14 Best Leave-In Conditioners for Curly Hair, According to Experts

When curly hair feels particularly parched, prime dehydrated locks with this oil-rich leave-in. Don’t let the word “oil” scare you: Bumble and bumble’s formula feels so lightweight, your curls will lap it up. The combination of coconut, argan and macadamia oils works to hydrate every inch. “My hair is super soft, and I’ve never gotten the oily look or feel while using this spray,” one Sephora reviewer says. Adding this fan-favorite to your curly hair routine will not only smooth and hydrate your strands, but its UV filter ingredients also claim to protect against UV damage and heat tools. Note that reviewers used more diligence when applying it to ensure that all strands were prepped and ready for hot tools.

Scoring a quality leave-in conditioner for curly hair doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. This drugstore option is backed by rave reviews while ringing in at less than $10. With a consistency closer to a styling cream, this shea butter formula is extra rich and hydrating. Fans say it makes their curls feel healthier and more moisturized. Bonus: Amazon reviewers enjoyed adding a dollop of this leave-in to a twist-out for bouncy, soft and hydrated twists. Those with fine, thin hair got great use out of it, while some shoppers found they needed light touch-ups to tame frizz.

Find your waves with this sheer leave-in conditioner that feels lightweight on loose curl patterns. Quench thirsty ends with its conditioning vitamin E and hydrating panthenol formula. One GH editor enjoys using it on damp hair to help detangle texture while drying. Its hydrolyzed proteins claim to provide heat protection of up to 450°F. Pro tip: Hardges says that water-based sprays are ideal when working with low-porosity hair. Plus, its spray bottle makes it easier to evenly distribute product. A potential con is that a few Sephora reviewers noted that it left behind a strong flowery scent.

Curly girl-favorite Briogeo claims this leave-in formula is composed of 94% naturally derived ingredients, so it’s basically like green juice for your spirals. We appreciate that its rice amino acids help to keep frizz at bay, while avocado oil adds a kiss of moisture and tomato fruit ferment promises definition that makes your curls pop. Stylist Leigh Hardges at Maxine Salon says it’s a great leave-in for bringing the bounce in curls without adding extra steps to a curl routine. “The amino acids help to fortify curl structure while adding moisture,” she says. However, some noted that while it made a difference in reducing frizz, it didn’t completely tame flyaways.

Let this leave-in be your one-step product to achieving softer curls. “I took all other leave-ins out of rotation after I tried this one from Camille Rose a year ago,” says Jodhaira Rodriguez, Home Care & Cleaning Lab reviews analyst. “Sometimes, I’ll just apply this and won’t add any other curl creams or mousses.” Praised for its ability to smooth curls and noticeably reduce frizz with its honey ingredient, it leaves curls feeling softer and more manageable for “at least three or four days,” according to Rodriguez. Just note that you may have to sacrifice curl definition, she says.

This do-it-all fixer is a must for anyone who wants to streamline their arsenal of hair products. It’s a frizz-fighter, color-protector, tangle-reducer, dullness-eraser and heat-protecting spray in one that will transform your locks for the better. We like that one of its main ingredients is panthenol, a rich hydrator often used in face moisturizers for dry skin. “It has helped so so much with my breakage and just makes my hair look overall healthier and so shiny,” says one Ulta reviewer. Others found that spraying directly into their hands helped control the amount of product they used to coat curly hair.

A favorite among Beauty Lab experts and staffers, Garnier’s cream with argan oil, aloe and coconut oil doubles as a leave-in conditioner and smoothing styler. Beauty Lab data evaluation found that among women with frizzy hair, 84% reported their hair felt smoother and 80% felt that it did not look frizzy after use. “My hair texture is an odd mix of both wavy and curly hair, meaning it frizzes like crazy, and I have a hard time controlling it,” says Editorial Assistant Adrianna Freedman. “This product saves me every time I use it with wet or dry hair.”

Thanks to a blend of oils and honey, this leave-in conditioner is chock-full of moisture. Yet, it’s not too heavy for those with finer locks, say Ulta reviewers. Add a few pumps of this to your tight curls during the cold winter months to prevent knots, tangles and brittleness caused by the freezing cold temps. Another fan called it their holy grail: “I have type 3A curly hair that for the longest time I didn’t know how to manage.” If you prefer a scent-free leave-in conditioner, just keep in mind that this one comes with a powdery floral smell, according to shoppers.

Got kiddos with unruly curls? This conditioner is a game-changer for bedhead and tangles. “Nothing compares to this,” according to Lexie Sachs, the Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, who uses it on her two kids. “It makes their hair so smooth and easier to manage in the mornings.” Its shea butter softens, while lifting and defining curls. Some online reviewers recommended polishing off hair with a gel or a cream to lock in curls.

If you’ve got tight curls or coils that are always getting tangled up, this leave-in is for you. Not only does it help to prep the hair for styling products, but it makes detangling a breeze. Simply apply from root to tip, rake through with your fingers and say hello to perfectly separated, smooth curls. It can be rinsed or left in for deep conditioning. “It’s not greasy and goes in [hair] smoothly,” says one Target reviewer. “It was very easy to comb [hair] after using a dime-sized amount.”

When winter months suck out all the moisture from your curls, this spray leave-in refreshes without leaving any stiffness or flakiness. The brand recommends this spritz-and-go mist for conditioning 3A to 4C hair types. “I love how it makes my curls feel super hydrated and bouncy,” says Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins. “I typically use it after washing my hair along with the Mielle Organics Babassu Brazilian Curly Cocktail Curl Mousse, and it really helps define my curls without weighing my hair down.” Hardges adds that she finds it perfect for detangling and hydrating curls before adding any creams or gels: “This first layer will seal in moisture and help prevent frizz it smells amazing.” One notable con online reviewers highlighted was that they didn’t find the light fragrance pleasant.

Bring dry, tired curls to life with this leave-in spray’s milky texture. It can be used on damp or dry hair and is a true multitasker, softening hair and removing tangles. It even claims to protect against environmental damage thanks to an infusion of antioxidant-rich roucou oil. One GH writer with dry, wiry hair likes to apply it to their edges and ends before bed. “I wake up to soft, shiny hair that’s a whole lot more manageable in the morning,” she says. Just make sure you shake the bottle before using as many online reviewers noted that the formula separates.

Split ends, breakage and dullness can all spoil a good hair day. That’s why any hot-tool-obsessed, curly-haired person should reach for this leave-in cream — it goes deep to repair damaged and broken bonds in the hair to make it, well, like new. Hardges notes that creamy formulas (like this one) are a match for more porous hair. Fun fact: This brand’s bond-building formulas are essentially the reason A-listers can go from platinum blonde to neon pink locks overnight. Plus, it claims to keep frizz at bay for up to 72 hours. Its creamy formula can weigh down hair, so it’s best to go in with a light hand.

Formulated with blue sea kale and kelp extract to protect against color fading and breakage from hot tools, this leave-in conditioner was clinically tested to reduce comb-induced breakage by 50% in just one use, according to the brand’s own data. It’s also super lightweight, so it won’t weigh down fine to medium hair types. Keep in mind that it’s designed to be activated by heat — like the brand’s star product, the Dream Coat, it doubles as a heat protectant, so using it as a leave-in won’t do much.