Sometimes you need more than a Hail Mary to combat dry, brittle, and damaged hair—a tiny prayer perhaps best answered by a haircut and the best deep conditioners. Think of these as the stylist’s version of miracle working—breathing life back into distressed strands in a few applications.
Vogue’s Favorite Deep Conditioners
So why swap your daily conditioner for a more heavy-duty formula? We’re glad you asked. “Think of a [deep conditioner] as a more intensive treatment designed to penetrate deeply into the hair shaft, providing long-lasting moisture, repair, and strength from within. Below, everything you need to know about deep conditioners, plus expert-advice on finding the right one for you depending on your hair type or level of damage.
In This Story:
Best For Strengthening: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: “This celebrated product offers the best of both worlds, combining strengthening proteins with rich moisturizers,” Matthew says of Briogeo’s acclaimed Don’t Despair, Repair! hair mask. “It’s a great option for someone looking to boost and maintain their hair’s health.” It’s a favorite of Vogue’s senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden, who’s impressed by how quickly its blend of biotin, proteins, algae extract, and botanicals oils revived her dull, dry hair. We also love that it comes in multiple sizes—a travel-friendly option and a larger tub we can use generously without a second thought.
- Key Ingredients: Plant proteins, algae extract, rosehip oil, sweet almond oil
- Size: 2 oz, 8 oz, 32 oz
Best Drugstore: Pantene Miracle Deep Conditioning Treatment
- Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist Castillo Bataille recommends this drugstore pick, noting that “it’s a great option for a quick, effective boost of moisture.” The key word is quick: you only need to leave it on for 1-3 minutes before rinsing. For low-porosity hair, which tends to repel moisture, lighter treatments like this provide hydration without overwhelming the strands. The best part? There’s no limit on how often you can use it—the brand suggests applying it every time you shower to visibly repair six months of damage.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin B5
- Size: 8 oz
Best for Damaged Hair: Act+Acre Restorative Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: “This deep conditioner is perfect for those with really damaged hair,” Cavalcante says, who often recommends Act+Acre’s restorative mask to his clients. It delivers instant smoothness and lasting hydration in just 5-10 minutes—ideal for those low on time. “Plant-based fatty acids soften hair, while glycerin locks in moisture without the buildup from silicones, keeping hair light and silky.” Plus, the brand is founded by a trichologist, so you’re sure to see fast, visible results while tending to the scalp.
- Key Ingredients: Castor oil, glycerin, shea butter
- Size: 4.5 oz
Best For Color Treated Hair: Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Purple Intense Repair Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: According to Bataille, the Amika Intense Repair “helps repair severely damaged hair by restoring its strength and elasticity.” Safe for all hair types, it’s especially beneficial for those who color their hair, as it both moisturizes and tones, leaving color looking brighter and healthier. To do so, this uses a blend of ultra-violet pigments that counteract yellow and brassy tones to ensure your color is always up to your standard in between salon appointments.
- Key Ingredients: Mango butter extract, borage oil, shea butter, ultra-violet pigments
- Size: 8 oz
Best Scent: Crown Affair The Renewal Hydrating Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: Crown Affair’s The Renewal Mask boasts a thick, creamy texture that coats and penetrates each strand in just one use. Bataille swears by this one, noting that it “hydrates without weighing hair down”—whipping Tsubaki seed oil and yuzu extract into a nourishing cream suitable for al hair types. Treat yourself to it once a week to improve the look of hair while indulging in its delicious bergamot and lemongrass scent that are sure to earn you compliments.
- Key Ingredients: Tsubaki seed oil, yuzu extract
- Size: 6.8 oz
Best For Split Ends: Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask
- Why We Love It: Our hair goes through a lot—bleaching, toning, impulsive at-home cuts, and endless heat damage—which is why a mask to revive damaged strands is non-negotiable. Christophe Robin’s is a French go-to for us because it not only moisturizes and smooths via prickly pear seed oil, but also reduces the appearance of split ends and adds a silky texture.
- Key Ingredients: Prickly pear seed oil, vitamin F complex
- Size: 250 mL
Best For Curls: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner
- Why We Love It: Keeping your curls hydrated can be quite the feat, which is why we recommend this deep conditioner from Bread Beauty Supply. Ideal for wavy, curly, and coily hair types, “this product is packed with moisturizing oils that are perfect for curly and textured hair,” per Bataille. Weightless and silicone-free, this absorbs quickly, delivering noticeable results right away—making detangling and styling that much easier. Plus, the compact packaging makes it super convenient for travel.
- Key Ingredients: Kakadu plum, carrot seed and starflower oils, shea butter
- Size: 3.3 oz, 12 oz
Best Pick-Me-Up Treatment: Aavrani Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
- Why We Love It: If you’re looking for a hair mask that leaves your strands feeling unbelievably soft, meet Ayurvedic brand Aavarani. This hydrating mask combines Mowrah butter, rice protein, and biotin to repair damaged hair and boost fullness. Safe for all hair types—including color-treated hair—it’s our pre-event go-to for added softness and an unforgettable, “what’s your secret?” scent of jasmine, layered with hints of patchouli, sandalwood, and white musk.
- Key Ingredients: Mowrah butter, rice protein, biotin
- Size: 8.4 oz
Best For Coily Hair: Pattern Intensive Conditioner
- Why We Love It: Unlike traditional conditioners, Pattern’s is much richer, targeting dryness, damage, and overall hair health from the inside out. Its secret lies in its potent ingredient list: a blend of safflower seed, jojoba, and avocado oils that work together to soften and deeply hydrate strands perfect for a nourishing weekly treatment for curly and coily hair, and especially 4A-4C hair types.
- Key Ingredients: Safflower seed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil
- Size: 3 oz, 13 oz, 29 oz
Best Fragrance-Free: Seen Deep Conditioner
- Why We Love It: Ringing in at under $15, this budget-friendly yet high-quality deep conditioner is a steal. Hair stylist Rogerio Cavalcante agrees, noting that the blend of hemisqualane and bisabolol offers smoothing and soothing benefits, making it suitable for various hair types, including color-treated and bleached hair. “This fragrance-free option is great for people sensitive to scents or prone to allergies.”
- Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, bisabolol
- Size: 2 oz, 8.5 oz, 32.5 oz
Best For Heat Damage: Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask
- Why We Love It: Just because you’re obsessed with hot tools doesn’t mean your hair has to suffer. Revive dry, damaged hair by regularly applying this hair mask, packed with ingredients like prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower extract, and cocoa seed butter to hydrate, nourish, and strengthen. Cavalcante offers a heads-up, though—the fragrance is quite strong! Some people adore it, while others might find it a bit much. “If possible, try to get a sample or give it a sniff in-store before committing to the full size.”
- Key Ingredients: Prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower extract:, cocoa seed butter
- Size: 8 oz
Best For Frizz: Living Proof Frizz Intense Moisture Mask
- Why We Love It: Living Proof’s intense moisture mask truly delivers—a must-have for hair that pulls moisture from the environment, aka frizz-prone hair; making it especially beneficial if you live in a humid, tropical climate or are headed on a beach vacation. “It quenches hair’s thirst while adding a silky shine,” says Matthew.
- Key Ingredients: Jojoba esters, biomimetic emollient blend, amino acid blend, shea butter, hemisqualane
- Size: 6.7 fl oz
Best For Dry Hair: Kérastase Premiere Hair Repair Mask
- Why We Love It: This powerhouse mask doesn’t just build strength and deliver hydration—it also breaks down calcium deposits that contribute to dry, brittle hair;“If you don’t have a filtered shower head, this mask is a must,” Matthew explains. Peptide and glycine are the stars here, which work to strengthen strands and reverse signs of damage—from split ends to dull luster.
- Key Ingredients: Peptide, glycine
- Size: 6.8 oz
Best For All Hair Types: Davines NOUNOU Conditioner
- Why We Love It: There are two main types of deep conditioners: those that hydrate and those that repair. This one errs on the repair end of the spectrum, utilizing vitamin E, shea butter, and botanical oils to treat brittle strands. Bataille is a fan, noting that it “works wonders on bleached or treated hair by deeply moisturizing and revitalizing it.” Use this in place of your traditional conditioner whenever very dry or damaged hair needs some urgent TLC.
- Key Ingredients: Fiaschetto tomato extract, vitamin E, shea butter
- Size: 2.64 oz, 8.82 oz
Best For Sensitive Scalps: Curlsmith Double Hair Cream Deep Conditioner
- Why We Love It: “A much more budget-friendly option, Curlsmith’s plant-based, non-toxic formula is designed to be gentle yet effective for a variety of hair types, including color-treated hair and sensitive scalps,” says Cavalcante. The brand is a favorite among the curly girl method community, as it keeps curls hydrated without weighing them down. It’s available in both 2 oz and 8 oz sizes, so you can try it out before committing to the full size.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, andiroba
- Size: 2 oz, 8 oz
Best Rich Treatment: SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Hair Masque
- Why We Love It: This conditioner is perfect for color-treated and bleached hair, offering deep moisture, frizz control, and ease of use—all at an affordable price, Cavalcante raves of SheaMoisture’s Intensive Hydration mask. The moisturizing agents at hand here are shea butter, honey, African rock fig, plus mafura and baobab oils which ensure that even the thirstiest strands are quenched. It’s worth noting that the texture of this is a thick custard, so work the product in gradually; and, it does have a strong manuka honey fragrance that some may find overpowering.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, honey, baobab oil, African rock fig,
- Size: 11.5 oz
What is a deep conditioner and how does it differ from a regular conditioner?
According to Bataille, a deep conditioner is an intensive treatment designed to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft, providing moisture, repair, and strengthening benefits beyond what regular conditioners offer. Cavalcante elaborates, explaining that while regular conditioners primarily smooth the hair’s outer layer (the cuticle) for daily hydration and detangling, deep conditioners go further, formulated with richer ingredients—like oils, proteins, and butters—to nourish and strengthen from within. These treatments stand out due to their higher concentration of nourishing ingredients and often thicker texture, which allows them to work deeply on the hair shaft. A quick rinse won’t do; they need around 5 minutes to reach those inner layers, while regular conditioners offer quicker, surface-level hydration in just a minute or so.
Do deep conditioners really work?
“Deep conditioners definitely work, but I think it’s important to note typically it won’t be a magic one-time use cure-all,” says Matthew. “In a world of instant gratification, it’s important to understand that it will most likely take time and routine.”
What to Look for in a Deep Conditioner
Cavalcante suggests looking for deep conditioners with moisturizing ingredients like argan, murumuru, coconut, or jojoba oils, as well as shea butter and humectants like glycerin to draw moisture into the hair. “If your hair is damaged or color-treated, strengthening proteins such as keratin, hydrolyzed silk, or wheat protein can help repair and reinforce its structure.” Additionally, he recommends opting for a silicone-free formula to avoid buildup, especially if you have low-porosity hair or wash less frequently.
Matthew explains that deep conditioners generally fall into two categories: moisture and repair. For moisture, seek out ingredients like butters, oils, B vitamins, panthenol, and amino acids to deeply hydrate and soften the hair. For repair, prioritize protein-rich formulas, often marketed as bond-building, to strengthen and reinforce damaged hair.
How to Use a Deep Conditioner
After shampooing, Bataille suggests applying the deep conditioner to damp hair, concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends. Leave it in for 10-30 minutes, depending on your hair’s needs. However, every formula is different, so it’s best to follow the specific instructions. “Not doing so can lead to issues like over-proteinization, which makes hair dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage,” warns Matthew.
How often should you use a deep conditioner?
Generally, Cavalcante says that using a deep conditioner once a week works well for most hair types, but this can vary: dry or damaged hair benefits from treatments every 4-7 days; oily or fine hair may only need it every 2-4 weeks to avoid heaviness; and curly or textured hair typically requires deep conditioning every 1-2 weeks to maintain moisture. “Another good rule I give my clients is to use a deep conditioner every third time they wash their hair.”
Should you use a deep conditioner with low or high-porosity hair?
Deep conditioners are beneficial for both low and high-porosity hair but should be tailored to individual needs. Matthew explains, “You can use a deep conditioner on either low or high-porosity hair, but make sure it’s suited to your specific needs. For low-porosity hair, using steam can help open the cuticle and improve effectiveness.”
Meet the Experts
- Davey Matthew is a celebrity hair stylist based in New York City whose clients include Kate Hudson, Avantika, and Phoebe Tonkin.
- Castillo Bataille is a celebrity hair stylist based in Los Angeles whose clients include Bella Thorne and Lauren Tsai.
- Rogerio Cavalcante is a stylist and owner of The Second Floor Salon in New York.
