13 best leave-in conditioners that are deeply hydrating for every hair type

The Davines OI milk has been on my radar since last year. Re-testing a year on, the all-in-one formula did not disappoint, with lightweight yet nourishing ingredients.

Some products in this list (Color Wow’s carb-infused treatment, for instance) need heat to work. However, this milk’s blend of moisture-attracting humectants, smoothing silicones, conditioners and lightweight oils makes for healthy hair, however you style it. I discovered that this conditioner even works after committing the cardinal sin of sleeping on wet hair – when I woke up, I couldn’t believe the silkiness and shine.

When using this product as a pre-styling heat protector, I loved how it improved my usually frizzy hair. On the whole, this product is versatile and, while some certified ‘curly girls’ might dislike Davines’s use of silicones for ringlet/coil maintenance, I’m seeing lots of respected brands reintroducing the ingredient after a recent TikTok-driven boycott.

A product I used to reach for in my teens, Palmer’s has since reformulated its affordable leave-in formula with twice as much coconut oil. For less than £10 (often reduced to less than £5), the ingredients – from keratin to strengthening vitamin B5 – set out to revitalise lacklustre locks.

The spray leaves a gorgeous, healthy sheen after blow-drying, and I loved how it maintained my hair’s volume and thickness while minimising frizz. Though it didn’t weigh down my hair, I saw more of an oily buildup around my roots less than a day after washing, but this could be a case of over-zealous spritzing.

In terms of detangling, it wasn’t the best knot-buster on the block, but it got the job done nonetheless. For me, this leave-in conditioner comes into its own in a styling/finishing setting, with the featured silicones working to protect from heat damage, while boosting gloss. It’s a great option if you’re on a budget.

As someone who loves using Olaplex’s no. 7 bonding oil (£28, Sephora.co.uk) as a finisher, I was excited to see if the no. 5 leave-in conditioner would render my locks quite as soft and silky. As anticipated, this formula left my roots fluffy and light and my lengths smooth and hydrated. Application is easy – I have shoulder-length hair and only needed one to two pumps.

With a limited dose, I was sceptical that the claimed heat protection would adequately coat every strand; however, my hair appeared neither brittle nor frazzled after blow-drying, so I’d say it distributed better than expected.

These results were amplified when I combined the leave-in formula with the brand’s no. 4 and 5 shampoo and conditioner for fine hair, but the benefits when used solo still stand. With the many hair-loving ingredients included here, this product is worth the price tag.

I reviewed Noughty’s let’s bond leave-in for a separate feature, so it was given a slightly longer individual test and perhaps had a leg up on the other products here. However, I’ve since stopped using it consistently and, even with sporadic use, this budget formula continues to impress.

Much like K18’s formula (see below), the let’s bond collection is somewhat of an alternative for Olaplex’s no. 3 perfector. Of course, it doesn’t feature the brand’s patented ingredient, but the hydroxypropylgluconamide makes a pretty effective imitation.

Hydroxypropylgluconamide (HPG) works by penetrating the hair shaft and forming bonds with the keratin proteins that make up our hair. These then get to work repairing breaks in hair structure.

As someone with natural hair, I couldn’t test this on bleach damage, but I could test it on heat damage. Heat damage can leave my hair brittle and poker straight, which this formula helped to counteract. After continued use, I saw the most damaged sections of hair (specifically, those towards the back and underside) looking more flicky and bouncy, while the hair all across my head appeared glossier.

By Fionola Delaney

This Jamaican leave-in conditioner is a level up from the brand’s core conditioner and, with the addition of castor oil, sets out to provide added nourishment to damaged and dull strands. It left my curls looking defined, without shrinkage, and I loved how it toed the line between adequate hold and minimal crunch. I saw zero stiffness in the strands, with added volume and bounce even after a full night’s sleep.

This leave-in conditioner doesn’t banish frizz entirely, but I’d argue its more delicate approach maximises the appearance of length. However, in the same way that fragrance can prompt sensitivity, I did notice a slight uptick in scalp irritation as a result of the castor oil included in this formula.

By Ella Duggan

This is a lightweight wonder that delivers serious results. While the limited mist-style pump might be frustrating at first (I used in excess of 20 sprays), it’s actually a clever way to prevent overuse, which can lead to build-up and limp curls. Once applied, the formula left my hair soft, shiny and full of bounce – never greasy or heavy.

Ideal as a curl primer, this formula created a hydrated, silky base that enhanced other styling products and managed to prevent the dreaded crunch that other gels or mousses often leave behind. It’s also a frizz-tamer, which is especially effective if you diffuse or use other heat stylers. I found it added a glossy finish that made my curls look healthier and more defined.

Powered by white peony root, coconut, argan and jojoba oils, plus antioxidant-rich green tea extract, it deeply nourishes while remaining incredibly lightweight. For ‘curly girls’ seeking moisture, shine and softness without weight, this one’s a no-brainer.

This treatment is at the centre of a lot of discussion in the beauty industry, with rumours that it rivals Olaplex’s famed no.3 perfector. Where Olaplex uses bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, a patented bond builder, K18’s patented ingredient (sh-oligopeptide-78) harnesses the power of peptides, aiming to rebuild bonds and broken polypeptide chains.

I wanted to get to the bottom of the hearsay, and after several treatments, it’s hard to deny that it’s a game-changer. As it’s a substitute for your normal rinse-out conditioner, it not only minimises the number of steps in your routine, but requires half the amount of product, too.

Specifically, with my hair a shoulder-grazing length, I found that one pump was adequate. While Olaplex no.3 requires you to rinse your pre-shampooed hair, apply the perfector and wait 10 minutes before your wash regimen, K18’s leave-in formula is simple to apply. All you have to do is shampoo your hair, rinse, towel dry, add the formula and style as usual.

My hair was left hydrated, and the breakage I normally see around the mid to end of the hair shaft appeared smoothed. It’s easy to lean into old habits and use more than the advised dose (starting with one pump and working up as needed), but I found this caused product build-up towards the roots. The only downside? The inordinate price. Though the cautious dosing approach means you get a touch more value for money, the best part of £70 is a lot for silky hair.

From the ingredients list alone, it’s clear Ouai’s leave-in conditioner is on a hair repair mission. Combining proteins with amino acids and antioxidants, it packs a nourishing punch and leaves hair feeling healthier. For me, this was obvious in the smoothed appearance of fraying strands, and in the hydration and shine from root to tip.

The scent is Ouai’s ‘North Bondi’, which the brand says features notes of raspberry, apple blossom and sandalwood. To me? It smells like chewy sweets. I loved it, finding the aroma to be youthful and long-lasting, though I can see how it might clash with a rich or mature perfume.

Much like the Davines formula included in this roundup, Ouai’s leave-in conditioner is a great multi-purpose pick and, thanks to added heat protection, keeps hair soft and non-brittle, even after blow-drying and curling.

This formula impressed me after just one wash. Despite this product’s thin, clear, serum-like consistency, the carb-infused cocktail left my blow-dried hair looking hydrated, lifted and bouncy. However, the formula is heat-activated, so it proved an ineffective detangler on wet hair. It’s probably not a good fit for curly hair types who only brush their hair when wet.

It uses a unique hair ‘filler’ made from cellulose, starch and oat bran. These ingredients add mass to every strand but, unlike the powdery or cloying feel of a dry shampoo or texture spray, Color Wow’s cocktail is weightless and undetectable. You’ll simply notice boosted volume from root to tip – no complaints here.

This is an excellent choice for those with fine but dense hair. This hair type tends to tangle, but I found that a small amount of the product applied to my unbrushed hair worked wonders on knots, though it required a couple of firm tugs on my hairbrush to distribute it evenly. Once fully applied, it quickly smoothed through tangles and dried within minutes.

Though this primer is on the expensive side, it’s packed with ingredients such as AHAs and edelweiss, which help repair and revive hair. It’s particularly great for heat-damaged hair and features Oribe’s iconic fresh, apple-like scent. That said, if you have bleached or afro-textured hair, you might need something more quenching, as the coconut oil content didn’t feel nourishing enough for dry hair types.

If you like Sol de Janeiro’s cheirosa 62 perfume mist, you’ll want to get your hands on the brand’s leave-in conditioner. While a spray nozzle may lead you to expect a watery formula, the consistency is actually serum-like, which makes for easy application on damp hair. After letting my hair air dry, I loved how the cupuacu, tucuma and Brazil nut oil came together to create a silky soft finish, with my ends feeling as if they had been freshly cut.

On dry hair, I found it was best to warm the serum between my palms before applying it to the mid-lengths and ends of my hair, to avoid dry or oversaturated patches. As for the scent, pistachio and caramel notes lingered pleasantly throughout the day, staying strong even six hours after washing. My only bugbear is that the formula doesn’t smooth down flyaways, even with the addition of slick, oily ingredients.

By Fionola Delaney

Much like its original leave-in formula, Cantu’s weightless range sets out to combat frizz and, in this new featherlight consistency, do away with heaviness, too. Reasonably priced, this formula is scented with bitter orange and eucalyptus, and I found it was easy to distribute through my coily 3C/4A hair.

Plus, while many formulas can leave your hands covered in greasy product, Cantu’s disappeared without residue during testing. I loved the lustrous appearance of my curls and, while the leave-in formula didn’t defrizz entirely, it made for defined coils.

This spray dispenses a surprisingly small amount of product – around the size of a pea – but this is more than enough. Initially, I applied it to dry hair in a much larger quantity (which left a greasy residue), but when used as directed on damp hair, the product glides through effortlessly, leaving hair softer and silkier.

Much like a moisturiser for dry skin will leave a protective film, this spray coats the hair shaft, using ingredients such as cupuacu butter to moisturise and reduce frizz without excess oil. Other highlights include reduced breakage and pre-styling heat protection, so you can crack on with your usual straightening and curling routine without worrying about excessive damage.