Once you’ve selected the best shampoo to clean your hair, you need a conditioner. Why? Shampoo is designed to remove dirt, oil, sweat, and other gross stuff. But it can strip your hair of moisture and roughen the cuticle making it hard to manage. Conditioner rehydrates and smooths your locks, restoring shine and making it easier to manage.

So now you’re browsing the conditioner aisle, shampoo in hand, asking yourself, “What conditioner should I use?” You might think you have to buy the conditioner next to your shampoo of choice. Not so. Hair products typically come in matched sets, with shampoos and conditioners sharing complementary ingredients. And for most people, these products work well together. But, if you have particular hair, like curly or fine hair, that needs moisture but is easily weighed down, you may need to mix and match products. We suggest you look within the same brand before mixing.

A good conditioner will leave your hair feeling soft. Your best conditioner will leave your hair shiny, smooth, and manageable, with plenty of body. It’ll protect your locks from environmental factors and styling damage. Ready to find out what’s the best hair conditioner for you? We might have your perfect match on this list.

1. Public Goods Conditioner 12oz

Get a conditioner crafted to deeply hydrate and protect your hair from environmental damage and over-washing. Its all-natural formula makes hair noticeably softer and more manageable. Get gorgeous locks without parabens, synthetic fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfates, phthalates, and formaldehyde-based chemicals. You’re good with a vegan-friendly and cruelty-free hair conditioner.

$7.99

2. Love Beauty And Planet Lavender Leave In Conditioner 4oz

Soothe your worries while calming your frizz. This leave-in cream conditioner doesn’t rely on harsh chemicals and is sulfate-free. Delicately surround your hair in a cloud of heirloom French lavender and golden Argan oil. It will nourish your curls and leave you with healthy-looking hair that’s oh so smooth. This product is as kind to the planet as it is to your hair, thanks to packaging that’s 100% recyclable.

$9.49

3. SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Conditioner Coconut & Hibiscus 13oz

Give your hair a smooth and shiny finish with SheaMoisture’s Curl & Shine Conditioner for curly hair. This silicone-free conditioner softens and detangles thick and natural hair while infusing curls and coils with intense moisture. Thanks to a generous amount of coconut oil and silk protein, your hair will feel silky. Fair-trade Shea Butter helps to hydrate dry, damaged, and over-processed hair, so you’ll always look your best. 

$9.99

4. John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Conditioner 8.45oz

Nourish, moisturize, and detangle your locks for frizz-free style without flyaways. Your hair will be more manageable and have a noticeably silky touch and a healthy shine. It’s one of the best conditioners for curly hair, so don’t be afraid to use Dream Curls Conditioner every day. It’s designed to leave no oily buildup — just free and easy waves.

$9.59

5. Acure Argan Oil & Pumpkin Mega Moisture Conditioner 12oz

Say goodbye to dry, unmanageable, frizzy hair. Acure has created a moisturizing conditioner that combines Argan and organic pumpkin seed oils to bring intense moisture to hair that needs deep conditioning. Its hydrating formula is perfect for dry, damaged, or curly hair types. Vegan, sulfate, and paraben-free, this conditioner is never tested on our animal friends.

$9.99

6. Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Rich Conditioner 28oz

Don't go a day without salon-healthy hair. TRESemmé Rich Moisture Conditioner delivers intense nourishment and hydration, leaving tresses with a beautiful, healthy shine. This may be the best conditioner for dry hair with its lightweight, moisturizing formula. It includes vitamin E to brilliantly revive damaged hair without weighing it down. The result: hydration and soft hair with salon shine.

$6.49

7. The Honest Company Truly Calming Lavender Conditioner 10oz

Make combing through baby and toddler tangles a breeze with The Honest Company’s tear-free, hypoallergenic hair conditioner. Blending Argan oil, shea butter, jojoba protein, and quinoa extract for a conditioner that softens hair naturally while providing nourishment, your brush will glide right through knots. Trusted. Gentle. Clean. 

$9.99

8. hims Thickening & Moisturizing Conditioner 6.4oz

hims Thickening & Moisturizing Conditioner is the perfect accompaniment to hims Thickening Shampoo. It’s formulated with niacinamide to help protect thinning hair and support your healthy hair growth. It pumps up your hair strands with impeccable moisture, improving volume and texture while keeping everything smooth and under control.

$14.99

9. d:fi Daily Conditioner 10.1oz

d:fi Daily Conditioner deeply conditions your hair to give you enhanced shine, softness, and manageability. Its hydrating formula will penetrate the hair and hydrate from within, creating soft, silky hair waves. Use it daily without worrying about leaving an oily buildup behind like other conditioners. You’ll have smooth hair that doesn’t play it rough.

$3.39

10. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Liquid Conditioner Moist 8oz

Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Moist is one of the best deep conditioners you can buy. Three minutes is all it takes for this treatment to work through your hair and transform your ‘do into silky, moisturized tresses. You'll want to run your fingers through your hair all day long while savoring the scent of California orange, radiant grapefruit, and succulent lime. You'll be looking Aussome in no time.

$4.79

11. Dove Volume and Fullness Conditioner 20.4oz

Want a conditioner that adds body and creates volume in your hair? This volumizing conditioner is formulated with collagen for hair to nourish and improve your locks’ overall texture. Say goodbye to dull, flat hair. And say hello to a full head of healthy-looking tresses that gets more beautiful and manageable with every use.

$10.49

12. Pantene Conditioner Smooth & Sleek 12oz

Fight frizz and split ends for 48 hours, thanks to a formula that delivers beautiful, smooth, and shiny hair using a potent blend of Pro-V nutrients and antioxidants to keep your hair strong and reduce breakage. This conditioner is gentle enough for color-treated or permed hair thanks to added avocado and Argan oils that return dry, damaged hair to the sleek, smooth condition you love.

$5.29

13. Herbal Essences Argan Oil Repair Conditioner 13.5oz

Repair damaged hair with Herbal Essences Argan Oil  Conditioner. This conditioner is formulated with Argan oil and authentic botanicals to create a hydrating conditioner that smooths and soothes hair from root to tip. It’s pH-balanced to make it color-safe. It wouldn’t be Herbal Essence if it didn’t also infuse your beautifully soft hair with the great aromas of fizzy citrus, exotic spices, and creamy vanilla.

$6.29

FAQ

Is conditioner better than shampoo?

Shampoo and conditioner play two complementary roles when it comes to hair care. Shampoo is a cleaning agent, removing dirt, dust, oils, environmental impurities, and residue from styling products from hair. Conditioner softens and protects hair by restoring moisture lost during the shampooing process and sealing it into the hair shaft. 

The two work hand in hand to keep hair clean, healthy, and manageable. 

How often should I use conditioner?

Like skincare, keeping hair healthy is a personalized process. How often you use conditioner depends on your needs. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should use a rinse-out conditioner every time you shampoo your hair, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule. You may consider conditioning less frequently if you have fine hair, especially if your favorite product uses jojoba oil, avocado oil, or aloe vera. These ingredients can weigh down follicles and give your hair a limp, lifeless appearance. The alternative is to use a lightweight conditioner.

People with coarse, curly, dry, or color-treated hair will want to condition more often to keep their hair manageable. They could also benefit from a weekly hair mask or other deep conditioning treatments that include amino acids, keratin, or other ingredients to soften and hydrate hair. The same goes for those using heat-generating appliances like dryers and flat irons. These are notoriously damaging, so a little extra love in the conditioning department goes a long way.

Talk to your hairstylist. They’ll have the expertise to advise you on products and how often to use them on your hair.

How much conditioner do I need to apply to my hair?

The amount of conditioner you use depends on the length and texture of your hair. The general rule suggests using a dollop that’s about the size of a nickel, but check the directions on the bottle. 

Spread the product evenly over the ends of your hair but not on your scalp. That’s where your natural oils are produced, and adding conditioner can make your roots look greasy and weigh down the rest of your hair. If your hair’s longer than shoulder length, start applying conditioner at chin level and working your way down. 

You can use a comb to make sure it’s distributed evenly throughout your hair and eliminate any tangles. Let the product sit for a few minutes, and then rinse. If you’re still experiencing some dryness, you can add some moisture after towel drying by spritzing some leave-in conditioner onto your hair.