Best Deep Conditioner That Leaves Hair Healthy & Shiny

One of the worst feelings is watching your hair fall/break. It could be due to overprocessing, or it’s simply dry. Either way, no one likes looking at their hair comb and seeing a few hair strands or maybe a chunk left behind.

The best deep conditioner is a must for any hair routine. Whether you’ve got fine hair, curly, wavy or natural, it’s a must-have as it assures you repair management, moisturization and hydration. These are necessary when dealing with your hair. But, of course, choosing one will depend on your hair needs as it’s not a one size fits all approach.

That’s why we reviewed a broad range of the best deep conditioners and outlined features to consider when buying them.

What Is A Deep Conditioner?

Deep conditioners are formulated to give a more noticeable and long-lasting effect. They are designed to provide an even more potent effect than everyday conditioners.

Most deep conditioners are usually a much thicker liquid or paste. They can be used as deep treatments to repair or rehydrate dry and damaged hair. When applied, they are often massaged into the hair and left there anywhere from 10-30 minutes. On top of that, heat can be applied to speed up the conditioner’s beneficial effects. 

Deep conditioner uses heat and time to penetrate through each hair strand to provide more noticeable results.

We discussed the best deep conditioners that are sure to leave your hair looking smooth and shiny.

Which deep conditioner is better?

#	Product Image	Product  Name	Amazon Price
1	[amazon fields=”B07D37SBHF” value=”thumb”]	Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
2	[amazon fields=”B00AQ8NIC8” value=”thumb”]	L’Oreal Paris Elvive Total Repair
3	[amazon fields=”B079TD4TW7” value=”thumb”]	Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Protein Power Treatment
4	[amazon fields=”B00ZGC8X2E” value=”thumb”]	Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner
5	[amazon fields=”B0118QDDCQ” value=”thumb”]	SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
6	[amazon fields=”B0013JSK7M” value=”thumb”]	Mixed Chicks Detangling Deep Conditioner
7	[amazon fields=”B01D6NWJ4C” value=”thumb”]	Briogeo, Don’t Despair, Repair!
8	[amazon fields=”B01D6NWJ4C” value=”thumb”]	Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Mask
9	[amazon fields=”B000GCW1P4” value=”thumb”]	Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner
10	[amazon fields=”B086LK1ZVW” value=”thumb”]	Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Wash Day Deep Moisture Masque

Best Deep Conditioners

1. Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner

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Olaplex has grown to become a cult-loved brand for its breakthrough reparative technology.

The deep conditioner is formulated to maintain bonds and reduce breakage. It’s color-safe and is formulated to protect and repair damaged hair, split ends, and frizz by re-linking broken bonds.

The deep conditioner aims to revive color-treated hair – particularly bleached hair.

Pros

• Protects and strengthens color-treated and chemically treated hair
• Leaves your hair looking shiny, full and healthy
• Repairs damaged hair, turning it soft

Cons

• It has a strong scent

2. L’Oreal Paris Elvive Total Repair

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The L’Oreal Paris rinse-out mask is formulated with protein and almond oil. The deep conditioner can be used as a co-wash, rinse-out mask, or leave-in treatment.

It addresses split ends, brittle strands, and color damage while detangling hair and leaving it ultra-smooth and shiny. In addition, it protects against heat styling up to 450 F.

Pros

• Leaves your hair feeling smooth and soft
• Has a pleasant smell
• Features heat protection

Cons

• It might leave a residue

3. Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Protein Power Treatment

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The hair masque treatment is formulated by reparative proteins and butters, resulting in a nutrient-rich strengthening cream. The Shea moisture deep conditioning mask aims to revitalize over-processed and damaged hair to reduce breakage naturally.

The conditioning formula with Manuka Honey and Yogurt strengthens weak strands, fights breakage and splits ends leaving your hair looking smooth and healthy.

Pros

• Has a pleasant smell
• Great for high and low porosity hair due to the thickness

Cons

• Authenticity concerns

4. Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner

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This is the best deep conditioner for 4c damaged hair types. Mielle is enriched fatty acids and natural oils that aid in hydrating and replenishing your dry and damaged hair while taking care of your scalp.

It’s the perfect monthly or bi-monthly conditioner for natural hair types ranging from types 3A to 4C. The protein/moisture is formulated with complex amino acids from wheat and soy that give your dry and damaged hair the extra care it deserves while reducing frizz and flyways. It infuses hair with protein and locks in moisture

The deep conditioner is also packed with plant oils, like babassu, spearmint, peppermint, and sunflower, to help lock in hydration long after you rinse it out.

Pros

• Leaves your hair feeling strong and looking shiny
• Has a pleasant minty smell
• Has a cooling effect on the scalp
• Works well for curly hair types

Cons

• Not suitable for those with protein sensitivity

5. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

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Shea Butter is known to be an excellent ingredient for locking in moisture. This deep treatment can be considered one of the best hair masks as it can be used as a hair and scalp treatment. The hair mask has a custard-like thickness that won’t weigh down your hair. You can leave it on overnight under a shower cap for a boost of intense moisture and repair.

The Shea Moisture hair mask hydrates the scalp and hair, restoring them to their natural balance. Its formulated with sea kelp with aids in repairing damaged and dry hair. The deep conditioner can also be used on chemically treated hair that’s transitioning to natural. The hair mask also includes argan oil and vitamin E, giving your hair the desired luster and shine.

Lastly, the shea butter protects the hair by trapping moisture that is essential for the scalp.

Pros

• Leaves your hair feeling soft and moisturized
• Great for maintaining moisture
• It can be used on thicker hair textures

Cons

• Not ideal for all hair types

6. Mixed Chicks Detangling Deep Conditioner

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This is the best deep conditioner if you’ve got fine hair as it leaves your strands looking and feeling healthy, nourished, and moisturized.

The intensive conditioner is infused with safflower oil that penetrates and reconstructs damaged areas, transforming style-stubborn hair fibers into tough, easy-to-maintain locks. It enables healthy hair growth and works below the surface layer of hair to impart oils and moisture to correct damaged, brittle strands.

With this deep conditioner, you don’t need to struggle during the detangling process. Instead, it makes it easier, and if worried about grease, you can be sure that this lightweight protein-free deep conditioner won’t weigh your hair down.

Pros

• Leaves your hair feeling soft and tangle-free
• Restores moistures

Cons

• Quite expensive

7. Briogeo, Don’t Despair, Repair!

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The Briogeo is perfect if you’ve got dry, damaged, color-treated or wavy hair. The intensive hair mask is formulated with nourishing properties like B vitamins, rosehip oil, argan oil, collagen, and silk proteins geared at restoring and replenishing your hair.

The formula also includes algae, and 97% of its ingredients are natural, thus enhancing the hair’s natural moisture and hydrating dry strands.  Lastly, the deep conditioning mask includes natural oils designed to protect and help repair the appearance of your hair. Rosehip oil provides essential fatty acids that balance hair hydration and control frizz, while almond oil enhances dry or weak hair’s shine, luster, and moisture. Argan oil acts as an ideal hair conditioner that promotes softer, silkier, and shinier hair while treating split ends and taming frizzy hair.

Pros

• Strengthens hair and leaves it feeling soft
• Contains a lot of natural ingredients

Cons

• The smell might be off-putting for some

8. Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Mask

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When it comes to the best hair masks, Carol’s Daughter ranks highly. Its formulation boasts natural ingredients like shea butter, almond milk, olive oil and rosemary leaf extract. The hair mask penetrates every hair strand reversing damage from the inside, leaving your hair looking healthier.

Pros

• Transforms tangles into the shiny and soft hair
• Works well for curly, damaged, dry hair
• Leaves your hair feeling hydrated

Cons

• Has a strong scent

9. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner

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Whether you’ve got natural hair or color-treated hair, this is the best deep conditioner to include in your hair routine.

The Miracle moist deep conditioner is formulated for dry hair types to rehydrate and pack up the moisture. The brand claims to get 3x the moisture of an ordinary conditioner with this deep conditioning treatment.

The deep conditioner promises to revive your hair in 3 minutes, once a week. In addition, it leaves your hair smelling like a luscious blend of California orange, radiant grapefruit and juicy lime.

Pros

• Goes on thick but rinses clean
• Doesn’t weigh down your hair
• Great for processed, chemically treated, natural and fine hair
• It’s Affordable
• Leaves your hair feeling soft, hydrated and shiny

Cons

• Contains alcohol

10. Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Wash Day Deep Moisture Masque

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Though many deep conditioners are branded as treatments or hair masks, this masque from Design Essentials lives up to its name. It’s the best hair mask for curly hair types.

The deep conditioning mask is highly penetrating and is infused with sunflower oil that delivers moisture, softness, shine and protection. In addition, the deep moisturizing conditioner contains almond and avocado oil which aid in strengthening the hair shaft, providing intense moisture and leaving a lasting shine.

The hair masque is formulated for all curly textures ranging from 2a to 4c.

Pros

• Has an amazing smell
• Leaves your hair feeling soft
• Leaves your curls hydrated ( bringing them back to life)
• Great for moisturizing and detangling

Cons

• The scent might not appeal to everyone

Features To Consider Best Buying Best Deep Conditioner

a) Check The Ingredients

The ingredients in your deep conditioner matter. With the best deep conditioner, you can’t reverse the damage, but you can restore shine and mask split ends.

When thinking of the best deep conditioners, consider formulas with a mix of silicones to smooth polyquaternium or amino acids to strengthen.

At the same time, moisture ingredients like provitamins or panthenol are great. Lastly, for protection and lasmineral oil or petrolatum.

In addition, for moisture you’ll want to ensure that the ingredients are organic, without parabens or anything unnatural. One great ingredient to look out for is Tea Tree oil. It’s excellent for hair growth because it stimulates the scalp and helps fight harmful bacteria and fungus to keep your hair growing.

b) Understand Your Terms

You’re likely to come across some of these terms when searching for the best deep conditioners. Knowing what a specific term means can aid in deciding what is best for your hair.

• Hydrating/Moisturizing: This is great for adding moisture, shine, and smoothness to hair. It’s best suited for thick, curly, or coarse hair.
• Volumizing: This is an excellent choice when your hair is fine or limp. If your hair or style needs a boost and lift, a deep volumizing conditioner won’t weigh you down.
• Strengthening/Fortifying: Ideal for damaged, over-processed, highlighted, weak, or brittle hair.
• Balancing: balancing deep conditioners is typically a middle road option. Not too moisturizing, but it won’t dry your hair out.
• Smoothing/Straight Hair: These deep conditioners feature extra moisturizers and smoothing agents that help seal the hair cuticle and provide a smooth start for your straight hairstyle.
• Curly Hair: The deep conditioners formulated for curly hair are typically very moisturizing and make an extra effort to reduce frizz.

d) Protein

The best deep conditioner tends to have two goals in mind: To treat and strengthen or moisturize.

If you have color-treated hair, highly porous, damaged from heat or processed, you may require the best deep conditioner with protein to strengthen your strands and bring them back to life. However, if your hair feels stiff or rigid, avoid protein and go for the best deep conditioner that’s going to rejuvenate your hair and rehydrate the hair.

e) Emollients and humectants

Emollients penetrate the hair and spread evenly to reduce moisture loss. Examples include coconut oil, argan oil, avocado and olive oil. Humectants are sealants that coat cuticles to reduce frizz and promote shine. For instance, shea butter, aloe vera, honey and vitamin B5. These ingredients are vital for hair that is hydrated and manageable, plus they make the detangling process easier so you can avoid knots and breakage.

f) Strengthening Properties

You’ll also want the best deep conditioner with strengthening properties. Ideally, your deep conditioner should have ingredients that will ensure that your lackluster hair feels incredibly taken care of. Some of the formula ingredients to look out for are proteins and oils. A great example can be Keratin and argan oil.

g) It Has A Concentrated Formula

It’s advisable to search for the best deep conditioner with a concentrated formula since they better penetrate the hair shaft. In addition, your deep conditioner should ideally fill in the gaps present in the surface of hair that’s damaged. This ultimately will lead to hair that’s smoother, shinier, and stronger.

h) It Has A Lightweight Finish

Though you want your deep conditioner to nourish the hair, you also don’t want it to leave it oily or weighed down. Search for formulas that will hydrate your hair while still providing a lightweight finish without any heavy or sticky residue.