Take a peek at your medicine cabinet—it’s probably stocked with so many random hair products that, let’s be honest, you rarely ever use. Well, I’m going to make your life a little bit easier by telling you to get rid of basically everything—because all you really need is a leave-in conditioner. A good leave-in conditioner multitasks like no other, and depending on the formula you choose, it can function as a detangler, deep conditioner, flyaway-minimizer, heat protectant, air-dry cream, strengthening-treatment, and more. Plus, if you’re in between washes and your hair is looking meh, some leave-in conditioners can even be used for a quick refresher too.
To help you find the perfect leave-in conditioner, I rounded up the 25 best leave-in conditioners (check out a quick snapshot, below) and chatted with three expert hairstylists—Nunzio Saviano, Bridget Kinney, and Nubia Rëzo—to help you choose the right formula for your hair type and texture. But, first, a sneak peek:
Our top picks for the best leave-in conditioner of 2022:
Best Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner Read MoreBest Leave-In Conditioner for Curls and Coils
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner Read MoreBest Organic Leave-In Conditioner
Rahua Leave-In Treatment Light Read MoreBest Leave-In Conditioner for Air Drying
JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream Read MoreBest Leave-In Conditioner for Blow Drying
Nunzio Saviano The Cream Read MoreBest Bond-Building Leave-In Conditioner
Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Treatment Read MoreBest Leave-In Conditioner for Heat Styling
Dae Cactus Flower Leave-In Conditioner Read MoreBest Leave-In Conditioner for Blondes
Bumble and Bumble Bb.Illuminated Blonde Leave In Spray Read MoreBest Leave-In Conditioner For Fine Hair
Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner Read MoreBest Protective Leave-In Conditioner
R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner Read More
Keep scrolling for the entire list of the 25 best leave-in conditioners along with everything you need to know about using a leave-in conditioner in your at-home haircare routine.
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Best Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
Ceremonia Guava Hydrating Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Curls and Coils
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In ConditionerBest Organic Leave-In Conditioner
Rahua Leave-In Treatment LightBest Leave-In Conditioner for Air Drying
JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair CreamBest Leave-In Conditioner for Blow Drying
Nunzio Saviano The CreamBest Bond-Building Leave-In Conditioner
Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In TreatmentBest Leave-In Conditioner for Heat Styling
Dae Cactus Flower Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Blondes
Bumble and Bumble Bb.Illuminated Blonde Leave In SprayBest Leave-In Conditioner For Fine Hair
Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In ConditionerBest Protective Leave-In Conditioner
R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair
Color Wow Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused Hydrating Leave In TreatmentBest Leave-In Conditioner for Detangling
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Softening Leave In ConditionerBest Lightweight Leave-In Conditioner
Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning SprayBest Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner
Leonor Greyl Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Treatment MistBest Leave-In Conditioner for Shiny Hair
Davines Oi All One Milk Leave-InBest Drugstore Leave-In Conditioner
Pantene Miracle Rescue 10 in 1 Multitasking Leave In SprayBest Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged, Brittle Hair
Virtue Purifying Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Type 4 Hair
Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Wavy Hair
Ouai Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Thick Hair
Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair
Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In TreatmentBest Leave-In Conditioner for Damaged Hair
Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture CC CreamBest Leave-In Conditioner for Thick, Curly Hair
Cake The Mane Manage’r 3-in-1 Leave-In ConditionerBest Leave-In Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Leave in Treatment SprayBest Leave-In Conditioner for Frizz and Flyaways
Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing SprayWhat is leave-in conditioner?
Leave-in conditioners have some similar qualities to the regular conditioner that you use post-wash in the shower, but they're not meant to be rinsed out of your hair once applied. They're also different from leave-in cream or curl cream since most leave-in conditioners don't style your hair or define curls and waves. Instead, leave-in conditioners help moisturize your hair, add shine, detangle, protect from heat damage, and strengthen your hair too, says Saviano. Hence their reputation for being ~amazing~.
What's the best leave-in conditioner?
The best leave-in conditioners are the ones that are going to penetrate the cuticle, lock in the water and hydration, and won't feel heavy on your hair, Rëzo has told Cosmo. Every hair type can absolutely benefit from a leave-in conditioner when you use it correctly.
Leave-in conditioners are particularly useful if you use a hairdryer, curling iron, or any other heat-based styling tool because "you should use a heat protectant anytime you are using hot tools on your hair," says Kinney.
How often should you use leave-in conditioner?
How often you use your leave-in conditioner depends on your hair type and the formulation of the leave-in you're using, says Saviano. That said, over-conditioning is a real thing, and if your hair tends to get greasy fast or suffer from buildup, you may want to use a leave-in conditioner more sparingly. But if you have dry, damaged, or curly hair (leave-in conditioners are okay for the Curly Girl Method, FYI), you may be able to use 'em more than that.
Can you use leave-in conditioner on dry hair?
Check the label—usually, a leave-in conditioner works best just after you've hopped out of the shower and have damp hair, but some brands are light enough to be applied to dry hair too. Sometimes you might just need to wet your hair eeeeever so slightly before application.
How to choose a leave-in conditioner:
Think about your hair's type and texture.
Your hair porosity and texture are key here, and will help you understand 1) which leave-in conditioner is right for you, and 2) how often you should be using it. But here's a good rule of thumb: If your hair tends to get weighed down with product and/or is low-porosity, you'll want to go with a lighter formula made with lightweight oils, like jojoba or almond oil. If you have high-porosity hair that can handle lots of product, you can go with heavier oils like coconut and olive.
Keep an eye out for silicones.
Some leave-in conditioners contains silicone, which some ppl love for creating smoothness and slip and softness, but they can also cause buildup and weigh your hair down. If you do opt for a formula with silicones, just make sure to wash with a clarifying shampoos every so often. They're designed to remove buildup on the hair for a deeper clean.
Think about the application.
In general, leave-in conditioners with spray-on applicators makes it easier to not overdo it with product since they coat the hair with a measured amount of product, says Saviano. If you're using a leave-in that comes in a tube or pump, start with a dime-size amount of product and don’t apply to your roots. Instead, you want to focus on your mid-lengths and ends.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from the best best shampoos for fine hair to the best blue shampoos for brunettes. She regularly tests and analyzes leave-in conditioners for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top stylists, colorists, and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.