The 17 Best Leave-In Conditioners for All Hair Types

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When it comes to the big three—hair, skin, and body—hair is typically the overworked yet underappreciated step-sister of the family. Think about your daily routines, and you’ll notice how much manipulation you put your hair through, be it wielding a round brush to fake a blowout or attempting to tame frizz with the best shampoos you can find. We owe it to our hair to give it the TLC it deserves, one of the kindest forms being the best leave-in conditioners money can buy.

After cleansing and conditioning your hair, leave-in treatment is the next product in the lineup that serves many purposes. “Leave-in conditioner is a hair care product that is applied to damp/towel-dried hair and is left in without rinsing. It helps moisturize, detangle, and protect hair from damage, leaving it softer, smoother, and more manageable,” says NYC-based hairstylist Christopher Naselli. When used with other styling agents, like hair gels or butters, leave-in works hand-in-hand with the other products to deliver beautiful results that allow your hair to flourish.

Many people sleep on the power of leave-in conditioners, but here are 17 reasons why you shouldn’t. We consulted hair experts and perused our collection to bring you the 17 best leave-in conditioners for healthier, softer hair year-round.

Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner

Key ingredients: Prickly pear oil, rose of Jericho, cactus flower extract

Size: 5 oz

If nourishment or heat protection are your main goals, the contents in this gorgeous pink bottle offer the best of both worlds. Dae’s leave-in uses prickly pear oil, which imparts shine, and cactus flower extract for strength to restore hair to health and shield it against high-heat styling tools.

Sephora rating: 4.9/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Hot tools permeate my room with a burnt aroma, you know, the one that smells like you spent six-plus hours in a hair salon around blow dryers and curling irons and can still smell it on your clothes and hair throughout the day. I love that this leave-in conditioner not only comes in a mist form for easy application but also leaves my hair smelling and feeling so good that sometimes I spray it just for fun. Still, I know my hair is being moisturized and protected and prepped for whatever style I choose next.”—Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor

Ultra Bond Overnight R&R Strengthen Leave-in Hair Treatment

Key ingredients: Amino acids

Size: 4 fl oz

Unlike most spray-and-go formulas, this one from Age Beautiful is designed to work as you count sheep. Especially beneficial for color-treated hair, particularly blondes, the leave-in conditioner rebuilds bonds broken over time to fortify and protect against further damage.

Amazon rating: 3.9/5 stars

Our expert says: “A client favorite is the AGEbeautiful Overnight R&R Leave-In Treatment because all the magic happens while you sleep. This product will nourish, strengthen, and rejuvenate your hair, and the fast-absorbing formula doesn’t require you to rinse in the morning because it has built-in bonding technology.”—Christopher Naselli, NYC-based celebrity hairstylist

Healthy hot Hair Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

Key ingredients: Mimosa flower extract

Size: 8.5 fl oz

You can’t have hot hair without healthy hair, and this leave-in mist offers a laundry list of perks, from humidity control to thermal protection to seamless detangling. Even better, the formula helps to ease the pain of detangling and keeps breakage to a minimum.

Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars

Our expert says: “My ultimate favorite leave-in conditioner is the Healthy SexyHair Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner. It’s light and moisturizing, bringing so many benefits to the hair without making it heavy at all.”—Danielle Priano, celebrity hairstylist and hot Hair ambassador

Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue

Key ingredients: AHAs, omega 9

Size: 1 fl oz

When you want your leave-in conditioners to do more than, well, condition, this Wella version is a good-for-you treatment with a focus on hair health. AHAs power the Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue—yes, you read that right—as the skin care ingredient group has cropped up in hair care recently to deliver the same strengthening properties it provides our face to our hair. With consistent use, breakage-prone hair will find relief, and your hair will flourish.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “Wow this stuff is amazing! I have very dry damaged hair from coloring and bleaching it. I usually have a very hard time brushing my hair put because of it. This product severely reduced my frizz and made it so easy to brush out without looking like a lion poof after. It was very easy to spray onto my hair and comb through. You only need a little bit each use.”

All In One Leave in Conditioner

Key ingredients: Argan oil amino acids

Size: 5.4 fl oz

Built around Morocconoil’s star ingredient, argan oil, this leave-in conditioner fortifies weakened strands, protects against heat, and hydrates.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “Got this to help with tangles after my daughter swims. Now I use it for my own hair. Definitely recommend.”

Frizz-Free + Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Mist

Key ingredients: Shea butter, coconut milk, macadamia oil

Size: 8 fl oz

A leave-in conditioner in the form of a mist makes wash-day more manageable and less time-consuming. Besides the intoxicating smell, the leave-in mist keeps frizz at bay so your curls can shine.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Few things make my hair feel as soft and supple as this leave-in conditioner. In addition to smelling like a tropical retreat, this mist makes my curls pop and keeps them coiled with no frizz.”—Nerisha Penrose

Protective Styles Moisturizing & Strengthening Leave-in Conditioner with Biotin

Key ingredients: Biotin, basil, bamboo

Size: 8 fl oz

Whether you’re about to install a protective style or you’re taking down an old one, reach for Taliah Waajid’s leave-in treatment, formulated with coconut milk, aloe, biotin, and more, to keep your hair resilient no matter what style you put it in.

Walmart rating: 4.8/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “This is my number one, go-to leave-in mist whenever I have braids because of how quickly and seamlessly I can moisturize my hair.”—Nerisha Penrose

Daily Leave In Conditioning Spray

Key ingredients: Biotin, sunflower seed oil

Size: 8 fl oz

The best part of this leave-in is the spray applicator. This treatment, formulated with biotin and sunflower seed oil for strength, will refresh your hair—mess-free.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “First time using this product...it was recommended by my beautician...very pleased with it...it detangles and moisturizes my hair for an easy comb.”

Leave-In Conditioner

Key ingredients: Aloe, biotin, jojoba oil, honey

Size: 9.8 fl oz

Pattern Beauty’s leave-in conditioner is a wash-day savior. When you need to smooth any knots or tangles, this product has just enough slip to glide effortlessly through your strands and leave your hair soft, luscious, and bouncy.

Ulta rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer said: “I love this leave-in. I’ve been using this since it came out. I tried it the first week and have never let go of it. I buy the larger bottle and refill my travel-size bottle for when I’m moving around. I have 3c curls with some slightly looser in the back and this conditioner keeps my hair so moisturized. I typically follow up with a cream with soft hold or a curly mousse. I use their cleansing shampoo every other wash as well. Tracee has done her thing with this one.”

Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Protection Leave-in Conditioner

Key ingredients: Castor oil, vitamins B3 and B5

Size: 6.8 fl oz

Split ends and breakage often mean it’s time for a cut. Thankfully, L’Oreal created a nourishing cocktail of oils and vitamins that repair damage to avoid a massive chop (and tears).

Walmart rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Walmart reviewer said: “I love this!! I have naturally curly hair and so does my daughter. It is hard to maintain this stuff is great. It works miracles. I use it and my eight-year-old daughter uses it the smell so good it’s better than any kids detangler we’re leaving conditioner we have ever used. It is a must have in my household.”

Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave In Conditioning Spray

Key ingredients: Argan oil, coconut oil, vitamin E

Size: 5 fl oz

Briogeo’s Farewell Frizz stands out from the rest thanks to its spray bottle applicator. No more messy wash days—just spray the product throughout your hair and watch it flourish.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I’ve tried almost everything on the market. As a girl with curls, frizz is an ongoing issue, but this product really works. Tamed my frizz, and I love it.”

No Frizz Conditioner

Key ingredients: Jojoba, hemisqualane

Size: 8 fl oz

Taming frizz is just one pillar this leave-in conditioner stands on. Other highlights include thermal protection and humidity resistance, along with preventing damage by strengthening the shaft with nourishing jojoba and hemisqualane.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I have dry frizzy hair in south GA and let me tell you this does the trick. Paired with the shampoo and anti frizz oil and spray i don’t have to rock the hat all summer any longer.”

Leave In Conditioner/Detangler

Key ingredients: Argan oil, marshmallow root, slippery elm bark

Size: 16 fl oz

This miracle product transforms limp, dull hair. It uses African medicinal herbs and essential oils to strengthen and hydrate hair.

Sunny in Denbigh rating: 4.9/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “No matter how dry your hair is, this leave-in conditioner can restore it back to life. Thanks to a blend of oils, my hair is coated in a super moisturizing mixture that keeps my strands soft and smooth whether in braids or worn natural.”—Nerisha Penrose

Pomegranate & Honey Leave In Conditioner

Key ingredients: Pomegranate, honey

Size: 12 fl oz

Mielle Organic’s cult-favorite leave-in conditioner is the reliable product your hair can always count on. Dry ends? Frizzy hair? Shapeless curls? Babassu oil, honey, and a slew of other natural ingredients work together to fight damage.

Ulta rating: 4.8/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer said: “If you want juicy curls, use this leave-in conditioner. It moisturizes my dry ends and gives me a defined twist-out (no additional products needed).” —Danielle James, digital beauty director

25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, fennel seed oil

Size: 13.5 fl oz

Need some serious hair TLC? Then Mizani’s 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Treatment is a must. The lightweight, milky consistency absorbs into the hair shaft for a buttery-smooth feel that keeps frizz at bay and creates a protective film against heat up to 450 degrees.

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Mizani was a staple in my hair care routine long before I could shop for myself. As a hair salon baby, it was one of the first few brands I saw in my household growing up, and has remained a constant in my hair routine—especially this leave-in—to this day. The spray applicator is a godsend for my braided styles and my hair always feels refreshed and soft, never weighed down, after each use.”—Nerisha Penrose

Leave-In Conditioner

Key ingredients: African tulip tree extract, amino acids

Size: 6.8 fl oz

Don’t you love a product that makes detangling easier? Vernon Francois’ leave-in is formulated with African tulip tree extracts and amino acids to define curls, tame frizz, and nourish strands with just a few spritzes.

Vernon Francois rating: 5/5 stars

A Vernon Francois reviewer said: “The spray nozzle helps me to easily coat my hair and apply it all over. My zig zag curls become more defined with each spritz. If you have dry, coarse, hair, add this to your routine.” —Danielle James

Detangling and Frizz Fighting Leave in Conditioner

Key ingredients: Tamarind seed extract, vitamin E, protein

Size: 4.7

This leave-in is infused with thermal protection to fight frizz and tame flyaways. But it’s the smell that really pulls you in, leaving your hair smelling like a bed of roses.

Sephora rating: 3.9/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “This product is by far the best deranged/leave in conditioner I’ve used! Makes my hair silky soft and had a wonderful scent that’s not too over powering!”

What is the purpose of a leave-in?

Similar to a conditioner, which imparts moisture post-shower, leave-in conditioners work to support hydration and restore the hair back to health. “Leave-in conditioners can also offer other important benefits for hair care, such as helping with frizz control. Some leave-in conditioners contain ingredients that offer protection against heat-styling tools like blow dryers and straighteners, while others offer formulas with UV protection to shield hair from the damaging effects of the sun. Overall, leave-in conditioners are a versatile and convenient way to keep hair healthy, hydrated, and looking its best,” says NYC hairstylist Christopher Naselli.

Where do leave-in conditioners fall into a routine?

“Leave-in conditioners typically fall into the routine after shampooing and conditioning. They’re applied to damp hair before styling,” NYC hairstylist Danielle Priano.

What ingredients should you look for in a formula? What should you avoid?

Moisture is key, so any ingredients that offer nourishment are an excellent place to start. “When choosing a leave-in conditioner, it’s important to look for ingredients that provide nourishment, hydration, and protection for your hair. Look for products that contain natural oils like coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil that will provide hydration, nourishment, and shine to the hair without weighing it down,” Naselli explains.

For those troubled with breakage-prone hair, Naselli suggests “to always look for products that contain proteins like keratin to help strengthen and repair damaged hair, reducing breakage and improving overall hair health.”

However, not all leave-in conditioners are made equally and contain ingredients that could do further damage to your hair. “Stay away from anything that contains sulfates and parabens. Sulfates will strip the hair of its natural oils and cause dryness, especially for those with sensitive or dry hair. Parabens are preservatives that can cause scalp irritation in some individuals,” Naselli adds.

Meet the Experts

Christopher Naselli is an NYC-based celebrity hairstylist.

Danielle Priano is an NYC-based celebrity hairstylist and hot Hair ambassador.

Why Trust ELLE Beauty?

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose consulted hair experts to learn about the benefits of leave-in conditioners and compiled a list of ELLE-approved finds.

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