7 conditioners that will give you best curls of your life (2024)

If you have curls and use hot tools on your hair, add this conditioner to your lineup ASAP. It helps repair broken bonds as a result of heat styling – plus it helps strengthen your hair, so it's more resistant to breakage in the future. I personally love how soft it leaves my hair and how much more bounce my curls have post-wash.

Key ingredients: Citric acid, glycine, coconut oil, shea butter

Curl types: 3A to 4C

Glowing customer review: “This conditioner made my hair so smooth and I could easily comb through my hair in the shower with it in. Love the smell and can’t wait to see how much healthier my hair looks in a few more showers, I think it will really strengthen it!”

My hair survived New York's humid as-hell summer thanks to this smoothing conditioner. The shea butter-infused formula keeps curls defined and frizz-free but without feeling heavy or weighed down –the perfect combo for a truly excellent hair day in my book.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, monoi oil

Curl types: 2A to 2C

Glowing customer review: "I'm biracial, Black and German. I have thick, curly, kinda dry hair. I'm always on the hunt for hydrating products. I've tried everything on the market and always come back to Fekkai. People complain about Fekkai prices, but I can use a teaspoon of Fekkai when I need a tablespoon of other products. Fekkai products are a great value on top of making my curls bouncy, hydrated and smelling great.”

Like a warm hug for your curls, this conditioner wraps strands in a layer of moisture for a nourishing and softening effect you'll love. My curls literally drink up the coconut oil and aloe vera-infused formula. Even when I air-dry my hair post-wash, my frizz is significantly reduced after using this.

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, turmeric, amla, and aloe vera

Curl types: 2A to 3C

Glowing customer review: “This conditioner is the absolute best! I have curly hair, so a hydrating conditioner is a must for me. This one makes my hair soft and silky. It's super hydrating, smells amazing, detangles my hair, and leaves it smooth and healthy.”

This award-winning conditioner for curly hair is loved by editors, celebs, and stylists alike. The formula is ultra-rich (so it's best for tight curls and coils) and packed with a blend of safflower seed oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil to keep hair moisturized and resistant to breaking or snapping when styling.

Curl types: 4A to 4C

Key ingredients: Safflower oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil

Glowing customer review: “It truly feels designed for black women. Make sure you read the back of the conditioner to make sure you get the right one for your hair type (bc she made so many different ones for different hair types), but I LOVE IT. I have low porosity 4c hair, and this just helps me out so much with having that soft feeling :)”

My friends with fine, curly hair are all obsessed with this conditioner, and after some research, I can see why. Many conditioners (especially ones for curls) can be heavy and end up leaving fine strands flat and limp. Not this though. It's hydrating and softening but has volumising benefits that keep curls nice and bouncy.

Key ingredients: Caffeine, glycerin, sea buckthorn

Curl types: 2A to 3A

Glowing customer review: “AMAZING volumizing conditioner. I have very thin, fine hair and this gave my hair a wonderful lift. My hair had volume and looked amazing after using this product.”

If dry, itchy scalp is one of your main hair concerns, this conditioner is a must-try. It's specially formulated for natural hair types (although many curl types can benefit from using it) and contains coconut oil and apple cider vinegar to keep your scalp moisturised and balanced – all while nourishing your delicate curls and coils too.

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, apple cider vinegar

Curl types: 3A to 4C

Glowing customer review: “This conditioner is everything I've been looking for. My scalp didn't itch at all after using like it usually does. It's thick and very moisturizing for my 4c hair. This conditioner does it all—I won't be using anything else!”

This is the least expensive conditioner for curly on the list but don't worry, just because it's low in price doesn't mean it's low in quality. Reviewers love that the affordable formula contains a tonne of moisturizing ingredients to revive curls, make detangling no big deal, and keep frizz at bay.

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, argan oil, shea butter, and vitamin E

Curl types: 2A to 3C

Glowing customer review: “I can't believe how well this conditioner has worked for my hair. I've tried many more expensive natural curl care products, but this has honestly produced the best results. I have 3c, high porosity hair, with some fine and some coarse strands on top from sun damage. It has really smoothed the coarse hair and helped my hair clump again.”

No two curls are alike, even when they’re part of the same head of hair, so it's impossible to deem one hair brand the best for curls since everyone's needs are different. But!! When you're shopping for products for your curly hair, it's always helpful to keep this in mind: "Look for brands that focus on hair health and are sulfate-free," says hairstylist Sarah Potempa.

"Sulfates tend to dry the hair strands out, causing them to look dry, dull, and at an increased risk for breakage,” says Sarah. Curls already tend to be fragile and lack moisture, so it’s even more important to use sulfate-free formulas if you want your curls to be soft, shiny, and defined.