The Best Deep Conditioners for Bleached Hair Restore Shine Instantly

Your blonde will be healthier than ever.

best deep conditioners including Kerastase, Briogeo, K18 hair mask
(Image credit: Future)

I’ve been dyeing my hair blonde for the greater part of a decade. Bleach is a necessary evil—it gives me the platinum, bronde, or honey hue I’m after, but can leave my ends looking dry and dehydrated. Thankfully, the best deep conditioners for bleached hair have allowed me to maintain shine and moisture between color appointments. "Bleaching hair is drying for the hair and scalp, so it's very important to maintain hair health and quality at home," says hairstylist Madison Garrett, a blonde color specialist in New York City. "Deep conditioners are able to nourish and provide intense moisture back to processed or dry hair."

The products I've tried run the gamut, from drugstore options that leave my hair silky and smooth to luxe masks that are surprisingly worth the splurge. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of my personal favorite deep conditioners—and consulted with top hairstylists in the business for their tips and tricks.

The Best Deep Conditioners for Bleached Hair

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What to Look For in Deep Conditioner for Bleached Hair

  • Ingredients

You want a product with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to nourish and moisturize the hair shaft. You'll likely also want to see a natural oil, such as avocado oil or olive oil extract.

  • Texture

Certain hair masks will be formulated for specific hair types. For example, someone with coarse hair can tolerate a heavier formula than someone with uber-fine hair, who might get weighed down by the excess of hydration.

  • Hair Type

It's incredibly important to consider both your hair type and hair porosity when choosing a deep conditioner for bleached hair. "Hair is like skin—one routine does not work for everyone," says Garrett. If your hair is low porosity (water sits on top of the hair and doesn't sink in easily), you might want to consider a deep conditioner. If you have high porosity hair (hair soaks up water quickly), consider using a deep conditioner and a bond builder like K18 or Olaplex.

Before and after of the K18 molecular mask on bleached hair

The K18 Molecular Repair Leave-In repairs and nourishes bleached hair.

(Image credit: K18)

Do I Need to Use a Deep Conditioner?

Yes, you need to use a deep conditioner on bleached hair. “Deep conditioners have a high concentration of extremely beneficial ingredients that promote the healthiest hair possible," says celebrity hairstylist Brand Mondo. They’re an easy way to get a quick pick-me-up and noticeably softer, easier-to-manage hair in minutes.”

How to Use a Deep Conditioner

Depending on the conditioner, deep conditioners work best on damp hair and should sit on the head for anywhere from 10 minutes to overnight.

If you’re looking for a more penetrating mask application, Mondo recommends putting a plastic bag over your hair and then wrapping a towel on top. "This will keep your head as hot as possible which will help expand the hair fibers and get the hair mask to work on a deeper level," he says.

How Frequently Should I Use Deep Conditioner?

"I recommend using a deep conditioner once a week," says Garrett. "using a deep conditioner too much can cause buildup on the scalp and hair, which can cause hair to become oily limp, and appear duller." The latter is particularly something to be wary of if your hair is on the thinner side. “If you have fine hair or are worried about losing volume, be mindful as it can weigh your hair down when it comes to styling," says celebrity hair colorist Rachel Bodt.

Meet the Experts

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Madison Garrett

Madison is an experienced stylist and color specialist determined to effectively contribute to creating and styling great hairstyles. She's currently the master colorist at NYC salon Spoke & Weal.

Brad Mondo
Brad Mondo

Brad Mondo is the founder and CEO of Xmondo, a vegan and cruelty-free haircare brand. He developed his passion for haircare from his late father, who owned and operated a salon.

Rachel Bodt
Rachel Bodt

Rachel Bodt is a senior Colorist at Red Door in New York City and is a brand ambassador for Matrix haircare. Her work has been featured in a number of magazines and she regularly collaborates with Balenciaga during their Paarif Fashion Week Shows. Her clients have included Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Tilda Swinton, Michelle Williams, Emily Blunt, and Marisa Tomei.

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Gabrielle Ulubay
Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com. Before working with Marie Claire, Gabrielle worked in local government, higher education, and sales, and has resided in four countries and counting. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, and spent two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy.

Deeply political, she believes that skincare, haircare, and sexual wellness are central tenets to one's overall health and fights for them to be taken seriously, especially for people of color. She also loves studying makeup as a means of artistic expression, drawing on her experience as an artist in her analysis of beauty trends. She's based in New York City, where she can be found watching movies or running her art business when she isn't writing. Find her on Twitter at @GabrielleUlubay or on Instagram at @gabrielle.ulubay, or follow her art at @suburban.graffiti.art