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Recently I dove into the best shampoos for every hair type. And since a great shampoo is only as good as the conditioner you pair it with, I’m sorting through the best-of-the-best conditioners to help with everything from taming frizz to repairing heat damage. “It’s very similar to skin care,” says Brooke Jordan, co-owner and master stylist at the Bird House salon in Gowanus. “You don’t want to wash without also moisturizing, unless you’re insanely oily. You want to give equal attention to moisture as you do to washing.” Advice on the application of conditioner will vary depending on your hair type — some stylists will tell those with thin hair to stick to a dime-size amount applied just on the ends, while Jordan prefers to “really goop it on,” adding that, “I think people don’t use enough conditioner.” And while you’ll probably want to take advice on the amount of conditioner you should use from those who know your head best, our panel of hairstylists and salon owners have recommendations for which brands to look out for. Read on for their favorite conditioners for hair of all kinds, including some worthy of really gooping on.
Verb Ghost Conditioner
Stephanie Louis, owner of Stylebox Salon in Prospect Heights, calls this conditioner a staple at her salon. “It’s so good,” she says. “The best for weekly conditioning, detangling, and hair softening.” The detangling properties of the conditioner can be attributed to the inclusion of moringa oil, an essential oil derived from trees known for its ability to moisturize and loosen up knots. The ingredient list also includes green tea extract, which is meant to protect against free radical damage and environmental stress; jojoba oil, which will help with split ends; and sunflower seed extract, which, according to Verb’s site, is a natural source of UV protection that will help prevent color fading.
We’ve heard good things about Verb’s shampoos and conditioners before — Sephora reviewers raved about both this conditioner, which one said was “neither too light and watery nor too thick and oily,” and the brand’s hydrating conditioner, which many said “moisturizes the hair without weighing it down.” And since the conditioner can be used on all hair types — according to Verb’s site, this includes “curly, fine, kinky, straight, thick, and wavy” — is gentle enough to use daily, and is one of the more affordable options on the list, we’re calling Verb’s Ghost Conditioner best overall.
Iles Formula Haute Performance Conditioner
“Fine to medium, coarse or frizzy, Iles has got you covered,” says Greg Ruggeri, owner of Salon Ruggeri. “That’s the thing I love about this product: It crosses over on so many levels.” The vitamin-B5-rich conditioner is sulfate free and has a truly “clean” scent, according to Ruggeri, who uses it in his salon daily. “It performs like nothing you’ve seen before,” he tells us.
Sachajuan Normal Hair Conditioner
For those looking for something that will soften hair without weighing it down, Jordan suggests Sachajuan’s Normal Hair Conditioner. “It’s going to give your standard level of moisture, which might not be enough for dry hair or super-damaged hair,” but for normal hair types, “it’ll be just moisturizing enough and not overly moisturizing,” she says. The product’s moisturizing properties in part come from sea algae, which is used in all of the brand’s products. “It’s supposed to be incredibly moisturizing without being heavy at all, and we find that to be true.” According to Sachajuan, it also includes Rhodophycea and Chondrus crispus extracts, which are harvested from algae in the ocean and can be used for strengthening hair and protecting it from damage.
Sachajuan Leave In Conditioner
If you have very thin or fine hair, the stylists we talked to suggested forgoing a traditional conditioner altogether. “For people who have really fine hair, a leave-in conditioner is enough,” says Jordan. “They tend to be more lightweight and super-moisturizing at the same time.” She calls Sachajuan’s leave-in conditioner “amazing,” and recommends it for those with fine hair as well as for those who have coarse hair and need a little extra moisture even after conditioning in the shower. The leave-in conditioner can also be used as a primer for styling hair and to protect against heat when blow-drying.
Joico Moisture Recovery Conditioner
Hairstylist and owner of Aesthetics Salon Yene Damtew, whose clientele includes former First Lady Michelle Obama, calls this conditioner from Joico a staple because of its ability to simultaneously condition and detangle hair. “It has good slip and can work for all hair types,” she says, but it’s formulated specifically for thicker, coarser hair types that need a bit more
Malin + Goetz Cilantro Conditioner
If you want something very lightweight, Masami Hosono, hairstylist and creative director at Vacancy Project, suggests Malin + Goetz’s Cilantro Conditioner. “We really like it because we don’t want anything too moisturizing, which can make hair super-flat and heavy,” says Hosono. That’s largely because the stylists at Vacancy Project prefer to have the hair’s natural texture come forth, rather than forcing it with a very deliberate type of blow-dry or brush curl. The Malin + Goetz conditioner is gentle enough for daily use and has fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and shea butter to help hydrate (but not overly hydrate) the hair and scalp. It’s even lightweight enough that it can be used as a leave-in conditioner or styling product, according to the brand’s site.