Celebrity Hairstylists Say These Are the Best Conditioners for Natural Hair
You’re probably already in a groove with your haircare routine, washing and conditioning your strands on a regular basis. With dryer months ahead, deep-conditioning your natural strands is so, so necessary. We all know that natural hair is naturally dryer—dry hair combined with dry air calls for super-hydrating conditioners. Not to mention we'll all probably be wearing scarves soon, and if it's a cotton or knit material, it can potentially weaken the tips of your ends, leaving them brittle. Deep-conditioning your hair will combat this.
You know how certain shampoos strip your hair of its natural oils? Conditioners do the complete opposite—they actually keep your strands strong and thoroughly moisturized. If you’re trying to revert your curls to their natural state after too much heat damage or breakage, or you're transitioning to natural hair, conditioner will restore the vital nutrients needed back into your hair shaft while strengthening your hair follicles to prevent future breakage.
Whether you’re wearing your hair naturally curly or straight, you won’t have to worry about it feeling dry with these deep conditioners. Infused with incredible ingredients like hemp, honey, jojoba oil, coconut, and more, these are the very best conditioners for natural hair. We asked celebrity hairstylists about the conditioners they rely on and mixed in a few of our favorites. Click through our roundup of must-have conditioners, and share with all your curly-haired friends.
"Moroccanoil Curl Cleansing Conditioner is great because you can use it in place of a daily shampoo and conditioner," explains Moroccanoil's artistic director and celebrity hairstylist Kevin Hughes. "This will leave more moisture in your hair without feeling like it's too strong of a cleanser. I love it for beach vacations—instead of washing your hair every day to remove salt water, you can bring one product and cleanse your hair while conditioning it."
This budget-friendly, oil-rich conditioner will leave behind a healthy shine. If you're dealing with breakage, it should be your go-to because it's formulated to strengthen split ends. "I love this conditioner for natural and textured hair because the natural oils in the product keep curly hair mosturized and revived since it tends to be drier," explains Schwarzkopf celebrity stylist Larry Sims.
You can always depend on Carol's Daughter products to have nourishing ingredients that'll bring your strands back to life. "This conditioner helps with daily wear and tear to the hair strands," explains curl expert and Carol's Daughter lead stylist Stephanie McLemore. "If there's an excessive amount of heat styling, coloring, or just exposure to external elements, the Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Hair Mask will help replenish proteins and restore hair back to good health. I love this conditioner because I see instant results—soft, shiny, and smooth cuticles."
"I recommend using Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner to replenish hair with the essential nutrients and vital moisture it needs," suggests Hughes. "This is so important for anyone who chemically treats their hair, colors, or straightens it. The highly concentrated, reparative formula restores hair's health, moisture, and elasticity with antioxidant-rich argan oil, reconstructive keratin, and fatty acids."
If you've ever felt the tingling sensation of tea tree oil, you'll understand why this is one of Sims's favorites. "I love how the formula has olive oil, which provides a deep-conditioning treatment for textured hair without weighing it down. The packaging is also great for on the go," says Sims.
Wait until you hear what this little container is packing: pure blue-green algae; 65 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; and unrefined cocoa and mango butters. It's basically heaven for your hair with this powerful cocktail of ingredients that'll truly renew your locks.
This sulfate- and paraben-free conditioner's star ingredient is argan oil—one of the most moisturizing properties on the map. If you haven't tried out Pantene's super-affordable Gold Series haircare line yet, I highly recommend you give them a whirl. I have an arsenal of luxurious, high-end products on my hair shelf but always reach for this. Maybe it's the fact that I know it took over 10 years to formulate this collection by hundreds of African-American scientists dedicated to the natural-hair community.
You'll immediately become entranced by this enticing lemongrass scent. But once you see how shiny and bouncy your curls look after lathering the creamy conditioner through your head, you'll be even more hooked. Made with olive oil, this conditioner will add moisture and control frizz.
Looking to grow your locks longer? Try this conditioner that's packed with the secret to longer hair: biotin. We've already proven that biotin works wonders when it comes to hair growth. It also restores hydration to your hair shafts with green tea, carrot oil, and vitamins.
Hemp seed oil has amazing benefits for your hair. Made with an array of fatty acids, silk oil, and aloe vera gel this will give you the deep clean you're looking for and is also the absolute best product for detangling.