Whichever way you choose to look at it, the fact that most people try to minimize their use of hair products is more than justified. For instance, by not using multiple products, you minimize your exposure to the kind of chemicals and synthetic ingredients that most hair products possess these days. Similarly, by limiting yourself to a few products, you also make it easier for yourself to identify what works for you and what doesn’t.
The most common method people use to minimize their dependence on hair products is by prioritizing them. The pecking order usually begins with a shampoo, includes a conditioner, and stops at a hair mask although people who rely a lot on hot tools may also include heat protectants in their priority list.
However, despite a lot of hair experts and stylists expressing their benefits, very few even look at leave-in conditioners. This is a gross mistake because the right leave-in conditioner has the potential to hugely improve the state of a person’s hair. We’ve created this guide precisely because we understand how effective and beneficial the best leave-in conditioners can be.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Leave-in Conditioner |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Volume: 8.4 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $0.83 |
| An excellent, budget leave-in conditioner that not only moisturizes and detangles hair but also strengthens it and helps it grow longer. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| The Honest Company Leave-in Conditioner and Fortifying Spray |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Volume: 4 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $1.25 |
| The most effective, natural, and lightweight leave-in conditioner out there that can be safely used by kids as well as adults, comes as a spray. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| ORIBE Supershine Moisturizing Crème |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Volume: 5 ounces |
| Cost per ounce: $10.40 |
| The Rolls-Royce of leave-in conditioners with the unique Oribe scent and huge capabilities of hydrating, softening, smoothing, and shining hair. |
| Check Amazon |
In fact, it doesn’t even matter what your hair texture is or how damaged your hair is, if you can find the right leave-in condition and use it in the right way, your hair will thank you for it. Here’s what you’ll find in this leave-in conditioner guide, laid out in a neat, clickable navigation panel.
- Why Should You Use A Leave-In Conditioner?
- How to Choose A Leave-In Conditioner?
- Top 10 Leave-In Conditioners Comparison Table
- Top 3 Budget Leave-In Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Leave-In Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
- Top 4 Premium Leave-In Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
Why Should You Use A Leave-In Conditioner?
A leave-in conditioner is exactly what it sounds like. It is a hair product that you spray or rub into your hair and not rinse out. It falls in the same category as your daily-use conditioner and hair mask because its primary job is to prevent your hair from getting too dry.
Most people know this simple fact but don’t realize that a leave-in conditioner is much more than those other types of conditioners. In fact, a leave-in conditioner is a multipurpose hair product.
While it moisturizes and hydrates the hair, it also detangles it, softens it, and protects it from external elements such as dust, pollution, humidity, and heat. Therefore, if your current hair products are proving ineffective or even if you’re looking to minimize your use of hair products, then a leave-in conditioner is your best friend.
How to Choose A Leave-In Conditioner?
When choosing a leave-in conditioner, you need to pay attention to two variables. The first is your hair type and the other is the ingredients of the leave-in conditioner. We’ll deal with each of these two variables independently.
Hair Type
You need to evaluate your hair type because all leave-in conditioners aren’t suitable for all hair types. While evaluating hair type, you need to analyze its porosity. Based on porosity, hair can be categorized into three classes – low, medium, and high.
These three hair porosity classes are created by variation in the hair cuticle. If the hair cuticle is closed and very difficult to penetrate, the individual has low-porosity hair. If the cuticle is normal which means it is neither too close nor too open, then the individual has medium porosity hair. Finally, if the cuticle is not sealed at all, then the individual has high-porosity hair.
Leave-In Conditioner Types Ideal for Low-Porosity Hair
Low porosity hair is very resistant which means that it doesn’t absorb hair products easily. Therefore, when you apply a hair product on low-porosity hair, the product just sits there on the hair strand for a very long time.
This can weigh down the hair and even lead to product buildup and grease. Therefore, if you have low-porosity hair, you need to stay away from intense leave-in conditioners. Go for lighter options instead.
Leave-In Conditioner Types Ideal for Medium-Porosity Hair
Medium-porosity hair is normal. It absorbs hair productsnormally and allows moisture to escape the hair strand normally too. However, this means that when there is a lot of hair products on the surface or the hair product is too oily and thick, then the medium-porosity hair can get weighed down.
Therefore, choosing a leave-in hair conditioner for medium-porosity hairis a balancing act. You can neither go for the heavy-duty leave-in conditioners nor the super-light ones. You need something in the middle.
You’ll also have to be careful about how much leave-in conditioner you apply. If you apply too much, you’ll weigh your hair down and if you don’t apply enough, your hair will get dry fairly quickly.
One workaround for medium-porosity hair is to choose a leave-in conditioner with a sealant. Sealants are ingredients that coat the hairs and prevent the absorbed moisture from escaping easily. However, again, you can’t expose your hair to large quantities of the sealant. You need it to be balanced.
Leave-In Conditioner Types Ideal for High-Porosity Hair
High-porosity hair has a completely open cuticle layer. This kind of hair will absorb moisture and nutrients quickly but will also allow them to leave quickly.
While you can be born with high-porosity hair, it is usually seen in people who use a lot of heat tools because excess exposure to heat damages cuticles. In common parlance, high-porosity hair is often called damaged or brittle.
When choosing a leave-in conditioner for high-porosity hair, you need the most intensely hydrating products. Additionally, we recommend picking products that contain strong sealants. Typically, this will mean silicones because there aren’t many naturally-occurring sealants that are as strong as silicones.
Ingredients List
You’ll have to study the ingredients list of the leave-in conditioners you’re considering to decide if it is suitable for your hair anyway. However, it is also wise to study the ingredients list because you don’t want to choose one with lots of artificial or synthetic substances.
The substances you should look to avoid are parabens and silicones. Parabens are chemical compounds that are usually used as preservatives in hair and skin products. Silicones, as explained earlier, are sealants used for sealing cuticles.
However, both these substances are synthetic and have their respective side effects. Parabens have been found to mimic the hormone estrogen and can cause hormonal imbalance in the user.
Siliconesare very strong sealants that don’t allow the hair to breathe and can lead to excessive dryness or even damage but only in the long term. Even so, you’ll find that most successful leave-in conditioners have silicones in them.
If their quantity is not very high or you don’t plan on using your leave-in conditioner every day, silicones won’t harm you but if the conditioner is based on silicones and you will use it frequently, you will probably be better off avoiding that particular product.
Other artificial substances that you need to avoid in your leave-in conditioners are sulfates and phthalates amongst others. Fortunately, these types of ingredients have become quite rare in leave-in products.
Some people are allergic or sensitive to naturally-occurring ingredients too. Therefore, another reason why you should study the ingredients lists of leave-in conditioners you’re assessing is to avoid potential allergens.
Top 10 Leave-In Conditioners Comparison Table
| Product Name | Volume | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renpure Coconut Whipped Creme Leave-In Conditioner | 16 ounces | $0.60 per ounce | Check Price |
| Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner | 16 ounces | $0.86 per ounce | Check Price |
| Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Leave-in Conditioner | 8.4 ounces | $0.83 per ounce | Check Price |
| The Honest Company Leave-in Conditioner & Fortifying Spray | 4 ounces | $1.25 per ounce | Check Price |
| Milk Shake Leave In Conditioner | 11.8 ounces | $1.69 per ounce | Check Price |
| MIZANI 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner | 13.5 ounces | $2.52 per ounce | Check Price |
| Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-in Conditioner Hair Treatment | 13.5 ounces | $3.26 per ounce | Check Price |
| It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Leave-In Product | 4 ounces | $4.24 per ounce | Check Price |
| Davines All In One Milk Lotion | 4.56 ounces | $7.58 per ounce | Check Price |
| ORIBE Supershine Moisturizing Crème | 5 ounces | $10.40 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 3 Budget Leave-In Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
1. Renpure Coconut Whipped Creme Leave-In Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Coconut is widely considered to be extremely beneficial for hair. In fact, many experts and grandmothers the world over believe it to be a miracle cure that can be used to deal with virtually every hair-related problem possible.
This is why the vast majority of hair products in the market incorporate ingredients derived from coconut in one way or another. More importantly, this is why there are hair products based purely on ingredients derived from coconuts. The Renpure Coconut Whipped Crème Leave-In Conditioner is a great example.
This leave-in conditioner’s formula revolves around two key coconut-derived substances – coconut water and coconut oil. The oils and nutrients in both these ingredients have low molecular weights, which allows them to penetrate deep into the hair.
Further, coconut oil coats the hair, sealing the cuticle and preventing moisture from escaping. This property of coconut oil is also supplemented by silicones. Apart from coconut-derived products, this product also contains another ingredient known for its intense hydrating properties – arganoil.
Therefore, this leave-in conditioner not only provides hair with the moisture it needs but also works to help the hair retain that moisture. As the hair is moisturized, it stops being frizzy and becomes silky and soft instead. This makes it easy to detangle too.
However, we should add that because of its strong moisturizing capabilities, this leave-in conditioner can weigh down medium-porosity and low-porosity hair.
Barring silicones, the formula of this product doesn’t contain harmful substances. It is free of other artificial substances such as parabens and sulfates. However, the fact that it contains silicones is a big negative.
This leave-in conditioner is cruelty-free too. In terms of smell, it has a coconut scent. The scent is pretty strong at the time of application but fades away fairly quickly. Also, we suggest being careful while applying it because the pump this product comes with is fragile and can break easily.
Despite being manufactured domestically, this isn’t a very expensive product. In fact, it is surprisingly pocket-friendly. This is especially great because the bottle stays with you for a long time. A little of this leave-in conditioner goes a long way and helps greatly.
Who’s it for: If you’re a big fan of coconut and are looking to save money on your leave-in conditioner, get Renpure.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Argan oil, moringa oleifera seed oil, red seaweed extract, red algae extract, coconut milk, hydrolyzed pea protein, provitamin B5, and silicones |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Coconut smell doesn’t linger for long |
| Little goes a long way |
| Comes with a pump |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Cruelty-free leave-in conditioner |
| Made in the USA |
| Very cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Can weigh the hair down |
| The smell is too strong for some |
| Pump breaks too easily |
2. Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
One of the strongest, naturally-occurring moisturizing substances on the planet is Jamaican black castor oil. Shea butter is equally impressive when it comes to hydrating hair. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that this leave-in conditioner from Shea Moisture is such a great moisturizer.
In fact, it is so effective at its primary task that it is a little unfit for low-porosity hair. It is even possible that it will weigh down medium-porosity hair on some people.
However, if you have high-porosity hair, you can benefit greatly from this product, especially since it is loaded with different types of proteins too. It will leave your hair moisturized, soft, shiny, and detangled. Moreover, it will give your hair that elusive slip that most hair-conscious people look for.
These two ingredients, of course, give this conditioner a very thick consistency too. Its consistency can make applying it a little bit of a chore, especially since you can’t use it as a spray or even make use of a pump.
This product also contains peppermint oil. So, you would expect it to have a minty scent. Instead, it has a very sweet smell reminiscent of play dough. The smell is also very strong which may make it unbearable for those with sensitive noses.
Further, this leave-in conditioner is good at protecting the hair from adverse external influences such as dust, heat, and even infection. This protection is a result of the slightly acidic variable in the formula which, itself, is caused by the inherent acidity of Jamaican castor oil and apple cider vinegar.
The jar this leave-in comes in is not of the best quality. If you drop it, you might break it. Fortunately, it isn’t the most expensive leave-in conditioner out there so your mistake wouldn’t cost you the world.
Who’s it for: If you have high-porosity hair and need a very strong leave-in conditioner, go for this one from Shea Moisture.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 16 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed rice protein, jojoba seed oil, hydrolyzed keratin, baobab seed oil, aloe vera leaf juice, macadamia seed oil, buriti fruit oil, apple cider vinegar, peppermint leaf extract, clover flower extract, vitamin B3, and yeast extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Offers good slip |
| Has a sweet smell |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Cruelty-free leave-in conditioner |
| Cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Can weigh the hair down |
| The smell is too strong and sweet for some |
| Comes in a low-quality jar |
| Doesn’t come with a pump or as a spray |
3. Marc Anthony Strengthening Grow Long Super Fast Leave-in Conditioner (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
The longer the hair grows, the more prone it gets to breakage. If you add dryness into the mix, the chances of the hair growing long worsen further. Most people would try to deal with these problems separately i.e. a hair product to help with moisturization and another one for strengthening the hair.
However, this leave-in conditioner from Marc Anthony offers a way to get those two birds with a single stone. Why? It’s because this leave-in conditioner specializes in helping hair grow long in addition to its core function of moisturizing hair.
It features the brand’s proprietary anti-breakage formula that works wonders for most people. Multiple users have found this leave-in conditioner to be very effective at not only preventing breakage but also resolving other problems like split ends and fraying.
While the specialized formula helps in this regard, this quality is mainly a result of this conditioner’s silicone content. As informed users will already know, silicones are not natural and have the potential to cause long term damage if used too much. Therefore, this is something you should consider well in advance of a purchase.
Simultaneously, this leave-in conditioner also hydrates the hair, which results in it becoming softer and detangled. The conditioning qualities of this product come from multiple ingredients with caffeine, ginseng, and vitamin E leading the line.
These strong ingredients are also responsible for the scent of this leave-in. The smell is very strong and has distinct artificial notes because of the nature of these ingredients. Unfortunately, the strength and artificial quality of the scent can put off many potential users.
Applying this leave-in conditioner is a breeze since it comes in the form of a spray. You just spray it on and rub it around for more uniformity. However, be warned that the spray is very fragile and prone to breaking. You need to treat it gently if you want it to remain functional.
Who’s it for: If you’re having trouble growing your hair long and keeping them hydrated at the same time, use this Marc Anthony leave-in conditioner.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8.4 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut oil, silicones, caffeine, vitamin E, panax ginseng root extract, and biotin |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Features a very effective anti-breakage formula |
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Helps hair grow long |
| Comes as a spray |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Fairly cheap product |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| The smell may be too strong and artificial |
| The spray mechanism breaks too easily |
Top 3 Value Leave-In Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
4. The Honest Company Leave-in Conditioner & Fortifying Spray (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
The Honest Company is the famed actress Jessica Alba’s brainchild. If you’ve been wondering why she has disappeared from the Hollywood scene, this company is the reason. All that work seems to be bearing fruit as is evident from this leave-in conditioner’s success.
The company manufactures hair products developed specifically for children. However, its products have become so famous that even adults looking for lightweight options have started using them. This is the case with this product too.
It is called a conditioning detangler spray but it is, essentially, a leave-in conditioner. It is incredibly lightweight, gentle, and mild making it ideal for people with low-porosity hair or individuals who want to use their leave-in conditioners daily.
This product is good at moisturizing hair, detangling it, and softening it but it cannot be compared to leave-in conditioners that are designed to be much stronger. Even though it is light, it has some really great moisturizers in the form of shea butter, jojoba protein, quinoa extract, and argan oil. These are, however, the minor ingredients in the formula.
The major ingredients are extracts of orange peel, vanilla fruit, and tangerine peel. These ingredients are good at balancing the hair’s pH value and giving it a very fresh and invigorating smell. The scent is also sweet and this is something that a lot of people don’t like. Fortunately, it doesn’t linger.
The best part about this leave-in conditioner is that it doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, or even silicones. Further, it is a cruelty-free product and comes in the form of a spray, which allows you to use it without guilt and with ease.
While this leave-in conditioner doesn’t come in multiple sizes, it does come in combo packages. Three packs are available where one is just the conditioner, second is combined with a bubble bath, and the third that pairs the conditioner with the traditional, daily-use conditioner.
This leave-in conditioner offers all these qualities at a very competitive price. While not exactly cheap, this conditioner comes very close to being accessible to all income groups.
Who’s it for: If you want a completely natural leave-in conditioner with a unique scent at a decent price, try this one from The Honest Company.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Orange peel extract, vanilla fruit extract, tangerine peel extract, calendula flower extract, matricaria flower extract, quinoa seed extract, coconut oil, crambe seed oil, babassu oil, argan oil, shea butter, murumuru seed butter, hydrolyzed jojoba protein, provitamin B5, and vitamin E |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very gentle leave-in conditioner |
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Has a sweet orange and vanilla smell |
| Comes as a spray |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Doesn’t contain silicones |
| Cruelty-free leave-in conditioner |
| Available in three variants |
| Affordably priced |
| The Cons |
|---|
| The smell maybe a little too sweet and strong |
5. Milk Shake Leave In Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Another very light and mild leave-in conditioner that will suit people with low-porosity hair is this milk-based leave-in conditioner from Milk Shake. Additionally, this product is also a great choice for people who color their hair because the company says that its formula was developed to preserve color too.
The formula is based around the company’s “signature” milk proteins along with a series of other moisturizing ingredients such as strawberry, honey, sunflower, and papaya.
While honey, sunflower, and strawberry combine to revitalize and freshen up the hair strand, the signature milk protein strengthens it. As a result of these actions, the hair gets hydrated, soft, and detangled at the same time.
To preserve the hair, the formula includes silicones that coat and seal individual hair strands. While silicones are excellent for preserving the color, they do affect hair health in the long term. So, this is something you need to remember while choosing and using this leave-in.
Of course, silicones also protect the hair from external influences such as pollution, dust, and ultraviolet rays. Apart from silicones, this conditioner doesn’t contain any synthetic substances including parabens and sulfates. The product is cruelty-free, however.
The smell of this leave-in conditioner is a result of its milk protein content. These proteins give this conditioner a fairly sweet smell that is similar to what you’ll get from fresh cake batter. The smell has been described as both “delicious” and “cloying” by users. If you don’t like sweet smells, you’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t linger.
In terms of pricing, there are two things you need to consider. The list price of this device is competitive and well within the “value” market segment. However, when you start using the conditioner, you might think that it is too expensive.
The reason for this is that it has a very thin consistency which will result in you ending up using a lot of it in every application. This results in the bottle emptying much faster in comparison to other products, despite the built-in spraying mechanism.
Another thing worth keeping in mind is that you can get this product in two bottle sizes. The big 11.8-ounce bottle is cheaper but the 3.4-ounce bottle is a better choice if you’re a first-time user. Incidentally, both bottles are very delicate. Even a single drop can result in wastage. Therefore, be very careful while you use them.
Who’s it for: If you like the smell of cake wafting out of most bakeries and have low-porosity hair, go for the Milk Shake.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 11.8 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones, hydrolyzed rice protein, and provitamin B5 |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Developed specifically with colored hair in mind |
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Very gentle leave-in conditioner |
| Has a sweet cake batter smell |
| Comes as a spray |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Cruelty-free leave-in conditioner |
| Available in two sizes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Very thin consistency |
| Comes in a low-quality plastic bottle |
6. MIZANI 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Like the previous leave-in conditioner, this one is also milk-based. However, unlike the previous one, this one is incredibly strong. Mizani has named their leave-in conditioner “25 Miracle” because they say it offers 25 essential benefits to hair. All those benefits, however, can be simplified into a few key benefits.
The first is moisturization, which this leave-in conditioner offers through its coconut oil and milk content. The other is the softening and detangling of hair, both of which are a result of coconut oil along with other ingredients such as olive oil, fennel oil, and sunflower oil.
The third is how this leave-in conditioner protects the hair from heat and other similar forms of damage. This benefit is a result of this conditioner’s silicone content. You’ll find a lot of silicones in this conditioner. Only coconut oil has a greater concentration in its formula.
This means that this conditioner excels at coating and sealing the hair because both these two ingredients are known for this quality. Unfortunately, this also means that this conditioner can seriously weigh down your hair.
In fact, many people say that this conditioner makes their hair greasy and causes buildup. Therefore, if you don’t have very high-porosity hair, you shouldn’t go for this product.
Strangely enough, the smell of this leave-in conditioner is neither milky nor of coconut. Instead, it has a fresh and pleasant floral scent. While the smell is great, it is also very strong. If you like floral scents its strength is wonderful but if you don’t then it can give you a headache. Choose wisely.
Using this product is easy because it comes in the form of a spray. You’ll also have the option to choose from two differently-sized bottles. One contains 8.5 ounces while the other one has a capacity of 13.5 ounces.
Who’s it for: If you want strong hydration and incredible protection for your high-porosity hair, get this leave-in conditioner from Mizani.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 13.5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut oil, silicones, sunflower seed extract, camelina seed oil, fennel oil, olive fruit oil, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Has a fresh and pleasant floral smell |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Comes as a spray |
| Available in two sizes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Leaves residue which can weigh down the hair and cause buildup |
| The smell may be too strong |
Top 4 Premium Leave-In Conditioners: Detailed Reviews
7. Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-in Conditioner Hair Treatment
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
People who color their hair regularly expect very specific things from their hair products. Pureology has made a name for itself precisely on the back of these highly specialized expectations. They manufacture a wide variety of hair products designed especially for colored hair. The Colour Fanatic is their offering in the leave-in conditioner space.
It is a great detangling spray that is very good at moisturizing colored hair while preserving the shade owing to the company’s unique Anti-Fade Complex. However, some people say that it is too strong because it weighs their hair down and causes buildup.
This tendency is not surprising because the formula of this conditioner is rich with very strong moisturizing agents. For instance, it contains coconut oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, camelina oil, and fennel oil. Also, it has vitamin E, vegetable proteins, and a huge concentration of silicones.
Only highly-processed, regularly colored, excessively damaged, or high-porosity hair can handle this level of moisture-based attention. Therefore, if your hair doesn’t qualify then this product isn’t really for you.
The scent of this leave-in is a mix of all its ingredients but the artificial smell of silicones dominates the mix. The smell can be best described as strong and clean but artificial and this may not appeal to some of you.
An additional quality of this leave-in conditioner is that it can protect hair from very high temperatures as well. It can take as much as 450 degrees Fahrenheit according to the company. Therefore, if you like to straighten or curl your colored hair a lot, you can just spray this product on and whip out your hot tool.
The company, however, is fairly health and environment-conscious. For instance, the formula is free of other artificial ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Further, the bottles this product comes in are fully recyclable and even made up of recycled materials. In fact, 95 percent of the bottles are made with recycled plastics.
You can get this product in three differently-sized bottles. These are 13.5 ounces, 6.7 ounces, and one ounce. Each bottle comes in the form of a spray.
Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a leave-in for your colored hair and like to use hot tools frequently, you can’t get any product other than this one from Pureology.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 13.5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Coconut oil, silicones, sunflower seed extract, vitamin E, olive fruit oil, camelina seed oil, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and fennel seed extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Developed specifically for colored hair |
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Can be used as a heat protectant |
| Has a strong, clean smell |
| Comes as a spray |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Available in three sizes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains silicones |
| Leaves a residue that can weigh down hair |
| Its smell has an artificial note to it |
8. It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Leave-In Product
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
This is a hugely popular leave-in conditioner. It isn’t only the users who swear by this product but also the experts. This isn’t all that surprising because it delivers handsomely on what it promises and it promises some really great results.
In a nutshell, this leave-in conditioner is a great moisturizing agent, detangling agent, smoothing agent, repairing agent, and protecting agent. Therefore, it is suitable for you if you have excessively dry hair, frizzed or tangled hair, lackluster hair, damaged hair, and colored hair.
Basically, if you don’t like how your hair looks, all you need to do is apply this leave-in hair conditioner and your hair problems will go away. The only exception to this is people with low-porosity hair and probably some with medium-porosity hair. People with these types of hair may find that this product makes their hair greasy and limp.
Even so, this leave-in conditioner is unparalleled at delivering results when it comes to the vast majority of its users. Our only problem is how it delivers those results, namely the ingredients. This leave-in conditioner’s ingredients list contains two types of synthetic substances that are not healthy – parabens and silicones.
Both these types of products create health problems but parabens are a bigger concern. Parabens are chemical compounds that tend to mimic estrogen and cause hormonal imbalances in the body. Silicones, on the other hand, dry out the hair in the long term which can, in turn, cause some damage.
Another big flaw of this leave-in conditioner is its smell. Its scent is one-part fruity and one-partfloral but this is not the problem even though some people may not like such a scent. The problem is that this product’s scent is incredibly strong and has a very distinct artificial note to them.
Despite having all these problems, this leave-in conditioner is very expensive. The saving grace here is that once you get this conditioner, it will stay with you for a long time because a little of it goes a long way in the hair. Of course, it also helps that it comes as a spray because this prevents you from taking too much at one go.
Who’s it for: If you don’t have concerns about artificial substances in your leave-in conditioner, you won’t find any product better able to deliver results than this one from It’s a 10.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Parabens, provitamin B5, silicones, silk amino acids, sunflower seed extract, and tea plant leaf extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Can repair hair too |
| Has a fruity, floral smell |
| Lasts a really long time |
| Comes as a spray |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Contains parabens |
| Contains silicones |
| Expensively priced leave-in conditioner |
| Can weigh the hair down |
| The smell may be too strong and artificial |
9. Davines All In One Milk Lotion
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Premium-grade products are expensive for a reason. While theirprice factors in marketing costs, the main reason why they’re so expensive is that they spend a lot of money on finding the right formula with the right ingredients. They do a lot of research and development before settling on any one formula.
This is also why premium-grade products almost always deliver smashing results. The OI All In One Milk Lotion is no different. It is a leave-in conditioner that performs all the functions that anyone can expect from such a product.
Based around ingredients derived from milk, this multi-function leave-in conditioner hydrates the driest of hair, detangles the kinkiest of curls, softens the toughest of strands, and protects against highest of temperatures. The best part is that it offers all of these benefits without weighing the hairdown and making it greasy.
However, like most leave-in conditioners, this one does have silicones as one of its ingredients. We see this as a flaw but a lot of people don’t. Besides, most people see it only as a minor flaw, especially when it comes to leave-in conditioners.
The trick to avoiding problems caused by silicones is to minimize your exposure to them. Therefore, if you don’t apply leave-in conditioners very often or in large quantities, you should be fine. Luckily, the fact that you don’t need to use a lot of this product to get its benefits helps you avoid over-exposure to silicones.
The same fact helps in one other way. It helps you save money. Since you don’t have to use a lot of this leave-in conditioner in every application, you don’t run out very quickly. As the product is very expensive, not replacing it frequently helps you save money.
Other than silicones, the ingredients list of this leave-in conditioner is completely free of harmful and harsh synthetic substances. In fact, not only is this product free of chemical compounds like parabens and sulfates but it is also a genuinely cruelty-free product.
This leave-in conditioner also stands out because of its unique scent. The formula incorporates geranium, which is responsible for the smell. It can be best described as a woody and earthy mix of white rice and amber. Most people tend to love the smell of the Davines leave-in conditioner but there are a few that don’t. Those that don’t fall intoone of the two following categories.
The first group thinks that the smell is too strong while the other thinks that it smells like their grandmothers. However, the people who dislike this product’s smell are very few.
You can get this leave-in conditioner in two differently-sized black bottles. The bigger one contains 4.56 ounces of the product while the other one is smaller and has a capacity of only 1.69 ounces. Both bottles have a spray dispenser, though.
Who’s it for: If you only use salon-grade hair products and want a unique leave-in conditioner, get this one from Davines.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4.56 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Provitamin B5, vitamin E, silicones, sunflower seed oil, and achiote seed extract |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Has a unique geranium smell |
| Lasts a really long time |
| Comes as a spray |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Cruelty-free leave-in conditioner |
| Available in two sizes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Very expensive leave-in conditioner |
| Contains silicones |
| The smell may be too strong |
10. ORIBE Supershine Moisturizing Crème (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Crème can be seen as the Rolls-Royce of the leave-in conditioner market. It is not only a hyper-luxury product but also insanely expensive. However, if you can pay for it, there’s no better leave-in conditioner out there.
In fact, it is so good that it has won awards. The best of these awards is the most fitting one too – the Best of Beauty award within The Best Splurges 2010 category from Allure. If you want your hair to look and feel like a model’s, you want this leave-in conditioner on your dresser.
It is capable of handling the driest of hair which means that it is an excellent choice for people with the most porous hair types. It doesn’t just moisturize dry hair but also takes care of it in other ways. For instance, it softens it, detangles it, removes frizz from it, and gives it an incredible gloss.
Two things are responsible for this leave-in conditioner’s incredible success rate. The first is that the most abundant ingredient in its formula is silicones. Silicones, as we’ve explained before, are very good at sealing in moisture and protecting the hair from adverse external elements. The downside, of course, is that because of these silicones you can’t use this leave-in conditioner as often as you may like.
The other reason why this leave-in conditioner is so successful is that it contains the Oribe Signature Complex. This complex consists of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flow extracts. This complex performs multiple functions ranging from preventing hair oxidation and photoaging to protein loss in the form of keratin.
While the Oribe Signature Complex is a special ingredient, it isn’t the only one. There are other incredibly impressive ones too. These are a series of proteins such as soy, other vegetable proteins, wheat amino acids, and two types of keratin.
Proteins are harder to absorb for hair, which is why they tend to weigh the hair down. However, they are critical when it comes to repairing damaged hair which is why they’re crucial for people with high-porosity hair.
Other notable ingredients in this leave-in conditioner are moringa seed extract for its vitamin content, glycerin for its humectant properties, and kaempferiagalanga root extract for its protective nature against ultraviolet rays. Other than silicones, this conditioner doesn’t contain synthetic chemical compounds such as parabens or sulfates.
One exceptional quality of all Oribe products is their scent. Each Oribe hair product has the signature Oribe smell. The smell is so good that many people are willing to spend unbelievable sums of money for it alone. The special Oribe smell is very difficult to describe because of its uniqueness. The best we can do is to call it mild and floral.
Being the Rolls-Royce of leave-in conditioners, it isn’t surprising that this product has an incredibly high price. The price can seem a bit hard to swallow since the product doesn’t even come with a spray or a pump. However, don’t let that deter you from buying it because once you buy it you can expect the tube to stay with you for a very long time.
After all, you only need a minuscule amount of the conditioner to get its benefits. If you’re still uncertain about spending such a huge amount on a tube of leave-in conditioner. You can choose to test the product out by buying the smaller tube. The smaller tube has 1.7 ounces of the product while the bigger one contains 5 ounces.
Who’s it for: If you have money to spare and want the most luxurious and opulent leave-in conditioner with the best scent possible, go for Oribe.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 5 ounces |
| Active ingredients: Silicones, sunflower seed extract, edelweiss flower extracts, lychee fruit extract, aromatic ginger root extract, moringa seed extract, amber resin extract, provitamin B5, vitamin E, mica pearl powder, hydrolyzed mollusk protein, hydrolyzed jojoba protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed rice protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed keratin, and keratin |
| The Pros |
|---|
| An award-winning leave-in conditioner |
| Moisturizes and detangles hair well |
| Has a light floral smell |
| Lasts a really long time |
| Doesn’t contain parabens |
| Available in two sizes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| An unbelievably expensive leave-in conditioner |
| Contains silicones |
| Doesn’t come with a pump or as a spray |
