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2024's Top 5 Conditioners to Revitalize Dry Hair
Dry hair is a common concern that can have a variety of causes, including genetics, environmental factors, and poor hair styling practices. If left unaddressed, dry hair can cause frizziness, breakage, and a general lack of luster.
But fortunately, dry hair isn’t a death sentence.
In fact, one of the most effective ways to combat dry hair is by using a high-quality conditioner that is specifically designed to nourish and hydrate. This improves hair moisture, while also enhancing hair quality.
In this article, we outline what you need to look for in a high quality conditioner, while providing a list of the best conditioners for dry hair available on the market.
What to look for in a dry hair conditioner
Dry hair is often caused by a lack of natural oils in the shafts of your hair, which can be due to genetics, environmental factors, and hair styling practices.
For example, regular exposure to hot styling tools and harsh chemicals can cause dry hair. As can consuming a diet lacking in certain nutrients, specific hormonal changes (such as those that occur during pregnancy), certain medications, and various medical conditions.
With this in mind, when choosing a conditioner for dry hair, you should look for products that contain nourishing ingredients that help to hydrate and strengthen hair. Some of the most effective ingredients for combating dryness include:
Key Ingredients for combating dryness include:
Collectively these ingredients penetrate the hair shaft, nourishing it from within. They also provide the hair with some of the essential nutrients known to strengthen new hair, improving hair growth and quality. In addition to seeking positive hair ingredients, it is also important to choose a conditioner that is free from ingredients that can strip the hair of its natural oils and damage the hair follicles. Some of these include:
Ingredients to Avoid
Top 5 Conditioners For Dry Hair
Even armed with this information, we also understand that choosing the right conditioner for your hair can be a daunting task. It is for this reason we have taken the time to find some great options on your behalf.
So, without further ado, the best five conditioners for dry hair from 2023.
Photo credit: Amazon
Pros
- Uses argan oil as a base
- Sulfate, paraben, silicone, and phthalate free
- Minimal ingredients in its formula
- Enhanced with keratin
- Comes in a large bottle
- Offers a 100% money back guarantee
- Well priced
Cons
- Only comes in the one size
- Only offers the one fragrance
The Bottom Line
If you have read our “Top 5 shampoo for dry hair” article, then it should come as no surprise that this great option by PureNature takes the top spot. Created using a high-quality Moroccan Argan oil base, completely free of harmful ingredients, and with the addition of keratin, it has everything you want in a quality conditioner. Combine this with an affordable price point, a 100% money back guarantee, and an average rating of 4.5 (out of 5) stars on Amazon, and you cannot go wrong.
Photo credit: Amazon
Pros
- Uses argan oil as a base
- Sulfate, paraben, silicone, and phthalate free
- Contains essential oils of sage and frankincense
- Enhanced with keratin
- Comes in multiple sizes
- Provides a strong fragrance
Cons
- No money back guarantee
- Slightly more expensive
- Only comes in a single fragrance
The Bottom Line
This great conditioner by Theorie is also designed with an Argan oil base, and also includes essential oils of sage and frankincense, which have a huge impact on quality and fragrance. While it is a little more expensive than the first option on this list, you can be confident in its ability to improve hair health. One thing to note is that this may not be suitable for those who like a milder fragrance, as it isn’t very potent. However, with 85% of reviewers giving this 5 stars on Amazon, it is unlikely to be a big issue.
Photo credit: Amazon
Pros
- Uses Sacha Inchi oil and shea butter as a base
- Sulfate, paraben, silicone, and phthalate free
- Affordable
- Cruelty free
- Certified eco friendly
Cons
- No money back guarantee
- Single fragrance option
The Bottom Line
The Sacha Pure healing conditioner is the only option on this list that uses Sacha Inchi oil as its base, which is a nutrient rich ingredient known for its moisturizing capabilities. This is combined with shea butter, resulting in a conditioner with a great consistency. It is also affordable, and made using animal and environmentally friendly methods. However, it does contain a small amount of alcohol (likely to improve its absorption into the scalp), which makes it less suitable for those with sensitive scalps — otherwise it would be higher on the list.
Photo credit: Amazon
Pros
- Uses Argan oil as a base
- Sulfate, paraben, silicone, and phthalate free
- Contains keratin and glycerin
- An affordable option
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- No money back guarantee
- Only comes in single size
- Mild fragrance
The Bottom Line
This conditioner by botanic health has been designed for those with dry hair in mind. Argan oil, combined with keratin and glycerin, ensures you have everything you need to improve the quality of your hair. As an added bonus, it is both affordable and completely cruelty free. The only downside associated with this option is that it has a very mild fragrance, which may not suit everyone, and offers no money back guarantee. Furthermore, while it has been received positively by consumers, it has much fewer reviews on Amazon than the other options on this list.
Photo credit: Amazon
Pros
- Uses Coconut oil and shea butter as a base
- Sulfate, paraben, silicone, and phthalate free
- ncludes Aloe Vera into its formula
- Affordable
- Very positive reviews
- Cruelty free
Cons
- No money back guarantee
- Is a leave in conditioner
The Bottom Line
We are a huge fan of how this conditioner is structured. It combines coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera, and Jamaican black castor oil into a unique formula that provides you with everything you need to improve hair quality. As an added bonus, this option has tens of thousands of positive reviews on Amazon, so you can be confident in its effectiveness. The only reason it isn’t higher on the list is because it does not provide a money back guarantee, and is a “leave-in” conditioner, which is not suitable for everyone.
Citations
Dias, Maria Fernanda Reis Gavazzoni. “Hair cosmetics: an overview.” International journal of trichology 7.1 (2015): 2.
Thompson, Katherine G., and Noori Kim. “Dietary supplements in dermatology: A review of the evidence for zinc, biotin, vitamin D, nicotinamide, and Polypodium.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 84.4 (2021): 1042-1050.
Basit, Abdul, Saima Sadaf, and M. Waheed Akhtar. “Health improvement of human hair and their reshaping using recombinant keratin K31.” Biotechnology Reports 20 (2018): e00288.
Glynis, Ablon. “A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of an oral supplement in women with self-perceived thinning hair.” The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology 5.11 (2012): 28.
Goreja, W. G. Shea butter: the nourishing properties of Africa’s best-kept natural beauty secret. TNC International Inc, 2004.
Nayak, B. Satheesha, et al. “A study on scalp hair health and hair care practices among Malaysian medical students.” International journal of trichology 9.2 (2017): 58.
Kondrukevich, A. G., and A. R. Pikuza. “The effect of shampoos containing sodium lauryl sulfate on the skin and hair condition.” (2020).
