Hello my curly girls! If you’re following the Curly Girl Method, you know how important it is to have a good conditioner. I’ve tried budget Curly Girl approved conditioners and high-end conditioners. To be honest, I’ve had great results with both! For today’s post, I’ve put together some of the best conditioners for curly hair (and where to find them).

Here’s a list of the best conditioners for curly hair.

What to Look for in a Conditioner

First, you’ll need a botanical-based conditioner. As you might guess, “botanical” means that it has a lot of plant-based ingredients. These should be listed in the first half of ingredients. It should also have moisturizing ingredients and emollients to hydrate your curls.

According to Curly Girl: The Handbook, you’ll want a conditioner that contains…

–Humectants like panthenol, vegetable glycerin, and sorbitol

–Moisturizers like amino acids, olive oil, aloe vera, propylene glycol

–Emollients like shea butter, vegetable oils, walnut oil, jojoba oil, wheat germ, and cetyl esters

-NO SILICONE! This common ingredient will seal your cuticle, not allowing any moisture to enter it. Silicones can also make your curls look limp and lifeless.

Keep reading for some of the best Curly Girl approved conditioners for curly girls.

Regular Conditioners (use every washday)

1. Tresemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Coconut Conditioner

This is one of my favourite drugstore products for curly hair. It’s creamy, moisturizing, and has fantastic slip. (Slip is a CG term, meaning it makes your hair more slippery and easy to detangle). It contains coconut milk and aloe vera for extra moisture. And it has a sweet coconut scent. I can usually find it on sale for about $5. It gives me consistently great results!

Buy on Amazon.

2. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner 

This conditioner is very thick and creamy. So I usually like to rub it between my palms with a little water before applying. It provides lots of moisture and has fabulous ingredients. It’s formulated with shea butter and neem oil for moisture and silk protein to strengthen your hair. The scent is sweet and coconutty- like a coconut cream pie!

Because it is thick, it is a bit tricky to get the last fraction of the bottle out. I just take out the pump and shake it hard to get more out. That works well.

Buy on Amazon.

3. DevaCurl One Condition Delight

This conditioner is one of my favourite conditioners! It’s rich, non-greasy, and has great slip. The One Condition Delight is formulated with rice protein, chia seed, and flax seed extract. And it has a sweet citrusy scent. If your hair is protein sensitive, be aware that this does contain protein. Try to balance it with products that don’t contain protein. Because it’s a lighter conditioner, I usually pair it with co-washes, like the As I Am Cowash. My hair seems to like it!

Buy on Amazon.

4. Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner 

This conditioner is a favourite of many curly girls, and it’s on my list of products to try! It’s full of curl-boosting ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and about 15 herbs and spices. You can get it in Citrus Lavender or Island Fantasy scent. Reviewers say that it has fantastic slip and works well to detangle curls. I can’t wait to try it!

Buy on Amazon.

Deep Conditioners (use once a week)

5. Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment

I love this deep conditioner! It’s packed with shea butter, avocado oil, and cocoa butter, and lots of botanical extracts. These include aloe vera (known for its moisturizing properties), rosemary and basil (stimulate hair growth), bay laurel (astringent which prevents hair loss), and many more. Because it’s protein free, it’s a great choice for curly girls who are sensitive to protein. It has a sweet, floral scent. And it always makes my curls soft, hydrated, and touchable! You can read my full review here.

Buy on Amazon.

6. DIY Recipe for Deep Conditioner

If you are on a budget, you may want to try a DIY deep conditioner. I love this simple deep conditioner recipe from Verna @themestizamuse. She shared it on her Instagram page. You simply need:

• 1/2 cup oil or conditioner (I used my regular Tresemme Coconut conditioner)
• 1/4 cup honey
• Microwaveable bowl

First, put the oil/conditioner and honey into the bowl, and microwave it for 10-second intervals until it is too hot to touch comfortably. Allow it to sit for a minute or two. Then apply it to your hair, let it sit for 30+ minutes, and rinse out. 

Leave-In Conditioners (use after washing, before stylers)

Personally, I like to just leave some of my regular conditioner in my hair instead of rinsing it all out. But some curly girls like to rinse out their conditioner completely and then apply a leave-in conditioner. Here are some of the best leave-in conditioners for curly hair.

7. Giovanni Leave-In Conditioner

This leave-in conditioner is remarkably lightweight, but it provides lots of moisture for thirsty curls. It’s formulated with quite botanical ingredients, including Vitamin E oil, aloe vera, lavender extract, and more. Reviewers say that it has excellent slip and works well for many different curl types.

Buy on Amazon.

8. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Reparative Leave-In Conditioner

For girls with curly and coily curl types, this is a fantastic choice! It’s full of hydrating ingredients like shea butter and Jamaican black castor oil. Curly girls say that it has great slip and leaves their curls soft, moisturized, and curlier.

Buy on Amazon.

9. Curls Blueberry Bliss Leave-In Conditioner

This is a cult favourite among curly girls! It’s made with botanical ingredients like coconut oil, grapeseed oil, mango butter, and organic blueberry seed extract. Girls with everything from wavy hair to coily hair love it! Because it’s concentrated, a little goes a long way! Personally, I like to cocktail it with the Curl Keeper Original gel.

Buy on Amazon.

Let’s Chat:

Curly girls, have you tried some of these conditioners for curly hair? And what is your current favourite conditioner? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!

love,

Claudine

p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you SO much for your support!