No hair wash day is really complete without a conditioner. Most shampoos require you to follow up with a conditioning treatment to restore the lost moisture and natural oils stripped during the cleansing process. While regular conditioners help regain the moisture lost due to extrinsic stress, repeated washing, and exposure to environmental aggressors, the best drugstore deep conditioners do more. For some hair types and concerns, deep conditioning is vital. For instance, thirsty, dry, parched hair, especially one that has been subjected to chemical processes, needs more. That’s why we have curated this list of the most effective deep conditioning products. 

With a greater concentration of conditioning agents, these work for long-term damage repair and deeply hydrate your strands so that you have less frizz, tangles, and breakage in general. These are also the most ideal for curly, coily, or color-treated hair. Why drugstore? That’s so that you can give your tresses some extra TLC, even when on a budget! 

But don’t worry — the price tag of a product is not always directly proportional to its quality (or lack thereof). While curating our list, we focused on ingredients, formulations, and most importantly, the effectiveness of each deep conditioner to bring you only the best off the aisles. Some, we tried. For others, we relied on real-time user feedback and reviews left by users across several platforms. 

Scroll on for our recommendations and in-depth reviews of each product that, based on our expertise, rivals professional brands in great measure and can transform your haircare routine significantly.

• 1
  Best Overall

  Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist

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With over two decades as a cult favorite, Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle clearly stands the test of time. It comes as a rich, creamy formula that transforms even the most tangled, knotted hair into silky smooth locks in just minutes. Infused with nutrient-rich avocado and jojoba oils, this conditioner provides deep hydration that your parched strands are desperately seeking. As it melts through each strand, it replenishes brittle hair with moisture and shine, improves elasticity, and tames frizz and flyaways into submission, leaving hair touchably soft and easy to detangle.

What we love the most is that while some conditioners rely on heavy silicones and sulfates to temporarily mask damage, Aussie's formula is free of these harsh ingredients. Instead, it uses natural emollients to genuinely repair hair from the inside out. The uplifting tropical scent of bright citrus and florals is just an added bonus. Consider this your new go-to for tangle-free, frizz-free hair that looks and feels amazing.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, avocado oil

Hair Type: Straight, wavy, curly

Size: 16 Fl oz

Quick Tip:

Only condition wet hair tips or dilute the conditioner for use on the scalp if you have fine and oily hair.

2

Best for Curly And Coily Hair

Aunt Jackie's Coco Repair Coconut Crème Deep Conditioner

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Aunt Jackie's Coco Repair is a blessing in a jar for 2C-4C hair textures! This nourishing hair treatment infused with carrier oils works wonders on dry hair and parched locks, pulling moisture and nutrients deep into the hair shaft. No matter the cause — chemical processing, heat styling, environmental factors — this protein-free deep conditioner helps revive lackluster strands to a softer, more vibrant state. We are most impressed with the definition it gives to curls without making them crunchy or rough. With improved hair elasticity, think soft, defined curls and waves that bounce when you walk! 

Key Ingredients: Coconut, avocado, mango, flaxseed

Hair Type: Natural curls, coils, waves

Size: 15 oz

Key Ingredients: Coconut, avocado, mango, flaxseed

Hair Type: Natural curls, coils, waves

Size: 15 oz

3

Editor’s Pick

Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner

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For hair and scalp that feel parched, look no further than Mielle Organics' Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner. This luxurious formula combines the restorative powers of babassu oil, essential oils, and fatty acids to breathe new life into lackluster locks. 

Based on our observations, this conditioner doesn’t simply just coat hair, instead, it penetrates deep and saturates hair strands with deep hydration that can be felt for days. While it suits all hair types, we especially recommend this for damaged and dry hair, more so for curly or coily textures. 

Key Ingredients: Babassu oil, essential oils, fatty acids

Hair Type: All

Size: 8 oz

4

Best for Color-treated Hair

L’Oréal Paris Ever Pure Deep Nourish Conditioner

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Formulated as a color care system, the Ever Pure Deep Nourish Conditioner from L’Oréal Paris is one of the best drugstore sulfate-free deep conditioners for color-treated hair. The formula containing argan oil nourishes and replenishes hair without stripping it of its natural oils — the main reason why we recommend this budget deep conditioner strongly for hair that screams for hydration and TLC; think bleached hair or overprocessed hair. We also love the sophisticated scent of this elixir that harmoniously fuses notes of tuberose and apricot. 

As a reviewer on Amazon shares, “It’s, in my opinion, the poor man’s Kerastase”, and we agree. Pick this for a luxurious experience in the shower and a gorgeous head of silky, smooth, manageable hair after it. 

Key Ingredients: Apricot oil

Hair Type: Dry, Color-treated

Size: 8.5 Fl oz

5

Best for Thinning Hair

PURA D'OR Deep Moisturizing Biotin Conditioner

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A drugstore deep conditioner that targets thinning hair? Yes, please. With squalene, aloe vera, biotin, and several other herbal actives, this conditioner goes to the root cause of hair thinning and leaves you with fuller, thicker hair that's soft and shiny. The most impressive part is that this does double duty as an excellent cleanser for the scalp — get rid of the gunk and fill it up with nutrients necessary to make your hair healthy and lustrous. To that effect, users report that it doesn’t leave their scalp or hair greasy at all. 

We like how it is suitable for both men and women and works for all hair types. While we cannot guarantee that your hair thinning issues will be solved using only this product, based on our observations, it’s still a great drugstore deep conditioner for nourishing your hair and scalp. 

Key Ingredients: Squalene, aloe vera, biotin, vitamin E, avocado oil, argan oil

Hair Type: All

Size: 16 Fl oz

6

Best for Long Hair

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioner

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More a hair mask than a conditioner, Palmer's Cocoa Butter formula is specially designed to help you achieve your dream hair length by repairing damage and reducing hair breakage for each strand. Not only that, it protects new hair growth and feeds it with the necessary nutrients to strengthen it. We are most impressed with the thick consistency — a little really goes a long way — and how quickly it works! Just 5 minutes post shampoo can leave your frizzy, crinkly, rough hair transformed into soft, shiny, well-defined curls. You can also use this as an intensive treatment by keeping it on your hair for 30 minutes before rinsing if you want defined curls that hold their shape all week! 

Here’s a testimonial from a user on Amazon: “My kids has coarse curly hair. I've tried everything from coconut oil masks to other popular curly girl hair methods, NOTHING worked...As soon as I applied this to both my kids hair (damp after they took a shower), it soaked it up as they curled up. I left it on for about 30 min before washing it off and they look and feel beautiful!”

Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, biotin

Hair Type: All curl patterns and textures

Size: 12 oz

Quick Tip:

For intensive treatment, sit under a heat source with a cap on or wrap your head in a warm towel for 30 minutes after applying the deep conditioner.

7

Best Frizz Fighter

Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner

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Mask too heavy, regular conditioners too thin? Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner comes in just the right consistency for hair that’s thirsty and craving extra attention. You can use it as a regular conditioner to detangle hair or as a deep conditioner by leaving it on for longer. We are most impressed with how it works for all hair types to take away frizz and leave hair bouncy, even without following up with a blow dry session. 

A review on Amazon sums it up perfectly: “This is all my roommate and I will use for our hair. Its amazing as softening and taming flyaways. I have pretty much straight hair, my roommate has very wavy hair and my daughter who I also use it on had curly hair and it works great for all of us.”  

Even though it’s slightly pricier than other drugstore deep conditioners, it is great value for money and we highly recommend it for anyone with dull, frizzy, knotty, curly, dry, or damaged hair. 

Key Ingredients

Hair Type: All 

Size: 8 Fl oz

8

Best with Keratin

HASK Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner

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Formulated without harsh ingredients like silicones, drying alcohol, and artificial colors, HASK’s Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner offers deep restoration for all hair types. Expect your hair to be strengthened and smoothed with the keratin proteins in the formulation. 

Based on our observations, this is one of the best drugstore deep conditioners for chemically-treated, overprocessed hair. To reiterate in the words of a user, “(It) makes my hair feel brand new. I love these”. Users also report that the softness lasts for a while, even with once-a-week use. The product also smells really nice with a fruity floral smell and does not leave behind any residue. 

Key Ingredients: Keratin

Hair Type: Dry, weak, damaged

Size: 1.75 oz (pack of 12)

9

Most Moisturizing

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Conditioner

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Say goodbye to frizzy curly hair problems with the Deep Moisturizing Conditioner from Shea Moisture. Specially formulated to care for curls and coils, this one comes with natural ingredients that provide entrance hydration and nourishment to make detangling and frizz control a breeze. Users share that this softens their curls and gives them bounce and definition. What's impressive? The brand uses only fair trade shea butter. We strongly recommend this for those who are transitioning to natural hair after chemical treatments. 

Key Ingredients: Sea kelp, mango butter, argan oil, shea butter

Hair Type: Curly to coily

Size: 16 Fl oz

Everyone deserves the best drugstore deep conditioner to amp up their self-care regime without going heavy on the pocket. However, finding the perfect pick for your hair may pose some challenges. To help with that, we have a buying guide ahead. Read on.

Here are a few factors that you can consider while shopping for the best drugstore deep conditioner:

Ingredients: Different hair types and concerns require different ingredients for optimum care, however, all benefit from a deep conditioner that offers moisturizing and strengthening benefits. Look for ingredients like argan oil, biotin, and keratin that can do both equally well. Consider opting for ultra-nourishing ingredients like shea butter for coarse, thick hair textures and more lightweight oils and solutions for finer hair. 

Formulation And Consistency: The formulation of a deep conditioner and its consistency can impact how easy it is to apply and rinse out. It also has a role to play in how well the product absorbs into the hair and how much you need to use. 

While there is no strict guideline to adhere to here, we recommend opting for lightweight formulations with somewhat thick consistency for the best experience. Having said that, very thick deep conditioners act as hair masks and can give you salon-like results but they also need to be kept on for longer usually and rinsed out very thoroughly. Pick based on your requirements. 

Scent: While on the surface it doesn't seem like a big deal, many a great hair care product has languished on the shelf only because the user did not like the way it smelled. This factor is extra important to consider for those who are fragrance-sensitive. We recommend you check the label for scent information or go through reviews to understand what kind of scent you may expect before getting a product online.

Different formulations require different time frames to work their deep conditioning magic on your hair. However, the overall process of using a drugstore deep conditioner involves the following steps: 

1. Begin by shampooing your hair to cleanse excess dirt, oil, and grime. 
2. Remove excess water by gently squeezing it out using a towel or your hands. 
3. Take a bit of your favorite deep conditioner — the thicker the consistency, the lesser you need usually. 
4. Apply it uniformly from the root to the tips of your hair strands (unless otherwise instructed on the product label).
5. Gently comb it through your hair to facilitate uniform absorption. 
6. Leave it on for 3-30 minutes (depending on product usage instruction, intensity of treatment you want, and time at hand)
7. Rinse your hair thoroughly under running water.