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The best leave-In conditioners for 2024 to help your hair
Fall weather can be tricky for your hair. Coming off a summer of dry, sun-damaged hair can lead to breakage and thinning hair. And as the cooler temps roll in, all of that dry air can lead to pesky static electricity that makes your hair feel charged and frizzy. And while figuring out how to get your hair to grow faster might be one solution, there might be a quicker fix: adding some moisture to the mix. Whether you have thick hair, thin hair, curly hair, wavy hair or something in between, you’ll benefit from a little added protection and care from one of the best leave-in conditioners on the market. But which one is right for you?
My hair stylist was adamant that I use leave-in hair conditioners regularly to protect my blonde locks from additional damage. It's a simple step added to your shower routine, but it is just the little extra love your hair might need, and it’s smart for all hair types, from dry hair to fine hair and even color-treated hair. As the name suggests, leave-in conditioner is a nourishing (usually spray) that you leave on your damp hair to work its magic. A good leave-in conditioner will make hair feel softer, combat tangles, frizzy hair and flyaways and protect against heat styling and chlorine damage. It’ll leave your hair feeling softer and looking healthier.
With that in mind, we’ve sourced and tested some of the best leave-in treatments to determine which ones are worth your time and money. We considered everything from their active ingredients and application type, to which hair they work best on. We even factored in how great they smell. Some of our picks below are especially known for their hair-protection powers against sun damage, blow-drying and other forms of heat styling — but it's the scents that will have people asking what perfume you’re wearing. Those that tested well, were easy to apply and (bonus) smelled good, we ranked higher in our guide below.
Active ingredients: Tamarind seed extract, panthenol, vitamin E, hydrolyzed proteins | Formula: Spray | Hair types: All types
This Ouai Leave In Conditioner is worn, and loved, regularly by one of our editors.
Formulated with panthenol — a type of vitamin B5 — this treatment is designed to soothe and protect dry, frizzled locks. Panthenol is found in loads of common skincare products because of its ability to moisturize. It is a common ingredient in a wide array of skincare and personal care products due to its humectant properties. Oils like tamarind seed extract and vitamin E are rich oils that help replace that protective outer layer of your strands and bring back shine. Hence why these powerhouse ingredients are doing a lot of work in OUAI’s Leave-In Conditioner to bring life back into your tired, damaged locks.
Not only does it make our editor’s hair feel soft and protect it from heat damage, but the floral, musky scent with notes of bergamot, sandalwood, lemon, jasmine and rose de mai are heavenly. It’s OUAI’s signature North Bondi scent, which the brand also sells as a perfume. Yes, it really does smell that good.
Active ingredients: Babaçu oil, Brazil nut oil, cupuaçu butter | Formula: Spray | Hair types: Straight, wavy, curly, coily
All of Sol de Janeiro's products are out of this world when it comes to scent and this one is no exception. But as for its ability to moisturize damaged hair, the ingredients stand up to the task, too.
This leave-in product comes from TikTok’s favorite beachy body mist and moisturizer brand, Sol de Janeiro. Unsurprisingly, its hair products are just as moisturizing and fragrant. This product smells like the popular Cheriosa ’62 fragrance with sweet notes of vanilla, salted caramel and pistachio.
Active ingredients: Guava leaf extract, guava fruit extract, aloe vera leaf powder | Formula: Cream | Hair types: All types
This Ceremonia Guava Leave In Conditioner has won so many awards, especially for its intense hydration. Ceremonia uses the superpowers of the guava fruit to protect hair from UV rays and free radicals and combines it with avocado, safflower extract and tamarind to hydrate hair and combat frizz.
The guava scent stands out, too: It’s sweet, fruity and almost has notes of pineapple and mango.
Active ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, argan oil, baobab extract | Formula: Cream | Hair types: All types
This is a great option if you are dealing with split ends. Plus it acts as a detangler for long locks that become easily knotted
The founder of Gisou has a long family tradition of beekeeping, and that’s why honey is at the core of her business — and the core ingredient in her products. In the leave-in conditioner, honey attracts and retains moisture for stronger, shinier hair. After all, honey is a well-known humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. It’s an especially potent ingredient for hair that’s extremely damaged and porous.
Active ingredients: Vitamin E, panthenol | Formula: Spray | Hair types: Frizzy, dry
At $27, this is one of our more affordable suggestions, but you'll feel like you just stepped out of an expensive spa every time you use it.
It’s made with those powerhouse ingredients we mentioned above; namely vitamin E and panthenol. Both work together to seal up porous, damaged strands, lock in moisture and bring back shine to dull locks.
You don’t need me to tell you that Paul Mitchell products are legit. The brand’s Tea Tree Lavender Mint Conditioning Leave-In Spray conditions hair while fighting frizz, and it smells like an expensive spa. The lavender and mint fragrance provides a little aromatherapy with each spritz, which makes it an especially nice product to use at night before hitting the sack.
How we chose
When deciding on the best leave-in conditioners, we considered everything from active ingredients and application type, to the type of hair they work best on. We even factored in how they smell, since these products are often designed to double as a type of hair perfume. Our picks above are especially known for their hair-protection powers against sun damage, blow-drying and other forms of heat styling. For our purposes, the conditioners that tested well, came highly recommended, were easy to use, and (bonus) smelled good, ranked higher in our testing.
FAQs
Can I use leave-in conditioner on dry hair?
Leave-in conditioner is great on dry hair because it’s a product designed to infuse moisture, reduce annoying frizz and help manage your mane. It’s also suitable for wet hair, so you can apply in the shower or afterwards.
How long should leave-in conditioner stay in hair?
How long you keep leave-in conditioner in your hair will depend on the product. In general, these conditioners are designed to leave in until your next wash. Some products might require that you leave the product in for an extended period before rinsing. Just be sure to read the bottle.
How often should you use leave-in conditioner?
Most leave-in conditioners can be used as frequently as you think your hair needs it. While some people might need a daily boost of moisture and conditioning, others will find that using it every few days or weeks is best. This will depend on your hair type, especially if your locks are on the oily or greasy side.
What is the difference between hair conditioner and leave-in conditioner?
Regular hair conditioner is typically used in the shower and must be rinsed out after a brief period. It provides deep conditioning benefits even after it’s removed. On the other hand, leave-in conditioner is specially formulated to be left in your hair while offering ongoing moisture, protection and styling benefits throughout the day.
Factors to consider when choosing a leave-in conditioner
Active ingredients: As you choose your leave-in conditioner, carefully consider the active ingredients on the bottle and packaging to ensure they align with your hair's specific needs. Look for ingredients that offer added hydration like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Other ingredients such as proteins, vitamins and natural oils can help to improve your hair's texture, whether it's curly, straight, dry or damaged. Some key ingredients to look for:
Vitamin E: A rich humectant oil that helps boost the protective outer layer of your strands and bring back shine.
Panthenol: A type of vitamin B5 that’s found in loads of common skincare products because of its ability to moisturize. It is a common ingredient in a wide array of skin care and personal care products due to its moisturizing and humectant properties.
Honey: A well-known humectant that attracts and retains moisture in hair that’s extremely damaged and porous
Formula: The formula of your preferred leave-in conditioner is really up to you and how you’d like to apply it to your hair. These products come in foams, sprays, creams and serums. If you have greasy or fine hair, you might find you need a formula that’s more lightweight. Thicker hair might benefit from one that is heavier. It’ll be trial and error to find your best match.
Hair types: Whether you have curly hair, pin straight hair, damaged hair or colored hair, there’s a leave-in conditioner for you. Most of these products are geared toward a specific type of hair and will say so on the label. Others might claim to benefit all types. If you have a particular concern about your hair, look for products targeted at repairing damage or being extra gentle on hair that’s been permed or color-treated.
