The 5 Best Deep Conditioners for Damaged Hair

Uh-oh...did you blow-dry or straighten your hair so much that now it looks more like brittle, cracked straw than actual hair? Hey, there's no shame; we're all guilty of a little too much heat styling every now and again. Which is why it's so important to have a rich, ultra-hydrating deep conditioner on hand, to save your damaged mane and help restore its natural shine and smoothness when needed. Everyone can benefit from a good deep conditioning treatment, but if your hair is suffering from breakage, split ends, and other damage, then a deep conditioner is a must-have product in your beauty tool arsenal. Here are the five best.

WOW Coconut Milk Conditioner

WOW is right

This conditioner from WOW Skin Science will save even the most damaged hair.

Best Overall

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Get ready to transform your mane from dull and boring to shiny and new with the WOW Coconut Milk Conditioner. Like pressing a reset button for your hair and scalp, this ultra-rich deep conditioning treatment will repair and restore even the most damaged, starved-for-moisture hair. The formula contains two natural DHT blockers, nettle leaf, coconut milk, and saw palmetto extracts, all of which are known to not only boost silkiness and shine, but also stimulate actual hair growth so that your locks grow back soft, glossy, and strong. Free of harmful parabens and sulfates, this WOW conditioner is your ticket to healthier hair.

Pros:

Nutrient-rich formula contains two natural DHT blockers, coconut milk, nettle leaf, and saw palmetto extracts, with no harmful parabens or sulfates.
Not only does hair look and feel noticeably softer and stronger, but regular use of this conditioner will cause hair to grow back thicker and longer.
Helps combat spot baldness.

Cons:

Best for wavy or curly hair, so not all hair types will benefit the same.

L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil

Enjoy silky-smooth hair for days

There's nothing more nourishing for hair than a good oil blend, like this L'Oreal oil.

Best Oil Formula

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When the going gets rough, and your hair looks and feels like straw, it’s time to turn to an oil-based conditioner—and the L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil is simply the best. Apply this oil after you shampoo your hair, and the rewards will be almost instant: hair that shines like the sun and is silky to the touch. This is thanks to a superior blend of oils (like nourishing sunflower and camellia) and botanical extracts that hydrate, restore, and seal the cuticle like none other. And, unlike some other oil-based conditioning treatments, Elvive is weightless and non-greasy, absorbing quickly into your hair.

Pros:

Crafted from a superior blend of naturally nourishing oils and botanical extracts.
Results are quick; expect to see shinier, softer hair after just one use.
Formula is lightweight, quick-absorbing, and not at all greasy.

Cons:

The smell isn’t the best.

It’s a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner

Your hair will thank you later

Sometimes, beauty comes at a high cost...but this luxe deep conditioner is worth every penny.

Best Splurge

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Formulated to banish super-dry, stressed-out hair, It’s a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner may come with a rather extravagant price tag, but it’s 100 percent worth it. When it comes to smoothing, detangling, and restoring elasticity and shine back into your hair, there’s almost no better deep conditioner available. Not to mention, this conditioner helps to protect hair from the stressors (heat from styling tools, the environment) that cause damage in the first place. Every time you use it, your locks become softer, more manageable, and visibly glossier- and healthier-looking. Who doesn’t love that?

Pros:

Almost no other conditioner does such a thorough, excellent job at restoring shine and strength, detangling, and smoothing away frizz.
Actually protects hair against future damage.

Cons:

That hefty price tag.

Redken All-Soft Mega Hydramelt Leave-In Lotion

Go from dry and lifeless to healthy and shiny

If your hair is drier than the Sahara, this conditioner is the right product for you.

Best for Dry Hair

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Save the Redken Hydramelt Leave-In Lotion for those times when you’re in need of the biggest dose of moisture possible. Ideal for super-parched hair that’s seen better days, this deep conditioner will nourish and strengthen your locks until they look shiny and new. The mega-hydrating formula boasts some key ingredients: a superfood nutri-complex cactus extract, sacha inchi oil, and aloe vera, just to name a few. For hair that’s drier than the desert, with more frizz and tangles than you could ever hope to comb through, Hydramelt Leave-In Lotion is a lifesaver.

Pros:

Makes hair look and feel super-soft and smooth (even the driest, most damaged hair).
Wonderfully hydrating formula with key ingredients like aloe, sacha inchi, and a superfood nutri-complex cactus extract.
Detangles like a dream.

Cons:

Best for medium to thick hair; not great for fine hair.

Visit the Tree to Tub Argan Oil for Hair

Oily hair gals need love too

Even the oiliest hair needs a mega-dose of moisture every now and again.

Best for Oily Hair

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Just because your hair is oily doesn’t mean that it can’t stand to benefit from some serious moisture. Tree to Tub’s Argan Oil for Hair is formulated with lightweight oils (a magical combo of coconut oil, Moroccan argan oil, peppermint oil, and others) and soapberry, which helps the hair maintain a pH of 5.5 to balance natural oils, so strands are shiny, healthy, and dandruff-free (and not greasy). It’s also anti-inflammatory for the scalp, with no chemicals or toxic ingredients included in the formula.

Pros:

Lightweight, silky-smooth oils and soapberry help hair maintain a pH of 5.5, which is ideal for balancing the natural oils in your scalp.
Anti-inflammatory and helps with dandruff, in addition to restoring shine and proper moisture levels.
Contains no chemicals or toxic ingredients.

Cons:

Not the cheapest deep conditioner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who benefits from using a deep conditioner?

Everyone can stand to benefit from deep conditioning—even if your hair isn’t damaged, using a deep conditioner can help prevent split ends and breakage, and give your hair a nice boost of shine and moisture. But, if your hair is damaged in any way, a deep conditioning treatment is a must-do.

How often should I deep-condition my hair?

You shouldn’t be deep-conditioning your hair daily; once or twice per week is sufficient.

How should I apply my deep conditioner?

Always use your deep conditioner after you shampoo, never before. And, contrary to popular belief, you should always towel-dry your hair first to make the conditioner more effective.