A good deep conditioner is worth its weight in gold. If you have Afro, kinky, curly, or multitextured hair, then you might already have an arsenal of moisture-rich products to protect against the winter chill, and the summer heat. While it's great to know the best products for your specific hair type, sometimes it can feel like our hair gets used to the same product cocktail. That's why we're using the change of season to switch up our usual conditioner and try something new.
As a first line of defence against the dry heat and chilly temperatures, our coils need a deep dose of moisture — especially after trying a protective style [1]. When shopping for a deep conditioner, it's good to keep in mind that we all have very different hair chemistries, meaning my hair may respond to certain ingredients a bit differently than yours will.
Personally, olive and castor oils are a match made in heaven for my hair, while some naturalistas prefer coconut or jojoba oils. If you're not too versed on the best oils for your hair type, then no worries. It's really a process of trial and error since everyone's hair is so particularly different. But as a rule of thumb, there are a few tried and tested oils that the natural hair community consistently recommends: castor, olive, coconut, jojoba, argan, avocado, sweet almond, macadamia, grape seed, and tea tree. You can use these oils as a pretreatment before you shampoo and condition, mix them into your deep conditioner for a moisture boost, or grab one of our favourite deep conditioners that are rich in these oils — and so many more great ingredients (like purifying clay and invigorating peppermint).
Ahead are ten of the absolute best deep conditioners for Afro, kinky, curly, and multitextured hair on the market that are filled with a luxe blend of oils and nutrients, ranging from £2 to £25.
Christophe Robin Hydrating Melting Mask with Aloe Vera
Christophe Robin Hydrating Melting Mask with Aloe Vera [3] (£28) is my personal favourite! It has incredible slip for detangling coarser curl textures, plus it's light enough for use as a leave-in conditioner, but hydrating enough for the most moisturised, shiny, and defined curls of your life in only a few minutes (compared to most deep conditioners that require 20 minutes to penetrate the hair shaft). I love this suff so much that I had to cut open the bottle and scoop the very last drop — yeah, it's that good. The best part? It's made of 98% natural ingredients, and contains absolutely no parabens, silicones, or SLES.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque [4] (£13) is worth every bit of its five-star review that you'll find on most websites. The reason it's a bestseller is because of the incredible cocktail of ingredients. Manuka honey is a rich, natural humectant that helps my type 4 Afro hair retain and seal in moisture. The combination of mafura and baobab oil result in deliciously shiny curls, I was seriously shocked with how my hair reflected light. Then there's the shea butter, which is lauded for its thick, superhydrating consistency, and the antioxidant-rich fig that is said to promote hair growth and circulation. This mask works wonders on bleached Afro hair, and make sure to try it as an overnight mask, because it will get you hooked.
Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Hair Masque
Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Hair Masque [5] (£8) is a product that works for such a wide range of curl types, and with a price under a tenner, it's definitely worth a spot in your beauty cupboard. This top-rated formula is rich in all our favourite coil-loving oils, like coconut, avocado, sweet almond, jojoba, olive, argan, neem, carrot, macadamia, and mango, plus honeysuckle, aloe leaf juice, nettle, and silk amino acids. This mask is definitely the most luxe mix of oils on my list, and the fact that it's specifically formulated for natural hair means I'm already sold.
Big Hair + Beauty Deep Conditioning Clay Mask
Big Hair + Beauty Deep Conditioning Clay Mask [6] (£20) literally smells like chocolate and has an impressive mix of ingredients. First off, the delicious scent is because of the natural cocoa butter that makes up the bulk of this UK brand's bestselling product. It also contains wonder oils like coconut, castor, and avocado, plus aloe vera juice and honey. My favourite part of this mask is the Moroccan rhassoul clay, which opens pores on the scalp and improves elasticity, while also reducing frizz and dryness. The mask also contains banana powder, which is something I haven't really seen before, but it works great for boosting shine and maximising hydration. Definitely worth a try.
Palmer's Olive Oil Formula Deep Conditioner With Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Palmer's Olive Oil Formula Deep Conditioner With Jamaican Black Castor Oil [7] (£2.50) will absolutely save your hair. I first got into Palmer's hair line by a very happy accident. I ordered a purple shampoo on Amazon, and it accidentally sent me Palmer's Olive Oil Co-Wash. It transformed my hair with the first wash and got me sold on co-washing. If its co-wash is so good, then I had to try its deep conditioner, and, of course, it was incredible. In my opinion, coconut is good for looser curls, while olive oil is more moisturising for thicker curl textures. I also love that for only £2, you can buy single-use packs, which are great for travel and keep the ingredients active and fresh.
Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque
The Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque [8] (£15) is perhaps one of the most hyped hair masks of all time. Frankly, I am super skeptical about anything with such a strong Instagram presence, but after 20 minutes of this mask wrapped around my 4a curls, I was surprised at how luscious, soft, and shiny they were. Formulation-wise, coconut is always a winner for Afro hair because it deeply penetrates the hair follicles, but fig is definitely a new player among Afro hair ingredients. Fig is meant to increase blood circulation on the scalp, which results in faster hair growth. I would recommend this mask for all hair types, and for £15, it's definitely worth it.
Dizziak Deep Conditioner
Dizziak Deep Conditioner [9] (£22) is a hidden gem. This hair-and-scalp saver is specifically formulated for multitextured hair by offering a sumptuous mix of five oils (babassu, coconut, argan, castor, and inca inchi), plus aloe vera, shea butter, and quinoa protein.
DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Matcha Butter Conditioning Mask
I have yet to meet someone who doesn't absolutely love DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Matcha Butter Conditioning Mask [10] (£32). All its products are incredible, but DevaCurl's hair mask is just about the most luxurious thing that will touch your curls, coils, and kinks. The mask is made with three intensely hydrating nut and seed butters: cacao (antifrizz), murumuru (moisturising), and cupuacu (nourishing hydration). While it is a bit on the spenny side, it will leave your hair super lush and hydrated.
Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment
Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment [11] (£31) is a great shout for overprocessed, chemically treated, or heat-damaged coils. The formula is rich in castor seed oil, jojoba oil, and lactic acid. While most of us are used to using lactic acid on our face, it can bring the same incredible benefits to your hair and scalp by getting rid of buildup and pollutants without stripping your hair's natural oils.
It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask
It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask [12] (£25) comes with some pretty big claims. The "everything" mask is good for detangling, restoring moisture and elasticity, softening and smoothing hair, boosting shine, enhancing body, nourishing the hair and scalp, minimising frizz, and improving colour vibrancy. While I can't confirm that the Miracle Hair Mask is magic in a tub, it's a really great deep conditioner. It's made with apricot kernel oil (intensely moisturises), oat kernel extract (rich in antioxidants), sweet almond oil (boosts shine and encourages hair growth), and linseed extract (soothes the scalp and minimises frizz along the hair shaft). One of my favourite things about the mask is actually the packaging. You have the option of twisting off the cap (like most deep conditioner tubs) or flipping up the cap for easy access — so smart.