By Nina King
Finding good moisturizing products can be pretty daunting. There are endless varieties of hair masks, leave-ins, and magical hair oils all promising amazing results, but do they really work? To make your life easier, we went straight to our expert Swivel Stylists to get all the details on their favorite moisturizing products. From name-brand to drugstore buys, we’ve got the complete list of products that will keep your hair moisturized long after wash day.
Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-in Conditioner
This leave-in conditioner is a fan favorite for Detroit stylist and braider, Niani Barracks. It’s jam-packed with lemongrass, aloe vera, and essential oils to lock in moisture and condition your strands no matter the hair type. Bonus: this product is also nicknamed “Liquid Gold,” so you know it’s good.
Girl + Hair Curl Cloud
Barracks also loves this deep conditioner, which is free of harsh silicones and chemicals to provide your hair the ultimate nourishment. With ingredients like Pimento Oil and numerous antioxidants, this mask will ensure both your scalp and strands are happy and healthy.
Naturalicious Moroccan Rhassoul 5-in-1 Clay Treatment
If your hair needs some extra TLC and moisture this product does it all. This clay treatment functions as a cleanser, conditioner, detangler, deep and leave-in conditioner all in one package. This treatment will lock in moisture for your strands, says Barracks, and provide you great slip for easy detangling.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
Chicago stylist and natural hair pro, Nica G. swears by this Mizani leave-in conditioner, which has coconut and fennel seed oil to moisturize and prevent breakage in your hair. This lightweight conditioner also serves as a heat protectant, so it’s perfect to smooth on your hair before you add any heat.
Rosemary & Mint Stimulating Super Moisturizing Conditioner
Nica also recommends this conditioner, which includes rosemary and peppermint to restore, purify, and moisturize your scalp. If you’re in the midst of a dry spell, this conditioner will help you bounce back in no time.
KeraCare Humecto Creme Conditioner
Nica also says she often recommends this creamy conditioner to her clients because it hydrates and humectifies your hair to leave you with soft strands and zero breakage.
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
This pre-shampoo treatment is a stylist’s favorite. Although this treatment doesn’t provide intense moisture to your hair, it repairs and restores your hair bonds, so you’re ensured your hair is soaking up all that moisture when you add your products.
Verb Hydrating Hair Mask
This deep conditioning treatment is free from sulfates and parabens, and formulated with Babassu Oil and Glycerin to provide you with soft and moisturized strands.
Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner
This shampoo and conditioner pair gently cleanses without stripping all the natural oils from your hair. The addition of Buiriti Oil your hair leaves your hair soft and shiny, with no worries of dryness.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
This deep conditioning treatment is perfect for restoring dry and damaged hair. This conditioner is formulated with sweet almond and argan oils, biotin, and vitamin B5, leaving you with visibly defined and moisturized hair once it’s washed out.
TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep Conditioner
This deep conditioner hair mask contains black honey and olive oil to lock in moisture, repair damage, and reduce breakage and shedding.
Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Shampoo
NYC-stylist and texture specialist Courtney Foster likes this shampoo because it’s the best of both worlds, allowing you to cleanse and moisturize at the same time, to leave your hair moisturized and manageable. Foster raves, “I love this because it so moisturizing and hydrating to the driest and most damaged hair. It leaves the hair full of body and it smells great.”
Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Spa Recovery Mask
This recovery mask is a treatment that gives intense hydration to dry and brittle curls, along with damage protection properties that promote length retention. Foster loves the mask because, “it’s nice thick hydrating mask for curly hair. It’s moisturizes without weighing the hair down. It works very well with a steamer but can be used just as well with a hooded dryer.”
Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner
This lightweight leave-in conditioner moisturizes and detangles hair for up to 72 hours. Not only does it also function as a heat protectant, but it also offers UV protection to protect your hair from the drying effects of the sun.
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil
This nourishing hair oil is formulated with shea butter and jasmine oil to increase shine and moisture, while combating frizzy dry hair to prevent flaking and dry scalp. Foster says this oil is, “perfect for after a silk press, this lightweight styling oil helps reduce frizz and flyaways.”
Aestelance Mud Mask
NYC stylist Regina Pearl suggests this deep-sea mud mask, which contains minerals and natural herb extracts to provide intense moisture to your scalp, and is perfect for chemically treated and dry hair.
Keracare Conditioning Creme Hairdress
Regina Peal also highly recommends this conditioning creme, which will moisturize and define your hair without weighing down your strands. You can use this creme to refresh your wash and go’s or for daily moisture.
Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo
Silk press master Ebony Knight recommends this recovery shampoo to her clients. It saturates and locks in moisture so your hair stays moisturized all day. This shampoo promises less breakage and soft strands and delivers on it all.
Macadamia Professional Ultra Rich Moisture Shampoo
Knight also swears by this shampoo that’s infused with omega-rich oils and vitamins that combat frizz and provide maximum moisture to your hair, in addition, to enhancing your natural curls.
Innersense Hydrating Creme Hairbath & Hydrating Creme Conditioner
Tamika Wesley, known for her precise curly cuts and natural styling, recommends this shampoo and conditioner combo that contains coconut, shea butter, and Tamanu Oil to restore, strengthen, and protect your hair. Both are ultra-hydrating and lightweight to leave your hair bouncy and defined.
Malibu C Replenish Hair Masque
This vegan deep conditioning treatment is perfect for color-treated hair, says Wesley. It restores moisture and leaves hair soft without comprising your hair color.
Silkout Hair Care System Balancing Wash & Conditioner
This sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner gently washes and moisturizes your hair and provides biotin for strength and hair growth. Wesley loves to recommend it to her silk press clients.