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Not to be dramatic, but deep conditioners are the best thing that’ll ever happen to your hair. Unlike your typical conditioner, a deep conditioning treatment is usually a heavier, more intense formula that works overtime to “repair, reduce breakage and split ends and improve the overall health of the hair,” celebrity stylist and “Curl Queen” Nai’Vasha Johnson, whose clients include Yara Shahidi, Janelle Monae, and Serena Williams, tells ELLE.com.
According to Johnson, deep conditioning treatments work best on freshly shampooed hair, especially when they’re packed with essential oils and free of alcohol and silicone, which she says are harsh ingredients that “give a false sense of repair and shine." You can DIY your way through the damage, or cut costs by purchasing one of the many hair pick-me-ups in the sprawling haircare aisles of your favorite stores, just waiting for their new home. Ahead, 15 of the best deep conditioning treatments to bring your hair back to life.
DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Matcha Butter Conditioning Mask
"One ingredient that penetrates the hair best in my expert opinion is sweet almond oil," Johnson says, which is why DevaCurl's Melt Into Moisture is one of her faves. The thick, creamy formula glides on like butter for fuss-free detangling and adds instant moisture.
Head and Shoulders' Royal Oils Deep Moisture Masque is part of the brand's new collection designed especially for black hair. Built around its core ingredient, coconut oil, the deeply nourishing mask restores moisture from root to end leaving hair happy and healthy.
Yes, this restorative treatment works wonders on its own, but when paired with heat for a deep steam, it turns your head into a bed of pillow-soft strands, making it easier for your follow-up products to penetrate seamlessly.
Aussie Miracle Smooth 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner
Healthy, strong, frizz-free hair is just three minutes away with Aussie's nourishing blend of aloe and Australian sea kelp to combat humidity and stubborn flyaways.
Mielle Organics Babassu Oil And Mint Deep Conditioner
Featuring a heavenly, soothing mint scent, Mielle Organics' cult-favorite product comes with amazing slip so you can coat your strands evenly without it weighing your hair down.
Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Hair Masque
Deep conditioners are usually super thick, which can spell trouble for fine hair. That's where Shea Moisture's Weightless Hair Masque comes in. This mixture of coconut water, aloe, dragon fruit, lychee berry, and more is basically paradise bottled up.
It's a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Keratin
If you can't retain length due to constant breakage, this "miracle" mask is just the fix your hair needs. The mask is formulated with Keratin, which reinforces protein back in the hair to strengthen for a frizz-free, shiny finish. It also helps protect against heat damage and humidity.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector
Living Proof's Overnight Perfector mask does all the work while you catch up on your beauty sleep. The pillow-safe treatment can be used once a week for visibly healthier and shiner hair that lasts between washes.
Drybar is known for giving people professional salon-quality blowouts, so of course the brand designed a hair mask for customers to use post-makeover. Yuzu oil and golden root extract come together to give your parched strands a boost hydration and moisture.
So, your at-home hair bleaching session took a turn for the worst? Kerastase is here to make things right. The buttery texture fights to build up brittle, weak hair and restore elasticity and moisture.
This mango-infused mask is packed with nutrients and rich fatty acids that seal and protect hair strands and leaves your hair (and bathroom) smelling like a fresh mango paradise.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Treatment Masque
You can use this treatment in place of your daily conditioner or pamper your strands weekly for optimal results. Made of musk rose oil and goji berry extracts, the treatment transforms dull, limp hair into a bouncy, shiny mane.
ORIBE Masque for Beautiful Color
The luxurious ruby packaging is as fancy as the ingredients inside. A combination of conditioning ingredients, including watermelon extract from the Kalahari Desert, edelweiss flower extract, and wild mango butter help to extend your fresh new color in between salon visits.
Verb Hydrating Mask - Manage + Restore
Color treatments tend to leave your hair ends dry and prone to breakage, but Verb's Hydrating Mask says, "not today!" This mixture adds moisture and shine to lackluster hair and protects against heat damage.
Pravana The Perfect Blonde Purple Toning Masque
They say blondes have more fun, but brassy tones and fried ends aren't fun at all. The purple hue from Pravana's Toning Masque wipes out brassiness and brightens your color while strengthening your hair.
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