When it comes to pampering ourselves (and we mean really pampering ourselves), taking the time to recreate a salon visit from the comfort of our own bathrooms is simply divine.
Not to mention, one of our favorite guides is our all-encompassing roundup of the best shampoos we reviewed for every hair concern, plus the best hair conditioners to go along with it, and now — drumroll please — we have the ultimate edit to the best leave-in conditioners we’ve tried, tested and recommend picking up.
So, let’s talk about product testing a bit. I have quite the collection of haircare products in my bathroom and can assure you that, after reviewing more than 30 leave-in conditioners over the course of three months, the 20 you’ll find below are simply the very best.
“A leave-in conditioner hydrates and nourishes hair by offering frizz and heat protection to reduce damage and breakage,” Amy Abramite, hairstylist, salon educator and creative director at Maxine Ltd. in Chicago, told the New York Post. “Hair is left soft, shiny and healthy. Leave-in conditioner is also used to define and boost waves for optimal curl formation.”
Along with Abramite sharing her go-to tips for using a leave-in conditioner properly in our in-depth FAQ section, shop the top brands below — from Aussie and Sol de Janeiro to Alterna and Gisou.
Before diving into the review criteria New York Post Shopping set in place when testing and trying all the top leave-in conditioners on the market for three months, l’ll begin by detailing my hair type. Naturally, I have wavy to curly hair that’s sometimes prone to frizz (though, it has its oily moments at times if I go longer than two days without a wash). My hair blow dries straight when styling, too.
Simply put, my mane is a mutt of different types and textures — making my hair one of the best to review a wide set of leave-in conditioners for volume, lift and salon-worthy results.
Ahead, here’s what I looked for when trying out each leave-in conditioner:
Best overall
The second I applied the Oribe Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler, I knew I was going to love it. Luxe bottle aside, it does a great job at hydrating my hair without leaving it sopping wet, and it’s especially great if you have wavy or curly hair, though I find it works well with my preferred straight blowout.
More, it’s silicone-free, helps prime your hair for hassle-free styling and smells like a dream, thanks to its nourishing butter complex. It’s the perfect product to use every few days as well.
Much like the brand’s top-rated Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil ($11), its Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner is well-formulated and effective. In its easy-to-use pump-style container, it helps prevent frizz, leaves a hint of shine and has a pleasing scent — a mix of pomegranate extract, honey and citrus extracts.
Meet the leave-in conditioner I’ve been using since middle school: the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner. The stuff inside this bottle works, instantly hydrating dry hair. Because it’s infused with plant keratin and argan oil, it also helps preserve the look of my blowout (and, two of these are less than $10!)
If you want your hair to feel luscious and pampered, splurge a bit on the Gisou Honey-Infused Leave-In Conditioner. Hot take, but as much as I love its TikTok-viral Honey-Infused Hair Oil ($46), I find myself reaching for this nourishing formula more, namely for its ability to make my hair silky smooth and also help prevent breakage.
If you’re looking for a drugstore leave-in conditioner that won’t break the bank, the Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner has been one of my favorites to use on repeat. Specifically, it’s formulated with nourishing jojoba oil and helps tame frizz but — even more impressively — is cruelty free and suited for all hair types even at its $5 price point.
Shop for salon luxury (and, the haircare line that was used backstage at the Miss USA pageant) with the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Leave-In Conditioner. If you’re looking for something lightweight yet hydrating (but is more of a spray formula than a rub-in lotion), this one fits the bill.
More, it’s a dream for finer hair types as it’s buildable to your liking. Your hair will also look smooth and healthy with this baby.
What’s great about Odele is, if you were blindfolded, you’d think its $12 Leave-In Conditioner was upwards of $100. Not only does it have a luxe botanical scent that’s fresh and lightweight, but it deeply moisturizes your hair, detangling and fighting frizz as well. Plus, the value you’ll get with this bottle is simply unmatched.
I have much to love Andrew Fitzsimons for: (1) his celebrity hairstylist-backed advice and (2) his incredible line of products. The star of the show (in my eyes, at least) is his AF1 Restructuring 10-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner. For less than $20, I was blown away with how fresh and healthy my hair looked. I’ve been recommending this product to nearly everyone lately, too.
As one of the best haircare products under $25 I tested, the It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-in Conditioner is truly a 10 in my books. It’s a product I’ve used for years, and yes, I can attest it truly has 10 functions: inhibits dry and damaged hair, adds shine, detangles, controls frizz, seals and protects hair color, helps prevent split ends, inhibits hair breakage, creates silkiness, enhances natural body and offers thermal heat protection.
For all of its hair-boosting benefits, it’s one of the leave-in conditioners I’ll reach for in a pinch.
I cannot say enough good things about the AG Care Fast Food Leave-On Conditioner. It’s 100% worth its price and has a slight berry scent (likely for its infusion of healthful ingredients, like aloe and hyaluronic acid) — making your hair smell incredible.
Even better, it’s extremely lightweight, helps manage frizz and is vegan and cruelty free. This has been another one I’ve been obsessed with, and nearly 3,000 happy Amazon shoppers feel the same. Oh, and its hair mousse is just as phenomenal.
For less than $10, Raw Sugar Living’s The Mighty Cream Leave-In Conditioner is one I love to use if I’m air-drying my hair and want my natural waves and curls to shine. This coconut, papaya and shea infusion not only smells delightful, but impressively, contains vitamin B and is 100% vegan for a super affordable price point. Check yes, Juliet.
The love I have for amika is virtually beyond compare (read: amika Blow-Dryer Brush review), and its Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner with Hyaluronic Acid is a true blessing from above for dry hair that needs a once-in-a-while detox. While I don’t use this as often as some others on this list, this supersedes some others as far as moisturizing — especially for dry, damaged ends.
When I first used this product, I thought to myself, ‘wow, I can’t believe a Sephora-branded leave-in conditioner works this well.’ While I love many of the SEPHORA COLLECTION products, I haven’t heard all too much about its haircare — but that needs to change.
For just $12, it reminds me of the Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing Fragrance-Free Detangler ($25), but for half the price. It works well, is vegan and has an effective amino acid complex that works for my hair.
Without fail, all of the Moroccanoil hair products I’ve used have made me feel like I’m living in The Hamptons with an Aperol spritz in my hands. What’s great about the brand’s All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner is not only its coconut-smelling hydration but also its ability to detangle and leave your hair soft.
Though a bit pricier than most, it’s a surefire styling staple that will last you for months on end.
Drop everything and run to the adwoa beauty Melonberry Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner. For less than $25, it smells like every fruity thing good in this world — while offering your hair lightweight, buildable nourishment and a shine that’s honestly so impressive. Plus, it’s a vegan product that’s great for dry and frizzy hair, especially.
A social media buzzy brand that’s worth the hype? Dae, without a question, and its Cactus Flower Leave-In Conditioner is a wonderful place to start, aside from its top-rated Shampoo & Conditioner Set ($52).
Namely, this particular leave-in treatment is suited for all hair types and, from personal use, works wonders on my blown-out straight hair or naturally curly air-dried hair. Even better, it offers heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, much like your designated heat protectants.
Want to smell like Baha Mar? The Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner is exceptional, taking some notes from its fan-adored Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream ($48). As for its hair product, it boasts 72-hour frizz control, up to 450-degree Fahrenheit heat protection and has a delicious scent, reminiscent of the brand’s coveted Cheirosa ’62 scent.
Curly and coily hair, listen up. The PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Leave-In Conditioner is an exceptional, extremely moisturizing product that will help lock in and hydrate curls. Though its thicker than others, it won’t bog your hair down (unless you use a ton). A little truly goes a long way with this product, and it’s fun to use to style your curls in unique ways.
Simple, to the point and effective, the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray is one of my favorites to use following the brand’s matching Smoothing Shampoo ($28) and Smoothing Conditioner ($27). Plus, it helped make my hair a bit shinier than how it usually looks.
Ahead, Abramite shares the 411 on leave-in conditioners, including what to look for in a quality formula and how to properly use one.
First things first: What separates this type of haircare products from the rest? As the name suggests, it’s not left in the hair and not rinsed out like other hair conditioners or masks.
“Leave-in conditioner is a hydrating styling product that continues the moisturizing benefits of hair conditioning beyond the shower,” Abramite explains to The Post. “It protects the hair from heat styling and other stressors while keeping it strong, healthy and soft while enhancing style.”
“Leave-in conditioner is beneficial on all hair types,” Abramite notes. “The key for the best results is the amount used and placement of the product.” It’s important to note that all hair types typically have dry damaged ends and special attention should be given to those areas with more product concentration, she adds.
Below, Abramite details how to apply leave-in conditioner for the best results, depending on your hair type.
For beneficial effects, a leave-in conditioner is used when hair is clean and damp after being shampooed and conditioned.
“Massage it into the hair concentrating on the dehydrated ends where moisture is needed most,” she adds. “This will detangle and add slip to the hair during the comb out by removing knots and preparing for styling.”
According to Abramite, a leave-in conditioner can also be used daily on dry hair to reactivate a style or tame frizz as long as it does not hinder the desired styling results and weigh hair down.
“Leave-in conditioner can be applied to the scalp to relieve dryness but use caution to not over use. Too much product can cause build up and weigh the roots down resulting in a bad hair day and clogging pores for unhealthy skin. “
Amy Abramite, hairstylist, salon educator and creative director at Maxine Ltd. in Chicago
If you take away anything from this guide (aside from a product or two), let it be this: please do not misuse a leave-in conditioner like a regular conditioner in the shower.
“[Leave-in conditioner] is applied post shampoo and conditioner as a styling agent,” Abramite instructs. “It’s gentle enough to be left in the hair to moisturize and condition throughout the duration of your style, but not emollient enough to be as effective as a rinse-out conditioner.”
Common ingredients are proteins like keratin to strengthen and repair the hair cuticle, oils to moisturize and reduce frizz such as argan oil, and vitamins like vitamin E to nourish and add shine, per Abramite.
Leave-in conditioners have similar benefits for health as hair oils, but the formula is more lightweight, usually in a cream form.
“Oils are heavier and can be too much for daily usage especially on finer textures,” Abramite notes. “Oils won’t generate the curl definition as well as a leave-in conditioner either.”
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.