Redken All Soft Conditioner Review: Salon-Soft Hair in a Bottle
The Essence
A salon-grade, argan oil–infused conditioner designed to cocoon dry, brittle strands in moisture. In our testing, it transformed rough, color-treated lengths into supple, light-reflective hair with a softness that feels distinctly professional, not drugstore. This is the quiet-luxury workhorse of moisture conditioners: understated, effective, and surprisingly sensorial.
Our Verdict
Redken All Soft Conditioner is what happens when a heritage salon brand decides softness is a non‑negotiable, not a nice‑to‑have. In our testing, it turned dull, thirsty hair into supple, light-catching lengths that felt expensive to the touch. The argan oil–driven Moisture Complex doesn’t just coat; it cushions, lending that elusive slip and manageability you usually only feel walking out of a salon. It is, however, unapologetically rich—sublime on dry, damaged, or high-porosity strands, but potentially heavy on very fine hair if you’re not strategic. Factor in fussy packaging and a prestige price, and this becomes a deliberate choice rather than an impulse buy. For those who prioritize touchable softness and a polished, professional finish, we kept reaching for it—and our hair showed it.
Softness & Slip
From the first rinse, our performance analysis reveals a signature silkiness that is hard to ignore. Hair that previously snagged on brushes suddenly glides, and even dense, coarse textures become more fluid. This is where All Soft earns its name—and its reputation.
Overall Hair Health
Over time, we noticed fewer rough ends, less visible breakage, and a healthier surface shine, especially on color-treated and bleached hair. It’s not a miracle repair mask, but as a daily (or near-daily) conditioner, it meaningfully supports resilience and reduces that ‘parched’ look.
Moisture & Hydration Balance
The moisture payoff is generous—sometimes very generous. On dry, porous hair, it restores suppleness beautifully. On finer or low-porosity hair, it can tip into heavy if you’re not judicious. This is a luxurious drench, not a whisper of hydration.
Shine & Finish
We consistently saw a refined, healthy sheen rather than a greasy film. Light catches the lengths in a way that feels expensive—think soft-focus glow, not glassy, product-laden shine. For many of us, it rivaled adding a separate oil or serum.
Scent & Sensory Experience
The fragrance reads lightly aquatic-clean with a salon edge, and for most of us it felt subtle in the hair once dry. However, a noticeable minority found it too chemical or even irritating, so it’s not the universally adored, spa-like scent some might expect.
Formula Quality & Technology
The blend of argan oil, moisture-binding humectants, and hydrolyzed proteins feels decidedly professional. Our lab assessment of the INCI list aligns with how it performs: a thoughtful balance of emollients and strengthening agents rather than a simple, one-note oil conditioner.
Value as a Luxury Investment
There’s no denying the cost-to-size sting, especially for long or very thick hair. That said, the concentration means you can use less, and the results do surpass most mass-market options. It’s a considered splurge that makes sense if hair health is a priority spend.
Packaging & Usability
The bottle looks sleek in the shower, but function lags behind form. The thick formula plus a rigid bottle make dispensing—particularly the last third—a small workout. A pump or more flexible packaging would elevate the experience to match the formula.
Pros & Cons
The Good
- Delivers a distinctly salon-level softness and slip, even on thick, color-treated, or bleached hair.
- Argan oil and Moisture Complex leave hair smoother, shinier, and noticeably easier to detangle.
- Rich, concentrated texture means a small amount can coat mid-lengths and ends effectively.
- Helps reduce frizz and breakage, making hair feel stronger and more resilient over time.
- Light, pleasant fragrance that feels more ‘clean hair’ than heavy perfume for most testers.
- Performs especially well when paired with the matching All Soft Shampoo as a full system.
- Vegan, professional-grade formula that feels elevated compared to typical mass-market conditioners.
The Bad
- Can feel heavy, greasy, or flattening on very fine or low-density hair if over-applied or used too often.
- Packaging is notoriously hard to squeeze, making the last third of the bottle frustrating to access.
- Premium pricing for a relatively modest bottle size, especially for those needing a lot of product per wash.
- Scent and chemical profile are polarizing for some, with a few testers finding it too synthetic or irritating.
Insights from our Panel of Experts
What Lovers Say
In our testing panel, the enthusiasts were almost giddy: hair that felt like straw suddenly became buttery soft, with a glossy, healthy sheen that looked freshly blown-out. Coarse, high-porosity, and heavily highlighted strands in particular drank this formula up. We noticed less frizz, fewer tangles, and an overall sense that hair behaved better—brushing, styling, and even air-drying felt more effortless. Many of us found we needed less styling product because the hair itself looked and felt more polished.
What Critics Say
Not everyone was smitten. On fine, easily weighed-down hair, All Soft could tip into ‘too much of a good thing,’ leaving roots limp or lengths slightly coated if used like a standard conditioner. Several of us grumbled about the bottle: once you hit the halfway mark, getting product out becomes a two-handed squeeze-and-shake operation. A smaller subset found the scent overly chemical or experienced scalp sensitivity and even breakouts along the hairline and shoulders, reminding us this is not a minimalist, fragrance-free formula.
The Matchmaker
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Perfect For You If...
If your hair feels rough, brittle, over-processed, or perpetually thirsty—and you crave that silky, salon-finish softness—this conditioner is squarely in your lane. You’ll appreciate it most if you have medium to thick, wavy, curly, or color-treated hair that can handle a richer, more emollient formula.
Skip This If...
You prefer ultra-light, barely-there conditioners or have very fine, easily weighed-down roots and wash daily. You’re also better off skipping if you’re highly sensitive to fragrance or want a squeaky-clean, low-ingredient, ‘natural’ formula; this is a polished, professional blend, not a pared-back minimalist one.
The Sensory Ritual: Texture, Scent, and Rinse-Out Feel
From the moment it hits your palm, Redken All Soft Conditioner feels like a true salon product. The texture is decadently thick and creamy—almost balm-like—so it doesn’t slip through your fingers or down the drain. As we emulsified it between our hands, it gained a buttery slip that made it easy to rake through mid-lengths and ends, even on dense or curly hair.
The scent sits in that clean, aquatic-salon space with a soft, slightly fruity sweetness rather than a heavy perfume cloud. On most of our testers, it was noticeable in the shower, then dried down to a subtle, “my hair just smells clean” aura rather than a statement fragrance. A few noses, however, picked up a sharper chemical edge and even likened it to cleaning wipes—if you’re scent-sensitive, that’s worth noting.
Rinsing is where the transformation becomes obvious. As the water runs through, you can literally feel the cuticle smoothing under your fingers; tangles melt, and hair takes on that slippery, glass-ribbon feel. Crucially, once dry, the softness remains without a waxy coating—provided you haven’t overloaded it. On parched, processed hair, the after-feel is lush and plush. On fine hair, too much product can leave a slightly coated, weighty finish, so the sensorial magic really lies in finding your sweet-spot amount.
Ingredients & Technology: Why This Feels So ‘All Soft’
Our lab deep-dive into the INCI list explains exactly why this conditioner behaves the way it does. At its core is Redken’s Moisture Complex, anchored by argan oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)—a beloved lipid for its ability to soften, add shine, and cushion the hair fiber without the heaviness of some plant oils. It’s supported by Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetyl Alcohol, the so-called “fatty alcohols” that give the formula its creamy, plush slip while helping to smooth the cuticle.
We also noticed a thoughtful inclusion of Sodium PCA, a humectant that pulls and holds moisture in the hair shaft, and hydrolyzed proteins (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol). These smaller protein fragments can temporarily fortify weakened areas, lending that subtle feeling of strength and reduced breakage we observed over time—particularly on bleached and color-treated hair.
Silicone-wise, the star is Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate, a more water-dispersible silicone derivative that provides shine and slip but is easier to wash out than heavy, build-up–prone silicones. The formula is also sulfate-free and paraben-free, relying instead on phenoxyethanol and chlorhexidine dihydrochloride in tiny amounts for preservation. Citric acid helps maintain a pH that keeps the cuticle lightly sealed, which we saw reflected in the smoother, shinier finish. The trade-off of this sophisticated cocktail? It’s not a minimalist or fragrance-free option—those with highly reactive skin or a strict “clean beauty” philosophy may prefer a simpler formula.
Performance on Different Hair Types: Who It Loves Most
We deliberately tested All Soft across a spectrum of hair types and lifestyles—from once-a-week washers with balayage to daily washers with fine, natural hair—to see where it truly excels.
On dry, color-treated, bleached, or chemically straightened hair, it was a standout. Strands that previously felt straw-like, rough, and prone to snapping became markedly softer and more pliable, with a visible uptick in shine. High-porosity curls (2C–3C) appreciated how easily it detangled and how it reduced frizz and breakage, especially when used with the matching All Soft Shampoo. Several long-hair testers with waist-length, heavily processed hair reported they could use surprisingly small amounts and still achieve full slip.
On fine or low-density hair, the experience was more nuanced. Used generously or at the roots, it could make hair feel flat, quickly oily at the scalp, and even a bit “producty” by day two. When we adjusted the method—focusing strictly on mid-lengths to ends, using a pea- to dime-size amount, and alternating with a lighter conditioner—results improved significantly. Hair felt silky and baby-soft without collapsing at the crown.
For naturally curly and textured hair, the moisture level was welcome, but this isn’t a curl-defining formula. It’s best seen as the hydration step in a broader routine: follow with your preferred curl creams, gels, or mousses for shape. Severely over-processed hair still benefited, but in those cases we found pairing All Soft with a weekly deep mask or protein treatment delivered the most dramatic turnaround.
Application Strategy: How to Use It Like a Stylist
The difference between “luxuriously soft” and “heavy and limp” with All Soft often came down to technique. Here’s how we refined our routine to get the most out of it:
- Start with properly cleansed hair. We had the best results when pairing it with a gentle, non-stripping shampoo (the All Soft Shampoo or a similar sulfate-free formula). On hair with a lot of buildup, a clarifying wash once in a while helped this conditioner penetrate more evenly.
- Towel-squeeze before applying. On dripping-wet hair, the product can dilute and slide off. We lightly squeezed out excess water first, then applied.
- Target mid-lengths and ends. We avoided the root area unless hair was extremely dry. A pea-sized amount was enough for fine, shoulder-length hair; thicker, longer hair needed more, but less than you’d expect for the payoff.
- Comb through for even distribution. Using fingers or a wide-tooth comb, we worked it through until every strand felt coated and slippery. This is where the detangling magic really happens.
- Let it sit. Leaving it on for a few minutes (2–5) turned basic conditioning into more of a mini treatment, especially for damaged hair. For extra-parched ends, we occasionally did a second, shorter application focused only on the bottom few inches.
Rinse until hair feels silky but not slimy—a faint, conditioned slip is ideal. Those with very fine hair found that a slightly longer rinse time helped maintain volume while still reaping the softness benefits.
Packaging, Practicalities & The Luxury Trade-Offs
Visually, the golden bottle telegraphs salon prestige; it looks chic lined up in a shower niche. In practice, we found the packaging to be the product’s most glaring flaw. The formula’s beautiful thickness becomes a liability inside a rigid, non-pump bottle: once you pass the halfway mark, dispensing requires serious hand strength, two-handed squeezing, or resorting to decanting into another container. Several of us ended up storing it upside down or transferring it into a pump bottle to avoid wasting the last third.
From a value perspective, this is firmly in the prestige category. The upside is concentration—you truly don’t need handfuls unless your hair is exceptionally long and dense. Many of us stretched a bottle far longer than typical drugstore conditioners, especially when we were mindful about focusing on the driest areas. Still, if you’re used to slathering conditioner from roots to tips, you’ll feel the cost.
There are also sensory and skin considerations. While most of our testers tolerated the formula well, a smaller group experienced scalp irritation, itching, or breakouts along the hairline and shoulders, likely linked to the fragrance and richer conditioning agents. This isn’t unusual for complex, salon-style formulas, but it’s a reminder: luxury haircare isn’t automatically gentler, just more targeted. For those who get along with it, the payoff in softness and manageability feels lavish. For the ultra-sensitive, patch testing and keeping it off the scalp are wise precautions.
Buying Guide
Consultant's Breakdown
Expert analysis to help you decide.
Think of Redken All Soft Conditioner as a luxury staple, not a casual add-on. It’s a smart investment if your hair is dry, color-treated, or brittle and you’re genuinely chasing that salon-soft finish at home. If your hair is relatively healthy and low-maintenance, the incremental upgrade over a good drugstore conditioner may not justify the spend.
Where this conditioner distinguishes itself is in its balance of softness, slip, and professional-level technology. It offers a more polished, long-lasting silkiness than most mass-market moisturising conditioners, without the heavy, waxy film some high-oil formulas leave behind. Used with the matching shampoo, the system delivers a cohesively smooth, salon-style finish.
In our testing, this worked best on dry, coarse, high-porosity, color-treated, or chemically processed hair—straight, wavy, or curly. Fine or low-density hair can still benefit, but only with very small amounts focused on the ends. It’s particularly kind to mature, gray, or white hair that tends to feel wiry and parched.
We found this shines in colder, drier months or in air-conditioned environments where hair is more prone to dehydration. In humid summers or on very fine hair, it can feel a touch rich, so alternating with a lighter conditioner or reducing frequency works well. It’s also excellent as a post-sun, post-pool replenisher year-round.
Specifications
| Item Form | Oil-based conditioning cream designed to coat and nourish the hair shaft. |
|---|---|
| Hair Type | Optimized for dry hair, especially brittle, color-treated, or chemically processed lengths. |
| Product Benefits | Argan oil–enriched formula that deeply hydrates to restore moisture and impart shine to dry, brittle hair. |
| Scent Family | Aquatic with a light, clean profile. |
| Additional Features | Gently conditions and softens while enhancing manageability and shine. |
| Package Type | Bottle format suitable for shower use. |
| Hair Conditioner Type | Standard rinse-out conditioner for daily or frequent use. |
| Brand | Redken professional haircare. |
| Age Range | Formulated for adult use but gentle enough that families often share it. |
| Manufacturer | Redken, a professional salon-focused haircare manufacturer. |
| Material Features | Vegan-friendly formulation with no animal-derived ingredients. |
| Free From | Gluten free, suitable for those avoiding gluten in haircare. |
| Recommended Uses | Ideal for salon and spa–style conditioning rituals at home. |
| Directions | After shampooing with All Soft Shampoo, apply and distribute through hair, then rinse thoroughly. |
| Key Ingredients | Formulated with argan oil, Redken’s Moisture Complex, fatty alcohols, humectants, and hydrolyzed proteins to support softness and strength. |
Our Testing Methodology
We tested Redken All Soft Conditioner over several weeks across a mixed panel: fine, medium, and thick hair; straight to 3C curls; virgin, highlighted, and heavily bleached. We paired it primarily with gentle, sulfate-free shampoos, including its matching All Soft Shampoo, and evaluated performance in both dry winter air and more humid conditions. We tracked immediate slip and detangling in the shower, air-dry versus blow-dry results, next-day feel, and longer-term changes in softness, frizz, and perceived breakage. Particular attention was paid to how different hair types responded to varying amounts and application zones (ends-only versus full lengths).
Frequently Asked Questions
Efficacy & Performance
It performs impressively on genuinely dry, brittle, or over-processed hair. In our testing, even straw-like, bleached lengths felt noticeably softer, smoother, and shinier after a single use, with better manageability over a couple of weeks. Severely compromised hair may still need masks or professional treatments in addition, but this is an excellent daily support.
Yes, it significantly tames frizz for most hair types. The argan oil, fatty alcohols, and silicones create a smoother cuticle surface, so hair looks more polished and less haloed with flyaways, even in humidity. Curly hair may still need dedicated styling products for definition, but the baseline frizz level is notably reduced.
On medium to thick, dry hair, it feels rich but not greasy when used from mid-lengths down. On very fine or easily-oily hair, applying too much or taking it to the roots can cause limpness and faster greasiness. We recommend using a small amount, avoiding the scalp, and adjusting frequency if you notice heaviness.
You can expect an immediate boost in softness, slip, and shine after the first use—hair feels smoother as you rinse. With regular use over one to two weeks, we saw deeper improvements in manageability, reduced roughness at the ends, and an overall healthier look, especially on color-treated or bleached hair.
Yes, the softness and smoother texture last until your next wash. On our testers who wash once or twice a week, hair stayed touchably soft, more tangle-resistant, and retained a healthy sheen for several days. The benefits are cumulative, so consistency really pays off.
Ingredients & Safety
The conditioner itself is sulfate-free and does not rely on traditional parabens like methylparaben or propylparaben. Instead, it uses alternative preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and chlorhexidine dihydrochloride. It’s designed to be gentle on color and less stripping than sulfate-based systems.
Yes, it contains water-dispersible silicones like Potassium Dimethicone PEG-7 Panthenyl Phosphate to enhance slip and shine without heavy buildup, plus hydrolyzed soy and vegetable proteins. Those proteins help reinforce weakened areas of the hair shaft, contributing to the feeling of reduced breakage over time.
The formula is marked as vegan and does not list animal-derived ingredients. The brand states it does not test on animals except where required by law. If cruelty-free certification is critical for you, we recommend checking the latest brand policy in your region for regulatory nuances.
Yes, it’s specifically formulated to be color-safe and is particularly beneficial on color-treated and bleached hair. In our testing, it helped maintain vibrancy by avoiding harsh cleansing agents and by keeping the cuticle smoother, which in turn reduces dullness and roughness on processed lengths.
Most of our testers tolerated it well, but it does contain fragrance and a fairly complex ingredient list. A small subset experienced scalp itching or breakouts around the hairline and shoulders. If you’re prone to sensitivity, patch test first and keep it primarily on the lengths rather than massaging into the scalp.
Application & Usage
After shampooing, gently squeeze excess water from your hair, then apply the conditioner from mid-lengths to ends. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute evenly, leave it on for 2–5 minutes, and rinse until hair feels silky but not coated. Avoid the roots if your hair is fine or easily weighed down.
Yes, it’s designed for frequent use and works beautifully as a regular conditioner on dry or processed hair. If your hair is fine, low-porosity, or gets oily quickly, you might prefer using it every other wash or only on the ends to maintain volume while still enjoying the softness.
For optimal performance, pairing it with the All Soft Shampoo gives the most cohesive result. We noticed the promised softness, slip, and shine were most pronounced when used as a system, as the shampoo preps the hair without stripping, allowing the conditioner to absorb and perform more effectively.
Absolutely. Leaving it on for 5–10 minutes turns it into a more intensive treatment, especially for very dry or damaged ends. For severely compromised hair, we sometimes did a second application focused just on the bottom few inches, which gave a noticeable boost in suppleness.
No, this is formulated as a rinse-out conditioner. Leaving it in can lead to heaviness, buildup, and potential scalp irritation. If you want leave-in benefits, we suggest following with a dedicated leave-in from the same line or another lightweight treatment designed to stay in the hair.
Hair Type & Concerns
It can be, but you need to be restrained. On fine or thin hair, we had the best results using a very small amount, applied only to the last few inches, and rinsed thoroughly. Overuse or applying at the roots can cause flatness and faster oiliness, so think of it as a targeted treatment rather than an all-over mask.
Yes, especially for curls that are dry, color-treated, or high-porosity. It makes detangling much easier and reduces frizz. However, it doesn’t define curls on its own, so you’ll still want to layer your usual curl creams, gels, or mousses afterward to shape and hold your texture.
It can’t fuse split ends back together, but it does help reduce the appearance of frayed tips and minimizes further breakage. The combination of conditioning agents and proteins made our hair feel stronger and less prone to snapping, especially when brushing or heat-styling, but regular trims are still essential.
Yes, it’s an excellent match for mature hair, which often feels drier and more wiry. In our tests on natural white and gray hair, it softened the coarse texture and added a healthy, reflective sheen. You may still want a separate product if you’re targeting yellowing or brassiness specifically.
No, it’s not formulated as a scalp treatment. Its focus is on conditioning the hair shaft rather than addressing dandruff, flaking, or scalp imbalances. If you have scalp concerns, pair it with targeted scalp treatments or medicated products and keep the conditioner primarily on your lengths.
Gaps, Trade-Offs & Practicalities
If your hair is genuinely dry, brittle, or heavily processed, the softness, shine, and manageability it delivers can absolutely justify the investment. The formula is concentrated, so you can use less. If your hair is already healthy and low-maintenance, the upgrade over a good drugstore option may feel marginal for the cost.
The combination of a very thick formula and a fairly rigid bottle makes dispensing tricky, especially once you reach the last third. We found it easier to store the bottle upside down or decant into a pump container. It’s a design oversight that doesn’t reflect the sophistication of the formula inside.
A few testers did experience breakouts along the shoulders and hairline, likely from residue contacting the skin. To minimize this risk, rinse thoroughly, avoid letting hair sit on your back while coated, and wash your body after rinsing your hair. If you’re very acne-prone, monitor closely when you introduce it.
No, it doesn’t contain dedicated UV filters or robust heat-protective polymers. It does improve hair’s overall condition, which can make it more resilient, but you’ll still want a separate heat protectant before hot tools and a UV-protective product if you’re in strong sun frequently.
It’s best viewed as a high-performance daily or frequent-use conditioner, not a replacement for intensive repair. For severely damaged or over-processed hair, we had the best results when using this regularly and layering in a weekly deep mask or occasional in-salon treatment for a more dramatic reset.
The Curated Edit
Curated based on the unique characteristics of Redken All Soft Conditioner.
Redken All Soft Shampoo
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Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner for Damaged Hair
amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask
Redken Extreme Length Biotin Conditioner
Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave In Conditioner
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo for Damaged Hair Repair
