For me, the best moisturizing deep conditioners will contain certain ingredients, namely:
- Conditioning agents, e.g., behentrimonium methosulfate, behentrimonium Chloride, cetrimonium chloride and/or stearalkonium chloride (because these will bind to the surface of the hair and form a film around it that will smooth the cuticle, thereby decreasing tangling and increasing softness while regulating the hair’s pH level)
- Fatty alcohols, e.g., lecithin, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, etc. (since their main function is to create the softness and lubrication (slip) necessary to facilitate detangling without breakage)
- Humectants, such as honey, panthenol, glycerin and castor Oil (given their ability to attract and bind moisture to the hair)
- A plethora of oils, butters, herbs, extracts and vitamins (due to their many wonderful benefits for the hair and scalp, foremost among them are softness, strength and nourishment)
- A low concentration of certain hydrolyzed proteins, specifically wheat, quinoa and silk (because they can attract and retain moisture whilst providing strength without any stiff/hard after effects)
- An absence of ingredients that my hair dislikes, such as shea butter and palm oil/butter
Here is a list of the numero uno moisturizing DCs in my arsenal:
Blue Roze Beauty Cocoa Rhassoul Hair Mask
Blue Roze Beauty Chai Hair Tea
Hairveda Sitrinillah Deep Conditioner
Bask Vanilla Whiskey Reparative Hair Soak
Shescentit Avocado Conditioner
Shescentit Riche Moisture Masque
Silicon Mix Bambu Extract Nutritive Hair Treatment