10 Best Deep Conditioners For Curly Hair – Curly Girl Approved
This post may contain affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Please read the disclosure policy for more details.
Whether your curls are tight and coiled, big and bouncy, or somewhere in between, you need the right deep conditioner to keep them looking their best. The right deep conditioner can help to restore moisture, add shine, strengthen hair, reduce breakage, and tame frizz.
I’ve rounded up 10 of the best deep conditioners for curly hair, and these are all approved if you’re following the curly girl method. So if you’re in need of a new curly girl approved deep conditioner to add to your rotation, look no further!
I tried my best to include high quality deep conditioners for all curl types, and included budget options.
Also looking for other curly girl approved products? Be sure to check out:
- 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Shampoos
- 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Conditioners
- 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Gels
- 10 Best Curly Girl Leave-In Conditioners
The 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Deep Conditioners
I chose the following deep conditioners for curly hair based on a few points:
- ingredient quality
- concentration – how much you need to use
- how lightweight to heavy it is
- buildup potential
- slip
- also noted if it contains protein or glycerin
I have assigned a number from 1 to 5 for each category, 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. Of course, they are all silicone free and drying alcohol free, which is what makes them curly girl approved.
1. Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore – Best Budget Option
This deep conditioner is great for those with dry, damaged, or color-treated hair. It has a lot of protein and moisture so it’s pretty well balanced for all curl types and not too heavy even on my fine hair. It contains a mix of oils, butters, and protein to help strengthen and restore hair.
- ingredient quality – 3
- concentration – 3
- moisture level – moderate
- buildup potential – low
- slip – 4
- protein & glycerin
2. EVOLVh UltraRepair Treatment – Best Lightweight Protein Heavy
I LOVE this deep conditioner so much! It is my favorite because of how lightweight it is. This is the lightest option on this list so keep that in mind.
UltraRepair Treatment is a high-performance, restorative treatment that deeply hydrates and repairs damaged hair. It contains 5X the essential amino and fatty acids for ultimate repair, reconstructing, and restoral power.
I did a deep dive on this product: EVOLVh UltraRepair Reconstructing Masque – A Lightweight Protein Rich Treatment
- ingredient quality – 5
- concentration – 4
- moisture level – very lightweight
- buildup potential – very low
- slip – 3
- protein
3. Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment – Best Protein & Glycerin Free
If you want a thick, rich, hydrating mask then this is the one for you! It’s a little heavy for my fine hair but feels amazing.
This deep conditioning treatment is designed to intensely moisturize and condition dry, damaged, or color-treated hair. It contains no protein nor glycerin, so it’s perfect for those with sensitivities to those ingredients.
- ingredient quality – 5
- concentration – 5
- moisture level – heavy
- buildup potential – very low
- slip – 4
- protein & glycerin free
4. Innersense Hydrating Hair Mask – Best Organic
This deep conditioner is organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan. It is a very concentrated, hydrating mask without causing buildup.
This hydrating hair mask deeply moisturizes and conditions the hair while restoring elasticity and shine. It contains flaxseed, monoi, and tamanu oils that moisturize and quinoa protein to repair.
- ingredient quality – 5
- concentration – 5
- moisture level – heavy
- buildup potential – very low
- slip – 4
- protein & glycerin
5. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair – Best for Moisture & A Little Protein
This deep conditioner is perfect for those who want a little protein and a lot of moisture. It used to be my go-to at the beginning of my curly hair journey.
According to Briogeo, this deep conditioning hair mask is scientifically proven to decrease hair breakage after two uses. It’s one of their best sellers and is always winning awards.
One thing to note, this product contains Isododecane which the CGM police will yell about. But the truth is that although this ingredient in pure form is not water soluble, it is soluble with most cowashes and any low poo. Therefore, this should not cause buildup or problems if you’re following the curly girl method.
- ingredient quality – 4
- concentration – 4
- moisture level – moderate
- buildup potential – low
- slip – 4
- protein & glycerin
6. Mielle Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner – Best Dupe For Don’t Despair, Repair
If the Briogeo mask is too pricey, this is a great alternative. You’ll see this recommended a lot in curly hair groups and on social media because it’s a great value and works on most curly hair types.
Mielle’s Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner deeply conditions and moisturizes the hair while restoring elasticity and shine. It contains babassu oil, fatty acids, and amino acids to deeply moisturize and repair all hair types.
- ingredient quality – 4
- concentration – 3
- moisture level – moderate
- buildup potential – low
- slip – 4
- protein & glycerin
7. Garnier Fructis Smoothing Treat One Minute Hair Mask – Most Affordable Mask
If you’re really on a budget, this is the cheapest deep conditioner you’ll find that actually works and is curly girl approved. Specifically, the avocado extract one, as the other two in this line are not curly girl approved.
This mask works quickly so it’s also great if you’re lazy and don’t want to spend time on a treatment. It’s thick and creamy, and also protein free.
- ingredient quality – 2
- concentration – 3
- moisture level – moderate
- buildup potential – moderate
- slip – 4
- glycerin
8. BounceCurl Ayurvedic Deep Conditioner – Best Herbal Blend
This deep conditioner is made with a unique blend of ayurvedic herbs and is protein and glycerin free. It’s very moisturizing so it’s not ideal for hair that doesn’t need a lot of moisture.
I haven’t tried this one yet but I have heard it has great slip. This is likely too rich for my fine curls.
- ingredient quality – 5
- concentration – 4
- moisture level – heavy
- buildup potential – low
- slip – 5
- protein & glycerin free
9. The Mane Choice Alpha Green Tea & Carrot Deep Strengthening & Restorative Mask Treatment – Best Protein & Moisture Rich
If you’re looking for a deep conditioner with a lot of protein and a lot of moisture, this is a great option. It contains a mix of moisturizing oils and butters along with a few proteins to deeply moisturize, strengthen, and repair hair.
If you have lots of damage and need moisture too, then this is your best choice for a protein boost that’s still moisturizing.
- ingredient quality – 3
- concentration – 3
- moisture level – moderate
- buildup potential – low
- slip – 3
- protein & glycerin
10. Hairfinity Strengthening Amino Masque – Best Protein Rich
This deep conditioner is full of proteins to help rebuild and strengthen the hair. It’s a good choice for those who need a lot of protein in their deep conditioners.
According to Hairfinity, this mask is proven to reduce breakage up to 90%, making it a great option for those with lots of damage or anyone experiencing breakage. If you regularly heat style or color then you might need this.
This is more moisturizing and heavier than the EVOLVh UltraRepair but still has a good amount of protein.
- ingredient quality – 4
- concentration – 4
- moisture level – moderate
- buildup potential – low
- slip – 4
- protein & glycerin
If you have curly hair, or if you’re just starting to embrace your natural curls, a deep conditioner is a must-have in your hair care arsenal. A good deep conditioner will help keep your curls healthy and strong, while making them easier to manage. There is at least one deep conditioner for curly hair from this list that will help you keep your curls in tip-top shape.
If you’re new to the curly girl method, I recommend you check out my post on affordable curly girl approved products to start off. That post contains over 60 affordable and drugstore options.
Curly Girl Method Product Matching Guide
If you need help finding the products that will work for your hair type, check out my product matching guide. There are so many things to consider when choosing products and this guide will help you narrow down what you need to look for.
This product guide will help you identify your hair type and characteristics, provide some styling tips, and list exact products that will work on your hair type. Click here for more info.
Please do me a favor and share this post to social media, as it helps me grow my audience and spread the word about our curly hair movement! And remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more curly hair tips and product recommendations. Thanks!
If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.
Other Posts On Curly Hair Care:
- How to choose the right products when starting the curly girl method
- 60+ affordable curly girl approved products
- Ultimate Guide to the Curly Girl Method
- My favorite products for fine curly hair
- Glycerin free products for high humidity
Once You Get The Products Figured Out, Make Sure You Master Styling!
For help with styling, check out Fabulous Curls Academy. Phase 2 of this membership will help you transform your frizzy hair into defined bouncy curls in just one day, by learning how to use the products you already have (even if they’re not CG approved)!
Join The Facebook Group!
Want To Remember This? Save 10 Best Deep Conditioners For Curly Hair To Your Favorite Pinterest Board!
Which one is best for medium hair?
It really depends on what your hair needs. Protein boost? Just moisture? Any would work for medium hair type.
Do all deep conditioners have protein and glycerin in them. My hair likes protein but not glycerin so much. I hair doesn’t like glycerin in styling products. Would it react the same way with glycerin in a conditioner? I would like to find one that has moisture and protein. Thanks for all your great information!!
No not all do. But your hair should be fine if the glycerin is not one of the first few ingredients. Deep conditioners tend to be heavy on emollients (oils & butters) so it should not be an issue.
Just a quick note, the Shea Moisture conditioning treatment has glycerin in it. Thanks for all your excellent advice and help :).
Thank you for catching that. I just updated the post.
I love the EvolVh repair masque and use it twice a month on my fine low density high porosity wavy Bob. I have used EvolVh Ultrashine and Smartcurl products since you introduced them. They are the best balanced protein and lightweight moisture that my hair needs.