A good deep conditioner for natural hair is worth its weight in gold. If you have Afro, kinky, curly, or multitextured hair, then you might already have an arsenal of moisturizing products to protect against the elements. While it’s great to know the best products for your specific hair type, sometimes it can feel like our hair gets used to the same product cocktail. That’s why we’re using the change of season to switch up our usual list of deep conditioners for curly hair and trying something new.
As a first line of defense against extreme temperatures, our coils need a deep dose of moisture – even more so after trying a protective style. When shopping for a deep conditioner, it’s good to keep in mind that we all have very different hair chemistries, meaning one person’s hair may respond to certain ingredients a bit differently than yours will.
For some, olive and castor oils are a match made in heaven for my hair, while for other naturalistas, coconut or jojoba oils do the trick. If you’re not too versed on the best oils for your hair type, then no worries. It’s really a process of trial and error since everyone’s hair is so particularly different. But as a rule of thumb, there are a few tried and tested options that the natural hair community consistently recommends (and that are often included in the best deep conditioners for curly hair). They are castor, olive, coconut, jojoba, argan, avocado, sweet almond, macadamia, grape seed, and tea tree. You can use these oils as a pre-treatment before you shampoo and condition, mix them into your deep conditioner for a moisture boost, or grab one of our favorite deep conditioners that are rich in these oils – as well as so many more great ingredients (like purifying clay and invigorating peppermint).
Ahead are 12 of the absolute best deep conditioners for natural hair on the market.
– Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez and Danielle Jackson
