Best Leave In Conditioner for Straight Hair

The best leave in conditioner for straight hair is the lightest one that still does the job, because straight hair shows weight and oil quickly. With no bend in the strand, oil from the scalp slides down the length easily, and anything heavy sits on the surface where you can see it. A leave in that suits curls can leave straight hair flat or greasy by the next day. This page brings together leave in conditioners that work on straight hair, and below is how to pick between them.

What a leave in does on straight hair

On straight hair, a leave in adds slip so a comb or brush runs through without snagging. It smooths the outside of the hair, which cuts down on static and flyaways, and it softens ends that have gone dry from colour, heat or sun. What it won't do is add body or hold. If your straight hair feels flat and you want lift, a leave in is the wrong tool. Pick one for softness and ease of combing, not for shape.

Choose by thickness, not just by "straight"

Straight hair ranges from fine and silky to thick and coarse, and the right leave in changes with it.

• Fine straight hair: go for a spray or mist. Spray the ends and skip the roots. If your hair still drops flat, use less before you switch products.
• Medium straight hair: a spray or a light lotion. Lotions give a bit more softness without much weight.
• Thick or coarse straight hair: a cream. Thick straight hair can feel dry and puffy at the ends, and it takes more product before it looks heavy.
• Straight hair that frizzes: look for a smoothing formula. See our best leave in conditioner for frizzy hair for options made for that job.

Match it to the problem you actually have

Most people buy a leave in for one main reason, so start there. If knots are the issue, especially in long straight hair, the best leave in conditioner for tangled hair puts slip first. If your ends are rough from bleach, straightening or years of growth, look at leave in conditioner for damaged hair, which tends to be richer. If you colour your hair, a leave in conditioner for coloured hair is made with colour care in mind. With damaged or coloured straight hair, still keep it to the mid-lengths and ends.

How it fits with the rest of your routine

A leave in does not replace your rinse-out conditioner. It goes on after it. If you already use a rich rinse-out, you may only need a light spray on top. For a rinse-out that won't drag straight hair down, see the best conditioner for straight hair.

Oil and leave in do different jobs. The leave in goes on damp hair for slip and softness. Oil goes on the ends, damp or dry, to smooth and add shine. If your ends are only a little dry, you probably need one or the other, not both. If you want shine on top, a drop of hair oil for straight hair on the ends is plenty.

If you blow-dry or straighten, check the label to see if your leave in protects against heat. Some do and some don't.

When you can skip it

Fine, oily straight hair that combs out easily may not need a leave in at all. A good rinse-out conditioner on the ends can be enough. If you only get knots at the nape or flyaways at the ends, use a tiny amount just there, not all over.

Shop more for straight hair

AMR stocks salon brands alongside everyday ones, so you can compare formulas side by side in one place. For every hair type, browse the full leave in conditioner range, or see all our products for straight hair, from shampoo to styling.

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