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Best Deep Conditioners For Natural Hair

Feb 7, 2018

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Looking for some amazing deep conditioners to up your moisture game?

You’ve come to the right place. 

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a million products on your natural hair routine.

There’s a misconception in the natural hair community that we all need to be product junkies to grow our natural hair. It’s like we’ve been conditioned (pun very much intended) to think that we need more than five products in our arsenal at all times.

WRONG.

There’s nothing wrong with experimenting with different products. This is especially true when you’re transitioning to natural hair and trying to figure out what works for you.

Hoarding products is not something we want to get into the habit of. Not only is it unnecessarily expensive, its counterproductive. How would you know what works if you have a dozen products in rotation? 

In short, having a solid and simple natural hair regimen is critical when embarking on your new natural hair journey. 

Ready to find out the best deep conditioners for natural hair? Let’s dive in!

girl with afro hair showing the best deep conditioners for transitioning natural hair

What is Deep Conditioning, Anyway?

Deep conditioning is the act of treating your hair using wash-off products aimed at deeper penetration and hydration.

The ingredients of a deep conditioner differ from that of a leave-in conditioner: leave-ins contain ingredients to seal and lock in moisture, while deep conditioners contain more penetrative ingredients aimed to restore and repair the hair shaft from the inside out.

It can be quite difficult to choose a deep conditioner, but especially so for new naturals.

For one, you may have differing hair textures that need tending to. Coupled with the fact that there are just so many deep conditioners out there, it is quite overwhelming to determine the best deep conditioners for transitioning natural hair.

Let me start out by saying this: deep conditioners are the most important products you need to have when you are transitioning to natural hair. 

To choose wisely, make sure you know whether you have low porosity natural hair or high porosity natural hair. 

Natural Hair Porosity

Natural hair porosity is the ability of your hair to absorb water and/products. 

Low porosity natural hair has a low absorption rate, because the cuticles are stubbornly closed. It is difficult for this hair porosity to absorb moisture.

High porosity natural hair has a high absorption rate, because the cuticles are always open. It is difficult for this hair porosity to retain moisture.

Depending on your hair porosity, you’ll have specific product needs to look out for. Be sure to read up on what these are in the links above!

Now, let’s get into some products.

Our Fave Deep Conditioners for Natural Hair (2020)

Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

Best for TYPE 3c, TYPE 4

One of Shea Moisture’s most popular deep conditioners, this product can transform frizzy and dry hair into juicy, moisturized curls. The mafura oil (organic, by the way!) promotes shine and softness, while the honey (which is one of the BEST ingredients for natural hair) is included to funnel moisture from the air into your strands. A staple for all naturals!
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Eden BodyWorks Natural Hair Masque Treatment

Best for all types

For a more affordable option, this treatment is a budget-friendly deep conditioner that is great for repairing chemical damage. It contains coconut oil, which is the one of the best oils for natural hair. Coconut oil is one of the few oils that can penetrate into the hair shaft, repairing it from the inside out. This treatment is good for all porosity types, but high porosity natural hair will especially love this one. Add some olive oil or avocado oil if you’re looking for an even stronger moisture boost!
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TGIN’s Honey Miracle Hair Mask

Best for type 3c – 4

The TGIN line are a bit of the pricey side when compared to the two products listed above. But if you are looking for an intensive moisturizing treatment, look no further – it is worth every penny. Similar to the one above, this product is also formulated with honey, which is known to promote shine, softness and moisture. But what makes this one stand out is that honey is the SECOND ingredient, meaning that you’ll truly feel the moisture from the honey after rinsing it out. Jojoba oil and aloe vera, the third and fourth ingredients respectively, are also staple ingredients in natural hair products. A must have for coilier textures!
Grab It Here

Aphogee Two Minute Keratin Reconstructor

Best for type 4

Protein is an essential part of any natural hair routine. For new transitioning natural hair, your hair is missing keratin, a type of protein that makes up the curls in your hair. Without keratin, your curls become limp and lifeless (and in some cases, bone straight). What’s great about this deep conditioner is the fact that it contains both protein AND moisture. A win-win! Great for all porosity, but high porosity should use this every third week, while low porosity should only use this once a month.
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Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Mask

Best for type 4

Briogeo’s mask is heavensent for Type 4 naturals. It’s incredibly hydrating, has amazing slip, and many of its ingredients are plant-based, even the chemical ingredients. The con: it’s somewhat pricey. But if you’re willing to invest in a high-quality deep conditioner (especially if you have Type 4 natural hair), this one’s for you!
Grab It Here

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Masque

Best for type 2 – 3b

This deep conditioner is the OG of deep conditioners. Long before the popularization of the natural hair movement, when we didn’t have a plethora of masques to choose from, this one was holding it down on the market. It contains deep sea kelp and shea butter to provide deep hydration right into the hair shaft. The ingredients are also organic and the formula contains no parabens, sulfates and mineral oil (which is detrimental for natural hair). This mask is great for looser curl patterns, but if you’re a Type 3c and up, be sure to mix it with olive oil for deeper hydration.
Grab It Here

Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioner

Best for all types

A cult favourite deep conditioner, Camille Rose’s Algae Renew Deep Conditioner contains essential plant-based oils and butters loved by all naturals: shea butter, mango butter and aloe vera. The slip is incredible, making it a great detangler as well.
Grab It Here

The Mane Choice Green Tea and Carrot Deep Strengthening and Restorative Mask

Best for all types

This deep conditioner has biotin as an ingredient, one of the best vitamins to take to grow natural hair. It also has green tea, which is an antioxidant and carrot, which has vitamin B (in the form of beta-carotene).
Grab It Here

The Bottom Line

Deep conditioners are an essential part of any natural hair routine, regardless where you are on your journey.

But remember: to save you time and money, the first step is knowing what your hair type and porosity is.

Once you’re equipped with that knowledge, the above deep conditioners are your best bet. They provide deep hydration, repairing ingredients, and in some cases, the building blocks of coily hair (protein).

Transitioning to natural hair is a journey, not a race. Remember to enjoy watching your hair transform.

The Curl Market is a natural hair blog catered to helping black naturals grow their curls into a long, luscious manes.

We use the latest evidence-based scientific research to provide you with the top tips on growing your curls, regardless of hair type.

We also provide lifestyle tips, both self care and mental care, to ensure you are optimizing your body’s natural hair growth cycle – because you can’t grow natural hair if you’re stressed out!

Come as you are.

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Natural Hair Growth

Natural Hair Moisture

Natural Hair Porosity

Natural Hair Products

Natural Hairstyles

Transitioning to Natural Hair

Curl Type + Texture

Hair Loss

Wash Day

WRITTEN BY

Ayana Aden

Ayana is The Curl Market’s brand founder. When she’s not deep in natural hair research or creating content, she’s hanging on the couch with her husband and her cat, reading a book or scrolling through TikTok. Follow her on Instagram at @tothecurlmarket.

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Learning your curl type is an important step in learning how to take care of your natural hair. It can help you understand what products will work best for you, how often to shampoo, how to style your natural hair, and other key information.

This quiz will give you the lowdown on exactly what your curl type is, so you'll never have to wonder again ♥

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