10 Best Deep Conditioners for Smooth, Shiny Strands (2024)

When it comes to dry and damaged hair, sometimes a daily conditioner just doesn't cut it. Your hair may need a little extra boost of hydration and nourishment to get back to its healthy, shiny state. That's where deep conditioners come in. "Deep conditioners, also known as hair masks, are rinse-off products that are used a few times a week in place of a regular conditioner," says Danusia Wnek, senior chemist at The Good Housekeeping Institute. "They are specially formulated to provide intense hydration, repair damage and improve the health and appearance of the hair," says Meagan Ford, a hairstylist at Slate Salon in Belmont, California, "and are particularly beneficial for dry, damaged or chemically treated hair."

Deep conditioners differ slightly from regular conditioners as "they are usually thicker and contain more hair conditioning and lubricating agents than traditional hair conditioners," says Wnek. Brendnetta Ashley, a hairstylist and curly and textured hair expert, adds, "They are also typically left on hair for a set amount of time (like 20 minutes) before rinsing to get the maximum effect."

To find the best deep conditioners, the GH Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab tested 25 products where the users evaluated the ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction of each; the top 10 were then tested thoroughly in the Lab. Keep reading for our Lab-tested winners, editor picks and top-rated formulas from our go-to sites. Be sure to round out your hair routine with the best shampoos, conditioners and hair serums.

The name truly says it all. It's a 10's nourishing formula earned a perfect score for its ability to condition hair and prevent damage in the GH Beauty Lab's deep conditioners and hair masks test. Testers also loved the scent and that it left hair silky, not greasy. “I like how smooth my hair was afterwards and how easy it was to get it to look that way," one tester says. A few reviewers did note that it was hard to get all of the product out of the tube, so squeeze hard!

Our editors love this budget-friendly Pantene treatment for their wavy hair. "As soon as I rinse it out, my hair feels softer and more moisturized," says Catharine Malzahn, beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping. "I have thick, wavy, frizzy hair and this makes it more manageable, shiny and smooth." GH Beauty Director April Franzino is also a big fan and says "it leaves my hair unbelievably soft." Plus, Malzahn finds that it helps fight static in the winter months. While most reviewers swear by this deep conditioner, a few noted that it made their hair more frizzy.

When you bleach your hair, it may need a little extra help to stay healthy and shiny. "I love that this treatment repairs damage while adding shine and softening the hair," says Ashley. "Plus it has a special bond-building technology and cashmere protein complex to help strengthen and smooth." While it's great for bleached hair, it can be used on all hair types. Be careful when closing the jar after use; a few reviewers found that it leaks easily.

Pattern Beauty's rich formula contains a nourishing botanical oil blend, including safflower seed, jojoba and avocado, which is ideal to soften and define kinky and curly textures. The conditioner also helps protect against breakage and dryness. "This product, along with the corresponding line, have worked miracles for my 4c, tight, coily hair," says one Amazon reviewer. "Love these products and so happy I tried." This is specifically created for tight textures — if your hair is less curly or kinky, it may not be the right formula.

Ford recommends this deep conditioning mask for a variety of hair types that often are dry, including medium coarse to curly hair textures. "The formulation features vitamin-charged microcapsules that explode upon contact to deliver hydration and moisture, leaving the hair deeply conditioned from root to tip," she says. It has a stellar ingredient blend, including shea butter, kakadu plum extract and evening primrose oil. Many reviewers swear by this nourishing treatment, but a few didn't feel that it was that effective.

Created specifically for all types of curly hair, this Maria Nila treatment boasts a laundry list of nourishing ingredients including jojoba oil, rosehip oil, shea butter, aloe vera and vitamin E. It's super easy to use and can work quickly if you are short on time: apply to wet hair and let sit for three to 15 minutes and rinse to finish. "My hair has less frizz and is oh so soft," shares one Amazon reviewer. "But best of all, my curls clump better." Use sparingly if you have fine, curly hair; a few reviewers noted the super thick texture.

Our GH Beauty Lab Director Birnur Aral swears by this mineral mud treatment from Saphira Hair. "Like the other products in this brand's line, this hair mask is infused with 26 of the Dead Sea's minerals," she shares. "The deep conditioner softens and smoothes my hair without compromising its volume — in fact, it actually gives it a little bounce and makes it feel supple." She also loves the "warm yet clean floral scent that transports me to a Mediterranean morning." This is another pricier conditioner option, so keep that in mind when shopping.

A top seller on Amazon, Briogeo's mask has over 3,000 five-star reviews for good reason: the protein-rich formula helps decrease hair breakage with algae extract and vitamin B. It also targets frizz with rosehip oil and can be used on all hair types, according to the brand. "I thought I was going to have to cut two inches off my hair until I found this hair mask," says one Amazon reviewer. "It made my crunchy, tangly hair soft and smooth." Many reviewers found it nourishing and softening, but some online shoppers did comment that the mask dried out their hair.

A lot of people steer clear of deep conditioners for fear that it will weigh their hair down. If that rings true, this L’Oréal Paris liquid deep treatment, a GH Beauty Award winner, is a good one to try. In GH Beauty Lab evaluations, 83% of users found that it made strands feel silkier; 88% reported that it didn’t weigh hair down. Win, win! “I couldn’t believe how incredibly shiny and smooth my hair was,” a tester marveled. While many testers and reviewers raved about this formula, a few noted that it made their hair more knotty and frizzy.

Volume is a big concern for those with fine hair, especially with conditioning treatments. According to Ford, this pricey mask treats hair and adds fullness at the same time. "Specifically designed for fine hair, Fully Fyne's treatment is great for adding hydration back into the hair without weighing it down," says Ford. "It’s loaded with a ton of nourishing ingredients — like elula oil and a rare fruit extract — that work together to smooth and add bounce while strengthening weak hair."