You seriously need one in your life.
Want to level up your haircare routine? Leave-in conditioners are magicians working their magic by making bad hair days disappear.
Next to a rinse-out conditioner, a good leave-in conditioner must be in your rotation because it lingers in your locks to lock in moisture.
When a leave-in conditioner sinks into your scalp, it instantly soaks up some major hydrating TLC and sun/UV protection.
Say goodbye, frizz, because it will be a thing of the past – just like a distant memory. Thanks to leave-in conditioners, hair can be very shiny and naturally wavy.
This is a must-have for anybody who has a busy schedule and requires a time-sensitive treatment. Because let’s face it, we don’t always have the energy or the time to bother with a rigorous 15-minute hair mask shower treatment.
When you shop for an intensive leave-in conditioner, look for one with fatty alcohols, oils, and triglycerides to smooth your mane while leaving your locks in place.
What You'll Learn...
- 1 The Best Leave-In Conditioners
- 1.1 Best Budget-Friendly Leave-In Conditioner: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi-Use Hair Treatment
- 1.2 Best Biotin Leave-In Conditioner: Marc Anthony Grow Long Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.3 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curls and Coils: Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.4 Best Organic Leave-In Conditioner: Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light
- 1.5 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Air Drying: JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream
- 1.6 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Blow Drying: Nunzio Saviano The Cream
- 1.7 Best Bond-Building Leave-In Conditioner: Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.8 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Fine Hair: Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.9 Best Protective Leave-In Conditioner: R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.10 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair: Color Wow Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused Hydrating Leave-In Treatment
- 1.11 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Detangling: Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.12 Best Lightweight Leave-In Conditioner: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.13 Best Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner: Leonor Greyl Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Treatment Mist
- 1.14 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Shiny Hair: Davines Oi All One Milk Leave-In
- 1.15 Best Drugstore Leave-In Conditioner: Pantene Miracle Rescue 10-in-1 Multitasking Leave-In Spray
- 1.16 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged, Brittle Hair: Virtue Purifying Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.17 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Type 4 Hair: Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.18 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Wavy Hair: Ouai Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.19 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair: Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Treatment
- 1.20 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged Hair: Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture CC Cream
- 1.21 Best Leave In-Conditioner for Frizz and Flyaways: Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray
- 1.22 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Thick, Curly Hair: Cake The Mane Manage’r 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner
- 1.23 Best Leave-In Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Leave-in Treatment Spray
The Best Leave-In Conditioners
With all this information in mind, we’ve curated this list of the 23 best leave-in conditioners just for you.
Best Budget-Friendly Leave-In Conditioner: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi-Use Hair Treatment
Great things come in small packages, and this luxuriant leave-in conditioner comes in a standout black and gold package.
It’s formulated with a fine blend of proteins and almond oil to deliver strong and smooth hair. A little of this product goes a long way.
Best Biotin Leave-In Conditioner: Marc Anthony Grow Long Leave-In Conditioner
The strength-inducing and hair-nourishing pre-styling leave-in conditioner is just the pick-up you need.
It’s infused with vitamin E, ginseng, and caffeine to seal split ends and prevent breakage. You’re good to go by misting a few dry or damp hair sprays.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curls and Coils: Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner
This leave-in conditioner is made for curly-haired women.
It’s enriched with biotin, honey, jojoba oil, and sun seed oil.
It melts like butter, and hydrates like oil minus the grease. It feels light enough not to weigh your hair down without drying it at the end of the day.
Best Organic Leave-In Conditioner: Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light
Each Rahua purchase helps to support more than 500 indigenous Amazonian families directly.
The formulations of Rahua’s plant-derived hair products rely on the transformative powers of the Tungurahua nut, a rare variety of nuts found in the Amazon rainforest. The Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light is enriched with its potent oil.
This leave-in treatment is especially suited to fine hair, providing instant heat protection, preventing frizzy flyaways, and allowing hair to grow longer and stronger.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Air Drying: JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream
This multitasking leave-in conditioner is part styler and part conditioner for those who don’t have time or energy for curling irons or hair dryers.
Let your hair air dry easily and believe there’ll be a flexible hold without the frizz.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Blow Drying: Nunzio Saviano The Cream
Saviano’s leave-in conditioner cream is specially made for damp hair before blow drying to fight humidity, ban frizz, and nourish hair.
It’s enriched with coconut water and milk.
This leave-in conditioner is expertly crafted for thermal protection against heat-styling tools and serves a flexible hold.
Best Bond-Building Leave-In Conditioner: Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Conditioner
This modern leave-in conditioner uses innovative bond-building technology to fortify weak bonds along the hair shaft.
YI weak bonds mean split ends, breakage, and hair color fading.
To revive and reinvigorate your hair, pair this wonder with the matching shampoo and conditioner for healthy, shiny hair resistant to damage.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Fine Hair: Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner
The Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner from Gisou is multi-tasking and lightweight, perfect for hydrating and protecting your hair from breakage, heat damage, and pollution.
This nourishing formula is enriched with honey, baobab extract, and argan oil to soften your locks while controlling frizz.
Pair this treatment with the label’s Honey Infused Hair Wash and Conditioner.
Make sure to use it after and in between washes for smoother and healthier-looking hair.
Best Protective Leave-In Conditioner: R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
Reinforce hair with this nutrient-rich vitamin C leave-in conditioner.
Simply spray it on fresh, wet hair to help protect it from environmental hazards such as pollution, color-fading, and UV damage throughout the day.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair: Color Wow Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused Hydrating Leave-In Treatment
Dryness comes in various forms. From frizz and breakage to tangles and split ends.
This leave-in conditioner is specially made for the driest of hair types. It’s richly infused with keratin, coconut oil, and lipids to deeply nourish and make your mane flourish.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Detangling: Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner
Say goodbye to nasty knots and say hello to glossy locks.
The Melanin detangling leave-in conditioner packs a punch with vitamin B5, amino acids, jojoba oil, and argan oil
Best Lightweight Leave-In Conditioner: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner
This non-greasy, triple-threat leave-in conditioner is a blend of argan, coconut, and rosehip oils.
Lather on without fear. Layer it if you dare.
Best Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner: Leonor Greyl Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Treatment Mist
Get forever-young hair with a few spritzes of this leave-in conditioner.
It’s enriched with amino acids and collagen to ensure no more split ends.
The result is simply strong healthy hair.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Shiny Hair: Davines Oi All One Milk Leave-In
This lightweight conditioner delivers a mirror-like shine thanks to the roucou oil swimming around the formula.
The result is hydrated hair with a clean citrus smell.
Best Drugstore Leave-In Conditioner: Pantene Miracle Rescue 10-in-1 Multitasking Leave-In Spray
This drugstore steal leave-in conditioner is a dream come true.
From boosting shine and protecting from UV damage to softening and strengthening, whilst smoothing and detangling.
Talk about it being good to be true. What a wallet-friendly gem!
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged, Brittle Hair: Virtue Purifying Leave-In Conditioner
This contemporary leave-in conditioner uses innovative science to smooth and soften hair.
It’s enriched with alpha keratin 60ku to repair hair follicles and cracks on individual locks.
Additionally, it improves manageability, enhances minimal flyaways, and provides protection against environmental aggressors like pollution.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Type 4 Hair: Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
This ultra-hydrating leave-in conditioner uses a fine blend of babassu and buriti oils to penetrate the hair shaft deeply and effectively.
The moisturizing and detangling properties are a real-life miracle.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Wavy Hair: Ouai Leave-In Conditioner
This Ouai Leave-In Conditioner spray will leave your hair soft, detangled, and protected with moisturizing properties and enhanced heat protection.
Equipped with a new name and even more impressive tricks, the Ouai Smooth Spray has been reformulated as the Leave-In Conditioner.
With more moisturizing properties and enhanced heat protection, simply spritz onto damp hair to detangle, protect, and fight frizz.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair: Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Treatment
This Mizani spray controls flyways, tames frizz, and detangles hair.
There’s no beast it couldn’t tackle my friend.
It’s expertly formulated with fennel seed and coconut oil which leaves hair silkier and smoother.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged Hair: Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture CC Cream
Bring your hair to life with this elixir leave-in conditioner.
The key ingredient here is pure caviar. Alongside omega fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins.
This unified army fights the good fight to reduce breakage and restore the damage done to your mane.
Best Leave In-Conditioner for Frizz and Flyaways: Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray
Smooth problematic frizz for up to 3 days with Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray.
This leave-in conditioner is best when combined with similar Fluidissime products.
Ideal for unruly hair in serious need of smoothness and manageability, the Fluidissime spray from Kératase protects hair from frizz and humidity for up to 72 hours.
Use other products from the Discipline range for stronger, more nourished-looking hair.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Thick, Curly Hair: Cake The Mane Manage’r 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner
This tripe-action formula can be used as a leave-in conditioner, style refresher, and daily moisturizer.
It is infused with rice proteins, soy, biotin, and coconut oil.
Pro tip: use it before you blow dry to detangle your curls, resulting in soft, shiny hair.
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Leave-in Treatment Spray
Looking for some extra TLC for your hair? Get this nutrient-packed leave-in conditioner.
It’s filled with coconut and olive oils to transform dull, dry hair into soft, smooth hair.
It is free of parabens, sulfates, SLS, and other ingredients.
Final Verdict
Regardless of what leave-in conditioner you decide, picking one is universally essential. No one is free from needing one. So, whether you want to splurge or save money, get one.