These top 15 recommended deep conditioners are perfect for treating dry and damaged hair. They help restore moisture, strength, and elasticity to stressed hair.
This list was difficult to put together because there are so many excellent deep conditioners for treating dry and damaged hair out there. One brand alone can have up to 4 deep conditioners within its line.
I eventually narrowed down the list to the most recommended with the best reviews.
This deep conditioner list also includes a few of my favorites. Any brand that has more than 1 recommendation will be mentioned in the same paragraph.
I may also bump off a recommendation later on if I discover a better deep conditioner.
What to Look for in a Good Deep Conditioner for Dry & Damaged Hair
Deep conditioning is vital to healthy and supple hair. It’s one of the most important steps in a hair care regimen.
Whether you have low porosity hair, high porosity hair, or normal porosity hair, you still need to deep condition frequently.
Skip deep conditioning a few times and your hair will start to react with dryness and dullness. When this is left unattended, it leads to long-term damage.
Not every deep conditioner is created equal though and there are some things you need to look out for in a good deep conditioner to get the job done for you:
- Look for a deep conditioner with all-natural and/or organic ingredients or as close to natural/organic as possible.
- There are certain kinds of key ingredients that contribute significantly to helping dry/damaged hair recover such as water (aqua), hydrolyzed keratin, proteins like oat protein, silk protein, soy protein and wheat protein, amino acids, natural oils, butter, panthenol, and natural herbs.
- Be wary of deep conditioners that contain bad cones, sulfates, mineral oil, petrolatum, parabens, and drying alcohols. There are some exceptions if the ingredient is low on the ingredient list, which means only a small amount is in the product. Either way, focus on how your hair reacts to it.
- In all cases, an excellent deep conditioner should provide moisture, shine, elasticity, strength, shine, slip, softness, and smoothness.
Sometimes you might need a moisturizing deep conditioner more than you need a strengthening deep conditioner and sometimes, you might need both.
If your hair is just dry and dull, stick to moisturizing deep conditioners but if it’s also damaged and breaking, then you need a strengthening deep conditioner as well.
15 Best Deep Conditioners for Treating Dry and Damaged Hair
1. Ouidad Melt Down Extreme Repair Mask
Ouidad Melt Down Extreme Repair Mask is a luxurious treatment fortified with a blend of three clinically-proven actives that instantly restores hydration to dry hair.
Mafurua butter and watermelon seed oil envelope the hair providing a silicone-type coating while several oils provides softness. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
Other notable deep conditioners for dry and damaged hair from Ouidad include:-
- Ouidad Coil Infusion Triple Treat Conditioner
- Ouidad Advanced Climate Control® Frizz-Fighting Hydrating Mask
- Ouidad Ultra-Nourishing Intense Hydrating Mask
2. Aveda be curly™ intensive detangling masque
Aveda be curly™ intensive detangling masque provides intense moisture with a mix of babassu oil, baobad oil, shea butter, and aloe vera leaf.
The masque also aids in detangling and helps fight frizz. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
Other notable deep conditioners for dry and damaged hair from Aveda include:-
- Aveda damage remedy™ intensive restructuring treatment
- Aveda botanical repair™ intensive strengthening masque: rich
- Aveda nutriplenish™ treatment masque deep moisture
3. Pattern Treatment Mask
Pattern Treatment Mask was formulated to strengthen and soften hair as it provides amazing slip and coil definition.
Rice water, moringa extract, hibiscus extract and sunflower extract are just some of the ingredients that make this treatment mask very effective on dry and damaged hair. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
4. Melanin Multi-Use Softening Leave In Conditioner
Though it say it’s a leave-in conditioner, Melanin Multi-Use Softening Leave In Conditioner can be used as a pre-poo and deep conditioner as well.
Argan oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera leaf juice and plant extracts make this versatile conditioner an ideal treatment for dry and damaged hair. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
5. Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher
Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher is an intense deep conditioner formulated to re-moisturize even the driest of curls.
It provides great slip and optimal detangling abilities with a thick, buttery texture formulated with shea butter, andiroba oil, avocado, apricot kernel and sunflower oil as well as plant extracts. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
6. TGIN Honey Miracle Deep Moisturizing Hair Mask
The key ingredients in TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask that make it so good for dry and damaged hair are raw honey, olive oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera juice.
These ingredients soften and moisturize hair as well as promote a healthy pH balance. SEE REVIEWS.
7. Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask
Monoi oil is derived from pressed coconut oil infused with flowers of the Tiare, an exotic gardenia.
This enhanced oil is the key ingredient in Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask along with bamboo water, hydrolyzed protein, glycerin, and shea butter. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
8. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask starts to work on your hair within minutes of application.
It contains rosehip seed oil, almond oil, argan oil, avocado oil, algae extract, B vitamins, and much more. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
9. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist
This was one of my best deep conditioners in my project junkie days.
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist is a deep conditioning treatment that breathes life into even the driest of curls and comes at a very economical price too.
Aloe vera juice and jojoba oil are among the ingredients that make this deep conditioner a favorite for naturalistas.
This product works as a daily conditioner as well as a deep conditioner. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
10. Curl Junkie Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
Curl Junkie Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment is one of the best deep conditioners on this list.
It contains everything for moisture and strength – aloe vera juice, shea butter, horsetail, nettle, yucca, peppermint, rosehip oil, and jojoba oil.
This deep conditioner rejuvenates and moisturizes. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
11. EDEN Bodyworks Coconut Shea All Natural Hair Masque
Eden Bodyworks All Natural Hair Masque Treatment boasts a perfect combination of coconut oil and shea butter for dry and dull hair.
The hair masque penetrates the hair shaft to provide intense moisturization. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
Tip – use the Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash followed by this hair masque to experience hair bliss.
Another conditioner in this family that works just as well is EDEN Bodyworks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner.
12. Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment
Another personal favorite, Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment provides intense moisturization for dry and damaged hair.
This deep conditioner is one of my recommendations in the max hydration method.
It contains shea butter, avocado oil, cocoa butter, aloe vera juice, horsetail, peppermint, and many other natural plant extracts. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
13. Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment
Waters of tropical coconut is the key ingredient that gives Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment its penetrating and strengthening qualities.
Other great ingredients include safflower oil, palm kernel oil, aloe vera juice, tiare flower, sunflower oil, almond oil, and horsetail. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
Another deep conditioner that works just as well in this family is Camille Rose Naturals Algae Deep Conditioner.
14. Mielle Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner
Babassu oil is coconut oil’s awesome cousin.
As a key ingredient in Mielle Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner, it transforms dry and damaged hair while providing a tingly treatment for the scalp.
Additional key ingredients include glycerine, amino acids, pracaxi oil, sunflower oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
15. Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner with Sea Kelp & Argan Oil
The sea kelp detoxifies the scalp and follicles while argan oil restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity.
A lot of the products in the shea moisture line is excellent but this particular deep conditioner stands out from the pack. SEE REVIEWS HERE.
This isn’t an exhaustive list and if there wasn’t a limit, this list could easily go up to over 30 deep conditioner recommendations because there are so many out there.
I may make an additional top 15 list in the future. If there’s a deep conditioner you think should be on this list or the next, let me know in the comments section.
This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.
Great list. I personally also love Obia naturals. Excellent for natural hair and works great pm my 4c hair
I’ve never used Obia Naturals but I’ve heard some great things about it and it’s on my PJ list :)
Cantu leave-in conditioning cream has everything you need and leaves out the things you don’t. It also is affordable and you can find it at any Walmart.
I’ve never tried the Cantu line but my sister uses it and she’s raved about it a bit. It’s on my to try list.