If You Aren't Already Using a Leave-In Conditioner, Here's Why You Should Start

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NOW THAT YOU'VE got your shampoo and conditioner routine down, it's time to start thinking about grooming upgrades that go beyond the shower. Adding a leave-in conditioner to your hair care lineup does more than standard styling creams and can actively improve hair health over time. The results are shiny, healthy hair that will have you leaving your hats at home so you can show off your well-groomed mane. We spoke to three board-certified dermatologists about what to look for when it comes to finding the best leave-in conditioner for men, and we've narrowed it down to our top eight picks.

So what exactly is a leave-in conditioner? It's about as simple as it sounds. Simply put, it's "a conditioning product designed to be left on the hair, not washed out, formulated to protect the hair shaft," says dermatologist Dr. Haldey King, MD. "Keeping the hair moisturized with hair conditioners, creams, and oils helps to avoid dryness and therefore decrease the risk of damage and breakage." Adding a leave-in treatment to your routine can also help eliminate frizziness while adding shine and softness to your hair.

"A good leave-in conditioner should perform several functions: moisturization, protection, and neutralization," says dermatologist Dr. Michael Lee, MD. "Non-comedogenic plant-derived oils such as squalene, jojoba, and shea butter replace the essential hair lubricant that is removed with shampoos while avoiding the risk of acne or folliculitis on the scalp and face." We'll dive into the best ingredients to look out for later, but the TL;DR is to keep your eyes peeled for plant-based oils (coconut, jojoba, etc.).

The best time to apply your leave-in conditioner, according to each of the experts we spoke to, is after the shower. "Lightly towel dry your hair. Next, apply a small amount of the leave-in-conditioner to your hair, working from the middle of your strands down to the ends, and styling as normal." says dermatologic surgeon Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD. Our picks vary in application apparatus, but you can always apply the product to your hands before running it through your hair.

Scroll on for the best leave-in conditioners for men, according to experts. Every day can (and should) be a good hair day, now that you've upgraded your routine.

6-IN-1 Styler Cream

Leave-in conditioners can go beyond just giving your mane a boost of hydration. This multi-purpose cream not only hydrates your hair, but also adds shine, texture, and heat protection if you use hot tools to style.

Dr. King recommended this pick. She's a fan of the keratin, which helps strengthen hair strands. "It's also loaded with dimethicone to protect the hair cuticle, and vitamin E that offers antioxidant properties." According to Dr. King, antioxidant properties can be helpful to protect against damage from free radicals (which break down and damage your hair).

Curly Creme

According to Dr. Lee, "the combination of vegan oils and antioxidants and natural UV protection" make this leave-in conditioner for curly hair a winner. It's safe to use on color-treated hair and also provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

This version is fragrance-free, but if you like products that offer a light scent, there's a scented version as well. Ingredients like shea butter and hemisqualene mean the leave-in treatment will help reduce frizz and breakage. Curly hair types will appreciate the lightweight feel that helps curls keep their shape without feeling weighed down.

Hair Filler Strength Repair Serum

Garnier Fructis is behind this leave-in, which comes in under $10 for a budget-friendly addition to your grooming routine. It contains castor oil and dimethicone, which, according to Dr. King, "help protect the hair shaft, decrease breakage, and smooth the hair."

The post-shower treatment is listed as free from parabens and sulfates and is part of a larger lineup from Garnier Fructis, but you can use the treatment on its own with your regular grooming routine.

Okara Color Enhancing Spray

If you dye or bleach your hair, you'll want to add products to your lineup that are formulated with coloring in mind. Dr. King likes this pick because it's easy to use, the formulation is non-greasy, and it won't weigh down the hair.

Dr. King adds that in addition to antioxidants offering color protection, triglycerides and soybean oil act as emollients. Another bonus? "The low pH helps to protect the cuticle," he says. The spray will also help to detangle strands and add moisture for hydration.

Grow Long Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler

Fear not about breaking the bank while improving your hair game, this $7 pick is both paraben and sulfate-free. Dr. King says this leave-in is "rich in emollient and occlusive properties from coconut oil and dimethicone, [and] formulated to protect the hair shaft."

She also mentions vitamin E, which offers antioxidant protection. This one will help detangle strands so you can easily comb it through after applying, and it has over 50,000 reviews on Amazon with an overall 4.4-star rating.

Perfect Repair Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler

When asked what product Dr. Engelman would recommend, the NatureLab Tokyo Leave-In was top of mind. "It strengthens both the scalp and the roots of your hair. It also contains ingredients like ginger root extract, camellia oil, and argan oil, all of which help to moisturize hair as well as protect against heat."

It's also listed as color-safe, so if you dye your hair it's a solid option. The conditioner comes in a handy spray bottle for easy application, and ingredients like prickly pear oil and bamboo extract add softness and shine.

Live In Mist

Dr. Lee is an overall fan of this brand since the lineup has ingredients like sesame seed extract, which improves color depth. He's also a fan of the natural UV protection and combination of vegan oils and antioxidants.

This leave-in mist is lightweight and features raspberry seed oil as well as jojoba oil, which work to protect your strands from the inside out. You can use it after washing or as a styling treatment in between shampoo days.

Moisture Rich Leave-In Hair Conditioner

This is an editor-tested pick, and it made our list as the best overall hair cream for men. We found it works best if you squeeze a generous amount into the palm of your hand and gently cover the length and ends of your hair before running your hands through your scalp.

It's packed with derm-recommended ingredients—you'll find coconut oil, castor oil, and jojoba oil in the mix. The over 7-ounce bottle for less than $20 is reasonably priced.

Read More: Best Hair Creams for Men in 2024

How we selected the best leave-in conditioners for men

We curated this list of the best leave-in conditioners for men based on expert recommendations from board-certified dermatologists. They provided valuable insight into the ingredients you should look out for as well as what to avoid. This list is a curation of specific product recommendations we received, both from experts and our editors.

What to look for in a leave-in conditioner

The main factors to consider when looking for a leave-in conditioner are ingredients and hair type.

• Ingredients: All of the experts we spoke to recommended leaning toward natural ingredients, citing coconut oil as a good start. Hydrating ingredients like argan oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, and keratin will help moisturize strands and add shine. You'll also want to avoid alcohols in your ingredient list, which can further dry out your hair. Parabens, silicones, and sulfates can weigh your hair down and ultimately lead to bigger issues, like hair loss, color loss, and dryness.

• Hair type/issue: You may have coily, curly, straight, or wavy hair, or are looking to problem-solve issues like frizz, color damage, and dryness. You'll want to keep all this in mind before you make your purchase. For issues like frizz and dryness, jojoba, argan, and coconut oil will add moisture to your mane without weighing your hair down or making it look greasy.

Of course, your budget and overall grooming routine are factors to keep in mind as well, but while you're reading through ingredient lists, hair type or issues should be top of mind. Plus, everything on our list is under $40 so you don't have to worry about spending too much.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Haldey King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY.

• Dr. Michael Lee, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, CA.

• Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, is a dermatologic surgeon in New York, NY.

Why trust us?

The experts we spoke with are board-certified dermatologists who are experts in their field. They provided information backed by research, and each pick we included fits the parameters they recommend shopping with. We also researched reviews for each product to get a deeper sense of how the products performed when put to the test.

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