12 best hair conditioner that hydrates and soften your hair

We all know her. That girl. She is the one with the enviable hair. Her hair may be blonde, brunette, red or some shade in between. But it’s not her color we crave or even her style. It’s that elusive glossy shine. How does she get it? And more importantly, how can WE get it? 

In today’s world of blasting blow dryers, scorching flat irons, and harsh chemical treatments like bleaching and highlighting, our manes are taking a beating. Color treatment, heat styling and product buildup can leave hair looking dry, brittle, broken and lackluster and to the touch feeling coarse and rough.

It is possible to revive, hydrate and soften damaged hair simply by choosing the right conditioner for your hair type. The conditioner is, as they say, is having a moment. Many of us are washing our hair much less frequently and some of us have abandoned shampoo all together in favor of using two in one treatment or just conditioner. But with so many conditioners on the market, how does a gal find the best one for her hair-type?

We researched tons of hair conditioners to find the best traditional conditioning creams, leave in conditioners, sprays and even a bar. Craving curls? Seeking smooth? Wishing for waves? We’ve got you covered.

While we all know that the purpose of shampoo is to cleanse the scalp and hair what most of us don’t know is, what exactly is conditioner and more importantly, what is it supposed to do for our hair? The purpose of conditioner is to enhance the outer layer of our hair strands, called the cuticle layer. Frizzy, limp hair is a sign that the cuticle layer is damaged and breaking down. This breakdown causes hair to look dry and unhealthy and also may cause strands to tangle and break. In order to obtain smooth, glossy hair using conditioner is a must. The right conditioner will help to seal and protect the cuticle. And that shine we seek? It’s caused by light reflecting off that smooth cuticle layer.

I personally was strongly encouraged to try this product when my hairdressers (yes plural it was a team approach to color, cut and style) in Geneva insisted I use it on my damaged, over-processed hair. The results were fast and remarkable. My hair was noticeably shinier and softer after only a few uses. This product works on all hair types and is recommended for daily use, or however often you wash your hair. 

For seriously damaged hair of all types, try Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque. It is super nutrient complex helps to repair and strengthen strands. Don’t let the name masque fool you, as it can be used as a conditioner every time you shampoo.

If your hair is curly or color treated and on its knees begging for moisture, try It’s a 10 Miracle Daily Conditioner loved by users and experts alike. Bonus, it smells fantastic! This product works best when paired with its partner in crime, 10 Miracle Daily Shampoo.

A leave-in conditioner can help to provide extra moisture and a detangling treatment for over processed hair. To use a leave-in, apply after shampooing and conditioning. And then, you guessed it, leave it in, meaning don’t rinse! For thick, wavy hair that likes to frizz, try OI/Davines All in One Milk. It conditions, detangles, protects from heat styling and leaves hair shiny, smooth and asking to be touched.

For those with fine hair prone to breakage, we suggest Phyto 7 Hydrating Day Cream with 7 Plants. This lightweight leave-in cream won’t weigh hair down and leaves locks shiny and luscious. One tester said the use of this product even allowed her to go a bit longer between haircuts as her ends looked healthier longer.

Just a few pumps of this product applied to clean, towel-dried hair will help to repair split ends and build strength. Note, this non-vegan product contains caviar from non-endangered sustainably farmed fish. Users say this product also helps make hair easier to style.

We all know the benefits of natural coconut oil but applying it to hair can be tricky as we don’t want our hair to look greasy and smell like a bakery. Instead, try Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray, it contains coconut oil and rosehip oil giving hair radiance.

A conditioning spray that works for all hair types including super curly coils. This five oil blend helps seal the cuticle and also protects the hair from harmful UV rays.

Using a deep conditioner, sometimes called a masque weekly can help restore hair to its pre-fried state. Experts love Bee Mine Bee-U-Ti-Ful Moisturizing Deep Conditioner. Its natural ingredients include shea butter and coconut oil. Apply to damp hair and leave in for at least ten minutes before rinsing.

Short on time? Try Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Smooth, this smoothing treatment eliminates frizz quickly and it smells good too.

Sometimes it’s just not possible or affordable to get to the salon for color treatment as often as we would like. For color treated hair that is fading between trips to the salon we suggest L’Oreal Paris Color Vibrancy Instant Nourishing Treatment. It restores shine in less than 60 seconds.

Hair bars (think a bar of soap) are gaining popularity of late. For blondes seeking a conditioning bar that gives TLC, try Lush Sugar Daddy Conditioning Bar. Be warned, it foams up with a purple lather. Testers report that it smells great and makes blonde hair brighter. Another plus, it’s easy to travel with.

I can remember when as teenagers in desperation to breathe life into our dry and damaged tresses, a girlfriend and I applied mayonnaise masks to our hair. Turns out, it wasn’t a silly urban myth. 

For a restorative and inexpensive homemade moisturizing mask mix five tablespoons of mayonnaise with two eggs, beat by hand and apply to the hair. Put on a shower cap and relax for 20 minutes or apply heat (over the cap) with a blow dryer on a warm (not hot) setting. Rinse and shampoo. This mask can be used twice a week or as needed.

For a monthly moisturizing treatment for thick coarse hair, try an at-home hot oil treatment. Start by heating a few tablespoons of either coconut oil, avocado or almond oil in the microwave. Apply, warm, not hot, oil to hair and wrap with a warm towel fresh from the dryer. Leave on for at least 20 minutes before washing out with a gentle shampoo.

Another luscious at home mask that can be quickly and easily made in the blender contains the pulp from one avocado, a ripe banana and a few tablespoons of olive or coconut oil. Blend the banana and avocado first and then slowly add a few tablespoons of oil. Apply to hair from root to tip and leave on for 20 minutes. Then, rinse and wash with a mild shampoo.

Put the shampoo down! One of the biggest enemies of healthy shiny hair is too much washing. Unless your hair and scalp are particularly oily, you don’t need to shampoo every day. Instead, try shampooing no more than twice a week. Between washings, dry shampoo can help refresh hair and keep it looking and smelling great. Be sure to avoid a dry shampoo with damaging ingredients such as butane and alcohol. We like all natural Drop Dead Gorgeous Dry Shampoo, it’s also vegan and won’t coat your hair with drying damaging chemicals between washings. 

Over styling, heat, products, color treatment, frequent washings and life, in general, can leave hair parched and dry. A good conditioner, leave in conditioning product and regular mask treatments can help breathe new life (and shine) into dull, dry hair. Find the right products for you and soon you’ll be the girl with the shiniest hair in the room.