12 Best Leave In Conditioners for Curly Hair 2023 - Reviewed by a Hairstylist

To understand the best leave in conditioners for curly hair you must first understand the type of curly hair you have and go from there. Here are the best in my professional opinion.

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Amongst the best leave in conditioners for curly hair, we will also discuss the best leave in conditioners for other types of textured hair.

In this article we’ll go over the pros and cons to the Best Leave in Conditioners for –

Curly Hair – Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil and Primer & Original Sprout Tahitian Oil
Wavy Hair – SheaMoisture Leave in Conditioner
Coily Hair – Moroccan Oil Leave in Conditioner & Carols Daughter Goddess Leave in Conditioner
Frizzy Hair – Biosilk Leave in Conditioner & Kenra Daily Provision Leave in Conditioner
Fine Curly Hair – 12 Benefits Leave in Conditioner & Original Sprout Leave in Conditioner
Homemade Leave in Conditioner for Curly Hair – Flaxseed Gel Mask
Best Leave in Conditioner for Curly Hair Overall – DevaCurl Leave In
Best Budget Leave in Conditioners amongst this Collection– Biosilk Leave in Conditioner & SheaMoisture Leave in Conditioner

What is Leave in Conditioner?

Leave in conditioner is comparable to the lotion that you don’t wash off. It’s the hydrating product that you put on your hair after a wash to help protect it from heat, UV, styling products, weather, humidity etc.

A leave in conditioner is excellent to help de-frizz hair and to keep the split ends to a minimum for as long as they can.

For curly hair leave in conditioner helps nourish the curls and helps them become bouncy. The tricky part is just knowing which one will work for your curls.

Knowing What Best Leave in Conditioner to Look For

When you know what curl type you have, it’ll be easier to choose which product will be best for your curly hair.

To keep it simple – because it is difficult to determine exactly what type of curl you have because hair changes and every person’s hair is different –

Type 1 Hair (A,B,C) = Variations of Straight

Type 2 Hair (A,B,C) = Variations of Wavy

Type 3 Hair (A,B,C) = Variations of Curly

Type 4 Hair (A,B,C) = Variations of Tightly Curled or Coily Hair

For more information on curl types see FAQs below.

Best Leave In Conditioners for Curly Hair

Bumble & Bumble Invisible Oil 3.4oz and Primer 8oz Combo for $63.13

✔️ Pros

2 in 1 Combo of excellent products used by hairstylists all over
Specifically designed to hydrate and smooth curly hair
Lightweight
Protects against heat and UV
Excellent for hair that has been color processed or highlighted
Adds shine to the hair

❌ Cons

It’s expensive
The bottles are small
Not used to define curls but to protect for other styling products (might not be a con)

Original Sprout Tahitian Non-Greasy Hair Oil 4oz for $24.42

✔️ Pros

Vegan product line
Gluten, soy, dairy, paraben, and sulfate free!
Non Greasy
Designed by a curly-haired hairstylist
Made in the USA
Beautiful but not overpowering scent

❌ Cons

Not all hairstylists know of this product
It can be hard to find in-store
If too much is used it will make the hair look greasy

Best Leave in Conditioners for Wavy Hair

SheaMoisture Leave in Conditioner 8oz $9.90

✔️ Pros

Perfect for encouraging wavy hair to become bouncier
Extra coconut oil
Silicone, sulfate, paraben, phthalate, mineral oil, and petrolatum free!

❌ Cons

Might not be heavy enough for all curl patterns
Not all salons carry or recommend this product because of SheaMoisture is a more generic brand

Best Leave in Conditioner for Coily Hair

Moroccan Oil Leave in Conditioner 5oz $30

✔️ Pros

Used in salons for curly hair everywhere
Cruelty Free
Well known for their products for curly hair

❌ Cons

Can be expensive
Sometimes the fragrance is too strong
For some curl types this product might hydrate the hair but not detangle it

Carol’s Daughter Goddess Leave in Conditioner 10oz for $9.49

✔️ Pros

Product of the USA
Designed specifically for 4C, 4B, 4A, 3C, 3B, 2C, & 2B Curl types
For hair prone to breakage
Black Seed Oil and Castor oil based
Black Woman Founded

❌ Cons

Not designed for all curl types
For some curls the black seed oil and castor oil might not be the right combo or might be too heavy

Best Leave In Conditioners for Frizzy Hair

BioSilk Leave in Conditioner 7oz $6.45

✔️ Pros

Well known brand for hydrating curls and de-frizzing curls
Gluten free
Inexpensive
Excellent for coarse curly hair

❌ Cons

Generic brand
Not all of the ingredients are good for all curls
It’s cheap, but will do the trick

Kenra Daily Provision Leave in Conditioner 8oz $11.89

✔️ Pros

Kenra is a professional product line recommended by hairstylists everywhere
Well known for their color safe products
Excellent brand
Fragrance is nice

❌ Cons

Depending on the length of your curly hair a generous amount of this leave in conditioner might be needed
The fragrance bothers some individuals sensitive to perfumes

18 Quick Tips to Help Get Rid of Frizzy Hair Overnight

Best Leave In Conditioners for Fine Curly Hair

12 Benefits Leave in Conditioner 6oz for $23.95

✔️ Pros

Made in the USA
Lightweight
Doesn’t buildup on fine hair
Once dry it works as a heat protectant

❌ Cons

Can leave the hair feeling a tad crunchy
Not many salons carry 12 Benefits so it can be difficult to get a hold of without ordering

Original Sprout Leave in Conditioner 4oz for $10.86

✔️ Pros

Vegan and Cruelty Free
Sulfate, paraben, gluten, soy, dairy free
Lightweight
Fresh scent
All natural
Designed by a curly haired hairstylist
Made in the USA
pH balanced to the hair and skin

❌ Cons

Might not be heavy enough for heavily frizzy fine curly hair
For those with strong allergies (such as perfumes or any kind of fragrance) or allergic to coconut, this product is not for you

Best Homemade Leave In Conditioners for Curly Hair

The best homemade leave in conditioner for curly hair in my opinion is flaxseed gel.

To lightly scrunch curly hair with flaxseed gel it will keep kinky hair from being frizzy and help the hair grow faster by eradicating free radicals that roam the scalp with natural vitamins.

For recipe and more information on how the flaxseed gel works please see the article below.

How to Grow Hair Fast – Best Hair Mask for All Hair Types

✔️ Pros

It’s all natural
It’s homemade so you know there are no damaging ingredients
You can add your own essential oils for scent and add other beneficial ingredients found in your own kitchen to add extra nutrients to your hair
The nutritional benefits of this gel increase growth and nourish the scalp and follicles
It doesn’t take long to make the gel

❌ Cons

It’s not pre-made, to you have to get the flaxseeds and make the gel yourself
There is a weird slimy texture to the gel

How to Make your Own Homemade Conditioner – Ingredients Found in the Kitchen

Best Budget Leave in Conditioner Amongst This Collection

I understand the frustrations of having the perfect product just out of reach because of the price, but not to worry! Here are the best budget curl safe leave in conditioners amongst the leave ins listed above.

BioSilk Leave in Conditioner 7oz $6.45

SheaMoisture Leave in Conditioner 8oz $9.90

Best Leave in Conditioner for Curly Hair Overall

DevaCurl Leave In Conditioner 8oz for $32

✔️ Pros

Vegan and Cruelty Free
Designed for curly hair
Nourishes the Hair

❌ Cons

Small bottle
Expensive
For some the fragrance is too strong

FAQs

Should I use a Leave in Conditioner or Curl Cream?

First of all, the difference between the two. A curl cream will help de-frizz the curls while helping the curls dry bouncy and keep their shape.

A leave in conditioner hydrates the hair, can help curly hair become bouncy, and help protect the hair from other products or styling methods later.

Choosing between the two depends on what you want to use them for, de-frizzing and styling? Definitely curl cream. For rehydrating and de-frizzing? Leave in conditioner.

What is the Best Leave in Conditioner for Curly Hair Men?

Curly hair is curly hair. Any of the above brands will work for men’s curly hair.

In my barbershop, I recommend the Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil for my curly haired gents.

Is there a Leave in Conditioner for Curly Hair that Can be Damaging to Curls?

I always recommend to my clients, NEVER buy haircare products that are generically mass produced and sold for ridiculously cheap such as Suave or Pantene. These products will in the end dry out your hair, build up on the cuticle, and cause breakage.

Curly hair is naturally dry, you want to be especially careful with what products you use.

How do I know What Kind of Curly Hair I Have Before I Buy a Product?

Let’s keep this short and sweet, because it is confusing.

Type 1 hair is more or less straight, 1A, 1B, 1C.

Type 2 hair is several variations of wavy, 2A, 2B, 2C.

Type 3 hair is when hair is curly, from Beach Waves to Shirley Temple. 3A, 3B, 3C.

Type 4 hair is extra curly and coily- think variations of an afro. 4A, 4B, 4C.

For an excellent resource with more explanation and photos Curly Types of Hair Chart by Hairflair

Once you have established your curl type, you will know which leave in conditioner you are looking for for your curl type.

Links for the Best Leave in Conditioners

Bumble & Bumble Invisible Oil 3.4oz and Primer 8oz Combo for $63.13

Original Sprout Tahitian Non-Greasy Hair Oil 4oz for $24.42