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If you’ve ever experienced dry, frizzy, or tangled natural hair, your leave-in conditioner (or lack thereof) could be the culprit. To put it plainly, if you aren’t using a leave-in conditioner, then you’re missing out on what could be better curl days. The right leave-in moisturizes your hair and helps make styling and detangling more manageable.
“A leave-in conditioner should be an essential part of your daily hair routine," says Maxine Green, stylist and owner of Curly Dimensions Salon. "It keeps hair hydrated from the inside out." Green also recommends choosing products with moisturizing ingredients and low alcohol or mineral oil content.
For more, check out our list of the best leave-in conditioners for natural hair.
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This hydrating and repairing leave-in conditioner is a serious multitasker for dry hair. It protects hair from heat damage up to 450 degrees and is certified to reduce breakage (up to 87%!) in non-chemically treated hair. A blend of certified organic shea butter and nutrient-rich manuka honey supports strands with fortifying proteins, which in turn combats brittle hair and frizz.
For those with normal, healthy hair, be sure to go easy on the protein treatments (since our hair is already made of protein). Green recommends doing a treatment about once every two months.
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This all-natural formula can be used after washing or as an everyday styler to refresh and revive dry curls. It has the ingredients necessary to tame frizz and fly-aways, seal in moisture, and protect from heat damage. Users say that it makes their curls softer and easier to style.
Always apply leave-in conditioner to clean, damp hair for maximum results. For day two or day three curls, try mixing your leave-in with water in a spray bottle for a quick refresh.
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We know that the last thing you want for your bouncy, wind-blown blowouts is to be weighed down by your conditioner. There’s no need to worry about this one—it provides every bit of the shine you need without weighing strands down. This nourishing leave-in is an important tool to help detangle and strengthen your hair. It contains eri silk, mulberry leaf, and virgin palm oil to seal in hydration and shield frizz, so you can get a quicker, stress-free blow-dry. It’s also safe for color-treated hair, helping you to maintain your shade longer.
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This ultra-nourishing formula is like a superfood, but for your hair. Avocado, buriti, and marula oil are rich in minerals and fatty acids, adding moisture that penetrates deep into the hair shaft. Users with fine hair and loose curls rave that it packs on moisture without feeling greasy or weighed down. Even more good news: this leave-in conditioner acts as a heat protectant, so feel free to use it in tandem with your diffuser.
Best Sulfate-Free: SheaMoisture Sugarcane Extract & Meadowfoam Seed Silicone Free Leave-In Conditioner
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For hair that needs a little extra attention to achieve the definition and moisture levels that you desire, this silicone-free option is the answer. The formula smells divine and it has all the ingredients you want (without the ones you don’t) to deliver shine. It’s also a great option for color-treated hair, adding extra protection and shine for longer-lasting color.
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When you have fine hair but a lot of it, it can be difficult to find a product to give it the moisture and frizz control it needs without weighing it down. This weightless air-dry cream will save your hair day. Apply it to sopping wet hair and smooth through your curls to seal in moisture and tame flyaways. Users with fine hair rave that they can even apply this product generously and still achieve lightweight curls.
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This hydrating mist is a fan favorite for moisturizing even the driest fine strands. Recommended for those with hair on the wavy side of the curl spectrum, it contains silk proteins and amino acids that fortify and strengthen your hair without weighing it down. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for color-treated hair.
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If you have thick hair in need of moisture and curl definition, reach for this deep moisture therapy leave-in treatment. Shea butter and olive oil revive dry hair and create great slip for easier detangling, and users say that they experience shinier, less frizzy curls.
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This creamy leave-in is a prime option for when you want all of the hold and none of the crunch. The curl-defining formula delivers resilient, sleek, and long-lasting results. It allows you to frizz- and weather-proof your hair without leaving a crunchy or greasy residue, and users say that it left their hair feeling softer and more manageable.
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If your hair has been damaged from heat tools or styling breakage, it doesn’t have to stay that way. This crowd-pleaser has a reputation for bringing stressed hair back to life and protecting it from further damage. It conditions hair for curls that are soft to the touch, and the blueberry extract gives it a yummy scent.
Best for Thinning Hair: SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
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Color-treated, over-processed, or thinning hair will thank you for this restoring leave-in. Jamaican Black Castor Oil has serious scalp benefits, including ridding it of damaging fungi and toxins that could halt or prevent growth. It also locks in moisture, making it a great addition to your wash day routine. Users with thick, curly hair report less breakage with continued use.
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Who doesn’t want stronger and longer curls? This unique formula has the natural ingredients that your hair needs to reduce breakage by 94% when used as a part of the Goddess Strength system. Castor oil, black cumin seed oil, and ginger support gentle detangling and more manageable styling to help you retain length.
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Have you ever tried a leave-in conditioner that felt like it did more harm than good? Well, this nourishing lightweight conditioner is sure to be an answer to dry, thirsty tresses. The formula contains naturally sourced avocado and coconut oils to seal in moisture and prevent frizz, resulting in hair that is noticeably more hydrated.
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A leave-in conditioner that moisturizes your curls while also delivering subtle hold sounds like a win-win. Users with all curl types rave that this lightweight formula delivers definition and shine for even the tightest curls. It’s also designed to protect your hair from free radicals and to stabilize its pH, resulting in body and bounce for your wash-and-go styles.
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Detangling your textured hair can be frustrating, to say the least, but it can also be damaging. If you want to grow your hair healthier or longer, you’ll want to prioritize a gentle detangling process, made easier by this super slippery leave-in. Use it for longer-lasting twist-outs and easier styling.
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