Conditioning your strands is absolutely essential if you have natural hair. Furthermore, whether you’re attempting to restore your curls to their original form following excessive heat damage or transitioning to natural hair, the conditioner helps replenish important nutrients while strengthening your hair follicles to avoid future breaking.
To maintain your natural hair in good condition, seek a conditioner that is free of sulfates and parabens. It should contain one or more hair-nourishing oils or butter, as well as antioxidants. While it may be tempting to avoid salad items, whole food products ranging from avocado to green tea are fantastic conditioner additives.
Because there are so many possibilities, we asked celebrity hairstylists about the conditioners they use—along with a few of our favourites—to help you choose the best one for you.
Continue reading to learn about the finest conditioners for natural hair.
1. Moroccanoil Curl Cleansing Conditioner is the best overall.
What We Like
- 2-in-1 formulation
- Strengthens damaged strands
- Softens the hair
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
“Moroccanoil Curl Cleansing Conditioner is fantastic because you can use it in place of a daily shampoo and conditioner,” says Kevin Hughes, artistic director of Moroccanoil and celebrity hairstylist. “This will leave your hair with increased hydration without feeling like a harsh cleaner. I enjoy it for beach trips because instead of washing your hair every day to eliminate salt water, you can pack one product and cleanse and condition your hair at the same time.”
2. Schwarzkopf Gliss Express Repair Conditioner is the most affordable option.
What We Like
- Boosts radiance
- Lightweight
- Wonderful aroma
What We Don’t Like
- Parabens are present.
This low-cost, oil-rich conditioner will leave your hair with a healthy sheen. It should be your first choice if you have breakage because it is designed to strengthen broken ends. “I like this conditioner for natural and textured hair because the natural oils in it keep curly hair nourished and revitalized because it tends to be drier,” says Schwarzkopf celebrity hairdresser Larry Sims.
3. Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Hair Mask is the best for heat damage.
What We Like
- Strengthens damaged strands
- A small amount goes a long way.
- Softens the hair
What We Don’t Like
- Strong odour
Carol’s Daughter products are always full of nourishing elements that will bring your strands back to life. “This conditioner helps with regular wear and tear on the hair strands,” says Carol’s Daughter lead stylist Stephanie McLemore, a curl specialist. “If your hair has been subjected to heavy heat treatment, dyeing, or just being exposed to the weather, the Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Hair Mask will help replace proteins and return it to excellent health. I like this conditioner since it gives me immediate results: soft, lustrous, and smooth cuticles.”
4. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner is ideal for chemically treated hair.
What We Like
- There are several sizes available.
- Wonderful aroma
- Strengthens damaged strands
What We Don’t Like
- It might be hydrating.
“I recommend Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner to refill hair with the critical nutrients and crucial moisture it needs,” Hughes recommends. “This is critical for everyone who chemically treatments, colours, or straightens their hair. With antioxidant-rich argan oil, reconstructive keratin, and fatty acids, the highly concentrated, the reparative solution improves hair’s health, hydration, and elasticity.”
5. Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil is the best oil.
What We Like
- Lightweight
- The outcome is smooth and gleaming.
- It reduces flyaways and frizz.
What We Don’t Like
- The applicator might be difficult to use.
The Olaplex Hair Oil Smoothes Flyaways and Repairs Damage. This vegan bond multiplier will aid in the restoration of ends and the addition of moisture to dry textured hair. It’s a hybrid product that may be used on wet or dry hair and is best utilized after washing.
6. Camille Rose Naturals Algae Renew Deep Conditioning Mask is ideal for use with algae.
What We Like
- Softens the hair
- A small amount goes a long way.
- The texture is rich and creamy.
What We Don’t Like
- There isn’t much slippage.
Wait till you hear what’s inside: pure blue-green algae, 65 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and unrefined cocoa and mango butter. With this strong mix of substances that might potentially regenerate your locks, it’s virtually nirvana for your hair.
7. Sebastian Twisted Elastic Treatment is the best non-oil treatment.
What We Like
- Withstands heat and humidity
- Frizz is reduced.
- Helps to increase bounce
What We Don’t Like
- It doesn’t help to untangle
This non-oily curl mask with Flexi Alg Complex nourishes, strengthens, and protects against humidity, improves curls, and does not leave hair heavy. Apply this mask liberally to your hair, wait three to five minutes, and then rinse. For optimal effects, use it once or twice each week.
8. The Mane Choice Green Tea & Carrot Deep Strengthening & Restore Mask is the best for hair growth.
What We Like
- It includes nutritious extracts.
- Excellent value
- Strengthens damaged strands
What We Don’t Like
- Some people may dislike the smell.
Do you want your hair to grow longer? Try this conditioner, which contains biotin, the key to long hair. We’ve previously established that biotin works wonders for hair growth. With green tea, carrot oil, and vitamins, it also hydrates your hair shafts.
9. Best Animal-Free: It’s a 10 in hair care. It is a Silk Express Miracle Silk Hair Mask Deep Conditioner with 10 Silk Express.
What We Like
- Softens the hair
- It aids in hair detangling.
- Smoothes and makes hair more manageable.
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
“This cruelty-free mask leaves hair smooth and silky, adds fantastic shine, has colour-protecting characteristics, walls in and maintains moisture levels,” says Ona Diaz-Santin of 5 Salon & Spa in New Jersey.
10. Mizani Moisture Fusion Intense Moisturizing Mask is the best hydrator.
What We Like
- Large dimensions
- The formulation is extremely rich
- Boosts radiance
What We Don’t Like
- Finer hair types may be weighed down.
This hair mask’s hydrating cupuaçu butter, argan oil, and honey will assist to provide moisture, minimize frizz, boost bounce, and leaving hair feeling rich.
11. Best Detangling: Combine Detangler in 7 Seconds
What We Like
- Quickly absorbs
- Lightweight
- Protects against UV and heat damage.
What We Don’t Like
- Alcohol is present.
“This mild hybrid product is suitable for all hair types. It rapidly dissolves in the hair and keeps it moisturized all day “Jake Tafoya, hairdresser and proprietor of The Mod Labb, agrees. “It’s ideal for wet hair before style and second-day end before using any hot tools.”
12. Honey Baby Naturals Honey & Ginseng Energizing Hair Masque is the best for scalp health.
What We Like
- Wonderful aroma
- It relieves the itching scalp.
- Its silky smoothness makes application simple.
What We Don’t Like
- It is not as manageable as other solutions.
This intensive moisture hair mask combines ginseng and mango butter to provide deep hydration, improve elasticity, and stimulate the scalp, potentially resulting in natural healthy hair growth.
FAQ
What to Look for in a Natural Hair Conditioner
Butters and oils
There are an almost infinite number of oils and butter that may help give shine, manageability, and general healthiness to hair. From olive oil to cocoa butter, providing moisture to natural hair through this ingredient category is the simplest approach to conditioning your hair. Argan oil is often regarded as the gold standard for hair care, but there are several others that provide significant advantages as well.
Formulated without sulfates or parabens
Sulfates are used to make products like shampoo sudsy, so while they are occasionally found in conditioners, they are easy to avoid. Parabens, on the other hand, are preservatives that many hair products contain in little amounts to preserve the formula from spoiling. According to Rose Ovensehi, creator of Flora & Curl Botanical Haircare, it’s better to avoid parabens by looking for products that have “alternative preservatives, such as sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate.”
Ingredients from Whole Foods
Honey, green tea, avocado, and garlic are just a handful of the food-grade components used in natural hair conditioners. Know that these are all there for a reason: to boost the health and/or shine of your hair. Honey, for example, moisturizes hair, calms the scalp, increases moisture, and may alleviate dandruff.
What should I put on my natural hair?
Conditioning, in addition to decreasing the usage of heat style, is an effective strategy to maintain natural hair healthy. In addition to a daily conditioner, you may use a deep conditioner and hair mask on occasion to give hydration and protection to your hair.
What is the finest oil for hair growth and thickness?
A variety of oils can aid in the development and thickness of natural hair. Maisha Stephens of Bibi Salon in New York City informed us that “Rosemary oil is a fantastic oil for hair development… It’s something I constantly offer to my customers since it’s anti-inflammatory and increases circulation for a healthy scalp—and a healthy scalp always means better hair.”
How do I keep my hair moisturized?
To preserve moisture in your hair, apply a product containing an occlusive—that is, a chemical that helps to build a moisture barrier, preventing the oils you’ve applied to your skin or hair from dispersing.
