The 22 Best Leave-In Conditioners, According to Hairstylists
Rinse-out conditioners are essential hydrators that soften and smooth hair after cleansing, but the best leave-in conditioners go one step further. They linger, sink into hair follicles, and make a noticeable difference in how hydrated your hair looks. Plus, leave-ins offer a variety of extra benefits when it comes to UV protection and hair-type-specific styling help.
Leave-in conditioners are also absolute miracle workers for the time-starved among us who don't have the extra 15 minutes to wait around in the shower for an intensive hair mask to work its magic — but want to replicate some of the smoothing, deep-conditioning, shine-inducing results of using a mask, nonetheless.
Dimitris Giannetos, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist who regularly works with Camila Cabello and Jasmine Tookes, tells Allure that he loves using leave-in conditioners when styling clients. "Think of a leave-in conditioner as a balm that kind of does it all," says Giannetos. “It can tame flyaways and add shine — even if the hair is a bit dry or damaged.”
When you're shopping for leave-in conditioners, cosmetic chemist Ginger King suggests looking for ingredients like oils, fatty alcohols, and triglycerides that will "smooth the cuticles and keep the hair in place." For detangling in particular, King also notes that quaternium compounds work well, such as quaternium 4, 7, and 11 (look out for ingredient names that start with quaternium or polyquaternium).
With all these criteria in mind, we asked hairstylists to share their picks for the best leave-in conditioners to fulfill your hair hydration needs, and we added a couple of our own favorites, too.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- 1/23
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Leave-In Conditioner
If we had to pick one thing SheaMoisture does well, we wouldn't, because it's impossible to narrow it down to just one. If we had to pick two, we'd be much more receptive to the question, and we'd eventually be able to narrow it down to hydration and hair treatments. Enter: SheaMoisture's Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Leave-In Conditioner. The rich blend of oils in this treatment penetrates hair strands to smooth frizz, add shine, and define curls. The instantaneous, healthy-hair effect is so impressive we gave it a 2022 Best of Beauty Award.
- 2/23
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner
Chances are when you hear Sol de Janeiro you think of the viral Bum Bum Cream. Lucky for you, the Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner has the same tropical scent and equally as good ingredients. On that list is babaçu oil to lock in moisture, strengthening Brazil nut oil, and moisturizing cupuaçu butter to quench dry strands.
- 3/23
Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner
Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner is what your dry or brittle hair is craving. Made with hydrating hyaluronic acid and coconut water and moisture-preventing squalane to hair is always feeling and looking its best.
- 4/23
Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner
Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner handles all your hair needs with just one formula. It nourishes hair with quinoa and barley extracts, protects against heat damage, and detangles with ease, thanks to the cocktail of sunflower seed oil and argan oil.
- 5/23
Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray
Redken's One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray is the ultimate multitasker: It defrizzes, moisturizes, acts as a heat protectant, seals your cuticle, and prevents split ends. Formulated without sulfates or parabens, this coconut-oil-infused treatment softens and smooths hair, so much that you can see a noticeable difference after just one use.
- 6/23
Marc Anthony Grow Long Leave-In Conditioner
Marc Anthony's Grow Long Super Fast Strength Leave-In Conditioner is so much more than just a pre-styling moisturizing treatment. As the name suggests, it supports hair growth and healthy hair with ingredients that help prevent breakage and seal split ends (such as caffeine, ginseng, and vitamin E). Mist a few spritzes on dry or damp hair for extra nourishment.
- Courtesy of brand7/23
Color Wow Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Strengthening Leave In Treatment
When it comes to protecting your hair — whether from humidity or heat damage — Color Wow really delivers, and its Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Strengthening Leave In Treatment is no exception. The brand's kale- and kelp-infused formula actively works to reduce breakage, leaving your ends looking and feeling much smoother, while castor oil strengthens hair from the inside out.
- Courtesy of brand8/23
Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Miracle Nectar Repairing Leave-in Treatment
Giannetos also likes Garnier's Whole Blends Honey Treasures Miracle Nectar Repairing Leave-in Treatment for its atomizer, which makes it easy to apply to hair that's in need of a boost of nourishment. He says that this product is a "good, quick way to help split ends." It's also beneficial for detangling, thanks to hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and honey.
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- Courtesy of brand9/23
Davines Oi All In One Milk
Hairstylist Danielle Priano also recommends the Davines Oi All In One Milk, which is spiked with hydrating sunflower seed oil and glycerin. "This lightweight product boosts shine and hydration while controlling and protecting hair from frizz," she says.
- Courtesy of brand10/23
Virtue Purifying Leave-In Conditioner
It's not every day that you hear a conditioning product described as "purifying," but Virtue's Purifying Leave-In Conditioner earns its name from the way it imparts moisture, manageability, and protection without even the slightest hint of product buildup. The lightweight mist is ideal for fine hair, so spritz away to achieve hair that feels super-soft, but not weighed down.
- 11/23
LolaVie Perfecting Leave-In
LolaVie's Perfecting Leave-In is the definition of a multitasker. This conditioner hydrates and smooths hair, holds styles all day, and protects hair from heat damage using a vegan thermal shield made of bamboo and yeast extracts that mimic the structure of keratin, a protective protein. One dollop of this product goes a long way, which is why we gladly gave it a 2022 Best of Beauty Award.
- Courtesy of brand12/23
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer
"This creamy, spray-like substance is great for wavy hair," says hairstylist Kendall Dorsey, who has worked with celebrity clients such as Yara Shahidi and Solange in the past. He loves Bumble and bumble's Bb. Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer because "it controls frizz and seals split ends."
- 13/23
Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave-In Conditioner
Yes, the Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner has incredible moisturizing and hydrating benefits with the coconut oil and aloe leaf juice in the formula. But the star of the show? The blueberry extract. Not only does it help with breakage but it makes this treatment smell like a blueberry pie that just came out of the oven. Yum.
- 14/23
Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In
Living Proof's Restore Repair Leave-In is loaded with healthy, hair-boosting ingredients. For starters, the tucuma seed butter adds shine and slip, while the silk proteins smooth and moisturize hair. There's also UV technology in it that helps protect your strands from any sun damage.
- Courtesy of brand15/23
Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Treatment
"Since I discovered this product, using heated hair-styling tools feels safer, more efficient, and the result is smoother and healthier," says Heidorn. "This leave-in is a true miracle to use on every hair type." Infused with coconut oil and fennel seed extract, Mizani's 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Treatment protects, moisturizes, and adds shine to hair.
- 16/23
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi-Use Hair Treatment
L'Oréal Paris's Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi-Use Hair Treatment comes in a big black-and-gold tub, so there's no forgetting it in the shower. The formula contains almond oil and a blend of proteins, which combine forces to strengthen and hydrate damaged hair. Giannetos notes that he likes to "apply a pea-size amount along the ends of dry hair" for extra nourishment without weighing hair down.
- 17/23
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
We know that this treatment is pricey but take it from New York City-based hair colorist Rachel Bodt, who swears by this stuff. "K18's Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask is way more than your average leave-in treatment," she says. "It's made with the brands' bonding peptide that reverses the damage done to hair."
To use, just skip the conditioner in the shower and apply a few pumps of this mask to damp, towel-dried hair. Wait a few minutes for the formula to activate, style as usual, and we promise you'll immediately see improvement.
- 18/23
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner
If you're dealing with your hair in humid weather and need your frizz tamed, Briogeo's Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner is for you. This treatment not only moisturizes dry and damaged hair but also acts as a detangler to get out even the most stubborn knots. Not to mention, the formula holds coconut oil to add shine to hair and shea butter, which keeps it soft and moisturized for days.
- 19/23
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner
There are so many ways you can use Melanin Haircare's Multi-Use Softening Leave-In Conditioner, hence the "multi-use" in the name. You can use it as a traditional conditioner, deep treatment mask, detangler, or just as a leave-in daily moisturizer. Either way you decide to go, the bamboo extract in the formula will be put to work making hair shine bright like a diamond all day long.
- Courtesy of brand20/23
Oribe Foundation Mist
"This product is designed to work like skin care, with an infusion of lavender and chamomile that smoothes the cuticle," says Dorsey, who appreciates that the Oribe Foundation Mist also protects from UV and heat-styling damage.
- Courtesy of brand21/23
Carol's Daughter Monoi Repair + Moisture Star Strength Leave-In Cream
Carol's Daughter Monoi Repair + Moisture Star Strength Leave-In Cream is aimed specifically at curls in need of some love — and by love, we mean moisture, strength, and smoothness. You can also count on this drugstore heavyweight to detangle damp hair.
- Courtesy of brand22/23
IGK Mistress Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner Hair Balm
IGK's Mistress Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner Hair Balm harnesses the power of coconut oil to deeply condition hair, while shea butter moisturizes and improves shine. Its lightweight formula works well on fine hair without making it feel overly sticky or heavy. To see a seriously shine-infused difference, apply this luxurious hair balm to damp hair before styling.
- Courtesy of brand23/23
Ouai Leave-In Conditioner
No matter your hair type, the sprayable Ouai Leave-In conditioner is a boon. In addition to smoothing flyaways, it detangles and makes dry ends look like new. Plus, you can even use this do-it-all detangler for heat protection before styling.
