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18 Of The Best Leave-In Conditioners To Take Your Hair From Frazzled To Flawless

If your hair is more parched than perfect, these are the leave-in conditioners you need to save it.

By Katie Withington
best leave in conditioner
Elle UK

If the thought of tearing through tangled ends or watching your freshly styled 'do fall flat and frizzy after one gust of wind rings all too familiar, it might be time to invest in a leave-in conditioner. In a wide range of tiered textures, from effortless spritzes to intensely moisturising creams, finding the perfect leave-in treatment for your dry, knotted ends has never been easier and could be the key to keeping your strands glossy, tamed and strong post-shampoo.

‘The benefits of using a leave in treatment are that you'll have care for your hair underneath your chosen style,’ says celebrity stylist, Halley Brisker. ‘Something like Olaplex's No. 6 will be building bonds and helping with manageability all while you go about your daily business as opposed to only when you're in the shower or the bath.’

Hari's Hairdressers Creative Director Craig Taylor also hails a good leave-in conditioner for boosting your hair's hydration, providing moisture and supporting elasticity, making your shiny ends malleable and easier to style. 'Fine hair can have a better reaction in terms of styling compared to conventional conditioner as it is lighter and weighs the hair down less which means the hair should be less flat and maintain its body and volume where required.'

We’ve rounded up the best leave-in conditioners to keep frizz at bay and keep your frazzled ends looking silky smooth all day long.

Shop the best leave-in conditioners

1

K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask

Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask
1

K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask

£12 at Cult Beauty

If your hair is feeling a little worse for wear, it may be time to rebuild some bonds. Quickly becoming haircare's new it-girl, K18's uniquely patented peptide formula has garnered an understandable following online. Ends looking damaged to say the least? This is a great one to have on hand (and hair).

2

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner

Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner
2

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner

With up to 450˚ heat protection, a line up of moisture-boosting ingredients and Sol de Janiero's beloved Cheirosa ’62 scent, this sunny leave-in spray really does do it all. The perfect pre-styling treatment for lacklustre lengths, this lightweight spritz not only gives the appearance of glossier, healthier ends; it also makes sure you'll leave a head-turning perfume trail wherever you go.

3

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream

Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream
3

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream

Formulated with a damage-fighting trio of vitamins, castor oil and keratin, this deeply hydrating moisture cream is perfect for keeping flyaways at bay and split ends on lockdown. Strengthened ends and an unbeatable shine? Sign us up.

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4

Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother

No.6 Bond Smoother

Finding Olaplex's iconic No.6 on this list should come as no surprise. The OG of health-boosting haircare, this reparative styling creme is the perfect leave-in conditioner for those battling dry, damaged and generally disastrous feeling hair (we've all been there).

5

R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner

Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
5

R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner

Effortless, laidback, totally fuss-free, this California-inspired leave-in conditioner can be be used on damp or dry, alone or layered beneath styling products, all with the aim of taming frizz and enhancing shine. Don't even get us started on its captivating woody scent...

6

Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm

Happy Endings Nourishing Balm
6

Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm

Somewhere between a styling cream and a leave-in treatment, this lightweight balm is an essential our hair styling routines. One pump between your fingers will tame, untangle and defluff, all with the power of vitamin B5 and shea butter. Glossy trims, here we come.

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7

Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Hydrating & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner

Like A Virgin Hydrating & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner
7

Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Hydrating & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner

Credit: Coco & Eve

If your hair is just lacking that little extra glisten, Coco & Eve's nourishing complex of coconut, avocado oil and rice proteins is sure to give it some love. Between its thoroughly hydrating feel and tangle-taming texture, we'd struggle to find a hair type that couldn't reap the benefits of this shine-enhancing creme.

8

Living Proof No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner

No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner
8

Living Proof No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner

If your hair's day-in-the-life usually consists of a battle with the hairbrush, stubborn rouge ends and a inevitable split ends, all for your fresh style to fall flat at the first sign of humidity, this is the cream for you. Powered by Living Proof's patented hair technology, this leave-in treatment protects your hair from pesky environmental damage and heat-frazzled tips, all while making your hair look oh-so-sleek.

9

Ouai Leave In Conditioner

Leave In Conditioner

Sometimes all your hair needs (and all you have time for) is a quick spritz of a little something-something. As easy as a hairspray or dry shampoo, a few mists of this lightweight conditioner into your dehydrated lengths will have it looking and feeling better by the time you've reached for the hairdryer.

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10

Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner

Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner
10

Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner

From its syrup-golden oil to its covetable Mirsalehi Honey fragrance, Gisou's cult favourite line was quick to earn a spot in our weekly haircare regimes. Armed with chic packaging, a softening formula and a delightfully floral aroma, this leave-in treatment will have your hair feeling Spring-ready from styling to scent.

11

JVN Hair Complete Conditioning Mist

Hair Complete Conditioning Mist
11

JVN Hair Complete Conditioning Mist

We're all for a bouncy nineties blowdry here on the Elle UK beauty team, but eventually, all that brushing and blasting can leave your hair dull and distressed. Jonathan Van Ness' spray-on glossing treatment is the perfect leave-in moisturiser for tackling that; simply mist into towel-dried lengths for a gentle detangle or use on dry ends as needed, for a taming boost and refresh between washes.

12

Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Treatment

Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Treatment
12

Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Treatment

Now 11% Off

Dyeing, bleaching and generous heat styling can all make for a recipe for dry and damaged hair, so it's important to keep your hair protected as you go. This perfecting and pH-balancing leave-in conditioner is ideal for hair types prone to breakage, giving it shine, smoothness and most importantly, a coat against heats of up to 230 degrees.

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13

Pattern Leave-In Conditioner

Leave-In Conditioner

If we know anything about coils and curls, it's that hydration will forever be their best friend. Looking for soft definition, light hold and a blend of deeply nourishing ingredients (we're talking coconut, sweet almond, tea tree and avocado oils)? All wrapped up with a light floral neroli, rose and patchouli scent? Yep, this is the leave-in conditioner for you.

14

Briogeo Superfoods Avocado and Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-In-1 Leave-In Spray

Superfoods Avocado and Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-In-1 Leave-In Spray
14

Briogeo Superfoods Avocado and Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-In-1 Leave-In Spray

Another curl-favourite formula from black-owned natural haircare line Briogeo, this superfood leave-in treatment is way more than just a hair moisturiser. Protecting from UV rays, environmental damage and tension from brushing lists only a few of the benefits this 3-in-1 spritz brings to the table. Pair that with a cocktail of shine-boosting plant extracts and green smoothie-inspired phytonutrients and you have yourself a truly conditioning multitasker in one easy-to-use bottle.

15

Augustinus Bader The Leave-In Treatment

The Leave-In Treatment
15

Augustinus Bader The Leave-In Treatment

You might already be familiar with Augustinus Bader's iconic skincare line, but did you know about its venture into haircare? Packed with its renowned TFC8 Complex, this luxurious leave-in treatment undoes the damage that heated tools leave behind and preps your hair for a glossy and sophisticated styling session.

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16

Moroccanoil All In One Leave-In Conditioner

All In One Leave-In Conditioner
16

Moroccanoil All In One Leave-In Conditioner

This effortless multi-tasking spray is a must-have for fine hair, offering antioxidant protection, lightweight hydration and a mirror-like shine, all delivered via a weightless milky mist. All the benefits of Moroccanoil's signature line, neatly packaged with a barely-there glossy finish.

17

Color Wow Dream Cocktail

Dream Cocktail

One too many bleaching appointments left your hair feeling brittle from roots to tips? We've all been there. Add this heat-activated cream before your finishing blowdry to transform dry, damaged ends to their former glossy glory. Yet another convincing case for kale.

18

Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment

Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment
18

Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment

This round-up simply wouldn't be complete without this planet-kind haircare classic. Shielding temperatures of up to 450°F and strengthening compromised cuticles is what this leave-in conditioner does best. Detangled tresses, smoother ends and heaps of much-needed hydration? All from 99% naturally derived ingredients? Add to cart, immediately.

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