The 7 Best Conditioners For Curly Hair, According To Reviews

Deeply conditioning formulations that add the perfect bounce and shine to your curls.

Reviewed by Rebekkah O’NeillRebekkah O’Neill, Master Stylist, Hair & Beauty Trainer
By Sakshi BahalSakshi Bahal  • 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

The best conditioner for curly hair is probably something that you frequently search for because you are just not able to get a grip on your curl! As impressive as curls are, keeping them curly, shiny, and bouncy without making them look like a massive ball of frizz can be challenging. Unlike regular hair, curls need a lot of love and care and need the right kind of hair care products. Since curls in comparison to regular hair tend to dry out faster, you will require a super hydrating conditioner to maintain them. Regardless of the different types of curls you have, we have come up with a well-researched list of conditioners to help you manage your beautiful curls. Keep reading this article and scroll through to view our list.

Top Picks
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Best Chemical-Free Formula: SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Conditioner
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Best For Defining Curls: Pantene Pro-V Curl Perfection Conditioner
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Best Vegan: Pacifica Pineapple Curls Curl Defining Conditioner
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Best Cruelty-Free: Sun Bum Curls & Waves Conditioner
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Best Color-Treated Curls: Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner
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Best Non-Greasy: Aveda be curly Conditioner
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Best For Boosting Hair Shine: Briogeo Curl Charisma Curl Defining Conditioner
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7 Best Conditioners Of 2023 For Curly Hair

Best Chemical-Free Formula:SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Conditioner

4.5

The SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Conditioner is lightweight and helps effectively smooth out dry cuticles without weighing your hair down. The moisturizing formula softens your tresses while detangling dry, frizzy hair. It comes with shea butter that offers nourishing hydration to beautiful and healthy-looking curls.

Key Ingredients

  • Coconut oil
  • Silk protein
  • Neem oil

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Moisturizing formula
  • Silicone-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Mineral oil-free
  • Petrolatum-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • May find the scent overpowering

protip_icon Did You Know?
Dove was founded in 1957, introducing a beauty cleansing bar in the US market. This bar with mild cleansers and 1/4th moisturizing cream helped the brand grow globally.

Why It’s Worth Buying: The overwhelming 17,940 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.
Price at the time of publication: $7.99

Best For Defining Curls:Pantene Pro-V Curl Perfection Conditioner

4.6
Pantene Curl Perfection Conditioner 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 4) Conditioner (Pack of 4) Image: Pantene

The Pantene Pro-V Curl Perfection Conditioner is an all-day curl-defining and moisturizing formula. It penetrates the hair surface and effectively fights hair damage. Its antioxidant-rich frizz calming complex smoothes and seals the cuticles to tame frizz and enhance curls.

This conditioner is created using a proprietary damage-defying formula that prevents protein loss, strengthens your hair against damage, and maintains natural moisture.

Key Ingredients

  • Antioxidants
  • Citric acid

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Pleasant fragrance
  • Non-greasy

Cons

  • Contains alcohol

protip_icon Did You Know?
The idea of Pantene began in the 1940s when scientists from Hoffman-La Roche, a Swiss drug company, discovered the wonders of Panthenol. They partnered with Dr. Gustav Erlemann, who developed the original Pantene Pro-V formula in the 1960s.

Why It’s Worth Buying: This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 1,816 rave reviews on Amazon.
Price at the time of publication: $99.0

Best Vegan:Pacifica Pineapple Curls Curl Defining Conditioner

4.3
Pacifica Pineapple Curls Curl Defining Conditioner Image: Pacifica Beauty

The Pacifica Pineapple Curls Curl Defining Conditioner gives your hair more volume, definition, and bounce. This lightweight formula is infused with hyaluronic acid, a blend of super oils, and other vegan ingredients that hydrate and soften your hair. It is suitable for all curl types, including curls that are long, short, fine, and thick. Its pineapple scent gives you a tropical vacation experience with every application.

The conditioner is free of parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, and petrolatum. It also is cruelty-free.

Key Ingredients

  • Pineapple
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Super oils

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • 100% vegan
  • Silicone-free
  • Mineral oil-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Color-safe
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Petrolatum-free
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Not for daily use
Why It’s Worth Buying: With 5,071 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.
Price at the time of publication: $19.99


Best Cruelty-Free:Sun Bum Curls & Waves Conditioner

The Sun Bum Curls & Waves Conditioner is a gently nourishing concoction. It deeply hydrates your hair, tames frizz, and enhances the overall health of each curl, coil, and wave. Its Kukui nut oil delivers essential nutrients to your hair that hydrate and prevent breakage. Its seaweed protein extracts help increase hair resilience and strength and enable healthy regrowth.

Furthermore, its Tahitian Monoi coconut oil made using handpicked Tiare flower petals and infused with regular coconut oil adds shine to hair and smoothens it. This formula also protects your hair from UV damage and prevents hair discoloration, dullness, and brittleness. The product is free of gluten, sulfates, and parabens. It also is cruelty-free.

Key Ingredients

  • Kukui nut oil
  • Monoi coconut oil
  • Seaweed protein

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Color-safe
  • Paraben-free
  • Provides UV protection
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons

  • Can be greasy

Price at the time of publication: $9.99

Best Color-Treated Curls:Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner

The Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner makes your curls more manageable. It infuses each hair strand with essential vitamins and nourishing botanicals that give your curls more definition, uniformity, and shine.

The conditioner is formulated with a hydrating mix of algae extract and wheat amino acids that seal the cuticles and essential moisture. The product works without weighing your hair down. It is specifically formulated to suit color-treated, permed, or straightened curls.

Key Ingredients

  • Algae extract
  • Wheat amino acids

Pros

  • Boosts hair shine
  • Pleasant fragrance
  • Color-safe
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Expensive

Why It’s Worth Buying: A whopping 1,427 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.
Price at the time of publication: $20.0

Best Non-Greasy:Aveda be curly Conditioner

The Aveda be curly Conditioner is a daily conditioning treatment with 95 percent naturally-derived ingredients. These intensify curls, add shine, and tame frizz in all kinds of textured hair (including coily, curly, and wavy hair types). The conditioner is infused with a wheat protein and organic aloe blend that expands with wet hair and contracts once dry to effectively define your curls.

It gets its aroma with citrusy notes from the mix of certified organic lime, lemon, bergamot, orange, and other pure plant and flower essences. The product is also vegan and cruelty-free.

Key Ingredients

  • Wheat protein
  • Organic aloe

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • Vegan
  • Non-greasy
  • Boosts hair shine
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $29.99


Best For Boosting Hair Shine:Briogeo Curl Charisma Curl Defining Conditioner

The Briogeo Curl Charisma Curl Defining Conditioner is specifically designed for people having wavy, curly, and tightly coiled 2A to 4C hair texture types. It is a 97 percent naturally derived formula that defines, hydrates, and nourishes curls. It also reduces hair frizz. The rice amino acids provide anti-frizz properties by sealing the hair cuticles and hair moisture. They also protect your hair against environmental aggressors.

Its antioxidant-rich shea butter and sweet almond oil hydrate your hair and keep it soft. Additionally, it is infused with quinoa extract that helps create a protective barrier around your curls and gives them definition. This conditioner is free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, phthalates, and artificial dyes. It also is cruelty-free.

Key Ingredients

  • Shea butter
  • Rice amino acids
  • Quinoa extract

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Boosts hair shine
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Artificial dye-free
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $28.0

Infographic: How To Choose The Right Conditioner For Curly Hair

You may frequently experience bad hair days if you have curly tresses. Worry not! Conditioners are your saviors. They moisturize and strengthen your curls, bringing them back to life. So, invest in a good conditioner today and bid goodbye to your bad hair moments. Check out the infographic below to know what you must consider when choosing a conditioner for your curls.

How To Choose The Right Conditioner For Curly Hair (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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Download Infographic in PDF version

Curly hair needs proper care and maintenance. Managing your curly tresses can be tough, but with the proper hair care products, your curls can look as voluminous and shiny just like you dream of them. There are various curly hair conditioners available in the market that can seal in moisture and generously repair your split ends. These conditioners also help in managing unwanted frizz and taming your hair flyaways. Conditioners are also important to maintain your curl definition. However, steer clear of conditioners that contain parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.

Rebekkah O’Neill, master stylist in hair and beauty, opines, “It’s really important that you always follow up with a conditioner after you’ve shampooed your hair. Conditioners are designed to close the cuticle, whereas shampoos are designed to open them. If you don’t go in with conditioner, it leaves the cuticle open, which can cause tangled, frizzy hair.”

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of this article, Sakshi Bahal, loves to explore various hair care products and compiles the best list for the readers, making their choice easy. The list of best conditioners for curly hair is curated after extensive research and reading many customer feedbacks online on various trusted forums. These conditioners are super hydrating, and they manage the curls effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should wavy hair be layered?

Yes, soft and long layers will help define your waves, add more volume, and lend more movement to your hair. The best haircut option for wavy hair would be long angular bangs or face-framing layers.

Can I use curl products on wavy hair?

Yes, you can use curl products to enhance the waves in your hair. They will lend moisture to flyaways and reduce frizz, giving you a better definition.

Why is my straight hair becoming wavy?

There are many possible reasons for this to happen, including aging, hormonal changes, and changes in the hair follicle texture over time.

Does conditioner enhance curls?

Yes, conditioners add definition to your curls while making them more bouncy and manageable.

Should I condition my curly hair every day?

Yes, if you have curly, dry hair, you can use a conditioner without shampoo every alternate day on your tresses.


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