The 19 Best Deep Conditioners for Natural Hair, According to Experts

Best Overall

Camille Rose Naturals Algae Renew Deep Conditioning Mask

$21 at Ulta $20 at Target $19 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Blue-green algae, mango butter | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioner is packed with 65 vitamins to give you stronger hair to retain length. Biotin extracted from algae is paired with cocoa and mango butter to stimulate growth and promote soft, manageable hair. You’ll especially love the ingredient list full of names that you can say 10 times fast and (more importantly) trust. As for fragrance, this pick boasts a mint-chocolate scent to sweeten and romanticize your hair care routine.

Best Budget

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Conditioner

$7 at Target $5 at Walmart $6 at Walgreens

Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, avocado oil | Size: 8, 16 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you wear your hair straight or curly, the Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner will bring your dull hair back to life in just three minutes. Year after year, this product receives praise for leaving users with shiny, moisturized hair in no time flat and without breaking the bank. It gets the job done easily and effectively while still being lightweight. We love that it distributes evenly and works well with wavy hair types, making it a versatile offering.

Best Drugstore

Mielle Organics Babassu Oil Mint Deep Conditioner

$10 at Amazon $15 at Ulta $14 at Target

Key Ingredients: Babuso oil, rosemary extract, peppermint oil | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Mielle Organics is an organic hair care line that is made with ingredients you know and love. The Babassu Oil Mint Deep Conditioner has become a fan favorite for its quick-penetrating formula and drugstore-friendly price point. Even those with low-porosity hair rave that the babassu oil helps to smooth brittle ends and reduce breakage. “It is a protein and replenishes moisture, so it makes my hair super soft while also strengthening it during the colder months—which can dry out my hair,” said one reviewer.

Best for Dry Scalp

Mizani Moisture Fusion Intense Moisturizing Mask

$38 at Amazon $38 at Sephora View on Beautycarechoices.com

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, honey, cupuaçu butter | Size: 16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For those with an itchy, irritated scalp—relief is finally here. This hydrating deep conditioner was specifically formulated to nourish dry hair and scalp types with powerhouse ingredients like argan oil and honey. After using this, your curls will be deeply hydrated for hair that looks bouncy and healthy. It also adds a great slip to the hair for easier styling after washing. We love that this pick can pack in hydration without feeling too heavy.

Best for Static

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask

$13 at Amazon $13 at Ulta View on 4thavemarket.com

Key Ingredients: Certified organic blueberry extract, aloe leaf juice, and chamomile extract | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask works exceptionally well for fuzzy curls. With blueberry extract, aloe leaf juice, and chamomile extract, you bet this product smells amazing, and—better yet—it's clinically proven to restore and repair your curls. Your hair will feel soft and easier to detangle, resulting in curls that are more defined.

Best for Split Ends

Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Hair Masque

$39 at Amazon $39 at Ulta View on Cocoandeve.com

Key Ingredients: Raw virgin coconut, fig, shea butter, linseed, and argan oil | Size: 7.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

People of all hair textures are raving about this hair mask. The coconut and fig formula transforms hair, leaving it shiny and hydrated. This product gives instant results, including taming static, treating split ends, and improving texture. We also like that this pick is free of potentially drying ingredients (like parabens and sulfates), so you can feel good that your hair will stay hydrated. Best of all, this mask comes with a complimentary detangling brush to help prevent hair breakage.

Best for 4C Hair

As I Am Hydration Elation

$10 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $16 at Sallybeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Coconut, sugarcane, green tea | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Beautiful kinky coils are often prone to breakage, and that’s why you’ll need a conditioner that strengthens as it moisturizes, like As I Am Hydration Elation. This deep-down treatment promotes healthy hair growth from the follicular level and repairs weak hair, leaving curls more manageable and noticeably stronger. It's recommended to leave this creamy conditioner on for 15 to 30 minutes while wearing a plastic cap. Allow the product to penetrate under a hooded dryer for an even deeper treatment.

Best Protein-Free Treatment

Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher

$29 at Amazon $29 at Ulta $29 at Target

Key Ingredients: Sunflower oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, shea butter, avocado oil | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When your dry curly hair needs an intense pick-me-up, reach for this ultrarich deep conditioner. It has a thick, buttery texture that delivers the moisture you need without weighing your hair down. It’s best for those with medium to coarse thickness, plus it’s protein-free, so you can use it frequently. If you’re looking for a frizz-fighting product that softens and defines your natural hair texture, you’ll love this pick. Just leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes once a week and watch the moisture magic happen.

Best Protein-Moisture Balance

Curls Dynasty Pumpkin Mint Deep Treatment Masque

$11 at Amazon $15 at Target $13 at Curlsdynasty.com

Key Ingredients: Aloe juice, blood orange extract, pumpkin extract | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When your hair needs a little TLC, this restorative treatment masque is the way to go. It’s formulated to deeply penetrate your hair with all-natural vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants for healthier and stronger hair. Enjoy this lightweight formula, which delivers intense moisture and a buttery soft feel that leaves your hair softer than before. While some hydrating hair masks call for heat to enhance its curl-defining benefits, this pick gets the job done on its own.

Best for Curl Definition

The Doux That's Deep 5-Minute Deep Conditioner

View on Thedoux.com

Key Ingredients: Honey, green tea, mint extract | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This deep conditioner treats your scalp and your thirsty hair in just five minutes. The stimulating formula promotes the secretion of natural oils from your scalp and softens hair to reduce static. Plus, it’s enriched with honey and green tea to promote easy detangling, resulting in less breakage and more length retention. It’s the ultimate combo for a healthy scalp and enhanced curl definition. Simply apply it to clean wet hair and detangle in sections. While you’ll experience more hydrated, defined hair in five minutes, feel free to keep it on for longer to let the product penetrate the hair shaft even further.

Best for Curl Definition, Runner-Up

Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner

$20 at Amazon $26 at Ulta $26 at Target

Key Ingredients: Arnica, prickly pear botanical extracts, green tea, vitamin B5 | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Take it from the curl experts: The leave-in conditioner from Ouidad supports a range of different hair types—from loose curls to coils—in an effort to give your natural texture a boost of hydration and definition. It does so thanks to ingredients such as prickly pear and green tea, which work together to lock in moisture, and serve as the perfect pre-styling primer. We also love that this vegan formula is free from sulfates, so it won't dry out the hair.

Best for Dry Hair

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

$13 at Amazon View on Ulta $3 at Target

Key Ingredients: Manuka honey, mafura oil, fig extract | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Hello, hydration! This moisturizing treatment infuses hair with a powerful dose of nutrients and moisture to bring dry, low-porosity hair back to life. It fortifies follicles for stronger, healthier, more defined hair. It’s also infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin C and mafura oil, which work to protect hair from future damage. Additionally, we also like that this pick features a clean ingredient list, so you don’t need to worry about silicones or sulfates—SheaMoisture makes sure you have no second thoughts on hair mask days.

Best for Dry Hair, Runner-Up

Arvazallia Argan Oil Hair Mask

$13 at Amazon View on Arvazallia.com

Key Ingredients: Argan oil | Size: 8.45 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to hydrating conditioning treatments, argan oil is king. The main ingredient in this pick leaves hair silky-soft and hydrated, making it an ideal product for those with dry hair. This product is so effective that the brand recommends using it only once or twice per week. Apply a generous amount to clean damp hair, evenly distributing it with a comb. Wait at least five minutes before rinsing off. The result: shinier, healthier, more manageable hair.

Best Strengthening Treatment

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque

$10 at Amazon $11 at Ulta $10 at Target

Key Ingredients: Rosemary, sunflower seed oil, biotin | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Mielle makes our list once again for this creamy, rich deep conditioner works wonders on weak, brittle hair. It’s infused with rosemary, mint, and biotin to stimulate the scalp and promote healthy growth while penetrating deep into the shaft with honey and coconut oil to strengthen and soften. “Mielle Organics' Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque is equal parts relaxing aromatherapy and curl-correction,” writes Byrdie contributor Sumiko Wilson in her Mielle review. “If your hair has seen better days, this will whip your tresses back into shape.”

Best for Coily Hair

Pattern Heavy Conditioner

$49 at Amazon $12 at Sephora $28 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, shea butter, sunflower seed wax | Size: 3 to 29 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As a Black-founded, Black-owned company started by actress Tracee Ellis Ross, Pattern's Heavy Conditioner was formulated specifically for tight, coily textures. The ultra-creamy concoction contains a blend of plant-derived ingredients that work to hydrate, detangle, and define while nourishing tired, damaged hair. You can use it as a conditioner or simply apply a dime-sized amount to the ends of your hair when styling to keep it hydrated and defined. Soft, bouncy curls, here you come.

Best for Damaged Hair

TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask

$19 at Ulta $18 at Target $18 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Honey, olive oil, jojoba oil | Size: 12 to 32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This all-natural conditioning mask is just the thing for dry, damaged, and overly processed hair. As for target hair type, this pick specifically helps provide moisture and definition to type 3C and 4C hair. Containing a blend of earth-derived ingredients such as olive oil, jojoba, and honey, it vows to heal stressed strands and leave your main feeling soft and nourished—without the chalky or waxy buildup associated with other formulas. The mask is known to reduce shedding and cuts detangling time in half.

Best for Damaged Hair, Runner-Up

Ceremonia Guava Leave-In Conditioner

$27 at Sephora View on Ceremonia.com View on Credo Beauty

Key Ingredients: Guava fruit extract, blue agave, avocado oil | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Latinx-founded Ceremonia has a loyal customer base thanks to its naturally derived, effective ingredients that put fruits at the forefront of their intensely hydrating formula. This pick in particular is powered by guava, which helps to create a natural UV barrier, while tamarind enhances shine, avocado reduces frizz, and blue agave promotes hair elasticity. While many deep conditioning treatments feature overwhelmingly sweet scents, we like that this formula takes a more neutral approach with its hint of smokiness.

Best Mask

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Mask

$15 at Sephora $39 at Ulta $39 at Dermstore

Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, algae extract, B vitamins | Size: 8, 32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This mask from Briogeo promises to strengthen damaged hair, prevent breakage, increase shine, improve texture, remove product buildup, and leave natural hair moisturized. An internal study by the brand showed this pick left hair twice as strong as before, after only three uses. It’s also lightweight and features naturally derived ingredients. You can use it a few times a week in place of your normal conditioner, leaving it on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing to reap the full benefits.

Best Mask, Runner-Up

Rizos Curls Vitamin C Hair Repair Mask

$30 at Amazon $30 at Ulta $30 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, murumuru butter, grapefruit oil, orange oil, argan oil, shea butter | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Hands down the best-smelling conditioning treatment on this list, this award-winning, citrus-forward Rizos Curls product shields hair from damage and deeply moisturizes, thanks to its vegan ingredients and vitamin C technology. “I have thick, wavy, frizzy hair that gets even more unruly when I don’t use this hair mask in the shower,” says Grace Gavilanes, a Byrdie contributor who uses this mask every hair wash day. “Within minutes, I have hair that’s not only soft, defined, and makes styling so much easier, but also smells amazing.”