The best drugstore conditioners can make your hair look amazing—at a price that actually makes sense. While we can certainly get behind splurging on high-end conditioners from time to time, constantly restocking those luxury bottles is enough to make your wallet wince. So, whether you're just looking to make pricier purchases more of a special occasion or ditch the fancy stuff altogether, drugstore conditioners work like a cheap, cheerful charm.

In this category, you'll find a massive range of options targeting every hair concern, like fine hair, with ingredients you might already love and trust, like panthenol, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and nourishing oils like coconut and jojoba. To help you pick your next frizz-fighting, blonde-brightening, dryness-demolishing favorite, we chatted with hairstylists, dermatologists, and editors to find the best drugstore conditioners with impressive results—no Benjamins necessary. And psst, the best drugstore shampoos have made a major splash on TikTok recently, so check those out while you're at it.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner, $9
• Best for Curly Hair: Ogx Coconut Curls Conditioner, $19 (Pack of 2)
• Best Volumizing: Laura Polko Volume Conditioner, $13
• Best for Dry Hair: Monday Haircare Moisture Conditioner, $8
• Best for Brittle Hair: Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner, $20 (Pack of 2)
• Best for Scalps: Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Conditioner, $10
• Best for Dull Hair: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Hydrating Conditioner, $10
• Best for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Supreme Sulfate Free Conditioner, $24
• Best for Color-Treated Hair: Kristin Ess The One Purple Conditioner, $12

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between drugstore conditioner and high-end conditioner?
• How should I choose a drugstore conditioner?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Dryness doesn't discriminate—true for 2A'ers, 4C'ers, and every head in between. And Aussie's Miracle Moist Conditioner sees you, feels you, and wants to help. This super-hydrating formula is packed with avocado and jojoba oils and complemented by yummy, musky floral notes, making quick work of thirsty tangles. We also appreciate that the ingredient list isn't long enough to induce a headache and instead sticks to staples like fatty alcohols, oils, and pH-balancing citric acid. Of course, for the full Aussie effect, pair it with its sister shampoo.

Tester feedback: "As you can tell by the fact that I buy bottles of this stuff bigger than my head, I love Aussie Miracle Moist—like, really, really love it," says senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen. "She and I go way back; in high school, I'm pretty sure the Miracle Moist line was the only thing preventing my over-dyed hair from falling out. Fifteen years later, it's still giving my (significantly healthier but still color-treated) hair the moisture it desperately needs. And at arguably the lowest price possible."

Key ingredients: avocado oil, jojoba oil | Who it's for: everyone | Benefits: softening, moisturizing, detangling.

Best for Curly Hair: Ogx Coconut Curls Conditioner

Why it's worth it: Whether you have loads of springy coils or a low-key wave pattern, you can benefit from Ogx's Coconut Curls Conditioner. Not only does this stuff smell divine, but it softens curls and waves without weighing them down or leaving them greasy, thanks to a blend of coconut oil, lemon peel oil, orange extract, and glycerin. The formula also tackles frizzy hair—always a plus—and the orange and tonka bean scent makes the whole experience feel a little more luxurious. Regularly using heat for styling your curls? This conditioner is your friend. "Coconut oil can be a great thing to either condition with or leave in to help repair the damage that occurs to your hair shafts from coloring, heat, and the sun," explains Robert Finney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City.

Tester feedback: "My waves have a mind of their own, but when I use Ogx's Coconut Curls Conditioner, the beachiness is way more reliable, and the waves come out to play," says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. "This stuff makes my hair feel softer, more defined, and perfectly perfumed. It feels way more expensive than it actually is."

Key ingredients: coconut oil, lemon peel oil, orange extract, glycerin | Who it's for: people with wavy hair, people with curly hair| Benefits: defining, frizz-fighting

Best Volumizing: Laura Polko Volume Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: Laura Polko’s Volume Conditioner looks as pretty on your shower ledge as it does in your hair. Ideal for people with bountiful fine hair that weighs itself down, this conditioner brings volume and hydration, reviving flat strands with the brand’s patented Pro-Volum Plumping System. The system is fueled by hydrolyzed collagen and macadamia oil, which work together to strengthen, moisturize, thicken, and add shine. To get the most out of this conditioner (which is scented with clean, berry-floral notes), let it sit for a couple of minutes before you rinse it out.

Tester feedback: “I’m all about a good hair day, and Laura Polko’s Volume Conditioner delivers every time,” says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis, who struggles to maintain volume. “I use it with the matching shampoo, and together, they give my hair that bouncy, fresh-from-the-salon feel—without the salon price tag. After a blow-dry, my hair looks full, feels soft, and actually holds its volume all day, which is impressive for my long and heavy hair.”

Key ingredients: hydrolyzed collagen, macadamia oil | Who it’s for: people with a lot of fine hair | Benefits: volumizing, moisturizing

Best for Dry Hair: Monday Haircare Moisture Conditioner

Why it's worth it: A Monday we can actually look forward to? Mondays' Moisture Conditioner. It's formulated with shine-inducing coconut oil and softening shea butter for natural, well-rounded hydration. It also has hyaluronic acid, a familiar skin-care ingredient that your head will appreciate. "Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, and rather than moisturizing hair, it works by drawing moisture in from the environment," says Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD. "When applied to damp hair, hyaluronic acid can hold approximately 1,000 times its weight in water." You'll dig the subtle gardenia fragrance, too.

Tester feedback: "For under 10 bucks, this stuff really is a steal. It adds the moisture the bleached, wavy aspects of my hair require without weighing down the fine texture," says content director Kara McGrath. "I love the rectangular bottle too: It's easier to stack on my overflowing shower shelf, and, of course, a pump is a superior way to dispense almost any type of product."

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, shea butter | Who it's for: people with dry hair | Benefits: moisturizing, smoothing

Best for Brittle Hair: Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal

Why it’s worth it: It doesn’t get much creamier than Pantene’s Daily Moisture Renewal, a seriously moisturizing, icing-rich conditioner that leaves your hair soft as hell. If you have bleached, brittle hair, this is the sort of revitalizer you need. Powered by a double dose of bond-building panthenol (a.k.a pro-vitamin B), moisturizing lipids, and scented with its signature blend of berry, vanilla, and apple, this is a formula you’ll reach for again and again. Pair it with the Pantene Daily Moisture Shampoo (in that Amazon value pack, no less) for even more nourishment.

Tester feedback: “When I say this conditioner makes my hair soft, I mean it,” says Blackman. “It also smells exactly like a shampoo should—clean, rich, and perfectly fruity.”

Key ingredients: panthenol | Who it’s for: people with brittle, bleach-damaged hair, people with split ends | Benefits: softening, moisturizing

Best for Scalps: Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: The Best of Beauty-winning Dove Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Conditioner tackles flatness from the source, boosting circulation in your scalp, and adding silky softness with shine-amping silicones. Because Dove knows skin so well, it’s only logical that it prioritizes the skin from which all of your hair so gloriously cascades. Scalp care sets you up for future success because a healthier head means less breakage, less coarseness, and more hair growth stimulation. If you want even more TL-Scalp, grab Dove’s Scalp + Hair Therapy Density Boost Serum, which is infused with vitamin B3, vitamin E, zinc and peptides for all the fullness.

Tester feedback: "My hair contains multitudes—fine strands, and color-treated ones, a healthy dose of grays, dry ends, sensitive scalp," says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. "This duo somehow meets everyone where they are…soothing my scalp and softening roughness and frizz without weighing down my roots. The lather of the shampoo is delicious and the conditioner leaves a light, just slightly floral scent behind."

Key ingredients: niacinamide | Who it’s for: people with thin hair, people with scalp issues, people with oily hair | Benefits: shine boosting, scalp health

Best for Dull Hair: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Hydrating Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: A 2023 Best of Beauty champ, L’Oréal Paris’s Elvilve Hyaluron Plump Hydrating conditioner brings the heat, and by heat, we mean volume, softness, and hydration. The skin care-inspired formula (shout out glycerin and hyaluronic acid, two powerful humectants) locks in moisture for up to 72 hours while plumping flat, dry hair and detangling it. It works on all hair types and can be used daily for consistent quenching. The scent is lovely, too, fragranced with a mélange of berries, blossoms, vanilla, and sandalwood.

Key ingredients: glycerin, hyaluronic acid | Who it’s for: people with flat, dull hair | Benefits: detangling, volumizing, softening

Best for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Supreme Sulfate Free Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: No one does dandruff-fighting like Head & Shoulders, and while you’re probably acquainted with its classic 2-in-1, the brand makes a delish standalone conditioner for extra anti-flake hydration. In the process of targeting flakiness, dandruff shampoos often end up stripping hair of moisture—so it’s important to pair any dandruff-fighting formula with a hard-working conditioner that’s designed to support a calm scalp while replenishing lost moisture. As for the team behind this take-to-task formula? Try hydrating manuka honey, itch-relieving menthol, and oil-controlling citrus. Grab a bottle of the Head & Shoulders Supreme Dandruff Shampoo while you’re at it and go forth.

Key ingredients: manuka honey, menthol, citrus | Who it’s for: people with dandruff | Benefits: moisturizing, dandruff-fighting

Best for Color-Treated Hair: Kristin Ess Hair The One Purple Conditioner

Why it’s worth it: Maintaining your salon-blonde hair is practically a part-time job. The dye appointment itself was freaking expensive, so give your wallet a break with some inexpensive but really good color-safe hair care. Kristin Ess Hair’s The One Purple Conditioner proves that it’s possible to keep your blonde hair looking bright and non-brassy without breaking the bank. This formula also prioritizes moisture, using glycerin, panthenol, mango seed butter, and avocado oil to rehydrate bleach-brittle strands. Allow this conditioner to rest in your hair for three minutes before rinsing, and also avoid getting it on white shower curtains—it won’t stain, but the Ext. Violet 2 (the color that neutralizes yellowness) will stick around until you wash it off.

Key ingredients: Ext. Violet 2, glycerin, panthenol | Who it’s for: people with dyed blonde hair | Benefits: brightening, brass-fighting, moisturizing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between drugstore conditioner and high-end conditioner?

All conditioners share the goal of moisturizing and softening hair after shampooing. Still, drugstore conditioners stand out because of their affordable prices, which usually result from more straightforward, less expensive ingredients compared to pricier bottles. "Some drugstore conditioners may utilize the modern technology based on the research and development of their parent company but will opt to use lower quality, cheaper ingredients than their higher-end counterparts," says hairstylist Devin Toth. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. A conditioner doesn't need all the bells and whistles that drastically drive up the price to be effective. "The quality of ingredients can differ, but in my opinion, argan oil is argan oil, and brass-reducing purple pigment is purple pigment, and you don't need modern technology to use those ingredients on your hair," adds Toth.

How should I choose a drugstore conditioner?

You should choose a drugstore conditioner the way you’d choose a fancy one—by considering your hair concerns, goals, and preferences. If you have dandruff, look for bottles explicitly stating they benefit flaky scalps. If you’re a freshly bleached blonde, grab a purple conditioner. Even though these picks are less fancy, you can always expect the label to specify who the formula will be the most beneficial for.

Of course, there may be some trial and error involved in figuring out your dream drugstore conditioner, but the beautiful thing about these prices is the stakes are so much lower. After all, ditching an $8 bottle midway through feels a lot better than finishing a $60 bottle out of guilt.

Meet the experts

• Robert Finney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City
• Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City

How we test and review products

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While certain products can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls — right?

For our review of the best drugstore conditioners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists with varying hair types, concerns, and desired outcomes (i.e., want shinier hair). Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

If you want glossy, healthy hair, keep reading:

• 8 Best Hair Oils That Make Our Strands Look Like New
• After Months of Testing, We Found the Best Hair Masks Ever
• 18 Best Split-End Treatments to Restore Life to Damaged Hair

Now, watch Rachel Zegler's 10-minute beauty routine:

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