The 13 Best Leave-In Conditioners For 4C Hair

With picks from Mielle Organics, Kinky Curly, and more

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Best Leave In Conditioners

Byrdie / Amelia Manley

All hair needs moisture and care to be the shiniest, healthiest version of itself. But the quest for hydrated hair gets especially particular for 4C hair. If you know, you know. While all of our scalps produce oils to keep our strands strong and shiny, the kinks and coils of textured hair prevent these oils from making their way down the shaft of your hair. This means that you want a quality leave-in conditioner that can restore essential oils and nutrients into your hair to keep it healthy.

Finding the perfect balance of what and how much to put in your hair can be stressful, so understanding the specifics of your 4C hair is key. Regardless, the end goal is the same: happy, healthy, and hydrated hair. We conducted hours of research on the best leave-in conditioners, evaluating them on active ingredients, what hair types they're ideal for, and how well they hydrate. After consulting with a trichologist and considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated choices.

Best Overall

TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Protective Leave-In Conditioner

4.8
tgin-miracle-repairx-protective-leave-in-conditioner

Amazon

What We Like
  • Moisturizes dry hair

  • Hair feels soft

  • Helps detangle

What We Don't Like
  • Scent may not be for all

This “Miracle” leave-in is quickly gaining popularity for its do-it-all formula that tackles a myriad of needs. It delivers moisture, obviously. Definition? Check. And to make this product even more attractive, it uses coconut oil and black honey to treat hair, reducing split ends and promoting growth, also helping to reduce shedding over time. The overwhelming response is that this product leaves hair feeling soft to the touch and much more manageable.

Price at time of publish: $16 for 13 oz.

Hair Type: Curly, dry | Size: 13 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Budget

Aunt Jackie’s Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner

aunt-jackies-quench-moisture-intensive-leave-in-conditioner

Amazon

What We Like
  • Hydrates

  • Helps provide slip for styling

  • Inexpensive

What We Don't Like
  • Not for daily use

When your hair goes through a lot of product quickly, you definitely want to reach for a budget-friendly option. This leave-in conditioner goes easy on your pockets but delivers quality ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, and marshmallow root to nourish your hair and provide great slip. It’s important to note, however, that this product has a bit of protein in it, making it best for treating high-porosity hair and hair that is chemically treated.

Price at time of publish: $7

Hair Type: Curly, coily | Size: 12 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

Mielle Organics White Peony Leave-In Conditioner

mielle-organics-white-peony-leave-in-conditioner

Target

What We Like
  • Provides heat protection

  • Lightweight

  • Tamps down frizz

What We Don't Like
  • May not be enough for dry hair

On your next run to the drugstore, stroll the aisles for this fan-favorite leave-in conditioner. The lightweight formula is packed with natural ingredients that smooth your strands and seal in moisture. It's a useful tool in your arsenal to help protect hair from heat styling damage. It also has a great reputation for playing nicely with other products, so you don’t have to alter your entire routine to try it out.

Price at time of publish: $13

Hair Type: Fine, thin | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Natural

Oyin Handmade Hair Dew Daily Quenching Hair Lotion

oyin-handmade-hair-dew-daily-quenching-hair-lotion

Amazon

What We Like
  • Hair feels soft

  • Smells great

  • Helps strengthen hair

What We Don't Like
  • Hydration isn't long-lasting

This hair-quenching lotion totally lives up to its name. You can count on it for silky, juicy curls after washing (or as a refresher between washes). It provides all of the benefits of castor oil, aloe vera, and olive oil, strengthening hair as it softens it. Users also love the light sugary vanilla scent.

Price at time of publish: $21

Hair Type: Wavy, curly | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Travel-Size

Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner

carols-daughter-black-vanilla-leave-in-conditioner

Carol's Daughter

What We Like
  • Portable

  • Strengthening formula

  • Smells great

What We Don't Like
  • Not for daily use

Bottling up your favorite products for the road can be a hassle, so this leave-in is a great option to keep handy in your overnight bag. Specifically formulated for dull, dry, or brittle hair, this weightless spray restores natural moisture and adds strength to your hair. With wheat protein and pro-vitamin B5, think of this like a daily vitamin for your tresses. If you fall in love with the formula, reach for the full-size version.

Price at time of publish: $11

Hair Type: Dry, damaged | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Volumizing

Miss Jessie’s Leave In Condish

miss-jessies-leave-in-condish

Amazon

What We Like
  • Defines curls

  • Lightweight

  • Moisturizes hair

What We Don't Like
  • Strong scent

This product makes the claim of “best darn leave-in conditioner period,” and plenty of happy and hydrated 4C naturals agree. It has plenty of noteworthy ingredients, like soybean extract, pumpkin seed extract, and aloe vera to soften curls and condition your strands before styling. The results are curls that are more defined and voluminous.

Price at time of publish: $12

Hair Type: Curly, coily | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Smoothing

NaturAll Club Nourishing Avocado Leave-In Conditioner with Kiwi

naturall-club-nourishing-avocado-leave-in-conditioner-with-kiwi

NaturAll Club

What We Like
  • Adds shine

  • Organic ingredients

  • Softens hair

What We Don't Like
  • Could be more hydrating

Avocado is loaded with tons of antioxidants and healthy fats, which translates to increased shine and protection when used on your hair. Lucky for us, this formula is full of organically sourced avocado. Simply apply this product to wet hair to repair and smooth your strands for soft, touchable curls. It's great for hair with low porosity. If definition is your biggest concern, you’ll definitely want to follow up with a styling product.

Price at time of publish: $10

Hair Type: All | Size: 6.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Strengthening

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner

Ulta Beauty

What We Like
  • Strengthening formula

  • Hydrates

  • Good value

What We Don't Like
  • Can be a little greasy

If your hair is weak and brittle, you don’t have to just deal with it—you can repair it. This hydrating formula uses castor oil and shea butter to support elasticity and reduce breakage, while peppermint stimulates your scalp and increases blood flow. Users say that it’s great for restoring strength to color-treated, over-processed hair, and it also works to smooth curls.

Price at time of publish: $11

Hair Type: Curly, coily | Size: 11 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Leave-in conditioners are great to moisturize and repair your hair on a daily basis, but for a serious hair transformation, be sure to have a deep conditioner in your routine, too.

Best Spray

Taliah Wajid Shea-Coco Condition Daily Leave-In

taliah-wajid-shea-coco-condition-daily-leave-in

Amazon

What We Like
  • Won't weigh down hair

  • Boosts curl shape

  • Simple ingredient list

What We Don't Like
  • May not be enough for dry hair

This leave-in conditioning spray is great for hydrating and refreshing dry, tired coils. It can be used daily as a pick-me-up, or after washing and conditioning hair, like a traditional leave-in. The lightweight formula delivers serious hydration without ever leaving your hair feeling sticky or weighed down. It’s also great for twisted or braided styles, delivering soft definition without the worry of product buildup.

Price at time of publish: $10

Hair Type: Curly, coily | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Hydrating

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Leave-In

4.5
sheamoisture-manuka-honey--yogurt-hydrate---repair-leave-in

Walgreens

What We Like
  • Boosts shine

  • Protects from heat

  • Ideal for color-treated hair

What We Don't Like
  • Could be better at tamping down frizz

The powerful multi-tasking properties of honey in this formula, manuka to be exact, delivers serious moisture and shine. It also contains yogurt extract to nourish your hair and mafura oil to prevent heat damage (so bring out that diffuser with confidence!). Plus, it’s safe enough to restore vibrancy to color-treated hair.

Price at time of publish: $13

Hair Type: All | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Detangling

Kinky Curly Knot Today Detangler

kinky-curly-knot-today-detangler

Amazon

What We Like
  • Can be left in or rinsed out

  • Provides slip

  • Adds bounce

What We Don't Like
  • Can build up on fine hair

So much breakage can occur when your hair is handled roughly, but this detangling conditioner has become a staple in the natural hair community for its intense slip and smoothing qualities. Simply apply the creamy formula to your hair after washing and conditioning to remove knots, snarls, and tangles from kinky hair. For wavier hair types, it can be used as a rinse-out conditioner. 

Price at time of publish: $15

Hair Type: All | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for High-Porosity Hair

Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk

camille rose moisture milk

camille rose

What We Like
  • Hydrating

  • No synthetic preservatives

  • Intoxicating scent

What We Don't Like
  • Packaging could be improved

When you have low-porosity hair, you need an extra dose of moisture. You'll also want to avoid products that contain a lot of protein to avoid buildup on the hair or making it feel brittle. This leave-in conditioning milk softens and defines curls and coils, and contains rice milk and macadamia seed oil to help replenish lost moisture to parched hair. As a bonus, the scent is a heady blend of vanilla and macadamia nut.

Price at time of publish: $16

Hair Type: All | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Trio

Camille Rose The “Leave In” Collection

camille-rose-the-leave-in-collection

Amazon

What We Like
  • Hydrating

  • Adds moisture

  • Made with natural ingredients

What We Don't Like
  • Not for all hair types

This nourishing collection has all of your steps covered after cleansing and conditioning. Step one, Honey Hydrate, contains honey, olive oil, and castor oil to nourish and seriously hydrate your curls. Step two is the Latte Define cream which works to define curls for juicy definition. And finally, step three is the Herbal Tea Seal & Soften. This step seals in moisture and protects your hair from damage to encourage growth. Users rave that when using these products together, their hair stays moisturized long after wash day.

Price at time of publish: $15

Hair Type: Low porosity | Size: 9 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

Overall, we like the TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Protective Leave-In Conditioner for the way it softens and detangles hair, leaving it much easier to style. It has a moisturizing formula and suits a range of hair types and curl patterns. If you're on a budget, try Aunt Jackie's Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner. With hydrating oils and protein, it's a budget-friendly pick for high-porosity curls and coils.

Meet the Expert

  • Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris is a trichologist and founder of Alodia Hair Care.

What to Look For in a Conditioner for 4C Hair

Nourishing Oils

Ingredients are important when tackling dry or malnourished hair, so seeking products with nourishing oils is key. Look out for ingredients like coconut oil, which can help seal split ends and promote growth, and olive oil to help nourish the hair and add slip. "I would recommend going for an organic, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) that's unrefined and not treated with any chemicals or heat—it's the highest-quality available, and much healthier for your hair," Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, a trichologist and founder of Alodia Hair Care, told us. 

Strengthening Ingredients

When hair is damaged—whether it be by hot tools and styling products, or just natural wear and tear—it's important to use products that will boost its health. Be on the lookout for ingredients such as shea butter and jojoba oil.If your hair is processed and porous, you can look for ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein or keratin to help strengthen hair and repair damage.

Extracts

Ingredients such as soybean extract and pumpkin seed extract, both found in Miss Jessie's Leave-In Condish, can help soften your curls. This leads to easier styling and less tangled hair. You can also tap into ingredients such as the yogurt extract found in SheaMoisture's Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Multi-Action Leave-In that help nourish the hair and prevent heat damage.

Consider Your Hair's Porosity

It's important to keep your hair's porosity in mind when looking for a leave-in conditioner. Higher-porosity hair can benefit from ingredients like protein and others that strengthen hair. One strengthening product that contains wheat protein and vitamin B5 is the Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner. Lower porosity hair types should look for moisturizing ingredients like plant oils and butters, or avocado like in NaturAll Club Nourishing Avocado Leave-In Conditioner.

FAQ
  • What is the maximum hydration method for 4C hair?

    The Maximum Hydration Method is a hair care regimen (typically comprised of six steps) designed to "systematically increase moisture levels in the hair until max hydration is reached." 

  • How do you identify 4C hair?

    Celebrity hairstylist Vernon François recommends identifying curls by looking at their texture. "I define the characteristics of each hair type by its true texture," he says. "There's often some overlap with chart systems—like Type 4 may be both kinky and coily—so for me, being dyslexic, it makes much more sense to define by texture." Type 4C hair can range from fine, thin, and soft to coarse with densely packed strands.

  • Do I need to put oil on my scalp?

    For some, the feeling of massaging a light oil into a dry scalp pre-styling offers hydration. However, if you have an oily scalp to begin with you may find applying moisture-rich products to the hair (versus the scalp) a better alternative.

Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2018.1497562?journalCode=uacn20

  2. Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oilsInt J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070

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