Leave-in conditioner is a conditioner that’s specifically
designed to be left in the hair for extended periods for deep hydration and repair. Some leave-in conditioners stay in the hair for minutes, while others can stay in until your next shampoo.
The best leave-in conditioners have different aims, with
benefits including:
- Detangling
- Heat production
- Hair nourishment
- Combating dryness
- Smoothing hair
We get it – finding the right leave-in conditioner for
curly hair can feel like a real challenge. Not only do you need to find something that nourishes and protects your locks, but when your hair texture involves a bit (or a lot) of curls, it’s important to choose a formulation that won’t weigh down your strands.
With that in mind, it’s best to choose leave-in conditioners that are formulated to be light, as well as those that target common curly hair concerns. For example, IGK’s Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm which is feather-light or Sachajuan’s Intensive Leave In Conditioner which fights frizz.
You might have heard leave-in referred to as hair
moisturiser, and that’s because most leave-in conditioners have a hydrating component to them. If you’re looking for an extra step to take your hair
health to the next level, a leave-in conditioner is a great option as it requires very little effort for great results. Because you simply apply leave-in to hair and let it be, leave-in’s benefits extend long past the initial application of it.
If dryness is a concern, leave-in is an easy way to add
some moisture back into your hair while simultaneously protecting it from styling and environmental factors.
Most leave-in conditioners are applied when the hair is
damp. In general, the best time to use a leave-in conditioner is after washing the hair and before styling when the hair is about 75% dry.
If you want to add a leave-in conditioner to hair that’s
already dry, you can dampen it first by using a spray bottle to gently wet the hair before applying leave-in. Make sure to read the instructions of your specific product before use, however, as different leave-in conditioners require different applications.