The Top 18 Leave-In Conditioners for Every Hair Type & Concern

1. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Thin Hair:

NUMBER 4 HIGH PERFORMANCE HAIR CARE Super Comb Prep & Protect

Yes, even those with fine hair can benefit from a leave-in conditioner. The trick is to find a lightweight formula that won’t weigh down your thin strands, which is why we recommend the NUMBER 4 HIGH PERFORMANCE HAIR CARE Super Comb Prep & Protect. It’s lightweight enough for fine hair types while also offering color, UV, and heat-styling protection. An IPSY member raves about how well it works for their fine, curly hair, saying that their hair “often tangles and admittedly I do use heat on it somewhat regularly. This product helps detangle and serves as a thermal protectant. It doesn’t make my hair oily and smells amazing.”

2. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Thick Hair:

SOLEIL HAIR TOOLS Leave-In Conditioner

Thick hair types require a leave-in conditioner that’s a little more heavy-duty. Rather than opting for a leave-in conditioner spray, we suggest going with a leave-in that has a lotion or cream-like consistency. The SOLEIL HAIR TOOLS Leave-In Conditioner is ideal for that very reason. The creamy texture allows you to spread the product more evenly throughout your thick hair and better coat every strand with its nourishing ingredients. IPSY member Misty L. notes, “I have naturally wavy, thick, full, coarse hair. It definitely gave my hair a softer feel, which is often hard to accomplish with leave-in conditioners, especially when there is rain or humidity.”

3. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Straight Hair:

OUAI Leave-In Conditioner

Does your straight hair tend to get tangly often? OUAI Leave-In Conditioner to the rescue. This IPSY member raves about the leave-in treatment’s detangling abilities: “I have long, straight hair, wear a hard hat, and work outside, so I get terrible tangles and my hair gets so broken. [I used] just a small amount through my wet hair, and for the first time, I could brush right through it without pain or breaking my hair...I won't use anything else again.” Not only does it provide the perfect amount of slip for getting rid of tangles, but it also offers frizz-fighting properties and provides thermal protection to repair dry ends and protect against breakage.

4. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Wavy Hair:

KARMA BEAUTY Replenishing Truffle Leave In Conditioner Infused with Biotin & Ginseng

Fortified with biotin and ginseng, this leave-in hair conditioner delivers nourishment, hydration, and strength to your strands for healthy hair in no time. An IPSY member who has “unruly waves” recommends this product to anyone who has a similar wavy hair type because it’s “a nice, weightless, good-smelling product that makes your hair soft, manageable, and a lot less frizzy.” Simply work it through damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends, style as normal, and enjoy a frizz-free hair look.

5. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair:

SLEEK'E Silk'e Leave-In Conditioner

A rinse-out conditioner isn’t enough for curly hair types; a leave-in is essential for your hair needs. What makes the SLEEK’E Silk’e Leave-In Conditioner ideal for curly hair is its jojoba oil and aloe extract formula that strengthens, hydrates, and fights frizz without leaving behind buildup or residue on your curls. You can use it on damp hair post-shower and style as usual, or you can add it to dry hair for an extra boost of hydration. IPSY member Bridget F. swears this leave-in is her holy grail because “it left [her] hair feeling super clean and shiny.”

6. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Coily Hair:

SAINTS & SINNERS HAIR Velvet Divine Leave-In Conditioner

Natural hair types, rejoice! The SAINTS & SINNERS HAIR Velvet Divine Leave-In Conditioner may be what your hair care routine is missing. Just ask this IPSY member who was pleasantly surprised by their results with the product: “I have 4B hair, and when I tell you I was shook at how well this leave-in worked on my hair, I was really shook. I didn’t expect it to do much for my hair type. I thought it would only benefit those with type 1 or 2 hair textures. I was wrong! This made my hair super easy to detangle and left it very soft. I also used it on someone with 4A hair and had great results as well. Would definitely recommend it for my type 4 naturals. Very good for detangling.”

7. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Frizzy Hair:

BRIOGEO HAIR CARE Farewell Frizz™ Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Looking for a leave-in that offers frizz control? This is the product for you. Clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, it’s free of parabens, phthalates, and silicones. But what makes it so special? Formulated with hydrating and frizz-fighting like argan oil, coconut oil, and rosehip oil, the lightweight, milky product makes your hair feel soft and silky. Various IPSY members rave about how well it combats frizz, including Brigette R. who says it “keeps the frizz at bay in [her] humid environment.”

8. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair:

ROZE + QUARTZ Super 7 Leave-in Conditioner

Frizz, breakage, and split ends are no match for this plant-powered leave-in conditioner. Thanks to UV filters, an iron guard, argan oil, and grapeseed oil, your color-treated hair will look and feel as good as new. “This is my favorite hair product,” raves one IPSY member. “I have thick, wavy hair that’s naturally dry and my hair is recovering from previously being bleached. [This] makes my hair feel like hair again.”

9. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair:

MARC ANTHONY Coconut & Shea Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner

Shea butter and coconut oil make one dynamic duo in this leave-in conditioner. Consider your thirsty strands quenched with the extra moisture this hydrating hair product provides. IPSY member Stephanie B. was “struggling with super dry hair” and this product did the trick. “I only needed a tiny amount even for the length of my hair. My hair has never felt more soft and it looks so much less damaged.”

10. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged Hair:

IT'S A 10 HAIRCARE Miracle Leave-in Product

This product is a miracle worker for damaged hair. It’s in the name, after all. Formulated with panthenol, sunflower seed extract, green tea leaf extract, silk amino acids, citric acid, and vitamin C, it works overtime to smooth hair, eliminate frizz, restore shine, and enhance your hair’s natural body. There’s a reason it’s a cult classic.

11. Best Leave-In Conditioner Hair Mask:

AMIKA Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment

How many times have you wanted to use leave-in conditioner as a hair mask but quickly realized you needed a product that had more staying power? That’s been us more times than we can count, which is why we love using the AMIKA Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment as a leave-in hair mask. It features hyaluronic acid, coconut water, blue algae, and sea buckthorn to boost moisture while you sleep so you can wake up to refreshed strands. “I always need anything that will help with moisture and keeping my ends hydrated and soft because of all the coloring,” shares one IPSY member. “This stuff is awesome. When I took my hair down, it was so soft and fresh. I hardly had to do anything but shake it out and go.”

12. Best Leave-In Conditioner With Heat Protection:

AVEDA Nutriplenish™ Leave-In Conditioner

Apart from its hydrating and detangling benefits, we love that his leave-in treatment offers heat protection up to 450°F (the highest temp you should use on your hair). And it even contains a UV filter that protects from the sun’s drying rays. IPSY member Denea B. raves that it “leaves my hair moisturized without weighing it down and I get to enjoy the fragrance all day.” Even their boyfriend is a fan of this hair product.

13. Best Keratin Leave-In Conditioner:

PURE BRAZILIAN Leave-In Conditioner

A leave-in conditioner that doubles as a keratin treatment? Sign us up. Aside from restorative keratin, this product also contains Bulgarian rose water, Bombyx silk, quartz, and crushed pink salt to make your hair silky smooth in seconds. IPSY member Shannon J. was able to revive their strands after an unfortunate salon experience thanks to this leave-in. “I was ready to chop off all of my hair after a salon disaster with a student stylist who had over-processed my hair with bleach,” they share. “This treatment has given me a new lease on my locks. This product smells delightful but the coverage is remarkable. Just spray on the ends and tangled sections of hair and brush from the bottom up. It is amazing afterward when you blow-dry it! I couldn’t get over how soft my hair feels.”

14. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Detangling:

GOLDIE LOCKS Ultra Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner

Of all the leave-in conditioners we’ve tried, the GOLDIE LOCKS Ultra Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner is by far the best at detangling. From roots to ends, there’s no knot this treatment can’t undo. But don’t just take our word for it. An IPSY member who has long, thick hair shares that detangling on wash day is a pain, but “this did make it easier and my hair is softer and shiny.”

15. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Blow-Drying:

LIVING PROOF Restore Perfecting Spray

This salon-level spray minimizes breakage, protects against heat damage, detangles, and adds moisture, making it the best leave-in to use before blow-drying. We spritz it all over, comb through from roots to ends, then start with our at-home blowout process to create a soft, voluminous look. Better yet, it even works to refresh two-day hair. “Even after my hair has dried, I can spray it a little to moisten it enough to run through my hair dryer styling brush and give my hair a nice refresh. It gives my hair a healthy tousled wave,” one IPSY member shares.

16. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Air-Drying:

R+CO Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner

Prefer a leave-in conditioner that will help with your air-drying routine? We know just the one. The R+CO Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner protects from UV damage, locks in moisture, and helps strengthen your hair while you let it air-dry. IPSY member Rebecca B. says this product helps their hair look amazing without having to do much of anything. “I spray it on after just washing my hair and I let my hair air-dry throughout the night. When I get up in the morning, my hair looks shiny and healthy. It cuts down on my use of other hair products. My hair feels so much softer when I use this.”

17. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Sun Protection:

REZA BE OBSESSED Love My Leave-In Conditioner

You may be aware of the harmful impacts the sun has on your hair, especially for those of you with color-treated hair. The sun can cause an array of damage, including color fading, breakage, dryness, the works. That’s where the REZA BE OBSESSED Love My Leave-In Conditioner comes in to save the day with its UV protection that prevents oxidation and color fading. One IPSY member even raves about how much it has helped their hair regrowth journey. “My hair is growing back faster and super healthy. I am extraordinarily grateful to this product for helping my regrowth journey be easy, smooth, and healthy.” What’s not to love?

18. Best Leave-In Conditioner for Softness and Shine:

DAE HAIR Cactus Flower Leave In Conditioner

Who doesn’t want their hair to be soft and shiny all day long? If that’s something you desperately crave above all else, this is the leave-in for you. Cactus flower and prickly pair will boost your hair’s luster and health with each use so it stays smooth and shiny long-term. “I love this leave-in,” says one IPSY member. “My hair is full, soft, manageable, protected, and looks healthier.”