- Hair
- The Best Leave In Conditioners
The Best Leave In Conditioners For Healthy, Hydrated Hair
Let’s talk about leave in conditioners—those little miracle workers that often get overlooked in our haircare routines. If you’re not already a fan, it’s time to discover why these handy products are worth their weight in gold and find out what the best leave in conditioner is for your hair type. And the best part is that you can get these at amazing discounted prices, so you won’t have to break the bank to keep your hair lusciously hydrated.
Leave in conditioners don’t just detangle your locks; they’re like a daily dose of vitamins for your hair, helping to keep it hydrated, healthy, and oh-so-soft. If you’ve got curls that need taming or strands that are feeling a bit dry, there’s a leave in conditioner out there just for you.
What do leave in conditioners do?
Leave in conditioners are fantastic because they offer multiple benefits in one go. Here’s why you should consider incorporating one into your routine:
- Moisture boost: They deliver a dose of hydration that helps to combat dryness and keep your hair looking vibrant and healthy.
- Detangling power: Say goodbye to knots and tangles with the smoothing effects of a leave in conditioner, making brushing a breeze.
- Frizz control: A good leave in can help to manage frizz and flyaways, giving you sleek, manageable hair.
- Protection: Many leave ins provide a barrier against environmental damage, like UV rays and pollution, protecting your hair throughout the day.
How to Choose the Right Leave In Conditioner for Your Hair Type
When it comes to choosing a leave in conditioner, it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Different hair types have different needs, so it’s important to pick a product that suits your hair’s unique texture, porosity, and any specific concerns you might have.
- Hair texture: Curly, fine, thick, or straight—each hair type requires a different level of moisture and care. For example, curly hair tends to need more hydration, while fine hair benefits from lightweight formulas that won’t weigh it down.
- Hair porosity: Porosity refers to how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture. High-porosity hair (often due to damage or bleaching) needs rich, nourishing leave ins, while low-porosity hair does better with lighter formulas that won’t sit on top of the hair.
- Specific concerns: If your hair is colour-treated, damaged, or prone to frizz, look for leave ins that target those issues. Ingredients like keratin, proteins, and natural oils are great for strengthening and repairing hair, while humectants and silicones can help tame frizz.
By thinking about your hair type and its needs, you’ll find a leave-in that helps keep your locks looking their best.
To save you from a never-ending search, we’ve rounded up the top leave-in conditioners tailored to different hair types. Whether your locks are curly, fine, bleached, or just a bit parched, we’ve found the perfect leave in conditioners for any hair type.
The best leave in conditioner for curly hair
KeraCare Curlessence Moisturising Leave In Conditioner
£7.45 £10.45 (29% off)This leave in conditioner is a curly hair essential, designed to deeply moisturise and define your curls without any crunch. Infused with coconut oil and shea butter, it helps to detangle and reduce frizz, leaving your curls soft, bouncy, and well-nourished.
Living Proof Curl Elongator
£17.50If you’re after longer, more defined curls, Living Proof Curl Elongator needs to be on your list. This leave in conditioner has a lightweight formula that enhances curl shape while providing crucial hydration and frizz control. It helps to elongate your curls, giving them a sleek and polished look.
The best leave in conditioner for fine hair
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Lavender Mint Conditioning Leave-In Spray
£18.75 £24.75 (25% off)Perfect for fine hair, this lightweight leave-in spray provides hydration without weighing your hair down. The calming blend of tea tree, lavender, and mint soothes your scalp, while adding a refreshing boost of moisture and shine to keep your fine strands looking fresh and healthy.
Sachajuan Leave In Conditioner
£25.00 £36.00 (31% off)Sachajuan’s Leave In Conditioner is ideal for fine hair that needs a little extra care. Its weightless formula hydrates and detangles without adding heaviness, while Ocean Silk Technology strengthens and protects your hair, leaving it soft, shiny, and full of natural volume.
The best leave in conditioner for bleached hair
Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In
£22.99 £28.00 (18% off)This leave-in is a game-changer for bleached hair, working to reverse damage and restore strength to weakened strands. With its weightless formula, it delivers deep hydration while also repairing split ends and preventing further breakage, leaving your bleached locks feeling smooth and healthy.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthening Leave In Conditioner
£11.75 £12.99 (10% off)Bleached hair can feel dry and brittle, but this rich leave-in conditioner from Shea Moisture works wonders to restore strength and moisture. Infused with Jamaican black castor oil and shea butter, it deeply nourishes and repairs damaged hair, helping to reduce breakage and promote healthier growth.
Matrix Total Results Unbreak My Blonde Reviving Leave-in Treatment
£14.95 £20.03 (26% off)Specially designed for bleached and lightened hair, this leave-in treatment revives and strengthens fragile strands. Its gentle, sulphate-free formula restores softness and adds resilience, helping to repair the damage caused by bleaching while maintaining the vibrancy of your blonde.
The best leave in conditioner for dry hair
Cantu Hydrating Leave-In Conditioning Mist
£4.39 £6.64 (34% off)Dry hair will love this lightweight mist, designed to deliver a burst of moisture without feeling heavy. Enriched with pure shea butter, this leave-in helps to soften and hydrate thirsty strands, making it perfect for daily use to keep dry hair smooth, manageable, and refreshed.
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate & Repair Multi-Action Leave-In Conditioner
£10.99 £12.99 (16% off)Packed with nourishing ingredients like manuka honey and yogurt, this leave-in conditioner is a saviour for dry, damaged hair. It provides deep hydration while repairing split ends and restoring elasticity, leaving your hair soft, silky, and full of moisture.
Moroccanoil Hydration All In One Leave-In Conditioner
£23.94 £27.30 (13% off)Moroccanoil’s Hydration Leave-In is a powerhouse for dry hair, delivering up to 72 hours of hydration. Infused with argan oil and nourishing ingredients, it smooths and detangles while locking in moisture, giving your dry strands a healthy, hydrated glow.
How to apply leave in conditioner
Applying leave in conditioner is super easy, but doing it the right way makes all the difference. Start with freshly washed, towel-dried hair. Take a small amount of product (or a few spritzes if you’re using a spray), and focus on the mid-lengths to ends—this is where your hair tends to be the driest and needs the most moisture. Avoid applying too much near the roots, especially if you have fine hair, to keep things light and fresh.
Once applied, use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently detangle your hair, making sure the conditioner is evenly distributed. You can then let your hair air-dry for a natural look, or style it as usual. If you use heat tools, check if your leave-in conditioner offers heat protection; if not, apply a heat protectant before styling. Simple as that—your hair will be left feeling soft, hydrated, and ready to go.
You’ve now got our expert recommendations on the best leave in conditioner for your hair type, along with tips and tricks on how to apply this miracle product. If you’re after more ways to get your hair looking the healthiest and shiniest as possible, have a look at our guide on The Best Hair Oils For Sleek And Shiny Hair.
Written by Franchesca Villar
With a love for all things beauty, Franchesca is a skilled beauty content and copywriter with expert knowledge of all of the latest beauty trends. She loves perfecting her bouncy blow-out routine (no matter how time-consuming), is on the eternal hunt for the best glow-boosting product, and is a lip-gloss addict.