We’ve handpicked our favourite leave-in conditioners if your hair is dry and damaged, or you’re just trying to keep it looking healthy
Our hair changes with the environment. As the seasons change, our hair can enter a state of flux that leaves it feeling dry or undernourished – whether that’s from the cold winds, and heating, or the sun of summer and its more humid air. This can drastically impact moisture levels in the hair and you may find yourself needing a leave-in conditioner.
Obviously, as the name suggests, this is a conditioner that you apply to the hair but leave on. You don’t rinse it off. You can use it after a rinse-off conditioner, or on its own (depending on your hair type, hair porosity, and the conditioner you’re using). You can also use extra as a hair mask overnight if you’ve been swimming or recently coloured your hair.
They’re highly versatile and there is something for all hair types. Below we’ve listed what we consider to be the best leave-in conditioners for coloured hair, afro hair, fine, medium and thick hair, as well as naturally dry hair.
If you’re unsure what your hair type actually is, take our hair porosity test to find out.
FURTHER READING: This hair porosity test will reveal if you have high, medium or low porosity hair – and which products you need
Before we dive into our list of the best leave-in conditioner for each hair type, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use leave-in conditioner. Just in case the idea seems confusing to you.
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Not all leave-in conditioners are created equal. Click on the links next to each recommendation below to jump to the best leave-in conditioner for your specific needs.
£26 | Buy now from Cult Beauty
Why we love it: It’s a well-known fact that bleaching and heat styling can make your hair dry and damaged. Olaplex’s formula seeks out broken bonds within the hair and repairs them, making even bleached hair look shinier. It keeps hair smooth, it keeps frizz at bay, and what’s more important is that it keeps all hair types intensely hydrated. Apply a very small amount to damp or dry hair, concentrating product on your mid-length to ends. Comb through and style as desired.
FURTHER READING: What hair colour suits me? | K18 vs Olaplex: Is Olaplex No. 3 or the K18 hair mask better for repairing your hair?
Buy now from Cult Beauty
£6.99 | Buy now from Boots
Why we love it: When it comes to fine hair, putting too much product on can weigh it down. Using a spray leave-in conditioner is a great solution because it’s lightweight and it keeps fine hair cared for. This conditioning spray will help battle damaged, split ends and tangled hair. It’s made of almond extract, shea butter and argan oil to detangle and condition your hair. Just squeeze out excess water, give the bottle a good shake and spray evenly on damp hair. Then comb through and style.
Buy now from Boots
£24.50 | Buy now from Cult Beauty
Why we love it: This is actually a personal favourite leave-in conditioner of ours, not only does this leave our hair soft, shiny and tangle-free. The smell is so dreamy – it contains a mix of Juniper berries, blood orange, rhubarb and leather accord. We also love that this is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, paraben, and sulfate-free and it doesn’t contain petrolatum or mineral oil.
High Dive is best suited for medium to thick hair but it gives a lightweight feeling. It’s very hydrating and all you have to do is work this moisturising crème on towel-dried hair to leave your locks looking smooth and frizz-free.
Buy now from Cult Beauty
£12.75 | Buy now from Beauty Bay
Why we love it: Afro hair can be more on the dry side and needs extra TLC. This repairing leave-in conditioner contains shea butter to helps nourish, moisturise and reduce breakage. While the Jamaican Black Castor Oil strengthens and restores the hair from the inside out. We love this conditioner. It works hard to soften and detangle hair and improves the appearance of split ends as well as controlling frizz. An all-in-one that will suit all hair types.
Buy now from Beauty Bay
£3.49 | Buy now from Boots
Why we love it: Dry hair can sometimes seem like it has no life and is just flat. It’s also up to four times more likely to break. Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food has created a wonderful food hair mask to treat dry hair. This is a vegan formula and it’s blended with banana and shea.
We love that you can use this as a normal conditioner, as a hair mask as well as a leave-in conditioner. In the latter case, apply to towel-dried hair and style.
Buy now from Boots
