A Perfect After-Shower Product—The Best Leave-in Conditioners to Detangle and Hydrate (2024)

Why We Love It: For a deceptively lightweight, water-based formula, the Crown Affair leave-in conditioner cream nourishes dry strands with a mere half-pump of product and leaves them buoyant, pillow-soft, and frizz-free. In fact, we even skipped applying our other oils and hair serums while using it. Chock-full of plant-based ingredients including tsubaki and meadowfoam seed oils, this natural formula locks in moisture and seals cuticles closed to prevent static and flyaways.

Who It’s For: This pick is especially great for adding volume to finer strands, along with making hair air-dry smoothly and look extra sleek. Along with the fresh, lightly citrus signature scent of bergamot, yuzu, and lemongrass (which was a little more subtle in this product compared to its others), the smooth semi-opaque matte glass vessel and elegant black typeface add grandeur to the entire experience, too.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Tsubaki seed meadowfoam seed oils | Benefits: Hydrating, anti-frizz, shine-enhancing | Scent: Bergamot, yuzu, lemongrass | Size: 5.1 oz

Irene Richardson, commerce writer (not pictured): “After a stylist harped on my thinning hair, I self-consciously picked up this gorgeous bottle, and wow—consider it a hair-thickening miracle worker.”

Why We Love It: Brittle, damaged, and a mess of knots, the Odele leave-in conditioner sent a lifeline to our hopeless hair. Although its formula has a thin, serum-like consistency, it replenished dry strands better than a thicker cream, and quickly detangled damp hair.

Who It’s For: The serum-like consistency is easy to work through tangled strands for those who struggle with those. A small amount of product goes a long way—to thoroughly coat her thick locks, InStyle tester Jackie only needed about two full pumps, but we’d suggest even less for thinner hair types. And, while Jackie initially noticed her hair had less frizz, her usual static shortly returned—consider sealing it in with a hair oil for longer-term benefits.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Amaranthus caudatus seed extract, rice protein | Benefits: Curl-defining, hydrating | Scent: Cucumber, oakmoss, ylang-ylang | Size: 8 oz

Jackie, tester: “This product works well with my thick, frizzy hair because it feels light and refreshing rather than weighing my hair down or making it feel oily.”

Why We Love It: Application is everything with the Oribe Moisturizing Cream, from dispensing the lightly floral-scented cream conditioner from its midnight blue bottle to the way the silky formula melts into strands. Beyond this, it left our hair nourished and hydrated.

Who It’s For: The luxurious cream instantly soaks into hair without a trace of stickiness or residue, making it great for those who need to make their strands look good on a time crunch. While InStyle tester Amy didn’t quite get that ultra-glossy, shampoo-commercial shine, her hair looked much healthier than before (not to mention incredibly soft) we’ll let it slide.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Wheat amino acids, keratin | Benefits: Heat and color protection, anti-frizz, hydrating | Scent: Bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood | Size: 5 oz

Amy, tester: “I noticed a change—my hair felt healthier and less brittle, more moisturized, and not weighed down. After using the product and letting my hair air dry, the waves in my hair held the shape a little more compared to without using the product.”

Why We Love It: Flyaways are inevitable for any hair type, but they can really make or break whether your waves look mermaid-esque, or like they were snared in a fishing net. According to InStyle tester Cara, this wavy hair product immediately smoothed away static while defining her natural curl pattern. And, the lightweight spray did it all while retaining the bounce and body of her hair.

Who It’s For: While this spray is practically weightless, it still feels hydrating on brittle, damaged strands. Thanks to the product’s detangling properties, Cara experienced less frizz and breakage from combing through knots. That said, she needed at least five good sprays to feel she’d covered her hair in enough product.

Formula: Spray | Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed and green tea extracts, aloe vera | Benefits: Heat and color protection, anti-frizz | Scent: Fresh | Size: 4 oz

Cara, tester: “My hair has looked smooth and been less knotty when I wake up, letting me go a little longer between washes.”

Why We Love It: Like any worthwhile curly hair product, the Amika Hyrdo Rush uses nourishing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and squalane, that moisturize ringlets and waves while keeping them springy and bouncy. Unlike other leave-in conditioners, however, InStyle tester Alicia’s strands weren’t left with a weird, tacky film that makes waves appear cardboard-stiff. Another benefit is the warm, fresh-floral scent that accompanies each spritz.

Who It’s For: This product provides plenty of definition for hair that needs it, but none of the crunchiness some curly-haired products leave behind. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly small amount of product the nozzle dispenses—after some trial and error, Alicia discovered that one spray adequately misted her hair in the perfect amount of the lightweight lotion. Any more, and she had oily roots.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn | Benefits: Detangling, anti-frizz, color protection | Scent: Warm vanilla, spicy sweet clover, fresh citrus | Size: 6.7 oz

Alicia, tester: “I was impressed with how my hair curled as usually most products weigh down my hair too much for a curl to hold.”

Why We Love It: As far as air-dry hair products are concerned, the Ceremonia leave-In conditioner is one of the best for a key reason: It irons out frizz caused by everything from humid climates to genetics. The brand utilizes lightweight, hydrating plant-based oils like avocado and guava fruit extract to seal in moisture and smooth out pesky baby hairs.

Who It’s For: The plant-based oils in this formula tame frizz for those who deal with this issue, without making hair look or feel greasy. InStyle tester Michal evenly worked the cream through her waist-length hair with about three pumps of product. It spreads so evenly, however, that you could definitely get away with using less. Sure, it didn’t do a 180 on her damaged ends—however, the cream left the rest of her hair shinier and well hydrated.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Guava fruit extract, blue agave, avocado oil | Benefits: Anti-frizz, heat protection | Scent: Woody with hints of lemon, violet, brown sugar | Size: 6.7 oz

Michal, tester: “I've noticed my hair feels softer and less frizzy through using the product. It feels healthier and looks better.”

Why We Love It: Typically a coconut cocktail comes with a little umbrella and seaside view, but the Color Wow leave-in treatment gives us something even better. Its keratin-infused formula provides volume and definition—especially for fine, curly hair. Meanwhile, coconut oil helps minimize frizz, and gives it a gorgeous vacation-adjacent scent.

Who It’s For: This product’s lifting properties give curls volume and definition while coconut oil hydrates dehydrated locks. Snap the diffuser attachment on your hair dryer and this heat-activated product will spring ringlets back into action. And like all the best beach accessories it also provides heat protection from UV rays and hot tools.

Formula: Spray | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, keratin | Benefits: Heat protection | Scent: Coconut | Size: 6.7 oz

Ashley, tester: “After using this product, my hair felt smooth and less tangled.”

Why We Love It: Typically we reach for a Drunk Elephant product to soothe acne-dotted skin, though its hair products are equally equipped to reverse damage. Since great hair starts at the scalp, the brand thoughtfully incorporated skin-soothing vanilla extract into this formula to relieve itchiness and irritation.

Who It’s For: Bond-building proteins in this formula, such as hydrolyzed silk and silk amino acids, help heal overly processed or heat-damaged strands. And, it’s so lightweight that you could use a small amount to revive dull hair after it’s dried and not worry about a tacky residue. While scientific-backed formulas are a chief part of any Drunk Elephant product, so is packaging, and InStyle tester Emelia especially loved how she could neatly nestle the flat bottle in her suitcase and easily spot the bright-colored bottle. Considering its price, however, Emelia wishes she didn’t need quite so much product to coat her waist-length hair.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, silk amino acids, silk sericin | Benefits: Hydrating | Scent: Vanilla | Size: 8 oz

Emelia, tester: “My hair did feel healthier and less brittle when using this product—it brought back my rich, deep brown color. I did not feel that my hair was weighed down after using. It made my hair less frizzy and very shiny!”

Why We Love It: The K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask leaves hair with trophy-level shine—really our hair should be sitting behind a locked case—and revives the dull, dehydrated bleached styles.

Who It’s For: This product repairs split ends, breakage, and brittle strands in just a few washes. InStyle tester Taylor notes, however, that it took consistent use to see less breakage and frizz. The results? Totally worth it. After about four washes, she especially saw an improvement in her split ends. And, as long as she styled her hair after washing it, the thick, conditioner-like texture didn’t feel heavy or tacky between her strands.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed wheat protein, vitamin E, coconut oil | Benefits: Color protection, hydrating | Scent: Jasmine, peony | Size: 0.5 oz

Taylor, tester: “My hair often looks dull after styling and I use a hair oil to improve the shine, but I didn't reach for it once while I used this product.”

Why We Love It: This is one of the best leave-in conditioners we've found for 4C curls, thanks to the wave of moisturizing ingredients, like shea butter, Jamaican black castor oil and antioxidant-rich coconut oil. These creamy emollients nourish delicate coils, allowing them to flourish and retain shape, instead of wilting under humidity and heat.

Who It’s For: This multitasking formula is not just great for coils, given all of the scalp-balancing ingredients it offers as well—including apple cider vinegar and peppermint, both of which work to prevent flakey skin. Pro tip: Even if you find the thick formula too heavy for your fine hair, its ultra-creamy consistency is the perfect texture for creating a slicked-back bun, and allowed InStyle tester Amy to avoid crunching up her strands with hairspray.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, peppermint, apple cider vinegar | Benefits: Hydrating, anti-frizz, curl-enhancing | Scent: Vanilla, coconut | Size: 11.5 oz

Amy, tester: “A little went a long way! There was a very fine line between using too much of this product and your hair looking greasy versus wet enough that it felt moisturized.”

Why We Love It: Preventing hair loss and shedding is Vegamour’s bread and butter (its shampoo for thinning hair is strand-saving). So, we’re not surprised the Detangling and Frizz Reducing HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner was the perfect marriage of strengthening and gentleness, which is exactly what 4C coils need. In addition to strand fortifying keratin and amino acids, the formula includes added heat protection—another bonus for protecting delicate hair. And, since our tester could go longer between wash days while using it, she used less damaging heat from hot tools.

Who It’s For: Curly hair thrives under the lightweight, strengthening formula. It worked for InStyle tester Mariya, who said that it helped her curly hair appear bouncier. And, its detangling properties prevented less breakage throughout. One note: We know sweet scents are divisive, so keep in mind that this floral scent lingers throughout the day.

Formula: Spray | Key Ingredients: Vegan keratin, mushroom extract, amino acids | Benefits: Anti-frizz, hydrating | Scent: Jasmine, ylang ylang, Tahitian vanilla | Size: 5 oz

Mariya, tester: “I noticed my hair dried curlier and felt healthier—the product did not weigh down my hair nor did it make it frizzy.”

Why We Love It: This Olaplex styling cream had InStyle tester Rachel, who thought she already had pretty phenomenal, healthy hair before trying this product, second-guess her metrics for a good hair day. Typically, Olaplex treatments use patented bond-building technology to heal brittle ends and reduce frizz. In this instance, the formula also contains plant-based oils that gave Rachel an unexpected glorious glossy finish.

Who It’s For: The featherweight, cream formula immediately absorbs into strands of any health-level, but especially damaged ones. The ingredients also list a fragrance, but we couldn’t perceive any notable scent—a little bit of a bummer for some since nice-smelling hair is always a perk. The airless pump applicator definitely helped with application as it distributed the ideal amount of product every time.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (patented, bond-building Olaplex ingredient), coconut and grape seed oils | Benefits: Strengthening, anti-frizz | Scent: Fresh | Size: 3.3 oz

Rachel, tester: “It really does a great job with absorption, boosting the shine and silkiness of my hair and detangling as well.”

Why We Love It: Argan oil has plenty of benefits, which is why it’s a key ingredient in the Moroccanoil line, including replenishing, adding shine and moisture to lackluster hair, and taming frizz. However, its natural scent also smells really, really delicious—InStyle tester Gibreel couldn’t get enough of the subtle, nutty scent it left behind.

Who It’s For: Among its other perks, this leave-in treatment hydrates scraggly ends and softens hair for a luscious, full-bodied look. Gibreel adds that despite the product dispensing as a very light, imperceptible mist, her hair looked like she’d applied an ultrarich deep conditioner to it. Anyone with fine hair or who prefers lightweight oils to creams will appreciate this feeling. That said, we’d take extra care to comb it through your strands because the spray nozzle doesn’t distribute the product evenly.

Formula: Spray | Key Ingredients: Argan and sunflower seed oil, pure amino acids | Benefits: Detangling, hydrating, heat protecting | Scent: Florals, amber, musk | Size: 8.1 oz

Gibreel, tester: “This product melts into your hair!”

Why We Love It: We like our beauty products to smell good, look even better, and have functional features we don’t have to think about, including heat protection. This perky orange bottled leave-in conditioner from Sol de Janeiro delivers on all fronts, most importantly giving our hair heat protection up to 450 degrees. Plus, InStyle tester Roselynn, who spends almost all day outside subjecting her strands to the moisture-zapping sun and uses clarifying shampoos, was impressed that the conditioner rehydrated her dry strands back to health.

Who It’s For: Subject your hair to swim, surf, and sand, and we bet this replenishing mist will restore it. Not to be missed, the conditioner incorporates its best-selling fragrance, an intoxicating nutty and dessert-scented mixture of vanilla and salted caramel, into the spray formula. Speaking of, while it's easy to miss the conditioner out of the packaging, the bottle slowly deflates with us, which could make it a little difficult to get the product out with time.

Formula: Spray | Key Ingredients: Babaçu oil, brazil nut oil, cupuaçu butter | Benefits: Heat protecting, anti-frizz, hydrating | Scent: Vanilla, salted caramel, pistachio | Size: 7.1 oz

Roselynn, tester: “There was an obvious difference in my hair when I used this product versus not using it. My hair was much more smooth. The scent is like a coconutty-vacation scent.”

Why We Love It: Consider the Kérastase Conditioning Hair Serum the opposite of bed head—even though you quite literally wear it while you snooze. In addition to the strand-fortifying properties of the edelweiss flower, its formula contains our favorite, and miraculously lightweight, super hydrator, hyaluronic acid. This mighty molecule gives dull straight strands a long-lasting boost of moisture.

Who It’s For: Those who use this conditioner to slick back strands overnight will wake up to healthier, shinier, hair. But the best part? Its silky cream texture allows you to comb it seamlessly between your strands and manipulate your hair into whatever style you desire. InStyle tester Kelly, who struggles to find a product that wouldn’t weigh her fine hair down, says that the consistency disappeared instantly into her fine strands without a trace. The lemon scent, which sensitive noses may find a tad strong, should’ve dissipated by the time you wake up too.

Formula: Cream | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, edelweiss flower | Benefits: Strengthening, anti-frizz, smoothing | Scent: Floral | Size: 3 oz

Kelly, tester: “I dye my hair consistently and used to bleach it, so there's definitely existing damage. I feel like this conditioner was able to help soften that and help with less breakage overall.”

Why We Love It: There’s one thing we absolutely will not allow: The precious time we spend under foils goes to waste because we didn’t properly care for balayage or root touch-up treatments. Specifically formulated for colored hair, Pureology Color Fanatic ditches the bad ingredients, notably color-stripping sulfates, in favor of the good ones such as natural coconut, camelina, and olive oils to revive bleached-soaked strands.

Who It’s For: Simultaneously hydrating, fortifying, and protecting colored strands, the multitasking leave-in spray ensures your dye job looks fresh. Plus, it is easy to spritz the fine mist formula on before you apply hot tools or spend time in the sun, preventing any further fading from external factors too. In terms of scent, some people will want to bottle the cedarwood and rose fragrance and wear it proudly, while others will hold their breath until it quickly dissipates.

Formula: Liquid spray | Key Ingredients: Camelina oil, coconut oil, olive oil | Benefits: Hydrating, heat-protecting, shine-enhancing | Scent: Cedarwood, rose, ginger | Size: 6.7 oz

Keren, tester: “I used a lot of product because my hair gets knotty. The product had a nice spray, not too much or too little product.”

Why We Love It: The thought of a slick leave-in conditioner is a scary idea to those of us with greasy, fine strands, so we believe us when we say the Ouai formulates one of the best lightweight leave-in conditioners for wispier hair types. Similar to the Ouai curl cream, it’s a nonsticky, frizz-fighting machine that doesn’t skimp on follicle support, notably with the root-fortifying and hair-softening ingredient of tamarind seed extract.

Who It’s For: This unique cream spray has all the benefits of a thicker lotion-type conditioner with a lightweight, serum-adjacent consistency, making it great for those with finer strands. Beyond that, its silky consistency is an intriguing cross-hybrid somewhere between a serum and a cream that’s tempting to overapply (but trust us that a little goes a very long way). While initially, InStyle tester Katy thought it would apply like a sticky, goopy lotion, she was pleasantly surprised at how finely the spray misted and dissolved. Give it a good shake and, presto, it’ll melt between wet and dry strands like butter, leaving a gorgeous scent profile of bergamot and white musk behind.

Formula: Cream spray | Key Ingredients: Tamarind seed extract, vitamin E, hydrolyzed proteins | Benefits: Detangling, hydrating, anti-frizz | Scent: Bergamot, violet, white musk | Size: 4.7 oz

Katy, tester: “I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for shinier and healthier hair.”

Why We Love It: As we get older our hair starts to lose moisture and nutrients, but before you despair, know that you don’t need an intensive hair mask or pricey treatment to restore fine hair into luscious locks. Briogeo provides a simple, spray solution you can mist onto hair every day (just keep it away from your roots) and never worry about it weighing down thinning strands.

Who It’s For: This formula is full of fortifying nutrients—notably rosehip, coconut, and argan oil—which gently condition dehydrated strands, smooth frizz away, and increase thickness over time. Vitamin E, a key ingredient we always look for when we’re trying to maintain hair health, also works to ensure our manes are protected against heat and other environmental damage that can take a toll on already-thinning hair.

Formula: Spray | Key Ingredients: Rosehip, coconut, and argan oils, vitamin E | Benefits: Hydrating, anti-frizz | Scent: Clean florals | Size: 5 oz

Alli, tester: “I noticed my hair felt much softer after just one use! My hair used to air dry very frizzy and I noticed that after using the leave-in conditioner for a week, my hair was air drying much less frizzy and a lot more shiny.”

Why We Love It: Ready for effortless styling? A few nonchalant sprays (or perhaps only one for our thinner-haired friends) of the Gisou Honey Leave-In Conditioner and wiry, straw-like strands are brought back to life stronger and smoother. And, might we add, smelling delightfully close to a warm spring day? Whether you use it as a heat-protecting primer before styling or you’re leaving hair au-natural, this delicious honey-scented, airy-feeling masterpiece irons out static and supplies hair with a glinting supermodel-like shine.

Who It’s For: Part hair perfume, part styling maestro, we spray on this leave-in conditioner whenever our dull hair needs a quick fix of shine and moisture. True to format, the formula taps Mirsalehi honey, the brand’s signature ingredient found in its hair oils and heat-protecting sprays, which is a humectant that boasts a magnetism for attracting moisture. And, when paired with the benefits from the other antioxidants and amino acids in the formula, like argan oil and baobab extract, it’s an unstoppable force against split ends and moisture-zapping foes.

Formula: Liquid spray | Key Ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, argan oil, baobab extract | Benefits: Moisturizing, detangling, shine-enhancing | Scent: Subtle florals, honey | Size: 5.1 oz

Emily, tester: “I am in desperate need of a haircut and have been having crazy split ends, but this product has helped to repair that damage.”

“I recommend applying leave-in conditioners on damp hair after the hair is properly cleansed—once applied you can move forward with heat styling,” says Miller. Celebrity stylist Joseph Michael adds that you should never reapply a leave-in conditioner to dirty hair because “it can cause a product buildup and leave your hair feeling greasy and thick.”

Colorist Emily Landino recommends using it every other day if you’re someone who washes daily because “it is possible to over-moisturize the hair, which can lead to breakage,” she adds.