The 12 best leave-in conditioners for curly hair, according to your hair type
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
- Leave-in conditioners are typically a must-have styling product for curly and coily hair patterns.
- Used after shampooing and conditioning, they can prevent breakage, hydrate hair, and promote growth.
- We picked 12 of the best leave-in conditioners for curly hair, depending on your curl type.
For curly hair types, using a leave-in conditioner is a crucial next step after cleansing and conditioning. It's also a great first product to use when styling. Leave-ins don't just give hair definition and pop — they hydrate, lock in moisture, strengthen, and reduce frizz.
"Leave-in conditioners are typically distinguished by containing some protein, some element of hydrolyzed protein, something that strengthens the hair," certified trichologist Dr. Kari Williams explains. Leave-ins also contain moisturizers like butters, oils, and humectants.
Curly vs. coily hair
When finding the best leave-in conditioner for you, consider what your hair needs based on your curl pattern, porosity, and texture. All of these characteristics help determine what ingredients you should look for and what consistency is best for your hair.
Generally, the curlier the hair, the more moisture it needs, and the differences between curly and coily hair has to do with how loose or tight your ringlets are. If your hair is a mix of loose curls and ringlets, check out the products we've defined for curly hair, which is categorized by the number "3." If your hair is made of mostly tight, coiled ringlets, you'll benefit most from the products we've called out for coily hair, which is categorized by the number "4."
Click to jump to the best leave-in conditioners for curly hair in 2021:
The best leave-in conditioners for curly hair
The following leave-in conditioners are best for those whose hair texture is defined as 3A, 3B, or 3C. Your hair is a mix of tight ringlets and looser curls. The circumference of most of your curls is about the size of a piece of sidewalk chalk.
Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Detangler
Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Detangler Check price at Target Kinky-Curly's Knot Today leave-in is cruelty-free and made with only nine ingredients. But those ingredients are highly moisturizing, including mango extract, slippery elm, and marshmallow extract. This leave-in also adds lots of shine, and it can be used daily depending on your hair needs.
TGIN Rose Water Leave-In Conditioner
tgin Rose Water Leave-In Conditioner Check price at Ulta This creamy, floral-scented leave-in focuses on moisturizing the hair. The Rose Water Leave-In Conditioner contains five oils and three butters, including cocoa butter and almond oil, as well as aloe for ultimate hydration.
Curlsmith Curl Conditioning Oil-In-Cream
Curlsmith Curl Conditioning Oil-In-Cream Check price at Ulta Curlsmith's Curl Conditioning leave-in contains shea butter and a bevy of oils for a leave-in that also defines curls. It's vegan, silicone-free, and full of highly moisturizing ingredients, including carrot seed oil and aloe.
Pattern Beauty Leave-in Conditioner
Pattern Beauty Leave-In Conditioner (9.8 oz) Check price at Ulta Fortified with honey, jojoba oil, biotin, and tea tree oil, this leave-in may be lightweight, but it's powerfully hydrating. But if you're looking for some serious moisture, Pattern suggests adding a few drops of jojoba or argan oil to give the leave-in a boost.
As I Am Classic Leave-In Conditioner
As I Am Classic Leave-In Conditioner Check price at Target This vegan leave-in is one of As I Am's most popular products — and for good reason. A fruit-scented classic, this leave-in is a moisturizing and lightweight cream that works alone or as a great base to additional styling products.
Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave-In Conditioner
Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave-In Conditioner Check price at Target Curls' cruelty-free Blueberry Bliss leave-in is the only product on this list that specially features blueberry extract. The proanthocyanidins from the blueberry stimulate hair growth and help prevent breakage. Plus, this product mask includes aloe and silk protein for shiny hair.
The best leave-in conditioners for coily hair
If your hair is composed of mainly tight ringlets, it's likely coily. This texture is identified as either 4A, 4B, or 4C hair, and it typically has much more volume than length. Because of how tight your coils are, you probably don't need to wash your hair all that often. In fact, you may find yourself using these products once every 10 days or so.
Carol's Daughter Goddess Strength Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner
Carol's Daughter Goddess Strength Castor Oil Leave-In Conditioner Check price at Carol's Daughter Carol's Daughter created a Goddess Strength recipe especially targeting breakage and dryness. Made with castor and black seed oil, this leave-in conditioner avoids breakage and helps with detangling. It's also incredibly hydrating, thanks to the castor oil and black seed oil in the formula. Just note that this formula also contains dimethicone (a silicone), which seals in moisture, so keep an eye out if you're trying to avoid the ingredient.
Uncle Jimmy Curl Kicker
Uncle Jimmy Curl Kicker Check price at Uncle Jimmy Unlike most products on this list, this creamy leave-in conditioner relies chiefly on sesame oil — and emollient which can aid in hydration. With a mix of shea butter, coconut oil, and honey, Uncle Jimmy's Curl Kicker delivers moisture while also defining curls.
Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Detangling Leave-in Conditioner
Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Detangling Leave-in Conditioner Check price at Ulta Made with shea butter, coconut milk, and almond oil, this lightweight formula actually works for most curl patterns and textures. Though it defines the hair, this leave-in from Design Essentials can also be used as a base for heavier styling products.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner Check price at Amazon Check price at Target Shea Moisture's Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner gets its strength from its shea butter, pure Jamaican black castor oil, and peppermint oils. These ingredients— as well as a trio of proteins — help this leave-in deliver moisture, prevent breakage, and ease detangling.
Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner Check price at Amazon Check price at Walmart Check price at Mielle Organics This lightweight leave-in was especially created for coily hair, or type 4 hair. Infused with various fruit extracts, oils, and butters, this leave-in penetrates the hair shaft to deliver moisture while preventing frizz and making it easy to detangle.
tgin Miracle RepaiRx Protective Leave In Conditioner
tgin Miracle RepaiRx Protective Leave In Conditioner Check price at Ulta This curl-defining leave-in conditioner was created to promote growth and reduce breakage via ingredients like raw black honey and coconut oil. If you're trying to avoid silicone, you may want to steer clear, though. This lightweight formula includes a small amount of dimethicone — a silicone which helps seal in moisture.
Andrea Bossi Andrea Bossi is a freelance writer at Insider Reviews who primarily covers beauty and style. She is also a published poet and Forbes contributor who covers music, especially, hip-hop and r&b. If she's not writing, you can probably find her exploring on her bike, trying new vegan recipes, or dancing with friends (virtually, for now). Although born and raised in Chicago, she went east to study Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in African American Studies at Harvard. Between what she studies and what she writes about, it's clear Bossi remains fascinated by the ways in which so many things are unexpectedly connected. Follow her on Instagram at @BossiBB or Twitter at @Bossi147 Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnkpqutsDYaJmeq6Riuaat1Z5koqZdqb%2BmrdOmnKesXZjCs7jYZp%2BaoaI%3D