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When it comes to keeping your hair as shiny and healthy as possible, a good conditioner is the most important weapon in your arsenal – so it almost seems silly that we tend to wash it out in the time it takes to shave our legs.
Of course, the longer you leave your conditioner on your head, the more time it has to work its magic – but we’re not suggesting you go to work with a head full of your fave formula (not a good look).
To get the best of both worlds, a leave-in conditioner is your best bet. These smart formulas work overtime to shield your strands from heat, pollution, rough brushing and abrasion (yes, your Ariana-inspired pony is pulled too tight), all while fighting frizz and adding shine.
But not all leave-in conditioners are made equal – the one that works best for you will depend on your hair type and condition. Thick, unruly hair will soak up a rich and nourishing cream, yet fine strands can be easily overloaded – the solution here lies in a lightweight mist that will impart moisture without weighing down your roots. (Yes, they do exist!) Now, there are clever colour-enhancing formulas that'll brighten brassy blonde, and shaping creams that'll make your blow-dry look as pro as possible.
To help you choose the best one for you, we’ve tested loads of the best leave-in conditioners on a range of hair types, so you can head straight for your perfect match.
A leave-in conditioner for each and every hair type
1
Best leave-in conditioner for snapping hair
OLAPLEX cultbeauty.co.uk
No 6 Bond Smoother
2
Best leave-in conditioner for fine hair
Drunk Elephant cultbeauty.co.uk
Wild Marula Tangle Spray
3
Best leave-in conditioner for damaged hair
The Inkey List feelunique.com
PCA Bond Repair Hair Treatment
4
Best leave-in conditioner for bouncy blowdries
IT'S A 10 itsa10haircare.co.uk
Miracle Blow Dry H20 Shield
5
Best leave-in conditioner for frizz-prone hair
L'oreal boots.com
Hydra Hyaluronic Acid Serum
6
Best leave-in conditioner for dry hair
Garnier feelunique.com
Marvellous Oils Leave-in Conditioner
7
Best leave-in conditioner for damaged hair
Andrew Fitzsimons boots.com
Repair Leave-in Conditioner for Damaged Hair
8
Best leave-in conditioner for curly hair
Kérastase lookfantastic.com
Curl Manifesto Leave-In-Cream
9
Best leave-in conditioner for coils and texture
As I Am lookfantastic.com
Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave in Conditioner
10
Best leave-in conditioner for fine hair
John Frieda feelunique.com
Overnight Miracles Repair & Renew Hair Mist
Laura Capon Senior Fashion & Beauty Writer Laura writes about everything beauty and fashion related for Cosmopolitan UK and specialises in makeup, plus-size fashion and the world of YouTube.
Take a peek at your medicine cabinet—it’s probably stocked with so many random hair products that, let’s be honest, you rarely ever use. Well, I’m going to make your life a little bit easier by telling you to get rid of basically everything—because all you really need is a leave-in conditioner. A good leave-in conditioner multitasks like no other, and depending on the formula you choose, it can function as a detangler, deep conditioner, flyaway-minimizer, heat protectant, air-dry cream, strengthening-treatment, and more. Plus, if you’re in between washes and your hair is looking meh, some leave-in conditioners can even be used for a quick refresher too.
To help you find the perfect leave-in conditioner, I rounded up the 25 best leave-in conditioners (check out a quick snapshot, below) and chatted with three expert hairstylists—Nunzio Saviano, Bridget Kinney, and Nubia Rëzo—to help you choose the right formula for your hair type and texture. But, first, a sneak peek:
Our top picks for the best leave-in conditioner of 2022:
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Best Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Read More
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Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curls and Coils
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner
Read More
-
Best Organic Leave-In Conditioner
Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light
Read More
-
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Air Drying
JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream
Read More
-
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Blow Drying
Nunzio Saviano The Cream
Read More
Keep scrolling for the entire list of the 25 best leave-in conditioners along with everything you need to know about using a leave-in conditioner in your at-home haircare routine.
Best Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curls and Coils
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner
Best Organic Leave-In Conditioner
Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Air Drying
JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Blow Drying
Nunzio Saviano The Cream
Best Bond-Building Leave-In Conditioner
Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Treatment
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Heat Styling
Dae Cactus Flower Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Blondes
Bumble and Bumble Bb.Illuminated Blonde Leave In Spray
Best Leave-In Conditioner For Fine Hair
Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner
Best Protective Leave-In Conditioner
R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair
Color Wow Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused Hydrating Leave In Treatment
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Detangling
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave In Conditioner
Best Lightweight Leave-In Conditioner
Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray
Best Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner
Leonor Greyl Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Treatment Mist
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Shiny Hair
Davines Oi All One Milk Leave-In
Best Drugstore Leave-In Conditioner
Pantene Miracle Rescue 10 in 1 Multitasking Leave In Spray
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged, Brittle Hair
Virtue Purifying Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Type 4 Hair
Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Wavy Hair
Ouai Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Thick Hair
Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair
Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Treatment
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged Hair
Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture CC Cream
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Thick, Curly Hair
Cake The Mane Manage’r 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Leave in Treatment Spray
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Frizz and Flyaways
Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray
What is leave-in conditioner?
Leave-in conditioners have some similar qualities to the regular conditioner that you use post-wash in the shower, but they're not meant to be rinsed out of your hair once applied. They're also different from leave-in cream or curl cream since most leave-in conditioners don't style your hair or define curls and waves. Instead, leave-in conditioners help moisturize your hair, add shine, detangle, protect from heat damage, and strengthen your hair too, says Saviano. Hence their reputation for being ~amazing~.
What's the best leave-in conditioner?
The best leave-in conditioners are the ones that are going to penetrate the cuticle, lock in the water and hydration, and won't feel heavy on your hair, Rëzo has told Cosmo. Every hair type can absolutely benefit from a leave-in conditioner when you use it correctly.
Leave-in conditioners are particularly useful if you use a hairdryer, curling iron, or any other heat-based styling tool because "you should use a heat protectant anytime you are using hot tools on your hair," says Kinney.
How often should you use leave-in conditioner?
How often you use your leave-in conditioner depends on your hair type and the formulation of the leave-in you're using, says Saviano. That said, over-conditioning is a real thing, and if your hair tends to get greasy fast or suffer from buildup, you may want to use a leave-in conditioner more sparingly. But if you have dry, damaged, or curly hair (leave-in conditioners are okay for the Curly Girl Method, FYI), you may be able to use 'em more than that.
Can you use leave-in conditioner on dry hair?
Check the label—usually, a leave-in conditioner works best just after you've hopped out of the shower and have damp hair, but some brands are light enough to be applied to dry hair too. Sometimes you might just need to wet your hair eeeeever so slightly before application.
How to choose a leave-in conditioner:
Think about your hair's type and texture.
Your hair porosity and texture are key here, and will help you understand 1) which leave-in conditioner is right for you, and 2) how often you should be using it. But here's a good rule of thumb: If your hair tends to get weighed down with product and/or is low-porosity, you'll want to go with a lighter formula made with lightweight oils, like jojoba or almond oil. If you have high-porosity hair that can handle lots of product, you can go with heavier oils like coconut and olive.
Keep an eye out for silicones.
Some leave-in conditioners contains silicone, which some ppl love for creating smoothness and slip and softness, but they can also cause buildup and weigh your hair down. If you do opt for a formula with silicones, just make sure to wash with a clarifying shampoos every so often. They're designed to remove buildup on the hair for a deeper clean.
Think about the application.
In general, leave-in
conditioners with spray-on applicators makes it easier to not overdo it with product since they coat the hair with a measured amount of product, says Saviano. If you're using a leave-in that comes in a tube or pump, start with a dime-size amount of product and don’t apply to your roots. Instead, you want to focus on your mid-lengths and ends.
Meet the experts:
- Nunzio Savianois a seasoned stylist, hair trend expert, and the owner of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York,
NY.
- Bridget Kinneyis a senior stylist and colorist at the Patrice Vinci salon in Boston, MA.
- Nubia Rëzois a hairstylist, curl expert, and founder of Rëzo Salon and Rëzo Haircare in New York, NY. Rëzo has previously spoken to Cosmo about the best leave-in conditioners for curly hair.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from the best best shampoos for fine hair to the best blue shampoos for brunettes. She regularly tests and analyzes leave-in conditioners for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top stylists, colorists, and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.
Lauren Balsamo Deputy Beauty Director Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports.
Katherine J Igoe Katherine J Igoe (she/her) is a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan, covering SEO beauty, style, lifestyle, and culture (she's obsessed with gift guides and beauty products. She's been a freelancer for 11 years, previously working for Marie Claire (2018 to 2021) and Bustle (2021), with bylines in the New York Times, Parents magazine, and elsewhere.