The reason why you’re looking for curly hair conditioners is that you understand exactly what it means to have curly hair. It is, of course, also possible that you’re only looking for curly hair conditioners on someone’s advice. If this is the case, then we suggest that you learn a little more about your curls.
This knowledge will help you turn your normal curls into gorgeous curls, the likes of which are only visible on catwalks. You don’t have to go anywhere for this knowledge, though.
We’ll give you the complete curly hair conditioning crash course in this guide starting from how to condition your curly hair to what you should look for while choosing a curly hair conditioner.
We’ll top it off with incredibly in-depth and detailed reviews of the nine best curly hair conditioners available in the market right now. The following is a quick-click, navigation panel that shows everything available on this page.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 13 ounces |
| Cost: $0.63 per ounce |
| An all-natural and very pocket-friendly curly hair conditioner that can handle every problem faced by people with tight curls, damaged hair, or very dry hair, affordably priced. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Andalou Naturals Argan Oil & Shea Moisture Conditioner |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 11.5 ounces |
| Cost: $0.7 per ounce |
| A super conditioner for tight curls and dry hair that is completely organic, environment-friendly, and multifaceted when it comes to appearance, health of curly hair. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| ORIBE Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Volume: 33.8 ounces |
| Cost: $4.55 per ounce |
| A premium-grade curly hair conditioner with an incredibly exhaustive ingredients list that benefits curls in hundreds of different ways, specially formulated for extremely damaged and dry hair. |
| Check Amazon |
- How to Condition Curly Hair?
- How Should You Choose Curly Hair Conditioners?
- 9 Best Curly Hair Conditioners Comparison Table
- Top 3 Budget Curly Hair Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Curly Hair Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Curly Hair Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
How to Condition Curly Hair?
So, what makes curly hair different? It’s the fact that curly hair will almost always be dryer than straight hair. The reason for this is that the oils produced by the scalp can’t reach the entire length of curly hair strands. The oil is supposed to travel down the hair shaft, coating and moisturizing it.
In straight hair, the gravity ensures that the oil coats the entire hair. However, in curly hair, gravity cannot help as much because the shaft twists and turns in a myriad ways. This is why the curliest hair also happens to be the driest hair.
Curly hair conditioners, as a result, have a lot more moisturizing power than normal conditioners. However, to leverage their immense conditioning capabilities, you need to ensure that you use them in the right way. Here are the steps.
Wash Your Hair with A Curly Hair Shampoo
The most common mistake curly-haired people make is that they use mainstream shampoos. Mainstream shampoos contain ingredients such as sulfates that can strip away what little oil your hair may have.
This is why you have to use curly hair shampoos to wash your hair. Curly hair shampoos are gentler and don’t contain moisture stripping ingredients. On the other hand, their formulae contain ingredients with strong moisturizing capabilities.
Condition Your Curly Hair
You can only condition your curly hair after you’ve washed it with the right shampoo. Before you start, however, you need to remember that curly hair is always dryer near the tips than the roots.
Therefore, while applying the conditioner, you should start at the tips and gradually move towards the roots. More importantly, however much conditioner you’ve taken in your palm, the majority of it should be applied to the tips of your hair strands.
As you move towards the roots, you should reduce the amount of conditioner you apply. As a result, the roots will get the least amount of moisturization and the tips the most.
By doing this, you’ll be catering to those areas of your hair that need the most conditioning and nourishment. This will also help you avoid buildup in your scalp.
Rinse the Conditioner Out
You’ll have to leave the conditioner in your hair for a certain amount of time. Multiple factors including the strength of the conditioner you’re using, the amount of conditioner you’re applying, the dryness of your hair, and your hair type will affect how long you’ll have to leave the conditioner in your hair.
At the very least, you should leave the conditioner in your hair for five minutes. At most, you can leave the conditioner in your hair for 20 minutes. However, this will be very rare and we would advise against it. Getting a stronger conditioner with more moisturizing power would be a better option instead.
You can rinse the conditioner out of your hair with cool water. Cool water will ensure that your hair cuticle seals itself, locking all the moisture and nourishment inside the shaft.
Avoid rubbing your hair while rinsing it. Instead, run your fingers through your hair or even a wide-toothed comb. The comb is particularly useful if you have very curly and thick hair.
Dry Your Hair
Once you’ve rinsed out the excess conditioner, you can dry your hair. Don’t rub your hair while drying it. You should dab and squeeze the excess water out of individual hair sections. Instead of using cotton towels, we recommend using microfiber towels.
Afterward, let your hair air-dry or use the plopping technique. Plopping is a miracle technique for curly hair. It will ensure that your curls don’t get ruined, tangled, or straightened while your hair dries. Plopping also results in better curl definition, especially if you’re using the right conditioner for your hair type.
How Should You Choose Curly Hair Conditioners?
All curly hair conditioners aren’t built alike. They differ in terms of their strength and certain qualities. You should make your choice on the basis of your hair type and your hair’s specific needs.
This means that there is no magic equation to follow when choosing the best curly hair conditioner for your hair. However, there are guidelines that we can give you.
- If you have wavy hair or loose curls, you shouldn’t pick intensely hydrating conditioners and should instead go for lighter conditioners.
- Lighter curly hair conditioners are also preferable if you have fine curls or oily curls since heavy moisturizers will weigh them down and cause grease.
- For the tightest curls and driest hair, choose curly hair conditioners with the most moisturizing power.
- If your hair is damaged, then you should choose curly hair conditioners that have been specifically developed for that purpose. However, all the above guidelines still apply.
9 Best Curly Hair Conditioners Comparison Table
| Product Name | Volume | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| L’Oreal Paris Hair Care Evercurl Hydracharge Conditioner | 8.5 x 2 ounces | $0.46 per ounce | Check Price |
| SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner | 13 ounces | $0.63 per ounce | Check Price |
| Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner | 33.8 ounces | $0.63 per ounce | Check Price |
| Andalou Naturals Argan Oil & Shea Moisture Rich Conditioner | 11.5 ounces | $0.7 per ounce | Check Price |
| Pure Nature Lux Spa Argan Oil Deep Moisture Repair Conditioner | 16.9 ounces | $0.76 per ounce | Check Price |
| The Seaweed Bath Co. Balancing Conditioner | 12 ounces | $0.8 per ounce | Check Price |
| DevaCurl One Condition Original | 32 ounces | $0.99 per ounce | Check Price |
| Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner | 33.8 ounces | $1.47 per ounce | Check Price |
| ORIBE Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner | 33.8 ounces | $4.55 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 3 Budget Curly Hair Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
1. L’Oreal Paris Hair Care Evercurl Hydracharge Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
This is probably one of the lightest curly hair conditioners you’ll find in the market right now. This makes it ideal for people with wavy hair or loose curls. For the same reasons, this conditioner is perfect for people with oily hair. However, its lightweight nature also means that this conditioner isn’t ideal for tight curls or thicker hair.
An associated benefit of being lightweight is gentleness and mildness. This conditioner doesn’t contain silicones or sulfates, making it ideal for colored or chemically treated hair.
The company actually presents this product as an “anti-frizz conditioner” that can counter the problem without weighing the hair down. In fact, they claim that this conditioner can give 48 hours’ worth of curl definition on the right hair type.
We believe them because its ingredients list backs the claim. This conditioner’s formula is mainly based around coconut oil, but it also contains other beneficial ingredients such as mineral oil, grapeseed oil, hibiscus seed extract, and orange peel oil.
Mineral oil supports coconut oil in nourishing and moisturizing the hair. Grapeseed oil adds to those qualities by countering hair loss caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), while hibiscus seed is a multipurpose ingredient that offers everything from moisturization to nourishment for the hair. The orange peel oil is rich in vitamin C, which is an excellent antioxidant that can keep inflammation at bay.
In terms of scent, this conditioner is fairly neutral, but it does have a very slight coconut smell. Even though the coconut scent isn’t very strong, some people still don’t like it. Scents are subjective anyway, so you just need to decide if you like coconut’s natural smell or not.
This is one of the cheapest conditioners you’ll find in the market, whether you consider its list price or evaluate it on a per-ounce basis. Its creamy consistency makes it even more affordable because it means that you don’t have to use a lot of it per application.
While the tube’s capacity remains the same, this conditioner is available in two packs. The first contains a single 8.5-ounce tube while the other contains two.
We should warn you that this conditioner does contain alcohols. Therefore, if alcohols tend to cause breakouts in your skin and scalp, you might want to be careful with this product.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a lightweight conditioner for your loose, oily curls, get this one from L’Oreal.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 8.5 x 2 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Alcohols, mineral oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, hibiscus seed extract, orange peel oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Best for loose curls and oily hair |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Accomplished at defining curls |
| Gentle and mild conditioner |
| Has a light, coconut scent |
| Has a creamy consistency |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Available in two different sizes |
| Incredibly affordable |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains alcohols |
| Everyone won’t like its smell |
| Not powerful enough for tight curls or dry and thick hair |
2. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
Shea Moisture is a brand that is known for manufacturing products with great moisturizing capabilities. It is a favorite amongst people of African American and Asian descent because they tend to have very curly hair. This is why Shea Moisture products suit their hair so well.
In terms of conditioners from Shea Moisture, the best is the Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine, especially if you don’t want to spend over the top. In fact, it is even better than a few of its more expensive competitors.
However, that is only if you have very tight curls, very kinky hair, very damaged, or very thick and dry hair. For all other hair types, this conditioner will be counterproductive. The reason for this is this conditioner’s moisturizing power. In simple terms, this conditioner is intense when it comes to hydrating hair.
It contains four ingredients that are incredibly effective at moisturizing hair. These ingredients are organic raw shea butter, jojoba seed oil, mango butter, and olive. Each of them is a formidable moisturizer by itself, but together they become even more effective.
With such immense moisturization, you can expect this conditioner to smoothen and soften even the driest and most damaged hair. As is natural, the moisturization will also eliminate frizz and flyaway hair, if that is something you’ve been trying to deal with.
Further, intense moisturization will help detangle your hair along with other ingredients such as aloe vera and rosemary. Additionally, this conditioner’s silk protein and neem oil content will negate all adverse effects of external pollutants in the water and air. They’ll do this by coating the hair and locking the moisture and nutrients inside the hair shaft.
These ingredients are great at replacing the core function of silicones usually found in curly hair conditioners. In fact, this conditioner doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients. Because it is all-natural, this conditioner is also good for people with colored and chemically treated hair.
Apart from these ingredients, hibiscus also features heavily in this conditioner. Hibiscus, in combination with all the other ingredients, nourishes and strengthens hair to a point where this conditioner may even be able to help you slow down hair loss.
The smell of this conditioner is a blend of the scents of hibiscus and coconut oil. The scent is unique, but as is the case with all unique things, some of you may not like it.
The conditioner comes with a pump. While convenient to a certain extent, the pump can cause problems for long and thick-haired people. The problem is that the pump doesn’t dispense enough of the conditioner. If you have very long hair or excessively thick hair, you’ll have to pump it a few times to get the amount of conditioner you need.
Who’s it for: If you want the complete curly hair conditioner on a budget, get this one from Shea Moisture.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 13 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, mango seed butter, jojoba oil, soybean oil, olive fruit oil, pro-vitamin B5, proprietary essential oil blend, silk protein, aloe leaf extract, hibiscus sabdariffa extract, vitamin E, neem seed oil, and rosemary extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Completely natural conditioner |
| Best for tight curls, kinks, and thick or dry hair |
| Moisturizes, nourishes, strengthens, softens, smoothens, and protects curls |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Has a coconut scent with hints of hibiscus |
| Comes with a pump dispenser |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Everyone won’t like its smell |
| Will weigh down oily and fine hair |
| The pump is too ineffective for the thick conditioner |
3. Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Professional brands only produce salon-grade premium-quality products. This usually means that the products are expensive. However, this isn’t the case with Nexxus. Nexxus is one of the more popular professional brands active in the country today and part of the reason is its affordability.
It is one of few professional brands in the market that offer economically priced hair care products. While the Humectress Ultimate Moisture Conditioner’s pricing may be why it is so popular, it isn’t the only reason. The other reason is that it is suitable for the most commonly seen hair types.
This includes people with medium to tight curls, medium to thick hair, and normal to dry hair. These hair types are so common that most people looking for curly hair conditioners would qualify.
This means that this conditioner’s moisturizing powers may not be enough for you if you have excessively dry hair. Similarly, this conditioner may turn out to be too strong and may even cause buildupif you already have oily hair.
This conditioner gets its moisturizing capabilities from its Caviar & Protein complex. This complex imparts multiple nutrients and proteins to strengthen the hair, in addition to moisturizing it.
All the nutrients and moisture are then locked into the hair shaft with silicones. It contains a lot of silicones which give it very strong capabilities of coating, sealing, and protecting hair from adverse external influences.
Unfortunately, silicones used in large quantities can end up making hair too dry over time. This problem is aggravated by this conditioner’s alcohol content. Alcohols are also known for their drying properties. This is why a few of this conditioner’s users say that it leaves their hair tangled.
The smell of this conditioner is fairly neutral, light, and clean. However, it does have hints of coconut as this conditioner contains coconut oil as well. The problem with the scent is that it is far too strong. Ifyou don’t like strong scents, then this conditioner may not be a good choice for you.
We’ve already explained that this conditioner is economically priced. What we’ve not mentioned is that it comes with a pump. The pump prevents wastage and adds even more value to the money you’ll be spending to get this conditioner.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a curly hair conditioner for medium to tight curls and prefer professional brands, get this one.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 33.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Alcohols, silicones, hydrolyzed keratin, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed caviar extract, and coconut oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Best for medium to tight curls and normal to dry hair |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Has a light, clean scent with hints of coconut |
| Comes with a pump |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Contains alcohols |
| Some people may find the scent too overpowering |
| Will weigh down oily and fine hair |
Top 3 Value Curly Hair Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
4. Andalou Naturals Argan Oil & Shea Moisture Rich Conditioner (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
All-natural products will always be more expensive than products with artificial ingredients. However, in the majority of cases, all-natural products are worth that extra money. Take the Argan Oil & Shea Moisture Rich Conditioner from Andalou Naturals for example.
It is an incredibly powerful conditioner with barely any flaws. Its biggest flaw, in fact, is that it is too good at hydrating and moisturizing hair because of which it’s an inappropriate choice for people with very oily or fine hair.
For the same reason, this conditioner isn’t a good choice for people with wavy or loose curls. However, if you have tight curls or very dry and damaged hair, this conditioner will do wonders for you.
Another associated but minor flaw of this conditioner’s moisturizing power is its thick consistency. Since it doesn’t come with a pump dispenser, its viscosity makes it very difficult to get it out of the bottle. The viscosity is a result of the kind of ingredients this conditioner contains.
In fact, it has one of the most exhaustive ingredients lists you’ll see in a curly hair conditioner. This is a big deal for an all-natural conditioner. Even though each of those ingredients offers multiple benefits, we’ll only focus on the major ones.
The two most important ingredients in this conditioner’s formula are argan oil and shea butter. Both these ingredients are known the world over for their hydrating qualities. Argan oil is even called “liquid gold” for the wide variety of nutrients it contains. Because of these ingredients, this conditioner offers excellent benefits such as softening hair, smoothening hair, and even eliminating frizz and flyaway hair.
Additionally, this conditioner contains aloe vera and sunflower extract. Sunflower extract, while not as nourishing as argan oil, still offers a slew of nutrients that strengthen hair, while aloe vera is a great anti-microbial agent and a lightweight moisturizer.
This conditioner also benefits from the company’s proprietary fruit stem cell science. This means that it contains multiple antioxidants to counter free radicals in the scalp.
Moreover, this conditioner’s formula isn’t just all-natural. Its ingredients are actually organic and non-GMO. Moreover, they’re vegan, gluten-free, and only obtained through sustainable free trade. Furthermore, this product is completely cruelty-free.
Even though this conditioner contains multiple ingredients, its scent can be best described as lavender. The smell is also quite pleasant and lightweight. Even so, it is possible that it won’t appeal to you as there are a few people who don’t like this smell.
In terms of pricing, this conditioner is one of the cheaper options within the mid-level market segment. You can’t compare it to the cheapest options out there, but when it comes to all-natural, organic curly hair conditioners, it is very much on the lower side.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for an affordable, all-natural curly hair conditioner for tight curls and dry hair, then choose this one from Andalou Naturals.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 11.5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Aloe leaf juice, sunflower seed oil, alcohols, guar gum, argan oil, fruit stem cells and BioActive Berry Complex, cocoa seed butter, shea butter, amino acid complex, avocado oil, hydrolyzed rice protein, pro-vitamin B5, jojoba seed oil, white tea leaf extract, and orange peel oil |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Completely natural conditioner |
| Best for tight curls, kinks, and thick or dry hair |
| Moisturizes, nourishes, strengthens, softens, smoothens, and protects curls |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Has a pleasant lavender scent |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Everyone won’t like its smell |
| Will weigh down oily and fine hair |
| Difficult to get out of the bottle due to thick consistency |
5. Pure Nature Lux Spa Argan Oil Deep Moisture Repair Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
This conditioner isn’t marketed specifically to curly-haired people, but its qualities and features are such that it is ideal for such hair types. Thisconditioner is particularly suited to people with loose curls and fine or thinning hair. Moreover, this conditioner is also perfect for people with damaged hair because it strengthens, repairs, and nourishes brittle hair.
In contrast, this means that this conditioner may not be the best option for healthy, thick, and tightly curling hair. If you try to use this conditioner on these types of hair, you’ll either not get enough hydration or you’ll have to use a lot of the product to get the right amount of moisture.
This conditioner gets most of its qualities from its Moroccan argan oil content. Argan oil is incredibly beneficial for hair because of two reasons. It is one of the most powerful moisturizers in nature and it contains an impressive variety of nutrients.
The nutrition provided by argan oil in this conditioner helps towards repairing damaged hair, especially since the formula also contains hydrolyzed collagen and silicones.
These combine to seal the nutrition and moisture inside the hair shaft by coating the hair cuticle thoroughly. The coating, of course, also prevents further damage by nullifying adverse external influences such as pollution and contaminants.
All these actions of this conditioner result in the hair becoming healthier, shinier, softer, and more manageable. Another positive outcome of deep hydration is the complete nullification of frizz and better definition of curls. Even though the silicones in this conditioner help towards protecting the hair, they have a dark side too.
If there isn’t proper moisture in the scalp, silicones can leave the hair too dry. This particularly becomes a problem with overuse. Therefore, you should not only ensure that your diet is nutritious and that you use the right shampoo, but also that you don’t overuse this conditioner.
You will also like this conditioner if you’re a big fan of flowery smells. It has a distinct and very strong floral scent that will waft about you for a considerable amount of time after every wash. However, a few users do say that this conditioner’s scent is a bit too overpowering.
This conditioner’s bottle comes with a pump that is effective at preventing wastage. This makes the conditioner last a long time, saving you money by delaying the need to replace the bottle.
Incidentally, this conditioner is affordably priced anyway so choosing it will help your pocket in more ways than one.
Who’s it for: If you have damaged, fine, or thinning hair with loose curls and want a repairing and strengthening conditioner, get this product.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 16.9 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Argan oil, hydrolyzed collagen, silicones, and alcohols |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Best for loose curls and fine hair |
| Specially formulated for extremely damaged and dry hair |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Accomplished at defining curls |
| Has a floral scent |
| Comes with a pump |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Everyone won’t like its strong smell |
| Can end up drying hair over time |
6. The Seaweed Bath Co. Balancing Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
The majority of curly hair conditioners tend to have similar ingredients with highly moisturizing oils like argan oil and coconut oil featuring heavily along with a few vitamins and silicones. Therefore, this Balancing Conditioner from The Seaweed Bath Co. stood out for us the moment we found it.
Not because it doesn’t contain those ingredients, but because they’re not primary ingredients in this conditioner’s formula. Instead, this conditioner is based around seaweed, specifically bladderwrack seaweed.
Bladderwrack seaweed is an excellent source of multiple vitamins and minerals that can go a long way to moisturize, detoxify, and nourish the hair and scalp. In fact, the company states that, through bladderwrack seaweed, this conditioner contains more than 65 different types of vitamins and minerals!
Apart from this headline ingredient, this conditioner contains the usual suspects in the form of coconut oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, and argan oil as well. These ingredients contribute to the moisturizing, nourishing, and strengthening capabilities of this conditioner.
In fact, the entire ingredients list of this conditioner is quite impressive. Even the minor ingredients such as olive fruit oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus seed oil, and avocado oil offer considerable benefits for hair and scalp.
The conditioner, by the way, is completely organic. It doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients. Moreover, the company is conscious of its responsibilities towards the environment.
For example, the bladderwrack seaweed they use is “sustainable hand-harvested every spring”. This not only ensures maximum nutrient saturation in the seaweed but also doesn’t affect the balance of the local ecosystem.
Further, this conditioner is completely vegan and cruelty-free. Even the bottle this conditioner comes in is eco-friendly. It is fully recyclable and manufactured using 100 percent recycled plastic.
This conditioner, however, isn’t very effective for very dry or very oily hair. It would fail to moisturize very dry hair properly and will make very oily hair too greasy to handle. Since it is a “Balancing Conditioner”, it serves normal to oily hair best.
This is partly because it is completely organic and partly because the moisturizing power of bladderwrack seaweed is not comparable to heavy ingredients like coconut oil and argan oil.
One of the best qualities of this conditioner, though, is that you can get it in five different scent profiles. If you’re very fussy about scents, this will allow you to find one that you can tolerate.
On the other hand, if you like variety, then you can buy all of them and cycle through them as and when you want. Since this conditioner isn’t very pricey, buying more than one bottle is more than viable for most people. Your options will be eucalyptus and peppermint, citrus vanilla, volumizing lavender, detox restoring, and unscented.
If you’re generally allergic or sensitive to substances, we suggest being careful with this conditioner by testing it on the inside of your elbow. A few users complain of allergic reactions.
Who’s it for: If you have normal to oily, loose curls and are looking for a unique curly hair conditioner, try this one based on seaweed.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 12 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Bladderwrack seed, chlorella vulgaris extract, aloe vera leaf juice, argan oil, avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, eucalyptus seed oil, peppermint oil, coconut oil, olive fruit oil, pro-vitamin B5, and vitamin E |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Completely natural conditioner |
| Best for medium to tight curlsand normal to oily hair |
| Moisturizes and nourishescurls |
| Does well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Available in five different scents |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| The bottle is made of recyclable plastic |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Not the best option for very dry hair |
| Can still weigh down oily and fine hair |
| Can cause allergic reactions |
Top 3 Curly Hair Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
7. DevaCurl One Condition Original
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
DevaCurl is known specifically for catering to people following the Curly Girl Method. The Curly Girl method is another name for the co-washing technique. The co-washing technique is about using only conditioners or oils on curly hair and avoiding cleansers like sulfates completely.
The idea is to prevent the stripping of the natural oils from the hair and scalp as much as possible while cleansing it of product and dust buildup. While DevaCurl offers co-washing shampoos too, it is their conditionersthat are more popular.
The One Condition Original is the foremost of these. It is an excellent co-washing option because it contains yarrow that is a great cleanser and rich source of nutrients.
In this review, though, we’re more concerned about the moisturizing capabilities of this conditioner. These capabilities are significant as well since this conditioner was developed specifically for curly hair. This conditioner gets its hydration properties from olive oil.
Olive oil gives it moisturizing capacities sufficient for medium curls and normal hair types. This means that its usefulness falls short when it comes to tighter curls or thicker hair and is too strong for loose curls or dry hair.
Apart from moisturizing curly hair, this conditioner also nourishes it. While yarrow and olive oil do most of the heavy-lifting when it comes to nourishing and strengthening the hair and hair follicles, other ingredients like rosemary and camel grass (West Indian Lemongrass) contribute too.
Rosemary counters hair loss while nourishing the hair and camel grass is a great antimicrobial agent that also strengthens hair roots. Additionally, this conditioner contains hops, which is the main reason why people use beer to wash their hair. Hops cleanse the hair gently and are great at countering dandruff.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an all-natural conditioner. It contains artificial substances such as silicones, parabens, and alcohols. Silicones are particularly notable because they can coat and seal off hair shafts from pollution and other contaminants that can harm the hair.
However, silicones can also cause the hair to become too dry over time. Parabens and alcohols are also undesirable in a hair product for several different reasons.
Despite containing these artificial ingredients, this is still an award-winning conditioner. It has won the Best Multi-Use Conditioner award and the Best for Favorite Daily Conditioner from Naturally Curly.
It has won these awards because it works. With regular use, this conditioner will leave your hair not only moisturized but also softer, shinier, and more manageable. It will also counter frizz and flyaway hair directly.
It even smells nice and has a very rich and creamy texture. Its scent comes from camel grass. Camel grass has a distinct lemongrass smell. The majority of people like this conditioner’s smell, but since it is such a subjective thing, some of you may not like it as much as others.
The company has tried to keep its users’ convenience in mind as well. They offer this conditioner in six differently-sized bottles. The available sizes are single and double packs of three-ounce bottles, 12-ounce bottles, and 32-ounce bottles. The 32-ounce bottles even come with pump dispensers.
When considering a purchase, we urge you to go for the 32-ounce bottles. This conditioner is a little on the expensive side. Buying larger bottles will help you save a considerable amount of money, especially if you plan to use this conditioner regularly.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a curly hair conditioner for medium curls and normal hair with cleansing properties, get this one from DevaCurl.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 32 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Yarrow, matricaria, camel grass, hops, balm mint, rosemary, silicones, olive oil, alcohols, and parabens |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Award-winning conditioner |
| Best for medium curls and normal hair |
| Moisturizing and nourishing conditioner |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Accomplished at defining curls |
| Has a fresh lemongrass scent |
| Has a rich and creamy consistency |
| Available in six different sizes |
| Comes with a pump |
| Cruelty-free conditioner |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Expensive conditioner |
| Contains silicones |
| Contains alcohols |
| Contains parabens |
| Everyone won’t like its smell |
| Not powerful enough for tight curls and dry hair |
| Too powerful for oily hair |
8. Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Ouidad has been around for more than 35 years now since the first Ouidad salon opened its doors in 1984. Throughout that period, the company has exclusively catered to curly-haired people. Therefore, when they call themselves “curl experts”, we’re inclined to believe them.
Ouidad’s Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner is a good example of their expertise. The company segments curly hair into four categories (loose, classic, tight, and kinky) and has developed this conditioner for the “tight” category. This makes it a good option for people with thick and very dry hair too.
It also means that this product is an intense conditioner. It imparts moisture deep into the scalp and hair shaft. The best bit, though, is that it does this without weighing down the hair. However, if used on loose curls or fine hair, this conditioner will still end up weighing it down.
Moreover, since this conditioner contains silicones too, it will end up drying fine hair in the long term. The fact that this conditioner doesn’t weigh down hair allows it to give curls excellent definition and bounce.
Apart from moisturizing the curls, this conditioner provides hair with some key ingredients via multiple highly beneficial ingredients. After providing that nutrition and moisturization, it even ensures that none of it escapes by coating and sealing off individual hair strands. It contains silicones and wheat amino acids for this purpose.
In terms of smell, you can expect this conditioner to have a strong, floral perfume. Depending on what your preferences are, you will either love this scent or hate it. It is quite overwhelming too.
The main problem with this conditioner, though, is its price. It is incredibly expensive, but that is expected from a professional brand like Ouidad. One way to reduce the pressure this conditioner may put on your finances is to buy the bigger bottle that contains 33.8 ounces of the product.
The bigger bottle is not only more affordable than the smaller one, but it also comes with a pump dispenser. The pump dispenser keeps wastage to a minimum and ensures that the conditioner stays with you longer. The smaller bottle, incidentally, contains only 8.5 ounces of the conditioner.
Who’s it for: If you have tight curls, thick, or dry hair and like floral smells, get this professional curly hair conditioner from Ouidad.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 33.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Pro-vitamin B5, matricaria, echinacea purpurea extract, lemon fruit extract, algae extract, aloe vera leaf extract, wheat amino acids, silicones, and keratin amino acids |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Best for tight curlsand thick or dry hair |
| Moisturizes, nourishes, strengthens, softens, smoothens, and protects curls |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Has a floral scent |
| Comes with a pump dispenser |
| Available in two different sizes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Very expensive conditioner |
| Everyone won’t like its strong smell |
| Not suitable for fine or dry hair |
9. ORIBE Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Oribe is easily one of the most expensive hair care brands in the world. To get and use an Oribe product regularly, most people would probably have to rob a bank. However, for the most part, their products justify their incredible prices. Take this conditioner, for example.
The Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner has an incredible ingredients list. It contains virtually every naturally occurring substance that is beneficial for hair. It is almost like Oribe went through a list of the best ingredients in nature, threw them in the scientific version of a home blender, and let it rip with abandon.
The result is a conditioner with ultra-moisturizing capabilities that can repair damaged hair and nourish existing hair with aplomb. In terms of curly hair, this conditioner has such awesome hydration capabilities that it can be used by people with the tightest curls, irrespective of how thick, dry, or damaged their hair may be.
This conditioner helps the appearance of the curls as well, making them bouncier, shinier, fuller, and smoother. It does all these things mildly and gently too, making it an excellent choice for people with chemically treated or colored hair.
Some of the ingredients you’ll find in this conditioner include the Oribe Signature Complex comprising watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts, Mediterranean cypress extracts, argan oil, maracuja oil, Bio-Restorative Complex, bergamot oil, and certain protein blends.
All Oribe products contain the Signature Complex and its primary function is to minimize deterioration of hair through oxidation, photoaging, and the natural breakdown of keratin. This means that this complex protects the hair from damage caused by contaminants in the air and water, ultraviolet rays, and normal aging.
The Mediterranean cypress extract, argan oil, and maracuja oil in this conditioner are responsible for hydrating the hair, but they also provide the hair and scalp with a slew of nutrients.
The Bio-Restorative Complex, along with bergamot oil and various protein blends, offers similar benefits, but its primary function is to help repair damaged hair. This complex comprises various ingredients such as niacinamide, biotin, caffeine, and plant collagen. These components combine to offer everything from nutrition and repair to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocking.
Even though the ingredients list of this conditioner mainly consists of natural ingredients, it cannot be described as an all-natural product because it does contain silicones. The main disadvantage of silicones is that they can be too much to handle for fine or thinning hair.
Therefore, if this product isn’t suitable for your hair type, you shouldn’t even try it. If you still insist, be prepared to either dilute the conditioner or have a head full of grease.
One of the standout features of this conditioner is its scent. It has an incomparably unique scent that is so special that some people buy this conditioner purely for its smell. It is a strong smell, though. So, if you don’t like overpowering smells, avoid this conditioner.
The biggest flaw of this conditioner, as we mentioned at the beginning, is its price. However, one way to circumvent spending so much is to buy the larger bottle since it is more affordable in the long term. It also happens to have a pump dispenser which prevents wastage.
The sizes available to you are 1.7 ounces, 6.8 ounces, and 33.8 ounces. You can use the smallest to try this conditioner out before committing to it with the bigger bottles.
Who’s it for: If you have money to spend and have tight curls or dry hair, get this complete curly hair conditioner with countless benefits.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product Volume: 33.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones, alcohols, shea butter, watermelon fruit extract, edelweiss extract, jasmine flower extract, green tea leaf extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, passionflower extract, black currant fruit extract, sandalwood extract, rice seed protein, vegetable collagen, pro-vitamin B5, hydrolyzed keratin, keratin, biotin, carrageenan extract, bergamot leaf extract, lemon fruit extract, argan oil, rice extract, amber resin extract, and litchi peel extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Exhaustive ingredients list |
| Best for tight curls and very dry hair |
| Specially formulated for extremely damaged and dry hair |
| Moisturizes, nourishes, strengthens, softens, smoothens, and protects curls |
| Does very well against frizz and flyaway hair |
| Accomplished at defining curls |
| Has a unique, extremely likablescent |
| Comes with a pump |
| Available in three different sizes |
| Vegan conditioner |
| Cruelty-free conditioner |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Unbelievably expensive conditioner |
| Contains silicones |
| Contains alcohols |
| Everyone won’t like its strong smell |
| Too powerful for loose curls or oily hair |
