The 17 Best Leave-In Conditioners for Every Hair Type

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Unlike masks or deep conditioners, which are more of a weekly treatment, the best leave-in conditioners are applied any time your hair is in need of an extra dose of hydration. Depending on your texture and preferred method of application—leave-ins are available in both lightweight spray and heavier cream options—a little of the product can go a long way, when it comes to the long-term health of your hair.

“It’s much easier to keep your hair in good condition than to repair it once the damage is already done,” says celebrity hairstylist Rob Talty, who counts singer Christina Aguilera as one of his clients. And that’s exactly what leave-in conditioner does: When you regularly add moisture to your hair, it doesn’t have a chance to dry out, snap, or fray. As with the other products in your rotation, “you have to use the right formula,” Talty adds. “Otherwise, you’re just weighing the hair down.”

To help you narrow down a new favorite, we’ve rounded up some of the best leave-in conditioners worth adding to your hair care rotation, from top brands like R+Co, Pattern, and more.

Perfecting Leave-In

Bazaar editors count actress Jennifer Aniston's LolaVie hair care essentials as one of our favorite celebrity brands, which started with this top-rated leave-in. It uses a blend of ingredients like rose of Jericho and bamboo essence to hydrate and smooth damp or towel-dried hair.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I adore this leave-in. The best I've ever used. Hands down. A little goes a long way. Don't use too much or your hair will appear greasy (which is true of any leave in) The smell reminds me of Fruit Loops a little bit." —Rachel

Leave-In Conditioner

Ideal for curly and coily hair, Pattern's leave-in locks in moisture without weighing down your spirals, leaving hair more supple and bouncy then ever. And if your curls are extra thique, the best-selling conditioner is also available in a 25-ounce value size.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I’ve repurchased this product so many times because it’s just so good. After using this conditioner there was a noticeable difference to my hair. It’s hydrating, defined my curls, and reduced frizz by a lot. Plus it’s so much less hassle than having to wash the conditioner out after putting it in." —snowywf

Acidic Perfecting Leave-In Treatment for Damaged Hair

If you're addicted to heat-styling or coloring your hair, you've no doubt heard about the damage caused from broken bonds. This leave-in concentrate not only helps smooth, tame frizz, and protect hair from heat, but it actually helps repair your broken bonds, resulting in stronger, more resilient hair.

One satisfied customer writes:

"Made such a difference in my bleached hair in one try! Love this product." —Maria S.

AF1 Restructuring 10-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner

This celebrity hair stylist-created leave-in combines passionfruit and castor oils to expertly strengthen hair while minimizing frizz, and boosting its shine.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I used this once and had to run and write this review. My dry, brittle, wavy hair becomes manageable and soft. Smells amazing!" —Jess

Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner

Vitamin C for your hair because, why not? The star ingredient powers this leave-in conditioner to protect hair from harmful UV rays and environmental aggressors. It also contains hyaluronic acid to help lock in moisture and coconut oil to smooth out strands.

One satisfied customer writes:

"It's the best leave-in conditioner I have ever used. I was a salon owner and retailed many product lines...this is the best!!" —Debee G.

Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm

For when the weather gets extra humid, we turn to IGK's Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm. It contains nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and Argan oil to keep hair soft and moisturized, but it also helps reduce frizz and protect hair from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I finally stopped using heat on my naturally wavy hair and this stuff is a game-changer! It keeps the frizz down, enhances my waves and it smells amazing. Definitely a new staple." —Lauren

Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused Hydrating Leave In Treatment

Since this leave-in is infused with coconut oil, it's a breeze for your hair to get much needed moisture while repairing damage and breakage. And since it also contains keratin to help strengthen strands and protect it from heat, this hardworking pick is practically a no-brainer for your rotation.

One satisfied customer writes:

"My hair gets extremely tangled when wet and after shower. This stuff smells like vacation while helping me get through the tangles. Use on wet hair. Love!" —Hannah

Miracle Moisture Leave-In Conditioner

This light spray actually does a lot of work for our stressed-out strands. One spritz (or more if you prefer) and your hair will instantly feel softer and smoother. This leave-in is a little dose of a hair miracle, indeed.

One satisfied customer writes:

"This formula effectively smoothes grey, course and wavy/frizzy texture very well, yet doesn't weigh down fine, thin hair nor look oily at all. A few pumps are all that's needed, making this an incredibly practical product." —Joanna O.

Leave-in Detangling Tonic

This milky spray will help make hair stronger thanks to the amino acids and plant proteins win its formula to help fortify each strand. As an added bonus, it the leave-in doubles as a heat protectant spray while boosting your hair’s natural shine.

One satisfied customer writes:

"This has changed my daughters hair! Not only does she not fight me on brushing her hair but it also brings back her curls and refreshes them!" —Michaela M.

Baomint Leave In Conditioning Styler

Working in this luxe leave-in is like taking a daily multivitamin. Adwoa Beauty's Baomint Conditioning Styler reinforces hair health and growth by way of lavender oil, rosemary leaf oil, and nettle extract.

One satisfied customer writes:

"Just tried this for the first time and was so shocked at how thick and juicy this leave-in is!! I mean it's as thick as the Adwoa deep conditioner. I worked this in small sections of my hair in small amounts, and was amazed at how moisturizing a little bit of this product was. This leave-in melts in immediately and gave my 4C curls a bit of weight and shine, feeling so soft, and smelling so fresh. Absolutely worth every penny." —DaniiFrench

Leave-In Conditioner

This do-it-all leave-in spray from Ouai works on all hair types to leave strands smooth and shiny (and happens to smell extra amazing). Using key ingredients like tamarind seed extract, vitamin E, and hydrolyzed proteins, the leave-in hydrates hair while protecting it from heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I got this product as my birthday reward and let me just say, I’ve never been happier. I’m a swim instructor whose hair gets wet every single day. Before, my hair was brittle, dry, and just never looked good. I always had my hair up in messy buns just cause it was so dry, I could never have it down.

Now, I use this every time I get out of the pool or shower. It leaves my hair so silky and smooth. But not only that, it leaves it so moisturized. The only time I have my hair up now is at work.
I personally can’t smell, but I always get so many compliments about how good I smell when I use this product. I will be purchasing a full sized bottle once I run out!" —18ells

White Peony Leave-In Conditioner

A good leave-in makes sure your hair is properly moisturized, but a great one can be used as a styler, too. This spray offers rich hydration on top of frizz and flyaway smoothing.

One satisfied customer writes:

"After coloring my hair multiple times over the past year and occasionally using heat styling, my ends had completely lost their wave pattern and were dry and bristly. I really thought I was going to have to chop off about five inches. Found this just in time (no haircut yet), and it’s done wonders for my ends." —Adina G.

Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner

Sensitive scalps, rejoice: This nutrient-rich leave-in spray is packed with ingredients like honey extract that soothe irritation while softening and hydrating dry hair.

One satisfied customer writes:

"I usually avoid all sorts of conditioner because my hair becomes greasy very easily. I decided to try this leave-in and really love it! It detangles and smells really nice, leaving a nice healthy shine in my hair without the grease. Not crunchy at all." —Reilly

Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Spray

Leave-in conditioners are It's a 10's bread and butter. Devoted fans of this little blue bottle rely on its aloe vera, vitamin C, and sunflower seed extract formula to minimize frizz, prevent breakage, and everything in between.

One satisfied customer writes:

"This stuff is awesome! A little bit goes a long way. It’s so worth the money!! Just spray it on and a comb goes right through. Better than the other ones I’ve tried. When you open the bottle it has the consistency of actual conditioners not total liquid based like the others." —Karen R.

Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier

The added benefit of UV protection (courtesy of its built-in Morete oil) makes this formula especially ideal for color-treated hair. Just a few sprtizes and a quick brush helps prevent breakage while blocking humidity in mere minutes.

One satisfied customer writes:

"A total must have for anyone with baby fine, brittle hair like mine. It makes my hair super soft in minutes. An incredible product for sure." —ActressNYC

Leave In Conditioner

Conditioners packed with oil are ultra-hydrating, but they can leave fine hair limp. This oil-free version relies on red algae extract and silicone instead to moisturize dry strands without leaving them pancake-flat.

One satisfied customer writes:

"Love this stuff. It’s perfect for my fine, thin, mostly straight hair. It doesn’t make it greasy and helps moisturize the lengths of my hair which get so dry that they would be constantly staticky. No more static for my anymore! I don’t love the scent, but it doesn’t linger so I don’t mind it. Love this stuff!" —dogmom extraordinaire

Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray

Rich in coconut and Argan oils, plus shea butter, this popular leave-in from Briogeo adds major moisturizing power to keep hair healthy while protect against heat damage and UV rays. And as an added bonus, its convenient spray formula makes easy to keep frizz at bay.

One satisfied customer writes:

"It took me a while to start trying Briogeo products but now that I have I am really loving them. This spray is very conditioning and leaves my hair soft to the touch. It also seems to help detangle my fine hair. Smells good too. I think its very reasonably priced as well and you cant go wrong with this purchase." —bindi

How often should I use leave-in conditioner?

According to experts, the best leave-in conditioners can be used any time your hair feels dry, or is in need of a refresh. Gently spray or smooth your leave-in of choice through your hair, and evenly apply it throughout with a wide-tooth comb or a brush. Once your hair feels smooth and detangled, style as usual.

Can I use leave-in conditioner before heat styling?

Yes. Heat styling can often be drying to hair, so to give it a moisture boost, apply a small amount of leave-in before your heat protectant. Each product adds a layer of protection between your hair and high temperatures, helping to minimize damage to overtime. However, it's important not to oversaturate your hair before styling, as it may cause it to sizzle—which can be even more damaging.

Meet the Experts

• Rob Talty is a celebrity hair stylist based in Los Angeles, California.

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