16 Best Conditioners, According to Hair Pros

Level up your conditioner game with the one that earned the highest satisfaction ratings in our Lab tests – rewarded with pristine marks for its simple application, damage prevention and subtle, yet "heavenly" scent, as one tester describes. It commonly left hair feeling super smooth in our tests. One tester who was especially impressed with its ability to condition without weighing hair down explains, “this product seemed to have just the right amount of conditioning ability.” Though it doesn't create greasiness, you may need a bit more TLC to rinse it out.

Hydrated hair is less than $15 away thanks to this drugstore conditioner. Weathering color retention tests, it came up on top with the best Lab performance. Our consumers were most satisfied with its results of lasting shine to silky softness. Not only did this product do well in our Lab for preserving color, but consumers also echoed those results with their home use. One tester says they did "not see any change in the two weeks of use color-wise" while others note they "really love the fragrance!"

Topping our Beauty Lab's moisturizing test and a favorite among our testers, this affordable conditioner is made with coconut extract and aloe. One tester said, "It made my hair feel soft and manageable."Another said, "It made my dry hair much more moisturized."

If you're willing to splurge a bit more for volume, you can't go wrong with Kerastasé. It offers all-day lift and bounce. Give your hair that "just-washed" look with the shampoo-conditioner duo that rated highest in our Lab tests for leaving clean-feeling hair post-rinse. After using it, one reviewer says, "I loved how I could just let my hair air dry" and still have soft, non-frizzy hair.

Although you can't easily walk back years of heat damage from hair tools, this one helps soften the blow with a nourishing, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic oat formula – even sensitive skin types can enjoy! About 84% of the conditioner's Sephora reviewers recommend it. "I have bleached hair so my hair is pretty damaged," comments one reviewer. "This conditioner hydrates really well without weighing down my fine hair."

Formulated with shea butter, coconut oil and vitamin E ingredients, this conditioner is designed to nourish and restore. A Good Housekeeping associate editor who has eczema and a dry scalp type can confirm. She found her hair felt softer after regular washes two to three times per week. Once inevitably hitting the bottom, recycle the bottles and replenish your shower stock for less than $10.

With over 14k likes on Sephora, it's clear that people love to love this Drunk Elephant hair conditioner. Its fresh blend of coconut amino acids and marula butter cleanses oily scalps without drying them out. "It smooths down my natural frizz and allows me to shampoo less," raves a satisfied customer. "I've been drying my hair naturally, and it's still smooth. Love!"

Winning big in our cleansing conditioner study, this pick best preserves dye jobs. Bonus – 95% of testers agree that it has the best scent among all the color-treated hair conditioners we've tried. It ranked highest for leaving hair softer and sufficiently conditioned, according to consumer tests. “I loved the way my hair felt after using this product," says one tester. "It made it soft and healthy looking."

Hairstylist Porsche recommends this pick for its compatibility with dry hair but even more so for the fact it works for all hair types. It packs in argan oils, which Porsche sees as a key ingredient in a conditioner. Claiming to restrengthen hair cuticles, it's especially useful if you have daily a.m. appointments with hair dryers. Plus, it infuses a lavender, spa-like smell after each wash.

Amid all the trial-and-errors over the years from DIY conditioning to client washes, Porsche has found a favorite in this Vegamour conditioner. Marked with the Clean at Sephora label, it's said to be formulated without parabens, sulfates and artificial fragrances while vegan, cruelty-free and color-treatment safe. Skin types that are sensitive to fragrance could benefit from a gentler option like this. It caters toward hair goals like thickening, anti-frizz and heat protection.

This gentle Garnier formula, a GH Seal holder, softens hair and delivers that post-rinse weightlessness with its shampoo counterpart. After continued use, you'll notice hydration from root to end. Its aloe ingredient is purchased fairly and sustainably to support local farmers and communities, with its bottle made from 30% post-consumer recycled materials.

Locked and loaded with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and rice amino acids, this Briogeo conditioner works to untangle and nourish curly hair patterns. "My hair can't get enough protein, and had an instantly great reaction to the shampoo and conditioner!" said one Ulta reviewer. "My previously limp waves were brought to LIFE."

If you're just bouncing back from a bleached hair moment, this moisturizing conditioner serves to boost hydration and help repair damaged hair. "I bought this because of HairTok, with no regrets," says a GH associate editor of products and reviews. "Super creamy and moisturizing, it's my go-to conditioner for dry hair. I usually let it sit like a mask for about 10 minutes, and it washes out super easily, leaving silkiness behind. But, I recommend that oily hair types avoid."

Honeymoon with the Joico Moisture Recovery shampoo-conditioner pair to achieve manageable hair. Used together, the duo made hair super soft and shiny in our Lab tests. As an added benefit, you walk away with fresh-smelling hair and an even cleaner-feeling scalp. One of our testers boasts that it makes hair "much easier than normal to comb through after showering." Another tester straightened their hair and received compliments for its high shine.

Fragile hair types can benefit from using this rich formula. We reviewed this GH Beauty Award winner's claims and found that it prevents damage by strengthening hair strands. In our Lab evaluations, consumer testers with color-treated, heat-styled hair reported that the leave-in made their hair look "less broken, and felt like new in just few uses.”

From waves to coilies, curly-hair types will love this thick, creamy formula designed to work hydration into dense, tight hair. It's packed with softening shea butter and nourishing avocado oils. One Ulta reviewer said, "This gives you hydration for even the little baby curls."

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