If your hair feels dry, frizzy, or just plain tired, the right conditioner can make a big difference.
Whether you’ve got curls that need extra love or fine strands that get greasy fast, we’ve rounded up the best conditioners to help hydrate, soften, and bring your hair back to life.
These picks are tested, trusted, and actually worth your time.
Table of content
Best hair conditioners: Our top picks
-
Best overall: Scandinavian Biolabs Hair Recovery Conditioner
-
Best budget option: Monday Haircare Moisture Conditioner
-
Best for curly hair: Briogeo Curl Charisma Conditioner
-
Best for fine hair: Malin + Goetz Cilantro Hair Conditioner
- Best for damaged hair: K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner
1. Best overall: Scandinavian Biolabs Hair Recovery Conditioner
If your hair’s dry, fragile, or thinning, this one’s worth a look. It’s made with aloe vera for scalp hydration, an amino acid blend for strength, and Capilia Longa®, a turmeric-based compound that’s been studied for hair growth.
It’s designed to actually help hair recover—not just feel smoother for a day.
What makes it stand out is how it hydrates without making your scalp greasy or your strands heavy. It leaves your hair soft and easy to comb through, especially if your ends are dry or prone to breakage.
Price is on the higher end, but if your hair’s been through the wringer, it might be worth the splurge.
2. Best budget option: Monday Haircare Moisture Conditioner
Good hydration doesn’t have to cost much. This conditioner from Monday has coconut oil and shea butter—two solid ingredients for softening dry ends. It also has pro-vitamin B5 to help with strength and shine.
The texture feels creamy but not too thick, and it rinses out without leaving buildup. It’s a good pick for everyday use, especially if your hair gets dry but still needs volume.
Only downside? The bottle design isn’t the easiest to use in the shower. But for the price, it gets the job done.
3. Best for curly hair: Briogeo Curl Charisma Conditioner
Curly hair tends to be drier by nature, and this one helps bring moisture back without weighing curls down. It’s packed with rice amino acids and shea butter, so it smooths and defines while still letting your natural texture do its thing.
It also makes detangling easier. You can finger-comb through without a struggle, which helps reduce breakage.
It’s not the strongest on frizz control—you might still want a styling cream or oil after—but it’s a solid conditioner if you wear your curls naturally and want them to feel soft and bouncy.
4. Best for fine hair: Malin + Goetz Cilantro Hair Conditioner
Fine hair and heavy conditioners don’t mix. This one keeps things light while still hydrating. It uses fatty acids and shea butter to condition without flattening your roots. You can even use it as a leave-in if your hair’s extra delicate.
The cilantro scent is fresh and not too strong, and it doesn’t leave any residue. It’s ideal if your hair is dry but gets greasy fast.
Not the most moisturizing option for really parched strands, but great for daily use on fine, dry hair.
5. Best for damaged hair: K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner
If your hair’s been fried from bleach, heat, or coloring, this is one to consider. K18 uses a patented peptide blend that helps repair damage while keeping your hair soft and manageable. It’s lightweight, creamy, and doesn’t leave your scalp oily.
It works especially well for people with breakage at the roots or ends that feel rough and dry. It also adds shine and brings back a bit of bounce.
It’s pricey for the size, and you’ll probably still want to use other treatments for deep repair—but as a daily conditioner for damaged hair, it pulls its weight.
6. Best for thinning hair: Virtue Flourish Thickening & Hydrating Mask
This one’s made for dry, thinning hair that needs both moisture and volume. It’s got keratin and rice protein to strengthen fragile strands, plus niacinamide to calm the scalp. The formula is thick but spreads easily and doesn’t leave hair feeling coated.
After rinsing, hair feels fuller and softer, not limp. It’s especially helpful if your hair tends to tangle when it’s dry.
The only downside is the scent—it’s strong and lasts a while, which some folks love and others don’t. And it’s on the expensive side. But for fragile, thinning hair, it does a lot in one step.
7. Best for color-treated hair: Bondbar Bonding Conditioner
Color-treated hair needs help holding itself together, and this one’s all about rebuilding broken bonds. It’s a more affordable alternative to some of the big-name bond repair conditioners, and it still delivers solid moisture for dry, stressed-out strands.
Soybean oil is the main hydrator here, and it helps smooth rough ends without heaviness. It’s protein-rich, which helps strengthen hair that’s been bleached or dyed often.
You might not get salon-level repair, but for the price, it does more than you'd expect—especially if your hair’s feeling dry and overworked.
8. Best for frizz control: Living Proof No Frizz Intense Moisture Hair Mask
This one’s a go-to if your dry hair gets frizzy the second there’s humidity in the air. It uses a patented molecule (OFPMA) that helps block moisture from getting into the hair shaft, which is what causes the poof.
It also has shea butter and jojoba esters for hydration, and the texture feels rich without being too heavy. It leaves hair soft, smoother, and easier to manage—even in sticky weather.
It can feel like it coats your hair a bit if you use too much, so start with a small amount and build from there.
9. Best volumizing conditioner: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Plumping Mask
Dry hair doesn’t always mean flat hair, and this conditioner proves it. It’s designed to plump up fine or thinning strands without piling on grease. Amla extract adds thickness, while kukui nut oil and coconut oil help hydrate and smooth.
It rinses clean and leaves your hair feeling fuller, not weighed down. Great if you want a bit of bounce without sacrificing moisture.
It’s not the richest formula, so if your hair is very dry or coarse, you may want something heavier. But for volume and softness, it hits a nice middle ground.
10. Best natural formula: Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner
This conditioner is made with plant oils like babassu, peppermint, and sunflower, and it's especially good for dry, textured hair. It has a thick, creamy texture and gives a lot of slip, making detangling easier.
The protein level is medium, which helps strengthen while still giving moisture. The mint gives a tingly feel on the scalp—refreshing for some, too much for others.
If your hair is dry and tightly coiled, this is a solid pick. It brings flexibility back to your strands and helps them stay moisturized longer.
11. Best for blonde hair: Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Conditioner
Blonde hair—especially if it’s bleached—gets dry and brittle fast. This conditioner helps hydrate while also brightening dull or brassy tones. It’s got moringa seed oil and sunflower extract to soften, and soy protein to help with damage.
It’s not a super purple-toning formula, so it won’t completely cancel out brass, but it does keep your blonde looking fresh and soft without turning it yellow or gray.
The scent is light and botanical, and it doesn’t linger too long. If your blonde hair is feeling dry and dull, this adds moisture without messing with your color.
12. Best lightweight conditioner: Verb Ghost Conditioner
This one’s a favorite for dry hair that still gets oily fast. It uses moringa oil and sunflower extract to add softness without heaviness. It rinses clean and leaves no residue, which makes it great for fine or low-porosity hair.
It’s almost scentless, which some people love. And it works well even on extensions or processed hair that feels dry at the ends.
If your hair tends to fall flat with heavier conditioners, this is a nice lightweight option that still hydrates enough to calm dry, frizzy strands.
13. Best deep hydration mask: SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Hair Mask
When your hair feels like straw, this one brings it back to life. It’s thick, buttery, and packed with shea butter, coconut oil, and baobab oil. Great for 3C to 4C textures or anyone dealing with serious dryness.
It gives amazing slip, so detangling is easier, and your hair stays moisturized even a few days after rinsing. You only need to use it once a week—it’s that rich.
The scent is a bit strong (honey-like), and the texture might be too heavy for fine hair. But if your curls are dry and thirsty, it’s a go-to.
As your leading source for hair health information over the past 4 years, we never compromise on accuracy. When it comes to your health, you deserve information you can truly rely on - and earning your trust is our top priority.
Here's how Scandinavian Biolabs ensures every piece of content meets the highest standards of accuracy and integrity:
- Credentialed Experts: Our reviewers are actively practicing doctors and medical researchers
- Stringent Reviews: Content undergoes rigorous editing by subject specialists and review by a practicing doctor.
- Evidence-Based: We rely on well-established research from trusted scientific sources like peer-reviewed journals and health authorities.
- Full Transparency: Our editorial standards, writer credentials, reviewer credentials, correction process, and funding are all publicly documented.
- Independent Voice: While we do promote products, we operate in a vacuum to business operations. Our main goal is just an unwavering commitment to providing medically-sound guidance.
You can count on Scandinavian Biolabs to consistently deliver the trustworthy health information you deserve. Read our Editorial Standards.
How we tested the conditioners
After trying out 30+ conditioners and narrowing them down to the best 13, we focused on how well each one hydrates dry hair, how it feels during use, and how hair behaves afterward—softness, shine, manageability, and all that good stuff.
We tested them on different hair types, from fine and straight to curly and textured, and paid close attention to how each one handled common dry-hair issues.
We also went through hundreds of real customer reviews to spot any patterns—good or bad. If people consistently mentioned buildup, strong scents, or poor results, we took note.
Every product that made the cut had to earn its place by actually helping dry hair feel better, not just making it smell nice or look shiny for a day.
What does hair conditioner actually do?
Hair conditioner helps hydrate and soften your hair after shampooing, making it smoother, shinier, and easier to manage. It works by coating the hair strands to lock in moisture and reduce friction, which helps prevent breakage and frizz.
When you shampoo, you're not just washing away dirt—you’re also stripping away some of your hair’s natural oils.
Conditioner steps in to bring moisture back and seal the cuticle, the outer layer of your hair.
This is especially important for dry or damaged hair, which needs that extra protection to stay strong and healthy. Think of it as a daily repair step for your strands.
How to choose the right conditioner for your hair type
Finding the right conditioner depends on what your hair needs most—whether that’s moisture, volume, frizz control, or something else.
Dry or damaged hair
Look for conditioners with rich oils and butters—like shea, argan, or coconut oil. These ingredients help coat and protect each strand while adding deep moisture.
Protein-rich formulas can also help repair damage, but too much protein can make hair stiff, so it’s good to alternate with hydrating options.
If your hair feels rough, breaks easily, or has been bleached or colored, a thick, creamy conditioner or even a weekly mask might work best. Let it sit for a few minutes in the shower to give it time to work.
Fine or thinning hair
Dry fine hair can be tricky—you want hydration without making your hair flat or greasy. Lightweight conditioners that rinse clean are your best bet. Look for ingredients like moringa oil or amino acids. These hydrate and smooth without adding heaviness.
If your hair tends to fall limp right after washing, avoid formulas loaded with silicones or heavy oils. Some protein can help add structure, but use it sparingly.
Curly, coily, or textured hair
Curly and coily hair tends to be drier by nature, so it usually needs richer conditioners. Look for formulas with plant oils like jojoba, baobab, or babassu. These help with moisture and make detangling easier.
A good conditioner for curls should add slip (so you can comb through without breakage) and lock in hydration to keep curls soft and defined. For many curly-haired folks, a deep conditioner once a week makes a big difference.
Color-treated hair
Coloring your hair can dry it out fast. Conditioners for color-treated hair should hydrate while protecting your color from fading. Look for bond-building ingredients (like in Olaplex or Bondbar) and formulas that are sulfate-free.
Some also contain UV filters or pH-balancing ingredients to help keep color vibrant. If your ends are dry and split-prone, a heavier formula or a leave-in treatment can help too.
Oily or low-porosity hair
If your hair gets greasy fast or feels like conditioner just sits on top, go for lighter formulas. Look for water-based conditioners or sprays with minimal oils. Coconut oil can work—but in small doses.
You might also find that applying conditioner only to the ends and skipping the roots helps avoid that flat, greasy feeling. And try to avoid anything labeled “deep moisture” unless your hair actually needs it—those can be too much.
How to use hair conditioner the right way
Using conditioner sounds simple, but doing it right makes a big difference—especially for dry hair. Here’s how to get the most out of it:
-
Always apply conditioner to damp, clean hair—right after rinsing out your shampoo.
-
Focus on the mid-lengths to ends, where hair is usually driest.
-
Avoid your scalp unless the product is made for it or your scalp is dry.
-
Let it sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing—longer if your hair’s really parched.
-
Rinse thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water.
- For thick or curly hair, you can even try leaving a small amount in without rinsing fully.
Deep conditioners vs. regular conditioners: What’s the difference?
Deep conditioners are richer, more intensive treatments meant to repair and hydrate hair more deeply than regular daily conditioners. They’re usually used once a week and left on longer.
Regular conditioners are lighter and made for everyday use. They smooth the hair, help with detangling, and add a quick layer of moisture and protection. They’re perfect for maintenance, but not always enough for very dry or damaged strands.
Deep conditioners, on the other hand, are more like a rescue treatment. They have higher concentrations of oils, butters, and proteins, and they’re great when your hair feels brittle, over-processed, or just really dry.
But using them too often—especially ones with protein—can sometimes make your hair stiff or heavy. Balance is key.
Common conditioner ingredients (and what they do)
Reading labels can be confusing, but here are some common ingredients that actually help dry hair:
-
Shea butter and coconut oil: Add deep moisture and help seal the cuticle.
-
Aloe vera: Soothes the scalp and hydrates dry strands.
-
Argan oil: Adds softness and shine without feeling greasy.
-
Keratin and proteins: Help repair damaged hair and reduce breakage.
-
Silicones (like dimethicone): Smooth hair and fight frizz but can build up over time.
-
Glycerin: Draws moisture into the hair from the air.
- Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5): Helps strengthen and soften hair.
Conclusion
Dry hair needs more than just a quick rinse—it needs the right kind of care. Whether your strands are curly, straight, fine, or colored, the right conditioner can help soften, strengthen, and bring back some life.
From lightweight daily options to rich weekly masks, there’s something for every hair type and situation.
Pick based on what your hair actually needs right now—not what it used to be like. And don’t be afraid to switch things up as the seasons or your hair routine changes.
FAQs
Should I use conditioner every time I wash my hair?
Yes—especially if your hair is dry. Shampoo cleanses, but conditioner brings back moisture and helps with manageability.
Is conditioner bad for fine or oily hair?
Not if you choose the right one. Lightweight, silicone-free conditioners work well for fine or oily hair. Just apply to the ends and avoid the scalp.
Can I use conditioner as a leave-in?
Some regular conditioners can work as a leave-in if used sparingly, but it’s best to use a product made for that purpose to avoid buildup or greasiness.
What’s the shelf life of conditioner?
Most conditioners last about 12 to 24 months after opening. Look for a little open jar symbol on the bottle—it usually tells you how many months it stays good once opened.
