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If your hair’s been feeling a little thirsty, it’s probably time to add a deep conditioner to your weekly routine. The best deep conditioners (i.e., thick, rich hair products like masks that you leave in for a few minutes and then rinse out) repair, smooth, and hydrate hair more intensely than regular conditioners. They’re formulated to “address deeper issues like dryness, brittleness, and damage caused by heat styling, coloring, or environmental stress,” Divya Shokeen MD, FAAD, a dermatologist with OSVI Dermatology and Surgery Institute in California and brand ambassador for NatureLab Tokyo, tells SELF. “They strengthen hair structure and improve its resilience over time.”
Everyone wants their hair to be stronger and healthier, so it’s no surprise that there are tons of deep conditioning treatments out there. While the one you ultimately choose will come down to your individual hair type and preferences, there are some formulas that stand out from the rest. We talked to derms about how to find the best deep conditioner for you and then compiled a list of truly excellent products for a wide range of hair types.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Repairing Treatment
- Runner-Up: Vegamour HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask
- Best Budget: Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Treatment
- Best for Damaged Hair: Kérastase Resistance Strengthening Mask
- Best for Fine Hair: Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask
- Best for Thick Hair: Cécred Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
- Best for Natural Hair: SheaMoisture Moringa and Avocado Power Greens Reconstructor
- Best for Curly and Coily Hair: Pattern Heavy Conditioner For Coilies
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: Ceremonia Mascarilla de Guava
- Best for Gray Hair: K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask
- Best for Shine: Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask
FAQs about deep conditioners
What’s the difference between a deep conditioner and regular conditioner?
Where regular conditioners address surface-level hair issues, like tangles or a lack of shine and softness, deep conditioners are formulated to, well, go deeper, Dr. Shokeen says. They penetrate the hair shaft to “restore moisture, improve elasticity, and repair damage,” she explains, adding that they usually contain higher concentrations of moisturizing ingredients.
What should you look for in a deep conditioner?
Some of those moisturizing ingredients include glycerin, panthenol, and plant oils like jojoba and argan oil, Connie Yang, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist with PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank in New York City, tells SELF. Dr. Shokeen also shouts out shea butter, coconut oil, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides as key ingredients for intense hydration, softening, and frizz reduction.
Beyond hydrators, your deep conditioner should also contain strengthening agents like keratin and silk and other plant proteins, Dr. Yang says. According to Dr. Shokeen, they work by filling in weak spots along the hair shaft, which repairs damage and improves its elasticity.
“[All of] these ingredients are useful because they either mimic the natural components of healthy hair or work to seal and smooth the hair cuticle,” Dr. Shokeen says.
How should you incorporate a deep conditioner into your hair care routine?
Most deep conditioners can be used in place of your regular conditioner. Massage it into damp hair and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out. (The wait, which varies in time from product to product, is a great opportunity to tackle other Everything Shower tasks like shaving, exfoliating, or practicing your Chappell Roan impression.) That said, some deep conditioners are intended to be used before you shampoo, so make sure to check the label beforehand.
How often you should use a deep conditioner depends on your hair type and styling habits, Dr. Shokeen says. If you have dry or thick hair, deep condition once a week. Those who color-treat their hair or use heat styling tools should also follow a weekly schedule, Dr. Shokeen says. If your hair is especially damage-prone, Dr. Yang says you can try deep conditioning multiple times in the same week. People with fine or oily hair can benefit from deep conditioning too, but should do it less often—every two weeks or as little as once a month—to avoid weighing down their hair, which can make it look thin or limp, Dr. Shokeen says.
If you’re not sure what routine is best for you, once a week is a good cadence to start with and you can tweak your schedule from there.
Shop the best deep conditioners
A deep conditioner just might be the TLC your hair needs. We combed (pun intended) through SELF’s Healthy Beauty Award testing intel, consulted with experts, and pored over online reviews to find the very best options to try.
Best Overall: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Repairing Treatment
Pros
- Nourishing formula
- Visibly improves damage
- Formulated to prevent future damage
Cons
- Still need to follow with a regular shampoo and conditioner for optimal results
Olaplex’s salon-quality, consistently best-selling No. 3 Hair Perfector hair treatment won a Healthy Beauty Award in 2020, impressing one tester with how it made their hair look healthier and smoothed and hydrated their normally dry ends.
The No. 3 Hair Perfector contains all-star ingredients like jojoba oil and panthenol, and has a creamy consistency that Sephora reviewers love. It’s technically a pre-wash treatment, so slather it on while your hair is damp, wait about 10 minutes, and rinse before you shampoo and condition like usual.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E and aloe vera—two tried-and-true moisturizers for skin and hair
Runner-Up: Vegamour HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask
Pros
- Rich texture
- Smells great
- Shine-boosting
Cons
- Pricier than our overall pick
According to our tester, this 2023 Healthy Beauty Award–winning deep conditioning hair mask elevates an otherwise humdrum hair care routine. “This product felt really luxurious and ritzy, from the scent to the packaging to the texture,” they said. “As for how it worked, my hair felt so freaking soft afterward and dried smoothly without frizz.” One tester said their strands had a glassy shine after using the HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask.
Its main moisturizers are moringa seed oil, marula oil, and macadamia seed oil, all of which have a rich, nourishing effect on hair. And that classy fragrance our tester noted comes from a floral blend of geranium and jasmine (we can feel the spa vibes from here).
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, ceramides
Best Budget: Paul Mitchell Bond Rx Treatment
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Pros
- Under $15
- Only needs to sit for three to five minutes
Cons
- Might not be as nourishing as other options on this list
Turns out, you can show your hair a little extra love without spending a small fortune. Paul Mitchell’s Bond Rx Treatment has a lower price point than our other options but contains similar, plant-based ingredients (including sunflower and safflower seed oils) that’ll give your hair a boost.
Our tester appreciated the product’s consistency (“creamy, but not too thick”) and felt like it deeply locked moisture into her hair. She noted that she’d probably need to use it multiple times a week to see substantial improvements to her hair but was pleased with its results all the same.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, panthenol
Best for Damaged Hair: Kérastase Resistance Strengthening Mask
Pros
- Deeply hydrating
- Formulated to prevent future damage
Cons
- Most likely too heavy for fine hair
If you deal with breakage, split ends, and major dryness, this Healthy Beauty Award winner can salvage your strands. Its intensely moisturizing formula features amino acids that make up the protein keratin (which is key for maintaining your hair’s structure and strength) and hair-softening plant extracts. Based on our tester’s review, it’s safe to say they noticed these effects: “Loved this product. It left my hair feeling nourished, soft, and shiny. What more could you want?”
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin
Best for Fine Hair: Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask
Pros
- Moisturizes without adding weight
- Great smell
Cons
- Some Amika reviewers with thick, dry hair types saw less improvement
Amika’s Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask makes a great starter deep conditioner because its lightweight formula hydrates hair (thanks in no small part to one of its main ingredients, jojoba oil) without bogging it down with more product than your strands can handle.
“This is by far my favorite hair mask,” one Amika reviewer wrote. “My hair is really fine, but this mask doesn’t weigh it down at all. Not only does my hair look smooth and shiny after use, it also smells amazing.”
Other notable ingredients
Panthenol, vitamin E, and sea buckthorn oil (a source of antioxidants and moisturizers)
Best for Thick Hair: Cécred Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
Pros
- Rich formula
- Thick consistency
- Cool packaging
Cons
- Too heavy for thinner hair types
This butter-thick conditioner from Beyoncé’s hair care line contains heavy-duty hydrators like shea butter and olive oil, as well as keratin to reduce signs of damage. It took home the Healthy Beauty Award for best deep conditioner this year and our tester said they noticed near-instant results. “It gives my hair a great slip so it’s super easy to detangle,” they said. “Out of the shower my hair simply feels softer, shinier, bouncier, and more hydrated.”
Other notable ingredients
Moringa seed oil, sunflower seed extract, vitamin E
Best for Natural Hair: SheaMoisture Moringa and Avocado Power Greens Reconstructor
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Pros
- Contains derm-recommended ingredients for natural hair
- Smells great, per Walmart reviewers
Cons
- Some Walmart reviewers wish it was thicker
We gave SheaMoisture’s Moringa and Avocado Power Greens Reconstructor a Healthy Beauty Award back in 2020 for its impressive ingredients list, which is packed with a blend of moisturizing plant-derived oils (including coconut, avocado, and moringa seed oils) and shea butter—all of which derms have previously told SELF are especially beneficial to natural hair textures.
It also visibly improved our testers’ hair. One mentioned that it detangled their hair “effortlessly,” while another noted that their curls looked “noticeably softer and slightly more defined” after using it.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin
Best for Curly and Coily Hair: Pattern Heavy Conditioner For Coilies
Pros
- Leaves curls tighter and more defined
- Smells great (but not too strong)
- Comes in large quantities
Cons
- Some Ulta reviewers found it too thick and difficult to dispense
“After rinsing [out this conditioner], my curls emerge noticeably tighter and have a certain extra bounce and definition that I typically only see after I apply my day-to-day styling products, like gel or mousse,” our tester, who has 4A curly hair, wrote in her review of Pattern’s Heavy Conditioner for Coilies, an avocado oil- and shea butter-infused deep conditioner from Tracee Ellis Ross’s brand. “This deep conditioner not only hydrates as soon as I apply it, but also smells like a bouquet of the prettiest wildflowers you could ever imagine (but not in an overpowering way),” she wrote. “It also provides plenty of slip, which makes it easy to detangle my hair without pulling or breakage.”
For bonus points: Use Pattern’s Shower Brush to comb the product through your hair—our tester mentioned it was another favorite of hers from the brand.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, safflower oil, jojoba extract, vitamin E
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Ceremonia Mascarilla de Guava
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Pros
- Made with color-treated hair in mind
- Softens hair
- Not too thick
Cons
- Some Sephora reviewers noticed their hair was still frizzy after conditioning
Hair dyes can dry out and damage hair, but having a deep conditioner like Ceremonia’s Mascarilla de Guava in your regular rotation can help counteract those side effects. It’s formulated specifically for color-treated hair and features conditioning agents like aloe powder and rice bran oil, as well as plant-derived proteins that may help strengthen hair.
“This is a lovely, rich hair mask that works wonders on damaged hair. My hair felt softer and looked shiny and smooth afterwards,” our tester wrote in her review. “As someone who has previously fried their hair from constant coloring and heat products, this is a must-have in my hair health journey.”
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin
Best for Gray Hair: K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask
Pros
- Formulated for hair repair
- Only needs to sit for four minutes
Cons
- Pricey
Gray hair can be prone to dryness and dullness, but a deep conditioner like K18’s Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask can restore some of its natural shine. Elizabeth Houshmand, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas, previously recommended it to SELF specifically for people with aging and graying hair.
It contains vitamin E, a time-tested moisturizer, and wheat protein, which Dr. Shokeen says is great for addressing structural damage to the hair shaft.
Other notable ingredients
A peptide complex that may help repair weakened hair
Best for Shine: Shiseido Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask
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Pros
- Makes hair look smoother and glossier
- Under $20
Cons
- May cause build-up
“I love Shiseido's Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask,” Dr. Yang says. “Not only does it strengthen and repair damaged hair, but it also leaves your hair with the most beautiful gloss and shine.”
In addition to ultra-moisturizing squalane and hair-strengthening proteins, this hydrating mask contains dimethicone, a protective silicone that adds tons of luster to hair. It’s also a great ingredient to look out for if you deal with frizz, since it leaves hair looking super smooth. Just be aware that it can leave some build-up in your hair over time.
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E
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