Photo: Pali Mendez / Death to Stock Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story My hair has never been bleached, so for a long time I didn’t think of it really could be damaged. Then I started noticing tiny broken pieces in my brush, ends that felt rough no matter what I put on them, and tangles every time I washed. Between regular blowouts , hot tools, and the occasional color appointment, the damage had built up slowly, and my conditioner at the time wasn’t doing much to help.
Truthfully, I had been underestimating what this rarely-skipped step can do in our routine. Damaged hair tangles easily and snaps when it’s wet, and the right formula helps with both. “It’s a great choice when damaged hair needs more softness and flexibility,” says celebrity hairstylist Paul Perez . Softness is only part of it—a great conditioner for damaged hair also helps strengthen the strand and smooth the cuticle, so your hair is easier to detangle and less likely to break.
The humble conditioner has also gotten a lot smarter. The bond builders and peptides that used to be reserved for salon treatments now show up in everyday formulas, along with proteins designed to mimic your hair’s own keratin. And, better yet, some of the best ones cost less than a blowout. Ahead, a handful of conditioners that myself, hairstylists, and trichologists recommend for damaged hair.
How We Tested Meet the Experts Best Overall: Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Olaplex
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Davines
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist K18 Biomimetic Hairscience
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Redken
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Sisley Paris
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Pantene
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Moroccanoil
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Virtue
Save to wishlist Save to wishlist SheaMoisture
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue ’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity aestheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to conditioners, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, slip, treatment time, packaging, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here .