Best Leave In Conditioner for Curly Hair

The best leave in conditioner for curly hair is the one that suits how thick your curls are and what you put on over the top. Curls tend to run drier than straight hair because the scalp's natural oil has a harder time travelling down a coil, so the ends feel it first. A leave-in puts some softness back between washes and makes curls easier to comb out and shape. This page brings together leave-in creams, lotions and sprays for curls from professional haircare brands, so you can compare them in one place. If you want to see every format, not just the curl picks, browse the full leave in conditioner range.

Match the texture to your curls

Start with the weight of the formula. Thickness of the hair strand matters more than how tight the curl is.

• Fine or loose curls: go for a spray or a light milk. A heavy cream drags fine curls flat, and they lose their spring by the afternoon.
• Medium curls: a lotion sits in the middle. Enough softness to calm the ends, light enough to still scrunch.
• Thick, tight or coily curls: a rich cream. This hair can take more product and usually wants it, especially on the ends.

If your hair is more of a bend than a ringlet, the best leave in conditioner for wavy hair leans lighter and may suit you better.

What to look for on the label

• Slip. A good leave-in lets a comb or fingers glide through. If knots are your main problem, start with the best leave in conditioner for tangled hair.
• Oils and butters. These make a formula richer. Great on thick curls, too much on fine ones.
• Protein. Useful when curls feel limp, stretchy or mushy after colour or heat. On curls that are already in good shape, too much protein can leave them feeling stiff. For hair that has taken a beating, see our picks of leave in conditioner for damaged hair.
• Frizz control. Curls frizz when they are dry and the air is humid. If frizz bothers you more than dryness, compare our best leave in conditioner for frizzy hair.

Where it fits in a curly routine

Wash, rinse-out conditioner, leave-in, then styler. The leave-in softens and helps the curl clump together. It does not hold the shape on its own. For definition that lasts, put a gel or mousse over it while the hair is still wet.

Your rinse-out matters just as much, so pair this with the best conditioner for curly hair. If your curls still feel dry right through even with a good leave-in, a weekly leave in treatment for curly hair gives them more than a daily product can.

How much to use

Start with less than you think. A small amount for short or fine curls, more for long or thick ones, worked through wet hair from the mid-lengths to the ends. Too much shows up as curls that look flat, feel coated or take forever to dry. Too little and the ends can still feel rough. You can always add a bit more on a refresh day with damp hands.

When you may not need one

If your curls are fine, get oily at the root and already feel soft after a rinse-out conditioner, a leave-in can just weigh them down. Try a tiny amount on the ends only before ruling it out.

For shampoo, stylers and everything else in a curly routine, see all our products for curly hair.

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