These are the best leave-in conditioners for curls, waves, and coils
Whether you've been blessed with loose waves, tightly-wound coils, or something in-between, regularly applying the best leave-in conditioner for curly hair will undoubtedly feature somewhere in your multi-step curly hair routine. Since this hair type is often drier and more prone to breakage, hair-loss practitioner and certified trichologist, Mandy Buechner, says that leave-in conditioners play a key role in moisturising, and fighting frizz. “Essentially, they define and maintain the natural pattern without weighing it down, and detangle and add bounce," she explains.
The trick to choosing the right one is knowing your curl type. For fine curls, go with a lightweight and water-based option; for thick, coarse curls and coils, it's best to go for a cream-based product packed with butters and oils, says Chantell Carrtherol, a professional hairstylist and curl specialist. Rake the product through damp hair after washing — but don’t skip your regular curly hair conditioner.
To help find the right one, we asked Glamour editors and contributors with natural waves and curls to test expert-recommended formulas. Below are our top picks, broken down by type and need.
Featured in this article
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Meet the experts:
- Sophie Rose Gutterman, celebrity hairstylist, colourist, and curl expert
- Temur Hamilton, premier hair colourist, stylist, and owner of Temur hair salon in Manhattan
- Mandy Buechner, certified trichologist and hair-loss practitioner
- Chantell Carrtherol, professional hairstylist and curl specialist
- Keka Heron, trichologist and professional hairstylist based in Atlanta
- Kerry E. Yates, trichologist and founder of beauty-brand consultancy Colour Collective
- Sarah Potempa, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of hair care brand Beachwaver Co.
- Our full edit of the best leave-in conditioners for curly hair
- How should you choose a leave-in for your curl type?
- What are key ingredients in leave-ins for curly hair?
- How often should you use leave-in conditioner if you have curly hair?
- Can I replace conditioner with a leave-in? Or use conditioner as a leave-in?
- Are any leave-ins better for men's hair?
How we tested leave-in conditioners for curly hair:
To find the best leave-in conditioner for curly hair, we gathered 11 reviewers with a diverse range of hair textures, including curly, coily, wavy, straight, coarse, and thinning hair. They tested 18 different curly hair products, applying each to damp hair after following their regular routines of shampoos for curly hair and conditioner. Our focus was primarily on how well each product worked, with an emphasis on hydration, curl definition, frizz control, and weight. Reviewers evaluated each product based on five key criteria:
- Ease of use: How easily the product distributed through curly and coily hair
- Scent and texture: The fragrance strength and how the product felt on curls—whether it was a creamy, misty, or lotion-like texture
- Weight: Whether the product left curls feeling light and bouncy or heavy and weighed down
- Effectiveness: How well the leave-in defined curls, controlled frizz, and provided hydration, shine, and smoothness
- Value: Whether the product’s quality and amount per bottle justified its price
With feedback from our testers and expert recommendations, we narrowed down the best-performing leave-ins for different curl types.
Ahead, the best leave-in conditioners for curly hair, reviewed:
1. Best Overall Leave-In Conditioner: Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner
- What we love: Very lightweight; softening; adds shine; anti-frizz; detangles
- Worth considering: May be too light for some curls
This silicone-free leave-in lotion is a top choice for hairstylist and trichologist Keka Heron, who recommends it for thick, curly, or damaged hair. It features glycerin and panthenol to soften and smooth, along with plant-based ingredients like prickly pear extract to boost shine and maintain curl definition. “Ouidad’s leave-in softened my hair and smoothed my curls, leaving them feeling light and healthy,” says Glamour reviewer Heather Mack, who adds that the lotion has a barely there scent.
Our tester says: “I have loose, dry curls and struggle to control frizziness without weighing down my hair with product,” says Mack. “I would not have been able to tell I added a product to my routine if it wasn’t for the noticeable difference in my curls. After two days of not washing my hair and pulling it back to go to the gym, my curls still felt soft and looked hydrated.”
2. Best for Dry, Damaged Curls: Kérastase Curl Manifesto Crème De Jour Fondamentale Leave-In-Cream
- What we love: Hydrating and nourishing for all curl types; defines curls without stiffness; works well for refreshing curls the next day; heat protects
- Worth considering: Manuka honey may be too heavy for very fine curls
This leave-in conditioner is super hydrating, strengthening, and smoothing. The product is a favourite of celebrity hairstylist Sophie Rose Gutterman. “The formula works for all curl patterns and layers easily with other products like gels or oils,” she says. “It’s designed to help repair past heat damage while keeping curls healthy moving forward.” One of its hero ingredients is Manuka honey, which Buechner says is thick and nourishing enough to deep-condition coily, kinky hair. Still, the texture is lightweight enough to provide excellent curl definition without making hair feel stiff, and it’s perfect for refreshing curls the next day with just a spritz of water.
Our tester says: “This leave-in conditioner will definitely become a regular part of my curly hair routine,” says Glamour reviewer Kristine Straker. “It has a pleasant scent and effectively smooths my very curly, 3C hair. Despite its lightweight feel, it provides excellent hydration. The runnier consistency is actually a benefit, as it allows me to use less product while still achieving even coverage. I appreciate that it defines my curls without making them feel stiff and that I can refresh them the next day with a spritz of water and they bounce right back.”
3. Best for Low-Porosity Curls: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave–In Defining Crème
- What we love: Super-hydrating and curl-defining ingredients for coily, natural hair
- Worth considering: May be too thick for fine curls
“Curly and coily hair is more prone to dryness, so a leave-in is crucial for locking in moisture, fighting frizz, and keeping curls bouncy and shiny,” says Sarah Potempa, a celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of hair care brand Beachwaver Co. This rich cream from Briogeo is a great product for coily hair — the same brand behind our top-choice hair mask for damaged hair and scalp scrub — caters especially well to low-porosity hair, which resists absorbing moisture due to tightly packed cuticles, therefore benefitting best from lightweight hydrators such as avocado oil and glycerin (both of which are in this conditioner).
Our tester says: “I really like other Briogeo products, but I wasn’t sure what to expect with its leave-in cream,” says Glamour editorial assistant and writer Monique Wilson of this leave-in conditioner for natural, curly hair. “As soon as I put it in my hair, I knew it would become a part of my daily routine. I used this product followed by Fenty Curl Cream, and this combo worked wonders for my hair and left my curls feeling hydrated and moisturised for the next few days.”
4. Best for High-Porosity Curls: Olaplex No.5 Leave In Moisturise and Mend Leave In Conditioner
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- What we love: Light enough for fine waves; adds shine; smooths and protects split ends; heat-protecting
- Worth considering: May be too light for thick, coarse curls
This leave-in stands out for its nourishing formula packed with lightweight amino acids and glycerin. It strikes the right balance of providing hydration without weighing hair down, making it a strong pick for fine, wavy, processed, or dry strands, including high-porosity hair that needs both moisture and protein. “When you’ve got highlighted hair that’s dry yet also superfine, leave-in conditioner needs to be hydrating but not too heavy — or it’ll quickly feel as though you never washed your hair at all,” says Glamour contributor Petra Guglielmetti. “This weighs my hair down just enough, moisturises my dry ends, and (gasp!) adds a little shine, even right after colour appointments. I can’t believe I settled for my previous leave-in for so long.”
Our tester says: “You can’t go wrong with Olaplex to begin with. The line works wonders on my hair, generally, so I knew it would be a winner,” says Glamour art director Allie Folino, who has 3A colour-treated curls that frizz easily. “This product, more specifically, leaves my curls feeling so hydrated. It’s a cream product and gives my hair a bit of body and shape to the curl while keeping it hydrated. It is on the pricier end, though.”
5. Best for Colour-Treated Hair: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask
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- What we love: Suits all hair types; brilliant for bleached locks; adds instant shine and smoothness.
- Worth considering: Really pricey.
This iconic leave-in cream is infused with a unique patented K18Peptide which works on a molecular level to reconnect polypeptide chains and disulfide bonds that have been damaged during bleaching, chemical treatments, and heat styling. A hero formula for all hair types, it's a must for over-processed curls and waves – leaving them soft, smooth, and silky. Plus, it's also now available in a new limited-edition scent, as part of a K18 x Future Society collaboration.
Seriously easy to use, simply shampoo your hair, towel-dry it, apply this leave-in formula instead of conditioner, and then let it sit for four minutes before following up with styling products of choice.
Our tester says: “As someone who may have dyed my hair one too many times, trust me when I say that the results from this repairing hair mask were almost instant. After just one use, my hair felt stronger and smoother – this is definitely the kind of formula you reach for when your hair needs a serious reset,” says Glamour's Beauty Contributor Denise Primbet.
6. Best for Frizz: Ceremonia Guava Leave-In Conditioner
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- What we love: Smoothes frizz in fine hair; fruity smell; heat- and environmentally protects
- Worth considering: May be too light for thick, coarse curls
“I’ve been struggling to figure out how to style my wavy hair and lately have been loving leave-in conditioning treatments to tame frizz and define my waves,” Joyce Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist said when this leave-in won a Glamour Beauty Award. “The Ceremonia leave-in conditioner helps to give that extra boost of hydration to my hair, and it just smells incredible.”
Infused with antioxidant-rich guava to shield strands from UV damage, with tamarind and safflower seed oil for deep hydration, and with avocado oil to strengthen and reduce frizz, the cream leaves hair soft, shiny, and protected. The lightweight formula absorbs easily without build-up and is especially helpful for medium to thick curls needing moisture and definition.
Our tester says: “This is the product I usually use as my leave-in! It’s definitely a personal fave of mine,” says Glamour’s Folino. “The scent is nice — subtle, not overbearing, and it helps with the overall health of my hair, leaving my strands shiny and soft.”
7. Best for Waves: Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Leave-In Cream
- What we love: Strengthens and enhances natural waves; deeply conditions thick hair; heat-protectant
- Worth considering: Fragrance may be too strong for some
“Wavy hair loves lightweight moisture with some protein to define the waves without weighing them down,” says Carrtherol. This leave-in from Kérastase fits the bill, with plant-based proteins that lock in hydration and niacinamide to strengthen the follicle and reduce breakage. Its formula smooths and defines waves without disrupting their shape. Gutterman also recommends it: “It’s great for all hair types and has heat protection plus healing properties to repair any previous damage while preventing future damage,” she says.
Our tester says: “I love my wavy hair, but since it’s pretty fine, I find it hard to get enough moisture into it to plump up and define my waves—without it getting greasy,” says Glamour reviewer Carolyn Todd. “I usually stick to lightweight sprays or thin, clear liquids for that reason. Creams can be a little heavy or gluey, so I was pleased at how lightweight this one felt. I scrunch a dime-size amount into my damp waves post-shower from the ends up to the midlengths, and once it’s 50% air-dried, I finish with a diffuser. My waves were significantly softer, smoother, shinier, more defined, and hydrated than usual. And they weren’t weighed by the product at all. Plus, the warm, ambery perfume-like scent was lovely. I’m a big fan!”
8. Best for Fine Hair: Harklinikken Hair Hydrating Crème
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- What we love: Frizz-fighting; natural, minimal ingredients; adds shine to curls
- Worth considering: Very pricey; may need another hair styling product layered on top for extra hold
This leave-in from Harklinikken is designed to nourish and strengthen with a blend of organic argan, Abyssinian, and sunflower seed oils. Panthenol and hydrolysed quinoa help boost elasticity and reduce dryness over time. The ultra-lightweight formula sinks in quickly without leaving behind residue, making it ideal for fine, dry, or over-processed hair. It doubles as a heat protectant and styling aid, leaving strands soft, smooth, and visibly healthier. It’s also free of fragrances that could strip or dry the hair.
Our tester says: “I’ve used this leave-in on my curly, thinning hair for almost a year now,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “It’s tough to find a leave-in that doesn’t overload my hair but that actually hydrates — my curls are quite dry. This formula is so light and has little fragrance, which I appreciate, and it functions as a heat protectant. Its ingredient list is super minimal, and I’ve noticed that, over time, my hair feels noticeably more voluminous, shinier, and more hydrated. My high-porosity curls are visibly defined and also frizz-free after air-drying, thank God. My hair stylist has stopped giving me grief for dryness, finally! I think this would be a great pick for anyone with damaged hair, and it’s safe for colour-treated hair too.”
9. Best Budget: Pantene Pro-V Repair & Protect 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner
- What we love: Frizz-reducing; lightweight; budget-friendly
- Worth considering: Does not provide much hold
Curly, dry, or damaged strands can benefit from this drugstore leave-in, which smooths without the heavy feel some richer products can leave behind. Pantene’s formula uses two forms of provitamin B5 (panthenol and panthenyl ethyl ether) to strengthen and moisturise over time, while fatty alcohols like stearyl and cetyl alcohol condition and tame frizz and flyaways. “It’s especially good for those with dry or over-processed curly hair that needs intense nourishment,” says Buechner.
Our tester says: “I’d been looking for a leave-in conditioner to add to my routine, and this one did a solid job,” says Plock. “It distributes nicely into wet hair and doesn’t feel too thick. My main hope was that it would help keep down frizz, which it definitely did without weighing down my curls, and it has a pleasant, not-at-all overwhelming scent. I would have loved just a bit of hold so I could eliminate having to use gel, but this didn’t offer much.”
10. Best for Detangling Curls: Mizani Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
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- What we love: Lightweight texture; detangles; heat protects
- Worth considering: Not creamy enough to act as a moisturiser on its own
This lightweight spray is a pick from professional hairstylist and trichologist Keka Heron, who likes how lightweight it is for fine waves and curls. Its formula is packed with coconut oil that seals in moisture and reinforces the hair shaft without weighing it down. Our tester said the formula defined and isolated her curls, cut back on frizz, and smoothly detangled her strands before heat styling.
Our tester says: “I have pretty fine, wavy hair and am not best served by thick creams, which is why I tested this gentle spray,” says Glamour’s Griggs. “It has an appealing, tropical scent and a milky consistency, and was pretty easy to spray and comb through my hair. It left my curls feeling soft and shiny, even after blow-drying. I’ll keep using it as a heat protectant and detangler, though I’ll pair it with a leave-in cream or mousse for added moisture and hold.”
FAQs:
How should you choose a leave-in for your curl type?
Lightweight formulas suit fine curl types, while thicker creams work better for coarse, dry, or high-porosity hair. Choose based on texture, porosity, and moisture needs.
| Curl type | Porosity | What to look for | Key ingredients | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wavy hair (types 2A–2C) | Low to medium | Lightweight water-based sprays or milks that add moisture, definition, frizz control without crunch | Aloe vera, glycerin, light oils like jojoba or argan | Too much protein, which can make waves stiff or brittle |
| Curly hair (types 3A–3C) | Medium to high | Medium-weight creams and milks that hydrate without weighing down curls | Jojoba oil, aloe vera, coconut oil, shea butter, argan oil, light proteins like silk or keratin | Heavy proteins |
| Coily hair (types 4A–4C) | High | Thick, rich creams for deep moisture retention and breakage prevention | Shea butter, castor oil, avocado oil, glycerin, proteins | Lightweight formulas that may not provide enough hydration |
What are key ingredients in leave-ins for curly hair?
Look for leave-in conditioners with rich, hydrating ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and argan oil to lock in moisture and control frizz. Humectants like glycerin and aloe vera draw in moisture, while proteins and amino acids help strengthen and repair.
How often should you use leave-in conditioner if you have curly hair?
Curly and coily hair tends to be drier than straight hair because natural oils have a harder time traveling down the twists and turns of each strand. That’s why many stylists recommend using a leave-in conditioner every time you wash and condition your hair. Still, how often — and how much— you use ultimately depends on your hair’s texture, porosity, and what feels best for you.
Can I replace conditioner with a leave-in? Or use conditioner as a leave-in?
Not quite. Experts don’t recommend skipping traditional conditioner or using it in place of a leave-in. Rinse-out conditioners are essential for nourishing and moisturising your curls, but they’re formulated with rich ingredients that are meant to be washed out. Leaving them in can make your hair feel heavy, greasy, or weighed down. Leave-in conditioners, on the other hand, are designed to deliver lightweight, long-lasting hydration as well as protection against heat and environmental damage — without the buildup.
Are any leave-ins better for men's hair?
Leave-in conditioners aren’t gender-specific — it all comes down to hair type, texture, and concerns. Men with fine or thinning hair may prefer lightweight formulas with ingredients like caffeine or biotin, while those with thicker or curlier hair might benefit from richer creams or butters for added moisture and frizz control. For a low-maintenance routine, a two-in-one leave-in and styling cream is a great all-in-one option.
