The 11 Best Hair Moisturizers to Shop in 2024

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Your favorite conditioner might do an excellent job at smoothing and hydrating your hair, but one formula can only do so much. If you want to call in reinforcements and leave dry, brittle strands in the dust, a hair moisturizer isn't just a good idea: It's a non-negotiable. "I often explain the necessity of hair moisturizers to my clients by suggesting they think of haircare as equal to skincare," celebrity hairstylist Bradley Leake tells Bazaar. "We all have our daily perfect skincare routine, and of course we would never go to bed with out moisturizing our face first, right? Think of your hair the same way, it needs to be moisturized—except it doesn't have to be every morning and night."

Everyone can benefit from adding a hair moisturizer to their hair routine—especially those with color-treated, curly, wavy, or textured hair. If you continue to use a hair moisturizer on a regular basis, Leake says once a week is generally a good rule of thumb, the results can be transformative. "Maintaining moisture can be essential to protecting your curl patterns and preventing frizz and flyaways," he adds. The catch? Just like face moisturizers, the options are seemingly endless. Not only are there a handful of formulas to choose from—hair moisturizers come in oils, serums, treatments, and creams—but you'll also need to suss out which ones will work with your type and texture. To help give your haircare routine an extra hit of hydration, shop the top hair moisturizers worth adding to your cart.

Bond Repair Treatment Starter Kit

Thanks to Epres's Bond Repair Treatment, you can soften and strengthen breakage and split ends in one fell swoop. This spray formula can repair broken disulfidebonds to restore your hair structure in 10 minutes.

"I recommend Epres to every single of one my clients," Leake says. "This treatment locks in moisture while adding incredible shine. I mix it into all my color appointments at my salon, but it’s easy to use at home too!"

The magic lies in its four vegan, biodegradable ingredients—diethylhexyl maleate, oleyl alcohol, alcohol denat., and stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine—to offer what Leake calls "user-friendly, salon-quality products."

One satisfied customer writes:

"The end result is stunning. My hair is so soft, smooth, and shiny. It’s like new hair? I don’t know how they do it. I use it about once a week [or] every other week and my hair is so much healthier." — Rpowell

Dew Magic Leave-In Conditioner

Here's popular leave-in conditioner from Sienna Naturals (a brand entrepreneur Hannah Fallis Bronfman swears by) that's ideal for all hair types. The brand uses its signature Rooted Technology and a cationic to help key ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and baobab oil punch their weight. It's especially great for textured hair though, since it works overtime to define your curl pattern as it hydrates.

One satisfied customer writes:

"This may be the best product I've ever put on my hair. My textured hair is extremely damaged from constant coloring, thyroid disease and hormone imbalance. After the first use, my hair was really soft and definitely had a shine. Curls are more defined and easier to manage. I didn't think it was possible." — Jackie Z.

Honey Infused Hair Mask

Clean beauty lovers will find a lot to love about Gisou's Honey Infused Hair Mask because it hydrates and tames frizz without the use of parabens, formaldehydes, and phthalates. Instead, honey work to retain moisture while hydrolyzed wheat protein and Provitamin B work hard to condition and moisturize hair, respectively.

"Those who bleach their hair regularly tend to have coarser hair, so I would recommend using a deep conditioner," says celebrity hairstylist Laura Polko, who counts stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Maude Apatow as clients. "These formulas work well to rebuild, hydrate, and soften hair.” This deeply nourishing hair mask is best used after a shampoo, and contains a subtle honey and floral scent that isn't overpowering.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I had originally came across this brand through TikTok and knew I had to try it, ASAP!! This product left my hair feeling so smooth and healthy. Not to mention how amazing it smells." —AritaMus

Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe and Oat Milk Ultra Soothing Conditioner

Many of our editors count Briogeo as one of their absolute favorites for hair care—and this gentle conditioner is no exception. Here, a gentle mix of aloe vera and green tea extract work together to make your hair smooth and shiny without unnecessary irritation. Need more convincing? Not only is this pick hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, but also fragrance- and essential oil-free.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I have extreme skin sensitivities so can't do any kind of fragrance or essential oils in my hair products. I also hate silicones because they eventually just ruin your lengths. Amazed that I found a hypoallergenic, silicone-free conditioner that is upscale and nice! It keeps my hair silky and strong with no facial irritation. I hope they never discontinue this." —Smes

Hydrating Melting Mask With Aloe Vera for Dry, Dull Hair

If your hair is feeling particularly dry and brittle Christophe Robin has you covered. Use this hydrating mask on wet hair to reap its full aloe vera benefits, which are enhanced with a blend of additional ingredients like amino acids and flaxseed oil to help plump and moisturize it. Since this product is so lightweight, it's a great match for curly hair. (In fact, some reviewers mentioned they treat like it a leave-in conditioner.)

One satisfied customer writes:

"Absolutely love this product. I use this occasionally when my hair feels very coarse, and it helps so much." — Ashley B.

Honey Hydrate "The Leave-In" Collection, Step 1

Though this honey-based leave-in conditioner sounds good enough to eat, it actually works wonders on textured hair. (Don't believe us? This option has over 4,000 customer reviews and near-perfect rating on Amazon.) Sweet honey might be the nourishing star of this formula, ingredients like olive fruit oil and aloe leaf juices offer an extra jolt of moisture.

One satisfied customer writes:

"It's VERY moisturizing and actually keeps my natural hair moisturized for weeks while twisted without me having to re-moisturize. That's the main thing that shocks me. You can literally leave this in until your next wash." — Brandi H.

Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Conditioner

Think of Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Conditioner as an easy, effective way to put you on the right track toward hydrated, frizz-free hair. This beloved formula combines olive and avocado oils to deliver serious hydration while improving your hair's strength and elasticity once it's rinsed away.

One satisfied customer writes:

"This is the best conditioner I've ever used. I have very frizzy hair and this conditioner leaves my hair so smooth and moisturized!" —Sandie A.

SeaExtend Silkening Conditioner

While most hair moisturizers are used in addition to a conditioner, revamping your shower routine can't hurt either. Polko often uses this conditioner from Aquage in her own hair as a daily in-shower treatment. (Red Sea Kelp and the brand's trademarked Algasilk sea botanicals replenish moisture loss, while nutrient-rich algae help make hair resilient and flexible.) After applying it from root to tip, she leaves the conditioner in for around 60 seconds, then rinses it out with cool water to lock in hydration.

One satisfied customer writes:

"My stylist recommended this to me and OMG. I am so impressed. I have noticed an immediate change in my hair. It is softer, less frizzy, and doesn't feel brittle and fried at the ends anymore." —HalieW6

COLORKICK Color-Illuminating & Hydrating Mask

Though bleaching and coloring your hair is fun, it requires some major upkeep. Fortunately, Virtue's Colorkick Mask can help. The brand's signature Alpha Keratin 60ku protein is built to repair and strengthen your hair from the inside out. Meanwhile, a mix of specialty rice protein, sunflower sprout extract, and tara tree fruit extract offer protection from UV rays, color fading, and damage. Use this mask once a quick to keep your hair bright and vibrant.

One satisfied customer writes:

"Wow! I love this mask treatment. I have bleached, color treated hair that gets a brassy without toners & this did it for me! Toned the orange away and neutralized it into a lovely ash! I love that it's also conditioning. I highly recommend!!" —Heidiorr

Olive Oil Professional Replenishing Conditioner

You might be interested in ORS's Olive Oil Professional Replenishing Conditioner for its nourishing properties—its abundance essential fatty acids infuses moisture directly into the hair cuticle—but that's only the beginning of its benefits. Here, silk protein strengthens your hair and adds a dash of salon-worthy shine. Best of all, the touch of orange oil offers a sweet-yet-subtle scent.

What shoppers are saying:

"I've been using this product for nearly 20 years and it's been my go-to since then. Whether my hair was permed, natural, color treated or like now, locked, this conditioner softens my hair more the longer I leave it in and it rinses out easily. Highly recommend." —Ade220

HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner

What's worse than dry, dehydrated hair? Dry, dehydrated hair that's also tangled. Fortunately, Vegamour's HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner is here to help. A mix of amino acid blend and a vegan keratin called karmatin join forces to leave your hair smooth and shiny. But why stop there? Not only does this spray formula deftly detangle, but its mushroom extract combats frizz, flyaways, humidity, and heat damage.

What shoppers are saying:

"I've been testing Vegamour's leave-in conditioner, and I must say, I'm thrilled with the product! The difference it has made for my fine, long hair is remarkable; it's noticeably more hydrated and smoother. Given how easily my hair tangles, this product has truly made a positive impact!" —Shay

What ingredients should you look for in hair moisturizers?

Since not all hair moisturizers are created equal, Lation advises those with dry hair to keep an eye out for specific ingredients, like aloe vera, avocado, honey, and olive oil, when searching for their next holy-grail product.

"I absolutely love aloe vera juice, because it contains proteolytic enzymes that hydrate and moisturize, helps hair maintain a healthy pH balance, and improves hair elasticity," she explains. "Honey and glycerin are also two of the best moisturizers around; they're natural humectants that bind to water to lock in moisture.

And when you’re looking for real moisture, it’s hard to go wrong with shea butter. It’s great for your hair, scalp, and skin, since it's rich in zinc, vitamins A and E, plus other essential fatty acids. Lastly, quality oils, like avocado and olive, can also help seal in moisture, increase elasticity, and fight frizz. I recommend that my clients use oil to seal their ends on a daily basis."

How to find the right hair moisturizer for your hair type

Whether you opt to use a leave-in cream, spray, or fortifying mask, experts say choosing one of the best hair moisturizers to revitalize dry hair ultimately depends on a few factors, including its type—fine, thick, textured, color-treated, and more—and the moisturizer's formulation.

"For those with finer hair, I recommend using a leave-in conditioner spray, as it won’t weigh hair down," Polko tells Bazaar. "These sprays also offer a nice distribution of product thanks to their built-in applicators that prevents users from over-saturating their strands. Those with thicker, curly, and textured hair types can benefit the most from using a heavier leave-in cream, since their hair can traditionally handle more product and fully absorb its hydrating benefits."

When it comes to hair creams, Polko advises working them into your hands first, and then distributing it evenly throughout the hair.

How to best maintain hair moisture

Using tools like a hooded dryer and thermal bonnet with hair moisturizers can be the one-two punch dry hair needs, since these tools help your product of choice better absorb into the cuticle. Lation often uses a hair steamer on clients with lower porosity hair to help moist heat to lift and open their follicles. Experts advise, however, being mindful of hot tool use on hair that is already damaged, as it can actually make its texture even drier.

"If the hair is already damaged and the cuticle is open, heated tools can cause more harm than good because they can strip hydration," says Polko. "Instead of using heat, I often recommend using a leave-in conditioner or mask overnight and letting it sit on your ends. This gives hair ample time to reap in the hydrating benefits without speeding up the hydration process with heat.”Outside of using the right conditioning products for your hair, professionals also suggest taking your daily lifestyle habits into account to keep it well-balanced.

"There are a number of things you can do to help maintain hair hydration after using conditioner," adds Lation. "Sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase and using scrunchies made with the same material can make such a big difference. Polko agrees, adding that a healthy diet and overall water intake can really make a difference in the appearance and softness of your hair. “As a baseline for maintaining consistent hair hydration, it’s important to consider diet, water intake and minimizing alcohol consumption which can be drying," she says. "Outside of that, I highly recommend using filtered water in the shower whenever possible, which benefits hair, skin and encourages product penetration into the strands.”

Meet the Experts

• Ashanti Lation is a celebrity hairstylist

• Bradley Leake is a celebrity hairstylist

• Laura Polko is a celebrity hairstylist

Why trust Harpers Bazaar?

For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

You Might Also Like

• 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora

• The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine