The Best Deep Conditioners for Bleached Hair Restore Shine Instantly

This is the hero of deep conditioning masks, especially if you have curly hair. It delivers extreme hydration in just a 10-minute session, smells unbelievably amazing (don't worry, the fragrance isn't *too* strong), and boasts a sulfate-free, color-safe formula. The hero ingredient here is algae extract, which gives the mask the ability to strengthen your hair over time.

Pros: vegan; planet-positive; protein-infused

Cons: not as frizz-fighting as other, oil-based masks

Deep conditioners from Black-owned brands are always A+ options for curly and natural hair, and this one focuses on revitalizing your hair after damage. Customers with natural hair love the product, writing that it didn't weigh down their curls and that it's perfect for penetrating low-porosity hair. It is a heavy-duty option though, so if your hair falls on the finer side of the spectrum, look elsewhere.

Pros: Black-owned brand; Affordable; contains natural ingredients like shea, cocoa, and coconut oil

Cons: Not well-suited for thin or straight hair

Full of proteins like keratin and primrose oil, this mask will strengthen hair with regular use. The instructions recommend leaving it on for five minutes; however, overnight use will add moisture to extremely damaged hair that needs it. Add this at-home keratin treatment into your routine for an every-other-week treatment—even if your hair is incredibly fine.

Pros: Great for low-porosity or dry, dull hair; Good for regular use

Cons: Not ideal for curly or thick hair

Fine hair types have to be cautious that deep conditioners aren't too heavy. If your hair is on the thinner side, Garrett recommends this Christophe Robin option. "It's lightweight but because of the aloe vera in the formula, it's super hydrating and helps increase shine and reduce frizz," she says. Just use a small amount after shampoo and make sure to rinse it out thoroughly.

Pros: Expert-approved; Lightweight

Cons: Not hydrating enough for super thick hair

I cannot sing K18's praises any louder: The brand is a savior for hair repair after bleaching and coloring sessions. Their clinical studies are based on hair bleached eight times (yikes), with hair proving softer after each use. The secret? Their proprietary peptide technology has been proven to restore strength and shine. Just a warning: A super, super small amount is all you need.

Pros: Stylist-approved; Clinically tested; Clean; Vegan

Cons: High price point

If you fall into the fine hair camp, deep conditioning masks can take all the volume out of your hair and leave you with lifeless, flat-as-can-be roots. But this particular product is formulated with thin hair in mind. Its vitamin-enriched, oil-infused, and shea butter-centric formula delivers lightweight hydration that can't be beaten. While it's not volumizing by nature, it certainly won't weigh you down.

Pros: Good for fine hair; Smells nice

Cons: Expensive

Bleach is dehydrating, not just to the hair, but to the scalp. If you find that you're getting all different kinds of flaky and itchy post-color, I cannot recommend this Maria Nila hair mask enough. It's specifically formulated treat and prevent dandruff, and sooth the skin on the scalp with aloe vera. As a bonus, it preserves your hair color so you can go longer between appointments.

Pros: Has active ingredients to treat dandruff; Color safe

Cons: None

If you need to re-hydrate your hair in one wash, pick up Bodt's favorite. “Protein, moisture, bond repair, and a heat protectant should be included in a bleached hair routine. If you have fragile and colored hair, heat styling can really damage it, so it’s crucial to use something to create a barrier," she says. "This works wonders as it can help to create a barrier, protect hair from heat damage, nourish hair, and smooth the hair cuticle."

Pros: Great for all hair types and textures; increases shine; Affordable

Cons: Single-use

When it comes to getting specialized treatment for your hair concerns, Kerastase knows the drill. The Resistance range is the way to go for all-over hair restoration (think: breakage; dryness; dullness). “This is a great mask to use once a week or whenever your hair needs extra love and hydration. It has great ingredients like ceramide to smooth the hair’s surface,” says Mondo.

Pros: Promotes shine; Good for all hair types and textures

Cons: Contains sulfates; High price point

Bleaching hair actively strips hair of its natural oils while lightening, which results in hair that desperately needs nutrients. The Moroccan lava clay in this mask not only leaves a welcome scent but also penetrates follicles to promote growth and rid hair of excessive fats from build-up. A whopping 94 percent of users on Sephora recommend it, with straight-haired to 4C hair types users saying that it made their hair look and feel softer and more moisturized.

Pros: Clean; silicone-free; Black-owned brand; Good for all hair types and textures

Cons: High price point

Bleaching your hair platinum blonde is one thing, but keeping your blonde strands bright is another. When your color gets a little brassy—it’s inevitable—combat that with this reparative mask in a cooling purple that will infuse hair with nutrients while lightly toning. Be careful though, because while the mask effectively reduces brassiness, leaving it on too long could result in a purple tint or a grey color.

Pros: Combats brass; Vegan; works on all hair types

Cons: Should be used in moderation; High price point

It’s well-established that the enemy of bleached hair is a dry scalp—and after numerous chemical treatments, your scalp might be crying for some help. Skip the abrasive scrub that will only cause more damage; instead, use this scalp-stimulating conditioner from The Doux. It leaves curls soft and bouncy while showing results in a mere five minutes.

Pros: Cruelty-free; Black-owned brand; Great for curly hair; Affordable

Cons: Contains propylene glycol

If your bleached hair is dry and filled with knots, you'll love that this intense hair mask helps detangle while it hydrates. Natural ingredients power this formulation, with shea butter, avocado oil, sunflower oil, and herb extracts combined to nourish and fill locks with antioxidants. This is particularly great for thick hair because you can brush through strands without breakage.

Pros: Great for curly hair and for bringing out curls

Cons: Strong smell; Thick and can be time-consuming to rinse out

Your bleached hair could be damaged to the point of limited hair growth and oil production, so a good scalp treatment will repair strands while inviting growth. Natural hair types especially love this minty mask for its invigorating feel and curl-preserving hydration.

Pros: Affordable; Good for all hair types; Silicone-free

Cons: Strong mint smell

After bleaching, section the hair into four parts to ensure maximum coverage of freshly lightened hair. Between bleach treatments, take a beat to give hair time to recover and do a repairing mask-like this amino acid-based one from Wella, to keep breakage minimized. Reviewers love how bouncy and shiny it makes hair look and feel. Plus, multiple people note how effective it is at detangling.

Pros: Color-safe; Good for regular use

Cons: Small container

You can’t go wrong with Redken—it’s one of the most beloved salon-care brands for a reason. Cica is a known hero ingredient popularized by Korean skincare, but it can also help restore bleached hair that can’t keep the good oils in. Technically a leave-in conditioner, this light formula works well for thin hair that is prone to product buildup.

Pros: Affordable; Sulfate-free

Cons: Thick; Strong smell

As someone with super fine hair, sometimes I find that a heavy conditioner qualifies as a deep conditioning treatment. Such is the case with this Oribe option, which I credit for single-handedly strengthening my brittle texture. While it's not marketed as a hair mask, I've seen great results when I let this sit 15 minutes—or the whole day in a slicked-back bun.

Pros: Versatile; Seals split ends; Bond building properties

Cons: Not hydrating enough for thick or coarse hair

Shampoo bars are well recognized as highly efficacious, plastic-free alternatives in 2024, but this is the first deep conditioner bar to land on my radar. With a blend of hydrating butters, amino acids, and bond builders, this intensely reparative treatment is best suited for frizzy and curly hair types. You can rinse out the formula immediately or use it as a leave-in conditioner ahead of styling.

Pros: Sustainable design; Multi-purpose; Reduces frizz

Cons: Can be difficult to detangle hair with this product alone

If your hair is medium to thick in texture, there's no rule that says you need to limit a deep conditioner to a weekly treatment. This particular formula strikes a balance between being reparative enough to repair bleach damage, while staying lightweight enough to be used daily—without weighing down hair. It gives a soft, shiny finish and has detangling properties so it's really the only prep you'll need pre-styling.

Pros: Good for daily use; Detangling properties

Cons: Too heavy for fine hair

While you might need a deep conditioner because you bleached your hair in the first place, it's not unheard of to want an additional color refresh. Should that be the case, try this double duty conditioner. It will deeply hydrate and repair color damage, while simultaneously depositing a temporary color boost. Choose from natural tones like cocoa or silver, or opt for a bright pop of pink.

Pros: Adds color without damage; Smells great

Cons: Color can vary in every section of hair