The best conditioner for curly hair for deep moisture, damage repair, definition and more

RRP: £12.99 for 284ml | Key ingredients: Black castor oil, shea butter, peppermint, apple cider vinegar

The first thing to note is that Shea Moisture Jamaican Strengthen & Restore Conditioner is a generous size for the price. It's what's on the inside that counts, though, and that is an intensely nourishing conditioner that's brilliant for over-processed hair is crying out for moisture. Texture-wise, it doesn't feel super thick, but it's the ingredients (black castor oil and shea butter) that make it so moisturising. The downside is that it's not the easiest to rinse, and our testers prone to oiliness found that their hair was greasy again not too long after washing. We would recommend for coily and curly hair that's on the thicker side.

Buy if: You have coily or very curly hair

Avoid if: Your hair gets greasy easily

RRP: £28 for 250ml | Key ingredients: Maca root extract, quinoa

Having curly hair is high maintenance, so know sometimes it's easier to reach for the best straighteners for curly hair than wear your hair naturally. If that is the case, your hair will need extra protection and this formula uses quinoa protein to form a protective shield over your strands.

It is possible to over-protein your hair; some of our testers found that it made their hair feel dry and coated – both of which are tell-tale signs to switch to a protein-free conditioner, like Charlotte Mensah's Manketti Oil Conditioner, for a few washes. However, if your hair isn't at protein saturation point, you'll be impressed by the softness. "My curls are always much more manageable, softer and smoother after use," says our curly-haired senior beauty editor Rhiannon Derbyshire. If you're looking for a shampoo to go with it, try the brand's Goji Berry Mint Reviving Hair Rinse, which made our best shampoos and conditioners list.

Buy if: You heat style your hair

Avoid if: Your curls aren't weak or damaged

RRP: £26 for 250ml | Key ingredients: Manketti nut, citrus and xinemia oils

If you're looking for a conditioner for curly hair that makes wash day feel like a treat, this is it. It's velvety in texture and smells heavenly – thanks to the delicious combination of tangerine pill, citrus lemon, ximenia and olive fruit oils. Our tester's curls were impressively silky after using this, but not so soft that the curls were elongated or lost their shape.

As its creator, pro hairdresser Charlotte Mensah, is an oracle of curl care, she also recommends two ways to use it: as a leave-in treatment or as a deep conditioner. Because it's so gorgeous, you will want to slather a lot on at a time, which would be a very expensive habit if you're on a budget. If you can't stretch to make this your everyday conditioner, keep a bottle for when your hair needs some TLC.

Buy if: You want a luxurious product

Avoid if: You have a smaller budget

RRP: £8.99 for 400ml | Key ingredients: Cacao seed butter, coconut & olive oils

The best conditioner for curly hair doesn't have to cost the earth. In fact, you might find that this more purse-friendly option is the right choice for you and your spirals. "You have to use so much conditioner as a curly girl, so finding an affordable formula is wise," says Rhiannon Derbyshire, our senior beauty editor. "This is my favourite – it's really well-priced for such a big bottle and it works brilliantly. It's not too heavy or rich, so it works well even quite close to the roots, leaving my curls looking bouncy and defined. I always have a bottle or two stashed away."

If your hair is especially dry then this particular formula probably won't be thick enough to restore softness and shine, in which case we'd recommend the Shea Moisture Jamaican Strengthen & Restore Conditioner or Davines' NOUNOU instead.

Buy if: You're on a budget

Avoid if: You want something with luxe packaging

RRP: £19 for 300ml | Key ingredients: Aloe vera leaf, argan & virgin coconut oils

Find that your curls quickly stray into birds-nest territory with knots and tangles that are tedious (not to mention painful) to tease out? We found the Bouclème Curl Conditioner is just what the doctor ordered. It has a lovely lightweight milky texture that has just enough hydration for medium to fine curly hair when rinsed out, but can be left on for longer if your hair is thicker and seriously parched.

Although it's not a very heavy formula, it is still super nourishing – a couple of reviewers actually found that the oil content built up in the hair over time. In this case, try using a clarifying shampoo once a month as a reset. There are two options to choose from, a fragranced version for a more sensory shower or a fragrance-free option for sensitive scalps. They really have thought of everything.

Buy if: Your curls are prone to tangles

Avoid if: You're worried about product build-up

RRP: £42 for 200ml | Key ingredients: Alpha Keratin 60ku, carob gum, rice protein, jojoba & sunflower oils

If your curls are prone to breakage and don't have much spring to them, then your hair should be deficient in protein. Enter Virtue's Curl Conditioner, the most expensive on our list, but for good reason. The key ingredient is Virtue's Alpha Keratin 60ku, a patented protein that has been proven to restore damaged hair to its former glory by smoothing over and sealing gaps – think of it like high-end hair Polyfilla.

That's what's going on at a structural level, but we found that what it looks like to the naked eye is improved elasticity for extra bounce and spring without snapping, increased shine and reduced frizz. Depending on the condition of your hair, it might not be that you need to use it every time you wash, rather only once or twice a month. Pro tip: it's also available in a travel size if you want to give it a try without as big a commitment.

Buy if: Your hair keeps breaking

Avoid if: You already use protein treatments

RRP: £9.25 for 250ml | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, snow mushroom, black oat extract

The ingredients list for Umberto Giannini Thirsty Curls Conditioner reads like a hardworking moisturiser for your skin, with hyaluronic acid and tremella snow mushroom to hydrate and black oat extract to condition your curls so they're less likely to snag and snap. This trio work wonders to reduce frizz and fluff on curls prone to flyaways, by rehydrating what's been lost through shampooing for enhanced definition and extra shine.

In our opinion, you'll see results if you have dehydrated curls, but it's unlikely to solve the problem if your hair is especially dry or damaged – in which case try Virtue's Curl Conditioner instead. But even a quick application and rinse is enough time for thirsty hair to reap all the benefits; it's a great choice if you don't have time for a mask on time on wash day.

Buy if: You struggle with frizz

Avoid if: You need a lot of intense nourishment

RRP: £23.50 for 250ml | Key ingredients: Vitamin E, glycerin

The Davines NOUNOU Nourishing Conditioner is a bit of a contradiction. Yes, it's intensely rich and creamy, and a little goes a long way, but it also washes out incredibly well and doesn't feel heavy on the hair, making it an excellent buy for anyone with fine curls that can be weighed down. We found it did a brilliant job of detangling messy curls, increasing volume and making hair look more defined.

The Nounou range was formulated especially for bleached, permed and relaxed hair – i.e. strands that have been put through the wringer – so a few uses will bring curls back from the brink. One criticism we had was that the tub wasn't entirely shower-friendly (we ended up getting water in it) and we were also heavier-handed with this format than with a squeezy bottle, so it's easier to overuse.

Buy if: Your hair needs some serious nourishment

Avoid if: You prefer a less messy squeezy bottle or tube

RRP: £24 for 235ml | Key ingredients: Rosehip, argan & coconut oils

We're big fans of Briogeo's conditioners so we were excited to give this one a whirl. It promises to bid farewell to frizz, and on fine to medium curls it definitely does that, using a combination of rosehip, argan and coconut oils to keep that halo of fluffy flyaways at bay.

It doesn't contain silicones, which means there's less of a risk of build-up over time, while the scent is lovely, lingering to extend that just-washed feeling for days. All that said, it didn't pack quite enough of a punch for our thicker-haired testers, so if your hair is especially coarse, thick or parched you'd be better off with something like Davines' NOUNOU Conditioner. Otherwise, it's a brilliant conditioner for regular use.

Buy if: You've got frizzy hair

Avoid if: You have thick or coarse hair