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A good conditioner is key when it comes to soft, shiny, detangled hair. “Conditioners ease out knots and smooth out the cuticle, leaving each strand glossy and healthy-looking,” explains stylist Anthony Nader. When paired with a complementary shampoo, it also sets the foundation for your style, whether that’s air-dried or blow-dried.
Of course, we love a luxury haircare moment, but there are countless excellent drugstore conditioners on the market that will help you achieve these results without a hefty price tag.
We conducted hours of research on the best drugstore conditioners, evaluating them on active ingredients, results, and how well each addressed different hair concerns. Our team then combined these results with our own research of fan favorites plus stylist-recommended picks to create this list.
Ahead, find the very best drugstore conditioners for every hair type and concern.
Best Overall
Nexxus Keraphix Conditioner for Damaged Hair
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Target
Improves hair health and texture
Adds shine
Smooths and softens hair
A tad pricey
This conditioner from Nexxus is seriously good for anyone who wants to repair hair damage, whether it comes from color treatments, heat styling, or just general wear and tear. The key ingredient is something called ProteinFusion, a blend of keratin and black rice extract to strengthen and nourish the hair shaft (which is also made up predominantly of protein).
Price at time of publish: $29
Hair Type: Damaged | Size: 13.5 oz., 33.8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dry Hair
Tresemmé Moisture Rich Conditioner
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Target
Contains vitamin E
Affordable
Suits most hair types
Slightly runny consistency
This brilliant multitasker does everything from repairing damage to increasing moisture for a smoother finish. It has a lightweight consistency that rinses easily (read: no greasy residue), making it an ideal choice for normal to dry strands.
Price at time of publish: $8
Hair Type: All | Size: 39 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Scent
OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Conditioner
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Courtesy of Ulta
Sweet coconut smell
Nourishing
Not rich enough for super dry hair
This sulfate-free conditioner from OGX is packed with coconut milk plus coconut oils for lightweight hydration. It’s not overly rich, so it won’t weigh down fine hair, while the addition of whipped egg white protein will assist with damage repair. It smells like a tropical island vacation.
Price at time of publish: $10
Hair Type: Wavy, straight, curly | Size: 13 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Curly Hair
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner
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Courtesy of Ulta
Natural ingredients
Formulated for curly and coiled hair
Wish the formula were a little thicker
Key Ingredients
Manuka honey is produced by honey bees that feed on the manuka tree. Most honey derives its antibacterial nature from hydrogen peroxide, but the manuka variety is unique in that it contains both hydrogen peroxide and another component called methylglyoxal, which means it's antibacterial.
Curly hair is more porous, meaning it tends to dry out faster. For this reason, it’s essential to find a conditioner that's rich in moisturizing ingredients—something this SheaMoisture formula has in spades. There are shea butter, honey, African rock fig and baobab oil, plus manuka honey to help retain water and nourish each strand. The result? Soft, cared-for curls.
Price at time of publish: $11
Hair Type: Dry, coarse, curly | Size: 13 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Damaged Hair
Pantene Miracle Rescue Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Treatment
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Courtesy of Amazon
Very nourishing
Works well to detangle and smooth
Could weigh down fine hair
This buy from drugstore hero Pantene is actually a conditioning mask, so it’s a good one to reach for if you’re suffering serious damage or dryness. Buttery and rich, try leaving it in for a few minutes before rinsing for noticeably smooth, shiny strands.
Price at time of publish: $7
Hair Type: Damaged, dry | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Normal Hair
Herbal Essences Rose Hips Smoothing Conditioner
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Courtesy of Amazon
Alluring floral scent
Contains jojoba oil and rose extract
Great value for money
Might not be nourishing enough for very dry/damaged hair
“If you have normal, uncolored hair, this is a lovely conditioner that’s also easy on the wallet,” says Nader. “I love the delicious fragrance, plus it leaves the hair plump, shiny, and moisturized.”
We also love the fact that it contains jojoba, which is known to improve hair softness and defend against breakage. And to echo the above sentiment, the smell is amazing!
Price at time of publish: $7
Hair Type: Normal, dry | Size: 29 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Wavy Hair
Kristin Ess The One Signature Conditioner
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Courtesy of Amazon
Sulfate free
Contains keratin and protein
A little pricey
“This is great quality for a drugstore formula,” Nader tells us. “The inclusion of keratin is fantastic for those prone to breakage, plus there’s no sulfates to encourage color fade.”
The keratin in particular is a great inclusion for damaged hair, as it can work to repair the integrity and strength of each individual strand.
Price at time of publish: $11
Hair Type: Normal, dry, damaged | Size: 10 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Coarse Hair
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk 3-in-1 Conditioner
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Courtesy of Ulta Beauty
Multi-purpose
Contains rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymes
Sulfate and silicone free
Strong smell
This versatile pick can be used as a normal conditioner, to co-wash, or as a leave-in treatment. Best suited for those with coarse texture and a tighter curl pattern, it’s rich in keratin amino acids and enzymes to nourish as well.
Price at time of publish: $9
Hair Type: Curly, coiled, coarse | Size: 12 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Frizz
Monday Haircare Smooth Conditioner
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Courtesy of Ulta Beauty
Great price
Recyclable packaging
Contains coconut oil, shea butter, glycerin, and panthenol
Could weigh down fine hair
Monday Haircare is a New Zealand brand that’s quickly risen to cult status in the states, and we can see why. With recyclable pump bottles and sulfate-free formulations, the entire range is affordable, effective, and a delight to use. Our pick is the Smoothing conditioner, packed with glycerin, coconut oil, panthenol, and shea butter to support soft, shiny, manageable locks.
Price at time of publish: $8
Hair Type: Frizzy, coarse, dry | Size: 12 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Fine Hair
The Ordinary Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner
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Courtesy of Ulta Beauty
Great price
Sulfate, silicone, and paraben free
Doesn’t weigh hair down
Not rich enough for very dry or damaged hair
This launch from The Ordinary stands apart from the crowd due to its extremely minimalistic formula. (There are only seven ingredients in total.) The star of the show is behentrimonium chloride, a type of surfactant that's said to improve hair condition and manageability. It’s very lightweight, so it's best suited to those with fine, soft strands.
Price at time of publish: $8
Hair Type: Fine, normal, colored | Size: 8.1 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Colored Hair
L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Conditioner
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Courtesy of Ulta Beauty
Sulfate and silicone free
Safe for colored hair
Fresh scent
Pricey for a drugstore formula
It’s tricky to find a sulfate- and silicone-free conditioner in the drugstore, but L’Oreal Paris’ Ever Pure ticks both boxes. With a fresh, herbaceous scent and creamy texture, it does a stellar job at detangling and restoring shine in normal, dry, or colored hair.
Price at time of publish: $9
Hair Type: Dry, normal, colored | Size: 8.5 oz., 23 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Pump
Dove Nutritive Solutions Moisturizing Conditioner
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Courtesy of Target
Affordable
Softens and detangles
Fresh scent
Not Byrdie clean
Simple but effective, this fairly priced conditioner from Dove is super-hydrating, eliminating major frizz, flyaways, and visible signs of damage. It's easy to work into the hair but rinses easily, so there’s no bulk, greasiness, or excess weight. Plus, the giant pump bottle seems to last forever.
Price at time of publish: $9
Hair Type: Dry, normal | Size: 25.4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Nexxus Keraphix Conditioner for Damaged Hair, which contains a blend of keratin and black rice extract to strengthen and nourish hair and has a creamy, rich texture. For a more affordable pick, consider TRESemmé Moisture Rich Conditioner, which contains vitamin E and delivers soft, smooth tresses.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from 1 to 5 (5 being the best; 1 being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Meet the Expert
Anthony Nader is an established hair stylist and founder of RAW salon in Sydney’s Surry Hills.
What to Look for in a Drugstore Conditioner
Formula
Make sure you choose a conditioner that's made for your hair type. Someone with oily hair probably wouldn't do well with a conditioner that's formulated for fine hair, and vice versa. Opt for a conditioner that's formulated specifically for your hair concern to achieve the best results.
Avoid silicones
Over time, silicones can block hydrating ingredients from penetrating deep down into the hair shaft. That may cause hair to feel dry or brittle, which isn't something we want after we use conditioner. That's why it's best to try to avoid silicones in our conditioner as much as possible.
Why Trust Byrdie
Emily Algar is a contributing writer for Byrdie, where she specializes in in-depth product reviews. She considered dozens of drugstore conditioners, evaluating each for its active ingredients, texture, and results. She also consulted our testing insights and stylist recommendations as well as a few peer-reviewed journals for this roundup.
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