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Picture this: you’ve just hopped out of the shower, toweled off, and begun your regular getting-ready routine when you run your fingers through your hair… ugh, dry… again! We’ve all been there. There’s hardly anything worse (beauty-wise, at least) than feeling your hair and noticing extreme dryness or damage. When this happens to me, I typically reach for a leave-in conditioner to do a few healing treatments with.
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What to Look for in a Leave-In Conditioner
Though it can be tempting to just grab any old leave-in conditioner off the shelf at the store, no two are just alike and it is critical to get one that will pair well with your hair type. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a leave-in conditioner:
Creamy vs. Liquid
There are two main “textures,” or consistency, that leave-in conditioners come in: creamy and liquid. As you might imagine, liquid leave-in conditioner supports de-tangling and often works better with finer hair, as it won’t weigh the hair down. Creamy leave-in conditioners, on the other hand, work better with frizzy hair and to combat more intense damage, such as split-ends and aging.
Check the Ingredient List
Unfortunately, some leave-in conditioners are able to do your hair more harm than good, which is why looking at the ingredient list is key. Specifically, you’ll want to avoid alcohol and dyes, as those can dry your hair out. You’ll want to look for ingredients like glycerin, that help with the protection of your precious locks.
Consider Your Hair Type
Finally, it is critical to take a good, honest look at your hair type to identify what will work best. Is your hair curly? Fine? Treated with color? All of these factors (and more!) will play into the efficacy of your leave-in conditioner.
Our Top Picks
Overall Best Leave-In Conditioner
It’s hard to top a conditioner that is literally tailored to your hair, which is why we have to give it to Prose for the best overall leave-in conditioner. I love the ingredient list examples that they give for one person’s custom formula that included caviar lime extract for shine, oat oil for color protection, and grape seed oil for hair health. Almost sounds good enough to eat…. Editor Hallie did a full review of the brand, even going so far as to say coworkers were complimenting her shiny hair over Zoom!
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Best for Fine Hair
Though it is advertised as for all hair types, fine hair friends find OUAI’s Leave-In Conditioner to be extra special. Beyond just hydrating the hair, it detangles and fights frizz. This one happens to be a spray, which will help to not over-apply and weigh down your fine hair.
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Best for Frizzy Hair
Act+Acre makes a leave-in conditioner specific to frizzy hair! With a 96% recommendation rate on Sephora’s website, the before and after pics are stunning. With clean ingredients, including Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Snow Mushroom Blend, you’ll love the way this smells of “cardamom, iris, violet, and sandalwood… providing lasting silage and addictive comfort.”
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Best for Curly Hair
I’m truly a sucker for all-things Aussie, so Kevin.Murphy’s Killer.Curls Leave-In is no exception. With heat protection up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit, the brand seeks to create a natural feel for the hair, restoring the bounciness of the curls – without any of the “bad ingredients.”
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Best for Dry Hair
Promising to deliver 14x hydration, this lightweight spray powered by a vegan keratin alternative packs a punch. Users say they noticed evidence of their hair becoming less dry and had an easier time detangling it once they started using it.
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Best Drugstore Brand
I may love a quality product, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love a good deal or the convenience that drug stores offer. Odele is the best of both worlds. With a price of just $11.99 at target, you can get sulfate-free deep moisture any time of day or night. I also love that the brand uses 100% natural fragrances that are ungendered, meaning you can share with an S.O. if you wanted to, too!
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Best for Colored Hair
For some things, you’ve gotta just trust the pros, which is why I love Pureology’s Color Fanatic Leave-In. The brand literally was created to support healthy color care, so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing. With nearly 16,000 reviews averaging 4.6 stars on Amazon, it’s clear this does wonders in protecting the color you spent so much time and money on.
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Best for Bleached Hair
Those with bleached hair seem to love the amika Hydro Rush Intense Leave-In Conditioner for the fact that its creaminess really keeps their hair easy-to-brush and silky smooth. I’ve bleached my hair once and I can personally say this is no easy feat to do, so kudos to the brand for its innovation.
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Best Smelling
Is there anything better than a great-smelling hair product? Ceremonia’s Guava Leave In Conditioner is an award-winning product that promises deep hydration – and will leave you smelling like sweet pineapple and guava. How tropical!
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FAQs
What does a leave-in conditioner do?
A leave-in conditioner allows for more moisture to stay in the hair than a traditional conditioner that is rinsed out. Since it is left in the hair after showering, it can also help support detangling efforts.
When do I use a leave-in conditioner?
Unlike many other beauty products that are quite prescriptive in nature, leave-in conditioners often are used on an “as-needed” basis. Look at your hair to tell you if you need to use it. Dryness and tangles are often an indicator that you might want to use it more frequently. If your hair starts to feel oily and limp, you might want to lay off of the frequency.
How do I use a leave-in conditioner?
A leave-in conditioner is applied at the end of a shower once you’ve exited and dried the hair slightly. While the hair is still damp, take a small amount and run it through the hair. If your hair is finer, you may want to stick to just applying it to the ends of your hair and not the root. Then, brush it out and proceed to style your locks as you’d normally do!
Looking for more of all things hair care? Check our hair oils roundup and explore all our favorite beauty products.
