22 Best Leave-In Conditioners for Smoother, Softer Strands

Editor Tip: Since it's packed with conditioning additives, this formula also makes for a tremendous detangling spray that'll leave your hair looking its best.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, coconut water, squalane | Who It's For: Dry hair, brittle hair, fine hair

Best Drugstore: It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: Chances are, you've tried the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner at least once while perusing drugstore aisles and its multitasking formulation brought you back for a second, third, and fourth bottle. This leave-in is one of the most versatile and weightless options on the market and contains a slew of hair-nourishing ingredients, including antioxidant panthenol and silk-derived amino acids, to protect hair against environmental aggressors.

Editor Tip: Not only does it boost smoothness and softness, but it also amps up color vibrancy without weighing down strands, making it an excellent choice for color-treated and fine hair types.

Key Ingredients: Panthenol, aloe vera, sunflower seed extract, green tea extract, silk amino acids | Who It's For: Color-treated hair, fine hair

Best TikTok-Favorite: K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

Why It's Worth It: The K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask took over every TikTok beauty vlogger's hir for its bond-repairing technology. Though it's technically a hair mask, we consider it more of an intensive leave-in conditioner, considering that you don't rinse it out. This Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning formula contains the brand's proprietary peptide, K18, which mimics the effects of keratin to make hair feel smooth, strong, and malleable.

Editor Tip: In her review, tester Michelle Rostamian said this leave-in became a staple in her routine for transforming the strength and feel of her hair. "All in all, I can see why beauty buffs across the board are fans of this product," she says. "For professionals, it brings hair back to a healthy state, allowing for more styling freedom when clients are in the chair. For non-professionals like me, it restores softness and shine, and overall makes my hair more manageable."

Key Ingredients: K18 peptides | Who It's For: Damaged hair, dry hair

Best for Damaged Hair: Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother

Why It's Worth It: Ask any Allure editor about their favorite hair products, and they'll probably mention one of Olaplex's bond-repairing concoctions. The brand is best known for its in-shower hair treatments, but the beloved No. 6 Bond Smoother is in a league of its own. Whether your color-treated hair feels brittle or you're doing damage control amid a habit of executing a DIY blowout without a heat protectant, this strand-strengthening formula is among your best bets. Much of this is thanks to the brand's signature active ingredient: bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate. It reinforces broken disulfide bonds in the hair shaft to boost shine, strength, and malleability. Just don't try to pronounce it.

Editor Tip: On top of repairing strands, this leave-in product also promises to moisturize, speed up blow-drying time, and minimize flyaways for up to 72 hours.

Key Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate | Who It's For: Damaged hair

Best for Thin Hair: Sachajuan Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: The Sachajuan Leave-In Conditioner feels like a watery version of its in-shower counterpart — an example of when "watery" is a really good thing. Still, it packs a hair-smoothing punch. Thanks to weightless polymers that gloss each strand and ethylhexylglycerin, a derivative of hydrating glycerin, this leave-in adds body and promotes scalp health. If a great scent is non-negotiable, you'll be glad to know that this spritz has a light, herbaceous fragrance you're bound to love.

Editor Tip: Its fluid-like, oil-free formula was explicitly made for finer hair types to avoid greasiness.

Key Ingredients: Polymers, ethylhexylglycerin | Who It's For: Fine hair, thinning hair

Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner: Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment

Why It's Worth It: The Redken All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment is the leave-in equivalent to Swiss army knives. It's an Allure Best of Beauty Award 2023 winner for its ability to act as a detangler, heat protectant, and defrizzer all at once. It's spiked with hyaluronic acid, a humectant known for its hydrating, strand-smoothing abilities. This hair-enhancing concoction also contains fatty alcohols to seal in moisture.

Editor Tip: If your hair needs more intensive conditioning, you can apply Redken’s All Soft Argan-6 Oil after styling your hair.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, fatty alcohols, argan oil | Who It's For: Dry hair, thick hair, damaged hair

Best for Dry Hair: R+Co High Dive Moisture & Shine Crème

Why It's Worth It: As its name suggests, the R+Co High Dive Moisture & Shine Crème is hyper-rich in moisturizing ingredients to smooth, soften, and boost shine. Made particularly for dry and damaged hair types, all you need is a small dollop of this dense formula to perk up your strands without weighing them down. It's enriched with a hydrating and conditioning blend of sodium PCA, sunflower seed extract, and antioxidants that create a silky-smooth feel.

Editor Tip: Though it has a rich texture reminiscent of a blow-dry cream, this formula seeps onto air-dried and heat-styled strands without leaving residue.

Key Ingredients: sodium PCA, sunflower seed extract, vitamin B5, vitamin E, argan oil | Who It's For: Dry hair, damaged hair

Best Splurge: Augustinus Bader The Leave-In Hair Treatment

Why It's Worth It: Sure, it's pricier than other picks, but Augustinus Bader's The Leave-In Hair Treatment is the investment piece your hair deserves. Like every product under the brand's line, this hair product is enriched with Augustinus Bader's proprietary blend of human growth factors, called TFC8, that assist in hair repair. For good, moisturizing measure, this leave-in cream is also infused with a conditioning blend of neem, shikakai, and rambutan extracts.

Editor Tip: Each extract featured in this hair product is rich in antioxidants, which boost shine and color vibrancy.

Key Ingredients: TFC8, neem extract, shikakai extract, rambutan extract | Who It's For: All hair types

Best for Brittleness: Iles Formula Haute Performance Finishing Serum

Why It's Worth It: The entire three-piece hair ritual from Iles Formula's Signature Collection, which includes the Haute Performance Finishing Serum, nabbed an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2023 for its hair-enhancing properties that work across a large range of hair types. The leave-in cream in particular is an editor-approved favorite for its dullness- and brittleness-reducing formula, which leaves hair feels softer than your favorite silk blouse.

Editor Tip: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says this leave-in cream is a must-have in her hair-care routine for its ability to soften her usually frizzy waves. "This lightweight, lotion-like formula instantly seeps into my strands and makes them soft to the touch," she says.

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, silk protein, tucuma seed butter, macadamia nut oil, panthenol, vitamin B5 | Who It's For: All hair types

Best Lightweight Formula: Rōz Milk Serum

Why It's Worth It: We're suckers for "milky" beauty products like Rōz's Milk Serum for their ability to replenish moisture without weighing finer hair types down. This leave-in is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid to plump and condition. Its slippery texture makes detangling a breeze, and it's light enough to use as a gloss-boosting refresher on dry, second-day hair.

Editor Tip: Your in-shower routine could use a moisturizing upgrade, too. For this, we recommend Rōz's Foundation Shampoo and Conditioner, an Allure Best of Beauty-winning shampoo-conditioner duo that both cleanses and conditions.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol | Who It's For: All hair types

Best for Curly Hair: SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: We hope no one ever asks us to pick one favorite SheaMoisture product because it would be impossible to narrow it down to just one. But, if we had to pick two? Ugh, okay, fine. The Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Leave-In Conditioner — which we'd designate as a curly hair essential — is one of them. This treatment's star ingredients penetrate even the thickest of strands to smooth frizz, add shine, and define curls. We were so impressed by the power of this product that we gave it a Best of Beauty Award in 2022.

Editor Tip: Its custardy consistency and moisture-rich formula are great for combatting dryness.

Key Ingredients: Manuka honey, mafura oil | Who It's For: Curly hair, thick hair, dry hair

Best for Color-Treated Hair: Color Wow Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Strengthening Leave-In Treatment

Why It's Worth It: Color Wow delivers when it comes to protecting your hair — whether from humidity or heat styling damage — and its Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Strengthening Leave-In Treatment is one of the best examples. The brand's kale-and kelp-infused formula works hard to reduce breakage, leaving your ends looking and feeling much smoother, while castor oil strengthens hair from the inside out.

Editor Tip: Kale and kelp are also rich in antioxidants, which protect bleached or color-processed hair from environmental aggressors and boost moisture, shine, and vibrancy.

Key Ingredients: Kale extract, kelp extract, castor oil | Who It's For: Color-treated hair, damaged hair

Best Shine Booster: Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: Moroccanoil All-in-One Leave-In Conditioner handles all your hair needs. Its ultra-light, milky formula features the brand's signature ingredient, argan oil, which acts as a moisturizing, antioxidant-rich emollient that nourishes strands until they're soft to the touch. Other ingredients worth noting are amino acids, which fortify hair cuticles to prevent further breakage and the formation of split ends. We also love the assist from quinoa extract, which makes hair look glossy and reflective.

Editor Tip: Mix up your second-day hair routine and use this as a refresher along with your favorite dry shampoo.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, amino acids, quinoa extract | Who It's For: Dull hair, damaged hair, frizzy hair

Best Creamy Formula: Oribe Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler

Why It's Worth It: What's in a name? Well, in Oribe's Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler, the keyword is "lotion," a real testament to its texture. If you're looking for the creaminess of a non-spray detangler, but aren't in the market for a hair mask, this formula is for you. Hair-havers love the intensity of the conditioner's slip aids (way less breakage), the silicone-free composition, and heat protection.

Editor Tip: Since this formula has a denser texture, finer hair types may want to opt for something lighter, like Oribe’s spray-on Run-Through Detangling Primer.

Key Ingredients: watermelon extract, lychee extract, murumuru butter, olive oil, avocado oil, cocoa seed butter, mango butter, edelweiss flower extract | Who It's For: Thick hair, curly hair, dry hair

Best Scent: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: When you think of Sol de Janeiro, the viral Bum Bum Cream may be what comes to mind. But, word to the wise, the brand makes a leave-in conditioner that features the signature, gourmand scent blend of vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio. Paired with reparative ingredients like babaçu oil and cupuaçu butter, the Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner imparts glossiness and heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to tired, dry strands.

Editor Tip: Use it before or after applying heat to hair, or, if heat isn't your thing, spray it right onto dry, unstyled locks.

Key Ingredients: babaçu oil, cupuaçu butter, brazil nut oil | Who It's For: All hair types

Best for Split Ends: Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In Treatment

Why It's Worth It: Your split ends are starting to make you seethe, but you're still two weeks out from your impossible-to-book haircut. Enter Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In Treatment, whose key benefits include split end repair, UV protection, strengthening, and silkier-looking-and-feeling strands. A cast of star players come together here to complete this effective formula, including smoothing hemisqualane, softening cupuaçu butter, and protecting marine algae extract. Just give the ends of your damp or dry hair a couple of spritzes and watch the healing happen.

Editor Tip: This formula targets dryness and damage, but if you're looking for a leave-in conditioner that minimizes frizz, we recommend the No Frizz Smooth Styling Cream.

Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, cupuaçu butter, marine algae extract | Who It's For: Damaged hair, dry hair

Best Styling Primer: Ouai Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: Ouai makes some of our favorite hair-care products, and the Leave-In Conditioner is right up there. This 2023 Readers' Choice Award winner fights frizz, protects against heat damage up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and works well as a primer or post-wash solution. To apply, start by wringing out excess water from just-washed hair, then spraying about six inches away from the eye line down to the ends. Distribute the product evenly by brushing with a wide-toothed comb or your fingers.

Editor Tip: Ouai is known for the fragrances of their products (which are sold as perfumes, too), and the leave-in features the brand’s beach-inspired North Bondi scent.

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed protein, tamarind seed extract, panthenol, vitamin E | Who It's For: All hair types

Best Value: Milk_Shake Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: Milk_Shake's Leave-In Conditioner takes the shake (ha). This pick has a lightweight, color-protecting formula that's bolstered by vitamin E, milk protein, and fruit extracts. The best part, though? The generous size of this bottle (11.8 fl oz.) will last you months. Seriously, though, we're a couple of sprays away from petitioning for a stand-alone fragrance. Still, if you're after something a little less gourmand, opt for the floral-forward Flower bottle.

Editor Tip: The stuff gets bonus points because its vanilla scent makes it smell good enough to eat (but please don't).

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, honey, milk protein, strawberry extract, blueberry extract, and papaya extract | Who It's For: All hair types

Best UV Protection: Pureology Color Fanatic Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: The Pureology Color Fanatic Leave-In Conditioner provides 21 unique benefits, but, most importantly, it includes the classics: heat protection, color care, smoothness, and detangling. The vegan formula is fortified with omega-3-rich camelina, olive, and coconut oil, while the fresh, floral scent arises thanks to rose, ginger, and cedarwood. If you have colored hair, you can fend off the fading effects of UV rays by misting dry hair before hopping into the pool or spending time in the sun.

Editor Tip: The spray is excellent on just-washed, damp hair but also works as a refresher when you're two or three days out from your last shampoo.

Key Ingredients: camelina oil, olive oil, coconut oil | Who It's For: Color-treated hair

Best Heat-Protecting Formula: Crown Affair The Leave-In Conditioner Cream for Hydrated Hair

Why It's Worth It: In this Leave-In Conditioner Cream, Crown Affair employs tsubaki seed oil works to reduce frizzy flyaways, hydrate, and soften, making brushing easier and shininess simple. Then, meadowfoam seed oil helps protect hair against high heat, either from a hot tool, or dry weather. This leave-in takes the best elements of a hair mask and traditional conditioner and adds versatility and ease of use.

Editor Tip: This leave-in hair conditioner's formula is perfect for all hair types. It only takes one to two pumps for fine hair, and three to four for thicker strands to start your smoothing journey.

Key Ingredients: Tsubaki seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil | Who It's For: All hair types

Allure Best of Beauty Winner: LolaVie Perfecting Leave-In

Why It's Worth It: LolaVie's Perfecting Leave-In is the definition of a multitasker. This conditioner hydrates and smooths hair, holds styles all day, and protects from heat damage. The formula uses a vegan thermal shield made of bamboo and yeast extracts that mimic the structure of keratin, a protective protein. One dollop of this product goes a long way, which is why we gladly gave it a 2022 Best of Beauty Award.

Editor Tip: The Jennifer Aniston-founded brand's leave-in is creamy, formulated without water, and works even better when used with its sister product: the Glossing Detangler.

Key Ingredients: Bamboo extract, yeast extract, chia seed extract, rose of jericho | Who It's For: All hair types

Best Detangling Formula: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Why It's Worth It: Frizziness always finds a way, be it from dryness in the winter, humidity in the summer, or simply how your DNA came together. Thankfully, Briogeo's Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner exists to help you deal. This treatment moisturizes dry and damaged hair and acts as a detangler to get out even the most stubborn knots. The product is also formulated with coconut oil and shea butter to add shine to hair, which keeps it soft and moisturized for days.

Editor Tip: We recommend spritzing the brand's Superfoods Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-in-1 Leave-In Spray instead for those who want to address dullness and brittleness.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, argan oil, rosehip oil | Who It's For: Dry hair, damaged hair, frizzy hair

Frequently Asked Questions

Leave-in conditioners are also absolute miracle workers for those of us perpetually in a rush, without a spare 15 minutes to hang out in the shower waiting for a hair mask to work its magic, but still care to give our hair a little extra love. Dimitris Giannetos, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist who regularly works with celebrities like Camila Cabello and Jasmine Tookes, tells Allure that leave-in conditioners are a must when styling clients. "Think of a leave-in conditioner as a balm that kind of does it all," says Giannetos. "It can tame flyaways and add shine — even if the hair is a bit dry or damaged."

What's shopping for a new hair care product without considering chemistry? Cosmetic chemist Ginger King suggests looking for ingredients like oils, fatty alcohols, and triglycerides that will "smooth the cuticles and keep the hair in place." For detangling in particular, King notes that compounds like quaternium 4, 7, and 11 work well (and to look out for ingredient names that start with quaternium or polyquaternium).

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls — right?

For our review of the best leave-in conditioners, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hair stylists — who [hair type (i.e., characteristically dry hair)/hair concern or desired outcome (i.e., want shinier hair)]. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.