For the past year, my most complicated relationship has been with my hair. After chopping off almost 10 inches and bleaching it every six weeks, it’s responded pretty much how you’d expect: by silently cursing and crying out for some much-needed TLC. My once wash-and-wear hair routine is a distant memory, lost in the deluge of powders, oils, and creams that I now daily apply to assuage the horrors of lots and lots of peroxide.
The one product that I’ve relied on most since the day my hair morphed into straw is deep conditioner. Suffice it to say I’ve tried every variation and every brand that’s made its way into our beauty closet to the point that our beauty editor simply deposits them on my desk as soon as they arrive. Along the way, I’ve found some true winners that have magically repaired my fried strands to some semblance of their former health?and I feel compelled to divulge the best ones. See the five best deep conditioners that’ll work overtime to transform your poor, maltreated hair below.

Kérastase Créme Chronologiste, $65
To be blunt, I f*ck with this deep conditioner. So much in fact, that I’ve started using it every time I wash my hair, post-shampoo and conditioner instead of the once-a-week I’d formerly committed to. It not only leaves my hair feeling silky, soft, and smooth, but I’ve noticed that I’ve had less breakage and that my hair feels stronger. The $65 cost makes me cry on the ins...