Best Overall

Nexxus Keraphix Conditioner

$29

$24 at Amazon

$18

$13 at Ulta$16 at Walmart

Hair Type: Damaged| Size: 13.5, 33.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This Nexxus conditioner is ideal for anyone seeking to repair hair damage, whether it results from color treatments, heat styling, or everyday wear and tear. The key ingredient is what the brand refers to as ProteinFusion, a blend of keratin and black rice extract that strengthens and nourishes the hair shaft (which is also made up predominantly of protein). This formula is best reserved for thicker, damaged hair that requires intensive treatment—use caution if you have naturally fine or oily hair that tends to get weighed down easily.

Best for Dry, Damaged Hair

TRESemme Moisture Rich Conditioner

$9

$8 at WalmartView on CVS$9 at Walgreens

Hair Type: All| Size: 39 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This brilliant multitasker does everything from repairing damage to increasing moisture for a smoother finish. Its lightweight consistency rinses easily (read: no greasy residue), making it an ideal choice for normal to dry strands. It does this with a formula that’s rich in ceramides and amino acids, ingredients known to help strengthen hair with continuous use—there’s a reason TRESemmé remains a stalwart in our bathroom cabinets.

Best Scent

OGX Nourishing + Coconut Milk Conditioner

$7

$7 at Amazon$18 at UltaView on Target

Hair Type: Wavy, straight, curly| Size: 13 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This sulfate-free conditioner from OGX is packed with coconut milk plus coconut oils for lightweight hydration. It’s not overly rich, so it won’t weigh down fine hair, while the addition of whipped egg white protein will assist with damage repair if your hair lacks strength and elasticity. Two major bonus points: it smells like a tropical island vacation and looks beautiful on a shower shelf. As such, we think it feels like a far more expensive product than one picked up at the drugstore.

Best for Natural Hair

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Conditioner

$10

$9 at Amazon$11 at Ulta$10 at Target

Hair Type: Natural | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Oftentimes, natural hair requires additional moisture to keep it in solid shape, so we were pleased to find that this drugstore formula from Mielle accomplished this while testing. The application process instantly affirms that this product is aptly penetrating your hair with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil, and the improved smoothness, softness, and ability to style our natural hair with twist-outs and wash-and-gos are evident after use.

According to our tests, we recommend leaving this product in for up to 20 minutes with either a steamer or heat from hot shower water for optimal results.

Philtrina, tester with dry 4C hair: “I like to use a lot of product since my hair is extremely dry, but a little of this conditioner goes a long way without any buildup or heaviness.”

Best for Curly Hair

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner

$10

$8 at Amazon

$12

$8 at Walmart$12 at Sallybeauty.com

Hair Type: Dry, coarse, curly| Size: 13 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Curly hair is more porous, meaning it tends to dry out faster. For this reason, it’s essential to find a conditioner that’s rich in moisturizing ingredients—something this SheaMoisture formula has in spades. It’s formulated with certified organic shea butter, African rock fig, and baobab oil, plus manuka honey to help retain water and nourish each strand. The result? Soft, cared-for curls.

Best for Normal Hair

Herbal Essences Rose Hips Smoothing Conditioner

$9

$7 at WalmartView on CVSView on Staples

Hair Type: Normal, dry | Size: 29 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

“If you have normal, uncolored hair, this is a lovely conditioner that’s also easy on the wallet,” says Nader. “I love the delicious fragrance, plus it leaves the hair plump, shiny, and moisturized.” We love that it contains jojoba, which is known to improve hair softness and protect against breakage. To echo the above sentiment, the smell is truly amazing, and it’s even better that this formula can be used on all hair types, including those with color-treated hair.

Best Strengthening

Odele Thickening Conditioner for Strength + Density Support

$12 at Ulta$12 at TargetView on Odelebeauty.com

Hair Type: Dry, curly | Size: 2, 13 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This under-$15 conditioner will especially benefit those with extra-dry hair who desire additional definition and strength. Our initial tests found that this formula, which has a relatively thin consistency that shockingly packs a significant punch, left our hair noticeably soft, silky, and nourished. What’s more, after continuous use over the span of a month, we could see fuller-looking curls without that greasy, weighed-down feeling—just lightweight, bouncy, manageable curls.

Ashley, tester with curly, dry hair: “I love the texture of my hair after using this thickening conditioner—my curls felt smooth, slick, and refreshed.”

Best for Wavy Hair

Kristin Ess The One Signature Conditioner

$12

$11 at AmazonView on Ulta

$17

$12 at Walmart

Hair Type: Normal, dry, damaged | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

“This is great quality for a drugstore formula,” Nader tells us. “The inclusion of keratin is fantastic for those prone to breakage, plus there are no sulfates to encourage color fade.” This ingredient is particularly beneficial for wavy hair, as it helps to repair the integrity and strength of each individual strand. It’s formulated with Zip-Up Technology, the brand’s proprietary strengthening complex that repairs split ends and targets weak areas of the hair, reducing frizz simultaneously. This also helps to protect it from aggressors in the environment and other elements that fade color from the hair. What’s more, the smell is incredible and lingers long after your initial wash.

Best for Coarse Hair

Not Your Mother’s 3-in-1 Conditioner

View on Ulta

Hair Type: Curly, coiled, coarse | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This versatile pick can be used as a normal conditioner, a co-wash, or as a leave-in treatment. Best suited for those with coarse texture and a tighter curl pattern (whether you have low or high porosity curls). It’s also safe to use on natural and color-treated hair. It’s formulated with rice, enzymes, and keratin amino acids that enhance curl retention. The result is beautifully conditioned curls that are protected from the elements. 

Best for Fine Hair

John Frieda ULTRAFiller+ Thickening Conditioner for Fine Hair

$12

$10 at Amazon$10 at Target

$14

$7 at Walgreens

Hair Type: Fine | Size: 8.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With a texture as rich and creamy as this formula from John Frieda, you’d be shocked to discover it’s not from a luxury label. Despite this luscious feel, our tests found that even for the finest hair types, it didn’t leave that heavy, greasy feeling we often get from thick formulas—a bonus alongside its other smoothing and softening abilities (it even tamed our previously persistent flyaways). We were also so pleased by the unexpected detangling benefits, which alleviated our consistently knotty strands (a common problem for many with fine hair) and eliminated the need for supplemental leave-in products.

Caitlin, tester with fine, straight hair: “With fine hair prone to greasiness, it was nice to get a hydration boost from this conditioner without feeling oily. After using it for a few weeks, I am impressed with the softness and manageability of my texture.”

Best for Frizz

Monday Haircare Smooth Conditioner

$8

$7 at AmazonView on Ulta$7 at Walmart

Hair Type: Frizzy, coarse, dry | Size: 12 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Monday Haircare is a New Zealand brand that’s quickly risen to cult status in the U.S., and we can see why. With recyclable pump bottles and sulfate-free formulations, the entire range, including the Smoothing Conditioner, is both affordable and effective, making it a delight to use. This formula is packed with glycerin, coconut oil, panthenol, and shea butter to support soft, shiny, manageable locks while sealing the hair cuticle and reducing frizz. It’s also dermatologist-tested, vegan, and cruelty-free. 

Best Lightweight

The Ordinary Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner

$10 at Amazon$10 at Sephora$10 at Kohls.com

Hair Type: Fine, normal, colored | Size: 8.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This launch from The Ordinary stands apart from the crowd due to its extremely minimalistic formula. (There are only seven ingredients in total.) The star of the show is behentrimonium chloride, a type of surfactant that’s said to improve hair condition and manageability. It’s very lightweight, making it best suited for those with fine, soft strands. This formula can also be used to improve the condition of curls, coils, waves, and straight strands.

Best for Colored Hair

L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Conditioner

$10 at Amazon$11 at Ulta$10 at Walmart

Hair Type: Dry, normal, colored | Size: 8.5, 23 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It’s tricky to find a sulfate- and silicone-free conditioner in the drugstore, but L’Oreal Paris’ Ever Pure option ticks both boxes. With a fresh, herbaceous scent, rosemary botanicals, and creamy texture (that won’t weigh down your hair), it does a stellar job at detangling and restoring shine in normal to dry or colored hair. Vegan, paraben- and sulfate-free, we also appreciate its clean formula that doesn’t strip the hair.