The best conditioner for dry hair, strength and volume

Have you been searching for the perfect hair conditioner and not sure where to start? The best hair conditioners can vary depending on your hair type, concerns, and personal preferences.

However, there are several key factors to consider when looking for an effective product and the best conditioner for dry hair, coloured and other hair types.

* Contains gifted products for review purposes, but all thoughts are my own and unbiased

Hair Type and Concerns:

Different hair types (straight, curly, wavy) and concerns (dryness, frizz, damage) require specific formulations. Look for a conditioner that’s tailored to your hair’s needs. For example, if you have fine hair, you might want a lightweight, volumizing conditioner, whereas if you have thick, curly hair, you might need a more hydrating and moisturizing option.

Ingredients:

Check the ingredient list for beneficial components and avoid potentially harmful ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Look for ingredients like:

• Natural Oils: Coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter can provide deep hydration and nourishment.
• Glycerin: Helps retain moisture in the hair.
• Proteins: Keratin, collagen, and other proteins can strengthen and repair damaged hair.
• Vitamins: Vitamins like Biotin (Vitamin B7) and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) can promote hair health.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Provides moisture and helps with hydration.

Hydration and Moisture:

A good conditioner should provide adequate moisture to your hair, making it softer, smoother, and more manageable. Look for products that mention deep hydration or moisturizing properties.

Detangling and Manageability:

A quality conditioner should make your hair easier to detangle, reducing breakage and promoting smoother combing or brushing.

Ultimately, finding the best conditioner involves a bit of trial and error. What works perfectly for one person’s hair might not work as well for another. I decided to try a few different brands for myself to see what works well for my hair. For reference, my hair is thick, naturally curly, and can be quite dry it has also been colored in a salon.

Best conditioner for dry hair

Coral Beach conditioner, Guava, and Gold, £22

Containing coconut oil to repair and reduce damage, my first thought when using this product was how thick and mask-like it felt for a conditioner. With a texture that’s 3 times thicker than regular conditioner, I really felt this gave my hair the best deep condition, leaving my hair looking glossy and feeling super smooth. Guava and Gold are also proud to be Cruelty-free, paraben free, and ethically sourced and have a range of products available via their website.

Best for Coloured Hair

Osmo, Colour Revive conditioner, £12.99

The colour Revive intense colour conditioning treatment promises to fight the fade and extend the life of your salon colour. Including nourishing oils such as Avocado and Linseed the infused formula helps to restore vibrancy, leaving hair looking and feeling more luxurious. With shades for all hair tones, they’re Vegan and cruelty-free and processed within 3 minutes. With blonder tones in my hair, I opted for the Vanilla Latte shade which is perfect for use on creamy/milky tones, I wasn’t sure what to expect but saw a subtle lift in my hair colour after just one use.

Best for Reducing Frizz

Drybar, Liquid Glass smoothing conditioner, £25

I have never found a conditioner that reduces frizz almost instantly without the use of other products. Added to the ends of my hair for just 5 minutes this rich formula leaves my hair much more manageable and soft. As my hair is naturally curly I do sometimes have to add other products when styling to achieve the smooth finish, however, I really wanted to see what this conditioner was capable of when used alone. With Neroli oil to smooth and add a high shine, I would highly recommend it for those looking to transform their frizzy, thicker hair to glossy and smooth without the need for added products.

Best for Strengthening

Monpure, Strengthening Essence conditioner, £36

By far the most luxurious conditioner I have ever used, which is reflected in the price point. This high-end conditioner is well worth it if you are looking to strengthen, soothe and hydrate the scalp without weighing your hair down.

Ultra lightweight it treats and nourishes the scalp and is perfect for all hair types. It contains strengthening vegan silk peptides, argan oil and pro-vitamin B5 to leave the hair super nourished. Scientifically proven and dermatologically tested you can use this throughout the hair (not just the ends like other conditioners) without the worry you will make your hair greasy. After shampooing, you can massage into the scalp and hair leaving it on for at least 2 minutes for best results. I am super keen to try the shampoo alongside this conditioner and see the full effect of these products.

Best for Clean Sustainable Hair care

Original Mineral Pro, Hydrate and Conquer conditioner, prices vary

Removing harsh chemicals including parabens, MIT and Triclosan and replaced with natural native actives they deliver many benefits whilst nourishing and protecting the hair. I tried the Hydrate and Conquer range which promises to give that daily dose of hydration and help give dry, damaged, coloured hair some TLC. it also contains 13 amino acids to strengthen the hair and stimulate growth. It also smells incredible and kept my hair feeling smoother and softer for 5 days!

Best for Volume

Abyssian, Hello Volume conditioner, £21

All-natural, fully biodegradable and antistatic this conditioner is lightweight yet provides volume and moisture without the weight of a waxy coating at the roots. Perfect if you have flyaways or just looking to add some volume to flat hair this conditioner provides an uplift to the roots whilst the biodegradable conditioning agents decrease frizz and help to detangle any knotted ends. If you’re struggling with hair loss this conditioner also contains Amla extract which helps hair growth and limits hair loss. A clean and conscious brand they’re against animal testing and use 100% recycled plastic.

Best on a budget

Phil Smith, Coco Licious Coconut Oil Conditioner, £5

If you’re looking for an impressive conditioner but don’t want to spend the earth the Phil Smith range is ideal.

Not only does this conditioner smell heavenly it also competes really well with some of the higher-end products. Containing coconut oil this conditioner leaves your hair silky soft with added shine. Using this on my curls I was keen to see whether it would leave my hair knotty but I was pleasantly surprised, not only did this leave my hair looking super shiny and healthy it made the brush through post-wash super easy! I love how affordable this range is considering how well known the brand is.

Best for fine hair

Philip Kingsley, Moisture Balancing Conditioner, £21.50

This best-selling conditioner focuses on hydrating the driest parts of your hair, usually the mid-lengths and ends whilst avoiding the roots so as not to weigh down the style. Deep conditioning, the anti-static formula promises to add shine and strength to your hair. After using this conditioner I saw a noticeable difference in the hydration of my hair and loved the scent of this conditioner, it smelt super luxurious, almost spa-like. I also recommended this conditioner to a friend who has much finer hair than me and she has already purchased the shampoo as she loved it that much! A little goes a long way with this one so although not the cheapest conditioner, this one will last a good while.

Best for dull, dry hair

Virtue Labs, Recovery conditioner, £40

My most expensive conditioner to trial I was keen to see whether this would be a product I would re-purchase myself, and I can confidently say I would. Not only did this soften and hydrate my hair, it gave me the best shine I have ever seen! Having coloured my hair for years I have been on a hair journey to bring my strands back to life, this conditioner has definitely helped towards this. Virtue’s conditioner is specially designed to be used on depleted locks. Its rich formula improved the appearance of my frizz-prone hair and left it much easier to manage. With added Alpha Keratin, a one-of-a-kind ingredient it helps your hair become stronger working to reduce the risk of future damage, so ideal if your hair is feeling the effects of too much heat damage. It’s also colour-safe, paraben free and smells incredible. Highly recommended.