16 Best Conditioners to Hydrate Dry, Coarse Hair

This affordable option topped our Beauty Lab's moisturizing test. Made with coconut extract and aloe, it was also a favorite among our testers. "It made my hair feel soft and manageable," said one. Another said, "It made my dry hair much more moisturized."   

This Dove pick was the most popular conditioner with our testers. A whopping 100% of them said they were satisfied with the product and would continue using it in their beauty routine. Comments included positive reviews about its subtle fragrance and frizz-fighting abilities.  

Keep this drugstore conditioner formulated with shea butter, argan oil and sea kelp shower-side. One pump gives the perfect amount to soften your hair without feeling greasy. It's labeled as sulfate-free, meaning colored hair types can enjoy without the worry of stripping away their latest dye job. A GH associate editor raved, "It's my tried-and-true conditioner because it always cleanses without irritating my sensitive scalp." 

While some super moisturizing conditioners can feel heavy and make styling difficult, 91% of our testers said this one did not weigh down their hair. It earned high scores for conditioning, and one tester raved about the results. "I am very surprised and pleased with how much movement my hair has after drying it!" she said.  

As the name suggests, curly-haired people will love this conditioner. It scored the highest for leaving hair feeling soft and hydrated, and it was also the easiest to rinse. While it wasn't as conditioning as the others, testers appreciated that it reduced frizz and tamed flyaways.  

To all the curly-haired people, this thick, creamy formula is designed to work through hard-to-untangle knots and hydrate dense hair. It's locked and loaded with shea butter to soften and avocado oils for nourishment. One Ulta reviewer said it smoothed while offering definition. "This gives you hydration for even the little baby curls."

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When that shower drain catches way too many stray hairs, it's time to invest in a conditioner that's specifically designed to lessen breakage and strengthen hair. It's formulated for fine, dry hair and free of sulfates, parabens and silicones. 

Pantene's conditioner tied with Herbal Essences for conditioning hair, and many testers enjoyed the fruity and floral scent. Of the many positive comments, this one made us excited about the potential for a speedy morning routine: "Normally brushing through my hair takes a while, but using this made it a much easier and quicker process," one tester said.  

Fight color fade with the conditioner that won big in our cleansing conditioner study. In fact, 95% of testers agree that it has the best scent among all the color-treated hair conditioners we've tried. It ranked highest for leaving hair sufficiently conditioned, according to consumer tests. One tester said it made their hair "soft and healthy looking." 

It's all in the name. This budget buy uses a gentle, softening formula that offers high-end results. An associate editor at GH reports that the conditioner works wonders on her dry, sensitive scalp. "It somehow blesses me with a good hair day every time I use it," she said. "Plus, it certainly does not break the bank." 

Though it should definitely go on your ends, this bottle will probably end up under your nose. The "yummy" coconut scent was a plus among our testers, and it earned extra points for its price.  

Our lab results showed significant conditioning effects, but it weighed hair down slightly. If you're willing to pay extra, prepare yourself for majorly moisturized hair. "It left my hair feeling like silk," said one tester. "Super soft and smooth."  

While you certainly can't walk back damaged hair, this one almost seems like pressing "re-do." Winning the GH Beauty Lab's deep conditioners and hair masks test, its nourishing formula lived up to its "miracle" claims after earning a perfect score for its ability to condition hair and prevent damage in the Lab's wet-combing test. One tester said it made their color-treated, damaged blond hair "more manageable."

Over 16k Sephora shoppers love this Living Proof conditioner in all its lightweight, detangling glory. It aims to please by offering volume and lift even on air-dried hair. One Sephora reviewer said the sulfate-free formula still offers some "slip" and another noted "it only takes a nickel to quarter-sized amount of conditioner to coat." 

Don't let leave-in conditioners slip under your radar, especially this highly rated detangler. This featherweight conditioning cream doubles as a post-wash treatment and as a touch-up styling cream on dry hair. GH's Beauty Director loves its taming, smoothing effect on flyaways, plus, she says "the brand's signature luxurious scent is amazing."

Blended with hair-loving ingredients like shea butter and rice amino acids, this Briogeo conditioner for curly hair works to revive natural textures. One Ulta reviewer, in particular, said, "my hair can't get enough protein, and had an instantly great reaction to the shampoo and conditioner! My previously limp waves were brought to LIFE."