The harsh cool winter air puts your hair at risk of breaking off. However, with a great deep conditioner, you can keep your curls bouncy, soft and shiny throughout the icy weather. By tending strands with deep conditioners, you can rock wash-and-gos and protective styles in the winter with confidence that your tresses will stay nourished during the entirety of the frosty season.
What’s the Difference Between a Deep Conditioner and Conditioner?
A conditioner is a product used after every shampoo to moisturize the hair for a short period of time. However, a deep conditioner is a treatment used to target specific hair concerns for long-lasting moisture and hair manageability. Conditioners are applied to the hair for about a minute before being rinsed out, whereas a deep conditioner is applied for up to 20 minutes.
- Best for Color-Treated Hair: dpHUE Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment
- Best for Damaged Hair: Camille Rose Black Castor Oil and Chebe Deep Conditioner
- Best for Fine Hair: Melanin Haircare Plumping Deep Conditioner
- Best for High Porosity Hair: Mielle Organics Babassu Mint Deep Conditioner
- Best for Low Porosity Hair: L’Oreal Paris EverCreme Sulfate Free Deep Nourish Conditioner
- Best for Protective Styles: Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Moisture Boost Deep Conditioner
- Best for Tangled Tresses: Mixed Chicks Detangling Deep Conditioner Treatment
- Best for Thick Hair: Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner
Best for Color-Treated Hair
dpHUE’s Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment
For color-treated hair, dpHUE’s deep conditioning treatment nourishes curls, while refreshing your hair color and adding shine. Its vegan formula excludes peroxides, ammonia, parabens, sulfates, phthalates or gluten. This deep conditioner is available in 11 shades that range from light blonde to pitch black. There’s also a clear version for hair colors not covered by the current range to still deliver nourishment and shine.
Best for Damaged Hair
Camille Rose’s Black Castor Oil and Chebe Deep Conditioner
Camille Rose’s Black Castor Oil and Chebe Deep Conditioner revives damaged hair. A blend of castor oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and chebe powers this intensive treatment. With regular use, you’ll notice your curls getting stronger and smoother than ever before.
Best for Fine Hair
Melanin Haircare’s Plumping Deep Conditioner
Melanin Haircare’s Plumping Deep Conditioner nourishes your fine hair without weighing it down. It restores its elasticity. It has hyaluronic acid, biotin, pumpkin, and bamboo to strengthen and smooth your curls. The vegan formula also is made without sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, formaldehydes or phthalates. By removing those ingredients, your curls won’t be weighed down or further thinned out after a treatment.
Best for High Porosity Hair
Mielle Organics’ Babassu Mint Deep Conditioner
High porosity hair needs a little help to retain moisture. Mielle Organics’ Babassu Mint Deep Conditioner has just the ingredient combination to help. This deep conditioner for curly hair has protein within it to help rebuild and reinforce high porosity curls.
Its deeply moisturizing formula also contains familiar hair-nourishing ingredients, like apple extract, rosemary extract, lavender oil, peppermint oil and sunflower oil. There’s no dyes, sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde or aluminum in the mix.
Best for Low Porosity Hair
L’Oreal Paris’s EverCreme Sulfate Free Deep Nourish Conditioner
Low porosity hair benefits from water-based formulas that aren’t too heavy on the hair. L’Oreal Paris’ EverCreme Sulfate Free Deep Nourish Conditioner is a water-based deep conditioner that coats the hair in a lighter-weight formula. It hydrates curls without weighing them down. It’s also wax-free, salt-free and color-safe.
Best for Protective Styles
Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Moisture Boost Deep Conditioner
Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Moisture Boost Deep Conditioner nourishes your natural curls and hair braided in a protective style. Winter is already a drying season and protective styles damage your hair, if you aren’t treating your coils underneath them. This coconut oil-powered deep conditioner penetrates, so that hair will not go unnourished. It’s also safe for color-treated hair.
Best for Tangled Tresses
Mixed Chicks’ Detangling Deep Conditioner Treatment
Mixed Chicks’ Detangling Deep Conditioner Treatment transforms intertwined curls that need help in the definition department. It uses a formula that’s rich in castor oil, safflower oil, vitamin E and essential fatty acids to detangle and moisturize your curls. This deep conditioner also reduces breakage and promotes healthy hair growth.
Best for Thick Hair
Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner
Rizos Curls’ Deep Conditioner adds moisture and strength to parched curls. This deep conditioner detangles while it fights frizz. It boasts a creamy oil-rich formula that gets every strand of hair. Its emollient formula won’t leave a heavy greasy residue on your thick hair.
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