hair concerns, a deep conditioning solution exists for you. If you need an all-purpose deep conditioner for dryness, we recommend our Best Overall from Overtone, The Remedy. 

How to pick the right deep conditioner for you

Similar to any other haircare product, you need to pick a deep conditioner specifically catered to your hair type, condition, and the specific concerns you want to address. 

Hair type

In haircare, hair type can mean a few things. On the one hand, it refers to your texture — which would then reference the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. The four types are straight, wavy, curly, and coily. Types 2 through 4 are further broken down into A, B, and C to denote slight differences in pattern. But type can also refer to other factors, such as thickness (fine, medium, coarse) or the condition of one’s hair. 

For example, natural or virgin hair can mean strands that haven’t been chemically processed or color treated. Meanwhile, damaged hair can mean extreme breakage, color-treated or bleached hair, and it may even refer to hair with high or low porosity. Not all deep conditioners are compatible with all hair types, so you’ll want to check the intent and included ingredients to verify that a deep conditioner is safe for you. 

Ingredients

Deep conditioners usually tackle one or more of the following common concerns: dryness, repair, color correction, or frizz. Dryness can often be treated with hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil, humectants like glycerin, and even certain essential oils. 

Color correction requires pigments that help to tone and control brassiness. Meanwhile, repair for breakage and damage often requires protein treatments or amino acids to correct broken bonds in the hair. However, protein ingredients can backfire for some, as using these conditioners too often can encourage additional dryness. 

FAQ

What’s the best deep conditioning treatment for your hair? 

This will depend on your hair type and the specific concerns you’re attempting to address. However, if you’re seeking a general-purpose deep conditioner, our best overall recommendation — Overtone’s The Remedy — is a great hydrating solution. 

What’s a good deep conditioner for dry, frizzy hair?

With dry or frizzy hair, you want a hydrating conditioner that also focuses on smoothing your hair. Humectants can aid in imparting moisture, while lightweight oils like argan oil prevent frizz. 

Is it better to put deep conditioner on wet or dry hair?

The best application method depends not just on your hair type but the type of damage your hair has sustained. In most cases, deep conditioners work best on clean, wet hair. But, if you’re attempting to use a conditioner as a pretreatment, then dry hair would be preferable.