The Best Leave In Conditioners

If you take care of your hair but your locks are still feeling dry and brittle, you could almost certainly benefit from using a leave-in conditioner. Leave-in conditioners are great for restoring damaged hair and locking moisture in. They can work wonders for any hair type, too. If you're ready to get rid of frizz and make your hair shiny and manageable again, have a look through the leave-in conditioners we highlighted.

What to Look For

A good leave-in conditioner can make a noticeable difference in the health and appearance of your hair, but finding the right formulation isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s important to consider your hair type and choose an ingredient profile that matches. Aside from that, you should also decide whether you’re trying to avoid certain types of ingredients entirely, such as sulfates, or anything tested on animals. Once you’ve narrowed down your criteria, it will be a lot easier to find your next leave-in conditioner. For example, those with curly hair would probably see a lot of benefit from using either of the leave-in conditioners offered by Shea Moisture or Carol’s Daughter. But if you’re looking for a leave-in conditioner that will work for any hair type, opt with The Honest Company’s formulation. Not only is it affordable, but it’s also made with vegan, cruelty-free ingredients. Read on to learn more.

Renpure Coconut Whipped Creme Leave-In Conditioner

Plant based

This leave-in conditioner adds moisture to your hair while remaining cruelty-free and earth-friendly.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

This leave-in conditioner from Renpure is an easily absorbed and highly effective leave-in treatment that will help keep your hair beautiful. It is quickly absorbed into the cuticle of your hair. In addition, coconut delivers high-quality vital nutrients to your hair before sealing the cuticle to leave it shiny and manageable. Renpure gets all of its ingredients from responsible and ethical sources. To take it a step further, their products are vegan-friendly and free of sulfates, parabens, dyes, gluten, phthalates, and propylene glycol.

Pros:

  • This leave-in is perfect for curly or thick hair
  • Has a delightful that isn’t overpowering
  • Excellent price for the quality
  • Suitable for vegans and non-vegans alike

Cons:

  • If you use too much, it can make your hair oily
  • Might not be the best option for folks with very fine or thin hair

Shea Moisture Strengthen and Restore Leave-In Conditioner

Simple ingredients

Keep your hair beautiful and manageable with this creamy leave-in conditioner.
Runner Up

Find on Amazon

It’s easy to nourish and moisturize your natural hair when you own this legendary leave-in conditioner from Shea Moisture. It includes rich ingredients such as Jamaican black castor oil and shea butter. Other ingredients shine here, too. The peppermint oil, for example, will invigorate your scalp, while the apple cider vinegar will soften the hair.  As a result of the luscious blend of ingredients, every strand of your hair will feel softer and more elastic, which may reduce damage and breakage from your daily brushing and styling.

Pros:

  • Sulfate-free formulation
  • Safe for color-treated hair
  • Great for anyone with frizz and flyaways
  • It adds moisture and elasticity to damaged and easily broken hair

Cons:

  • Too heavy for very fine hair

Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Reverse the damage

This is the perfect repairing and revitalizing leave-in conditioner for folks with curly hair.
Best For Curly Hair

Find on Amazon

Most of us with curly hair have learned through experience just how easy it is to damage our hair. You can damage it with too much sun, too much heat, bleaching, dyeing, brushing, and more. With that in mind, this almond milk leave-in conditioner from Carol’s Daughter was formulated to mitigate some of that damage and protect your hair from even more wear and tear in the future. That allows you to keep your curls healthy and beautiful. This leave-in conditioner is easy to use because of its spray-on application and lightweight texture. Gone are the days that you need to cake on heavy creams and lotions that weigh down your curls.

Pros:

  • Though it’s ideal for curls, it is lightweight enough for every hair type
  • Offers strong protection from daily breakage and splits
  • It tends to leave the hair feeling very soft
  • Silicone- and petroleum-free

Cons:

  • Has a strong smell that some may find too strong

Artnaturals Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioner

Vote with your wallet

With this option, you can deeply moisturize and rejuvenate your hair while feeling good about your purchase.
Best For Dry Hair

Find on Amazon

Made from ethically and responsibly sourced ingredients from around the world, this leave-in conditioner from Artnaturals is both cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. Argan oil is known to repair and protect skin and hair from the damaging effects of aging. In addition to argan oil, this leave-in conditioner includes some pretty common nourishing ingredients, such as coconut oil, keratin, and aloe vera. But it also contains more unique ingredients, such as rosemary, thyme, and white willow bark. All of these work together to invigorate the scalp while also supporting hair growth.

Pros:

  • Can help you grow your hair long
  • All-natural and organic ingredients are used
  • Good for all hair types

Cons:

  • The scent is a bit powerful, but that doesn’t mean it’s off-putting

The Honest Company Sweet Orange Vanilla Conditioning Detangler

One for all

Detangle, soften, and moisturize with this leave-in conditioner that is great for the whole family.
Best On A Budget

Find on Amazon

If you’re looking for a lightweight leave-in conditioner that is good for detangling, you should give this detangling conditioner from The Honest Company a whirl. It’s mild enough to use on your kids’ hair and strong enough to help you soften and detangle your own luscious locks. One thing we love about this option is that The Honest Company creates products that are safe for your whole family. For example, this detangling leave-in conditioning spray is sulfate and paraben-free. It is also vegan and cruelty-free, so you don’t have to feel guilty about using it.

Pros:

  • Excellent cost value
  • It is safe to use on everyone, from babies to adults
  • The company does a lot of research to ensure the safety of the products
  • It smells lovely without artificial perfumes
  • There are no dyes used in it

Cons::

  • It can leave the hair greasy if you use too much

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use leave-in conditioner?

Hair goes through a lot every day. So many things can damage it. Leave-in conditioners help provide extra nutrients and moisture to combat that. They do this by providing a moisture-dense and vitamin-rich barrier between your hair and the elements.

Why should I pay attention to hair types?

Different hair types have different needs. For example, “4C” curls need a heavier and more moisture-dense formula that includes oils. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fine, straight hair can easily become greasy and oily when you use too much moisture and oil on it.

Why Trust Us

Since 2001, our experts at TheFashionSpot have been providing millions of people with our take on the latest trends. TheFashionSpot is constantly looking for the hottest styles in clothing and accessories for people of all body types. Our team knows that beauty starts well before the closet, so we are also dedicated to finding the best products for your skin and hair.