Upgrade Your Hair Care Routine With the Best Deep Conditioners From Briogeo, Olaplex, and More (2024)

Our Top Picks

Hair Type: All, damaged | Size: 2.6, 6.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If your hair is visibly damaged due to bleaching or excessive heat-styling, Kérastase Resistance has your name on it. This deep-conditioning mask is chock-full of protein-rich ingredients, including a Pro-Keratine Complex—a blend of protein and amino acids, such as serine, arginine, and glutamic acid which help to strengthen the hair structure. It also contains ceramides that help moisturize, mend breakage, smooth hair follicles, and fortify brittle hair. Keep in mind that you may have to use a decent-sized amount of the mask each time to really work it through your hair, and considering that it's pricey, this isn't ideal.

Hair Type: All | Size: 2, 8, 12, 32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Briogeo's take on deep conditioner is this transformative, ultra-hydrating mask that promises to strengthen stressed hair and protect it from future damage. It's a favorite among editors thanks to its ability to add moisture, smooth frizz, and strengthen the hair over time. It calls on amino acids, rosehip oil, and B vitamins to work its magic, and when used as a weekly treatment, it really does improve the look and feel of your hair. It has a creamy but lightweight texture that's easy to work into the hair, and we love that it's available in a variety of sizes. The only bone to pick: It takes a while to see results, but hang in there and be consistent—it's totally worth it.

Hair Type: All | Size: 3.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Featuring the brand's unique bonding technology which relies on proteins to reduce breakage and restore broken hair bonds, as well as moisturizing glycerin, and a blend of nourishing oils, this mask strengthens and conditions damaged and dry hair. The texture and creamy but not too heavy, making it easy to work through wet hair, and we love that it's suitable for all hair types. For added fortifying benefits if you're experiencing serious damage, we recommend pairing it with the No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector, and editor-favorite weekly treatment. The one thing we don't love about this product is that you need a decent amount to coat your hair, so you'll likely run through the 3.3 oz bottle pretty fast.

Hair Type: All, chemically treated | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're willing to splurge on a high-end product that delivers salon-level results, consider Christophe Robin's Regenerating Mask with a blend of good-for-hair ingredients, such as plant ceramides and prickly pear oil. Ceramides work to smooth the hair shaft while prickly pear oil helps hydrate and soften, thanks to its high concentration of vitamin E. The texture feels luxe and creamy, though it doesn't leave a residue behind. Over time, the mask works to repair existing damage and prevent new damage from occurring. Plus, it boosts the intensity of your hair color—something folks with color-treated hair will be especially happy about. The pear scent is a bit strong and perfumey, so keep this in mind if you're sensitive to fragrance.

Hair Type: Dry and color-damaged | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This multiuse formula from L'Oréal can be used as a co-wash, rinse-out mask, or leave-in treatment. We love how this deep conditioner treats split ends, brittle hair, and color damage with a blend of oils and proteins while detangling hair and leaving it ultrasmooth and shiny. Plus, it protects against heat styling up to 450 degrees. The only thing we aren't huge fans of is the fact that the formula can leave behind a residue if you're not careful to thoroughly wash it out.

Hair Type: Curly | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Bread Hair-Mask was formulated with coily, curly, and wavy textures in mind, but all hair types can reap the benefits of this extra-creamy deep conditioner that leans on a potent blend of nutrient-rich oils—like starflower and Kakadu plum seed oils—and strengthening proteins. The formula is noticeably lightweight but doubles down on dry, damaged hair to soften, strengthen, and moisturize every last strand. It's also free from silicones which can be beneficial for fine strands or those who struggle with greasy or weighed-down hair. Our one con is that it's housed in a pouch that can get slippery when wet and deposit too much when it's squeezed too hard; just be careful while depositing the formula.

Hair Type: Curly and coily | Size: 3, 13, 29 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Formulated to restore natural curl patterns and tight textures, the Pattern Intensive Conditioner is jam-packed with hydrating ingredients—like avocado oil and shea butter—to define, revive, and protect curls and coils. It was created specifically for low porosity hair, which often struggles to hold onto moisture. The texture is rich and creamy, and we love that it comes in multiple sizes, including a jumbo with a convenient pump.

Hair Type: Curly | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Curls Dynasty makes an indulgent deep conditioning mask that's packed with creamy pumpkin to fortify and rebuild a damaged hair shaft and promote new growth. We're big fans of the fact that this formula restores moisture at the cuticle level. The texture is rich and super-hydrating, making it a nice choice for those with curly hair that's damaged or lacking moisture. One thing to note: It's dense, so those with fine hair might find that it weighs hair down.

Hair Type: Fine | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with fine hair know how challenging it can be to find a deep conditioner that supplies serious moisture without weighing your hair down or coating it in a greasy film. This one is great for fine and thinning hair because it's soft and creamy without being too rich. It's formulated with a protein complex that can help with hair growth and maintaining a healthy microbiome on the scalp. It also contains peptides for necessary moisture. It's not ideal for those with very damaged hair as it doesn't have bonding technology or a rich, smoothing formula, but it's great for those looking to condition fine hair and help encourage growth.

Hair Type: Color-treated | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you have highlights or a full-on platinum dye job, Bust Your Brass is great for moisturizing chemically lightened hair and neutralizing any brassy, orange hues. It features rich purple pigments to color-correct brass, as well as a bonding complex to help strengthen hair and target damage. Some reviewers note that if you leave the treatment on too long, the formula can turn hair purple, depending on porosity, so be sure to monitor appropriately. And because the treatment is so potent like purple shampoo, it can stain skin and clothes. Remember to wash your hands after use and try not to get the treatment on clothes and towels.

Hair Type: All | Size: 2, 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Chi's Keratin Leave-In Conditioner is a lightweight no-rinse option that's great for applying right after washing your hair because it helps detangle, nourish, and strengthen every strand. We're big fans of the formula, which boasts a keratin-infused blend to repair the hair cuticle, improve elasticity, and protect against future breakage. It has a strong perfumey scent, which we don't love, so those who are sensitive to fragrance or perfumes might want to opt out of this one.

Hair Type: All | Size: 2, 5, 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Jennifer Aniston's haircare line LolaVie won't magically transform your hair into her signature 'do, but it's designed to garner excellent results for a variety of hair types and hair concerns. We love the Glossing Detangler—so much so that we named it a Byrdie Eco Beauty Award Winner—because it gently detangles hair without breaking it and doubles as a heat protectant. Lemon extract, chia seeds, and vegan ceramides make this fine leave-in spray formula a powerful conditioner that's lightweight enough to use as daily as a detangler for a high-gloss effect.

Hair Type:All |Size: 5 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes

This reparative hair mask from Vegamour is one you should have on your radar, especially if you have lots of flyaways and broken ends. It works to smooth, hydrate, and strengthenhair thanks to a formula powered by Karmatin, a vegan silk alternative to keratin and silicone.Unlike other bonding shampoos, Karmatin stays locked onto strands, bonding them together, rather than washing out with water. It also contains marula oil and moringa seed oil to boost moisture and shine. We love that it's so hydrating, but it can leave behind a bit of residue on the crown and scalp. So we recommend working the deep conditioner through just the lengths and ends of your hair instead.

Hair Type:All |Size: 8.5 oz |Cruelty-Free:No

We highly recommend applying a heat protectant or a nourishing leave-in conditioner before blow-drying your hair to minimize damage. This leave-in conditioner spray from Redken protects hair from heat damage by fortifying the hair cuticle and prevents hair from snapping by reducing friction and detangling. It has a lightweight, creamy texture that's easy to spritz and work into the hair, and we love that it helps reduce flyaways and frizz. We wish it contained more nourishing oils for added hydration benefits, but we love it for its strengthening and protecting benefits.

FAQ

• Can you use a deep conditioner with regular conditioner?

  According to O’Connor, if your hair is very damaged, you can (and should) still use both a conditioner and a deep conditioner. She recommends applying a traditional conditioner as you normally would and then follow up with a deep conditioner as an extra reparative measure.

• How long should you leave deep conditioner in your hair?

  How long you’ll need to keep your deep conditioner or conditioning mask on will vary from product to product, so be sure to read through any directions on the packaging thoroughly. However, O’Connor mentions that leaving a deep conditioner on for longer than recommended won’t harm your hair. “In fact, many people with curls and coils love to add time and elements of steam and heat to further enhance penetration,” she says. “This is especially key when you have low porosity hair.”

• Are deep conditioners suited to all hair types?

  Yes, but you'll want to find the formula suited to your hair type. "Finer hair can look flat and oily if you use deep treatments that are too heavy," says Hershberger. "Those with thicker and curlier hair will need a heavier formula to match their hair's porosity."