I have tightly coiled 3C hair that’s extremely dry and damaged from the trifecta of color treatments, heat styling, and postpartum hair loss, so I’ve tried a lot of the best conditioners for curly hair. Similar to shampoos for curly hair, conditioners are formulated with oils and various bond-improving ingredients that seal the cuticle and add moisture. They can help detangle curls, reduce frizz, and add definition and shine before you even leave the shower.
Vanessa Ocando, a professional hairstylist based in New York City, who also has curly hair, recommends looking for ingredients that deeply hydrate and lock in moisture such as glycerin or aloe vera, which are humectants; or emollients like shea butter to add slip, which is ideal for detangling the hair. Also, consider your curl type and your hair's specific needs, such as whether you occasionally heat style or have chemical damage to find ones that address those concerns.
To narrow down your options, we put dozens of conditioners to the test, asking curly-haired experts and Glamour testers for their feedback. Our top overall pick is Pattern Beauty’s Medium Conditioner, which is our go-to for hydration, shine, and long-lasting moisture, but we also found options that can work wonders on damaged or color-treated hair, depending on your specific needs.
Best conditioners for curly hair, at a glance
How we tested conditioners for curly hair
When evaluating conditioners for curly hair, we looked for formulas that both smoothed the hair and left it feeling soft to the touch. We prioritized ingredients like oils and butters that not only hydrated but also strengthened strands, especially for those with damaged or color-treated curls. Our top picks included ingredients like jojoba and olive oils, which made hair feel instantly softer and moisturized while rinsing out easily. Most importantly, the formulas we chose set up curls for styling post-wash, leaving them shiny and detangled for any products that followed.
Best Overall: Pattern Beauty Medium Conditioner
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Best for: Curly and tightly-coiled textures
Coming in at best overall is Pattern Beauty's Medium Conditioner, which we love because it hydrates and also has a ton of slip, making it suitable for detangling. Additionally, it leaves even the driest curls smooth and shiny after rinsing. We also appreciate that the Medium option is versatile and ideal for thicker hair, while also being suitable for finer coils.
Testing notes: Glamour reviewer Maya Simeon has fine type 3c hair, but a lot of it, and she swears by this formula to keep her hair quenched after shampooing. "It has a thick texture that even coats my curls without having to spread too much. I detangle my hair using this in the shower with a wide-tooth comb, and my curls feel instantly slippery and more defined," she says. “I love that this doesn't also create a crunchy feeling on my curls, which is especially important since I am layering on styling products after conditioning.”
Best Drugstore: Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Moisturizing Conditioner
Best for: Wavy and curly textures
This formula is packed with citrus extracts, protein, and vitamins B3 and B6 to soften and smooth curls. Coconut and jojoba oils make curls soft to the touch with every use, and the affordable drugstore price point makes it an excellent option for frequent use and detangling.
Testing notes: When I don't want to splurge on conditioner (it is just being rinsed out in the shower, after all), this is one of my go-to picks. It gets my dry curls super slippery and bouncy, and quickly removes knots and tangles when paired with a detangling brush. I use a lot of conditioner to rake through my hair, so the affordable price point on this one makes it easier to justify going through a bottle quickly. The best part? No matter how much of this I use, my hair never feels like it's weighed down by product—just soft and detangled.
Best for Frizzy Hair: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Conditioner
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Best for: Curls that experience frizz
This formula combines three moisturizing, yet lightweight oils that smooth the hair cuticle, making your curls smoother and more controlled once you rinse them out, and sealing this choice as our top contender for fighting frizz. The formula is also packed with glycerin and citrus extracts, ingredients that Ocando says she loves for moisturizing thirsty curls.
Testing notes: While I have noticed my curls are much less frizzy when I use this, I really love using it to prep my hair before heat styling with a blow dryer or flat iron. It gets my hair feeling super smooth, making it easy to detangle and prepare for the next step. Bonus: the fragrance is a super luxe floral that adds an element of relaxation every time I wash my hair.
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Hair Repair Conditioner
Best for: Color-treated or damaged curls
Color-treated curls are susceptible to dryness and damage, and a reparative conditioner (like this one) is an essential part of a protective washing routine. This one pairs Olaplex's bond-repair technology with glycerin and panthenol to seal split ends and keep your coils defined versus dull and limp.
Testing notes: I've color-treated my curls multiple times, and this conditioner is a staple in my hair-care collection. It's thicker and less runny than the other formulas on this list, but a little goes a long way. I work an egg-sized amount of this throughout my head in small sections of my hair and detangle in the shower. I also like to leave it on for a few minutes because—trust—a formula this powerful and expensive deserves some time to work. In the amount of time it takes to shave my legs and wash the rest of my body, my curls are always left feeling firmer and bouncier with every use.
Best for Humidity: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Conditioner
Best for: Curls that experience frizz
Ouidad's Advanced Climate Control Conditioner packs moisture and shine into the cuticle with shea and murumuru butters. Sericin, a protein derived from silk, helps seal the cuticle, keeping humidity out. So, you don't have to worry about your curls swelling up as soon as you step outside. Ocando says that silk ingredients (like sericin) also help with breakage and elasticity so your curls stay springy and bouncy.
Testing notes: Ouidad's Advance Climate Control line is one of my favorite collections—hands down—for styling my curls (the gel is incredible). So you bet I was thrilled when the brand launched an Advanced Climate Control curl conditioner. This conditioner gets my coils super smooth and soft, creating an excellent canvas for styling. The formula is nice and slippery, detangling my coils and leaving them silky smooth when I brush it through. It doesn't make my hair feel weighed down, but it is the ultimate co-pilot to set the stage for frizz-free hair before I start styling.
Best for Damaged Hair: Redken Acidic Bonding Curls Conditioner For Curly Hair
Best for: Damaged or color-treated curls
We love this conditioner for damaged curls that feel less defined or dull after heat styling, color treatments, or daily wear and tear. It's packed with moisturizing oils like avocado and coconut, but a bond-enhancing blend of citric acid, urea, and glycine is the real star of the show, helping restore limp curls so they look more defined over time.
Testing notes: I occasionally heat style my hair, and after a few days of old silk press, I almost always shampoo and condition with the Redken Acidic Bonding Curls line. The duo works well together, but the conditioner is a must-try if you heat style. I leave it on for a few minutes in small, detangled sections on wet hair to allow it to work. The formula almost instantly erases and gives any curl that feels stretched out by heat a little more coil with every use, which is perfect if you're on a quest to reverse damage.
Best Detangling: Aussie Miracle Curls Conditioner
Best for: Curly and tightly-coiled textures
This no-frills formula moisturizes and has great slip that is ideal for detangling. Plus, you can use it generously on thicker coils thanks to its affordable price point.
Testing notes: Glamour tester Corinne Court, who has type 3b curls, swears by this formula for combing through her hair quickly in the shower. "I love that I can use a huge heaping of this to get through my curls fast," she says, adding that she has a busy schedule, so fast-acting conditioners are her preference. "The formula gets nice and slippery and makes it easy for me to detangle my hair and get it knot-free before I braid it, which is my preferred style. Court adds that the smell is delightful and refreshing, and the price point makes it a staple in her collection, as it's easy to replenish.
Best Lightweight: Odele Curl Defining Conditioner
Best for: Curly and coily textures
For finer textures, you want to look for a conditioner that hydrates but isn't too heavy to avoid weighing down your curls. This one is featherweight and has amino acids to help reduce the appearance of frizz without leaving a tacky cast behind.
Testing notes: Court, who also has fine hair, loved this formula, which she says didn't make her hair feel heavy. "When I do decide to wear my hair out in its natural state, I like conditioners that feel featherweight, and this one felt amazing. It wasn't too thick or heavy out of the bottle, which was a good indicator that it wouldn't weigh down my hair. Detangling felt easy, and I was able to work this one through with my fingers. My hair felt soft and looked really shiny once it dried (after applying a lightweight curl cream)," she says.
Frequently asked questions
What should you look for when shopping for a conditioner for curly hair?
When shopping for a curly conditioner, Ocando recommends ingredients like butters and oils if your concern is dryness or lack of moisture. To tame frizz, she recommends looking for formulas that contain amino acids and silk proteins, which help "fill in" the gaps in the hair shaft. If your top concerns are damage from chemicals or hot tools, bond-repairing technology will help your curls feel stronger with continued use.
Does curly hair need a special conditioner?
"Curly hair doesn't technically need a special conditioner," Ocando says. "But it absolutely needs consistent hydration." Ocando advises looking for ingredients with butters and oils that smooth the cuticle and add shine, while also seeking humectants like glycerin to "draw moisture to the hair shaft." If your curls feel rough or dull, Ocando recommends looking for antioxidant-rich ingredients (like fruit extracts) to boost shine and vibrancy.
What’s the best way to apply conditioner to curly hair?
Start with wet hair. For thicker strands, apply the product in sections to ensure even distribution. Ocando says that if your hair is on the finer side, avoid using conditioner directly at the root, which could weigh you down, and "focus on the mid-lengths to ends instead."
Koni Bennet, a New York City-based hairstylist, recommends using a brush or wide-tooth comb to distribute product throughout the hair. "You should detangle your hair with conditioner on the strands to work it through your curls and smooth the cuticles," she says. "This will ensure your hair is evenly coated and properly moisturized and your curls are nice and smooth when you're ready to style," she says.
What's better for curly hair, shampoo or conditioner?
Both shampoo and conditioner are equally important for curly hair, as they ensure the hair and scalp are properly cleansed and the hair shaft is properly moisturized. "You shouldn't skip either," Bennet says. "You want to make sure your hair and scalp are consistently cleansed, and using conditioner regularly will help keep your hair moisturized and hydrated, which is equally important."
Meet the experts
- Vanessa Ocando, a professional hairstylist based in New York City
- Koni Bennet, a New York City-based hairstylist
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