Here are the reviews for the top lightweight leave in conditioners for fine hair dry, frizzy, and curly hair types. Also check out drugstore products for curly and 4c hair types!
A good leave-in conditioner adds the hydration back to your tresses. Using a conditioning oil or serum can help seal in moisture, smoothen hair cuticles, and form a protective coating on your tresses.
Some of these leave-in conditioners also double as a heat protective coat, shielding your strands from the damaging effects of straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers. If you want to know what is the best leave-in conditioner for dry hair for your texture and needs, check out our reviews below!
Leave In Conditioners For Dry Hair | Best For | Top Ingredients |
Davines Oi Oil | Damaged Hair | Roucou Oil |
Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner | Curly Hair | Almond Milk, Aloe Butter, Shea Oil |
Leonor Greyl Paris Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Mist | Color Treated Hair | Moringa Extract, Acacia Extract |
SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner | Natural Type 4 Curls | Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Shea Butter, Apple Cider Vinegar |
Pantene Smoothing Combing Cream | Frizzy Hair | Vitamin E, Panthenol |
Orlando Pita Play High Spirited Leave-in Conditioner | Voluminous Hair | Hydrolyzed Quinoa, Silk, Soy Protein, and Wheat Protein |
Sachajuan Leave-In Conditioner | Fine Hair | Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea (Algae) Extract, Salicylic Acid |
Here’s a quick look at the top leave in conditioners for all hair types!
Top Leave In Conditioners | Davines OI Oil | Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner | Leonor Greyl Paris Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Mist | SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner | Orlando Pita Play High Spirited Leave-in Conditioner | Pantene Smoothing Combing Cream | Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Conditioner | Sachajuan Leave-In Conditioner |
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Price | Expensive | Very Affordable | Very Expensive | Affordable | Expensive | Very Expensive | Expensive | Slightly Expensive |
Shine and Frizz Control | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Moisturizing Properties | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
Ingredients Quality | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Silicone-Free | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Suitable For African American Hair | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Top Lightweight Leave In Conditioners For Fine Hair 2023
How to choose the best leave in conditioner for hair: what factors to consider?
When choosing the best leave-in conditioner for your hair, there are several factors to consider. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Hair Type: Consider your hair type and specific concerns you want to address. Is your hair dry, damaged, frizzy, or chemically treated? Different leave-in conditioners are formulated to target specific hair types and concerns. Look for products that cater to your specific needs.
- Ingredients: Examine the ingredient list to ensure the product contains beneficial ingredients for your hair. Look for nourishing components such as natural oils (argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil), humectants (glycerin, aloe vera), proteins (keratin, silk amino acids), and vitamins (vitamin E, B5). Avoid products with sulfates, parabens, and alcohol, as these can strip the hair and cause further damage.
- Formula: Consider the consistency and texture of the leave-in conditioner. A lightweight, oil or water based leave in conditioner is ideal for fine hair.
- Application and Residue: You need to also consider how easy the leave-in conditioner is to apply and distribute through your hair. This is mainly about the “slip” the leave in conditioner offers.
- Fragrance: Pay attention to the scent of the leave-in conditioner, as it will linger in your hair throughout the day. Choose a fragrance that you find pleasant and won’t cause any discomfort.
- Price and Value: Determine your budget and evaluate the value you’ll get from the product. Some high-quality leave-in conditioners can be more expensive, but if they deliver excellent results, they may be worth the investment. Consider the size of the bottle and how frequently you’ll need to repurchase based on your hair length, hair type, etc. Longer hair and thicker, curlier hair might need more product.
It’s important to note that what works for one person may not work for another, as individual hair types and needs can vary. It may be helpful to try sample sizes or travel-sized products before committing to a full-sized bottle to see how your hair responds.
How To Use Leave In Conditioner On Fine Hair?
Fine hair doesn’t require a lot of products or steps for application on leave in conditioners. All you need to do is:
- Take a small amount of product – Fine hair can be weighed down by too much product. So you need to use only a little and make sure it’s applied thoroughly
- Apply it on slightly damp hair – Make sure your hair is already slightly damp while applying the product. This will make it easier to spread and will also help lock in the existing hydration
- Apply it only on the ends – Using any kind of product on the scalp increases the chances of product buildup making chances of dandruff more.
How I tested the top leave in conditioners for different hair types?
I got some of the top leave in conditioners in the market and used them on myself and with a little help from our editors to suit the various hair types. I then rated them on a scale of 1-5 based on certain parameters that I’ve listed below:
- Moisturizing Power – The biggest reason for using a leave in conditioner is to help add moisture to dry hair so I checked if the product is nourishing or not!
- Shine – Also a good conditioner should add shine to hair without making it appear too greasy.
- Frizz Control – Another job of a leave-in conditioner is to control frizzy hair so I checked for that as well.
- Affordability – A leave-in conditioner is something most people use everyday so it couldn’t be exorbitantly priced. I also checked if the price matches the ingredients quality and quantity of product offered.
Davines Oi Oil
Best Leave In Conditioner For Bleached Hair
If you want a good leave-in conditioner for fine, dry hair, an oil-based product is your best choice. As unlike other leave-in oils, this Davines conditioner is super lightweight.
I liked how it did not weigh down my tresses or feel them feel greasy. So those with oily hair can also use it.
The chief ingredient here is Roucou oil that helps detangle hair, tames frizz, and leaves them super voluminous.
If you have bleached hair, color-treated hair, or tresses that have suffered damage from too much heat styling, then this Davines product is good for you as well. I found my split ends to be very much in control after a few weeks of using this leave in conditioner.
Oh and I also adored the scent on this product! But unfortunately that means that this oil has got added perfume which can get drying in the long run. It’s also not suitable if you have really sensitive scalps.
For people with curly or African hair textures, we suggest you pair this Davines oil with Davines OI All In One Milk for that extra dose of moisture. Or you can simply go for the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk instead it’s more nourishing and better suited for curly hair types than Davines.
Pros:
- Lightweight oil formula is suitable for fine hair better than creams or lotions
- Tames frizz and adds shine to hair instantly as it contains silicone and vitamin E
- Pleasant scent that is not overpowering
- The roucou oil in it helps repair hair damage
Cons:
- Too light for African American hair or curly hair textures
- Very expensive
- Contains silicones that can cause buildup on hair in long run
- Contains added perfume and alcohol that might not suit very dry hair or sensitive scalps
Silicone-Free – No
Alcohol Free- No
My Ratings:
- Moisturizing – 4/5
- Shine – 4/5
- Frizz-Control – 4/5
- Affordability – 3.5/5
- Related: Best Leave-In Conditioners For Bleached Hair
- Related: Best Leave-In Conditioner For 4C Hair
Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave In Conditioner Curly Hair
This leave-in conditioner is one of the more moisturizing ones. Carol’s Daughter leave-in conditioner contains almond milk, shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera.
I have straight fine hair so we got one of our curly haired editors to try this product out.
The conclusion was this leave in conditioner is super hydrating and that the ingredients bring life back to dry hair, especially to curly locks almost immediately after application.
I also give it bonus points as there are no parabens, silicones, mineral oils, or other harmful chemicals in here. So it’s great for people with sensitive scalps or irritated scalps.
Another thing I liked was that the formula came in an easy-to-apply spray bottle which makes the product spread better on curls.
And don’t worry, despite being nourishing it also feels lightweight on hair, though it might weigh down fine or straight tresses after frequent use.
Carol’s Daughter was a previously black-owned brand. But unfortunately, it isn’t anymore. And this change is noticeable in the formula.
There’s heavy perfume in this conditioner which can dry out type 4 natural curls. So despite its rich, nourishing formula we don’t suggest it for African American women’s hair.
The perfume was very heavy and if you have a sensitivity to almond smell, almost unbearable.
So I’d say go for this conditioner if you want something a little more nourishing than Davines but not too rich like Shea Moisture. I’d say it’s perfect for 2c waves or 3a or 3b curly hair.
Pros:
- Good for curly hair as it contains super nourishing almond milk
- The shea oil formula repairs damage and protects hair further
- It’s nourishing but not heavy so it won’t weigh down your curls
Cons:
- Can weigh down straight hair with frequent use
- Sticky texture that can feel weird on hot days
- Heavy almond perfume that is too strong for some
- Not moisturizing enough for very coily (4c) African American hair
Silicone-Free – Yes
Alcohol Free – Yes
My Ratings:
- Moisturizing – 4/5
- Shine – 3.5/5
- Frizz-Control – 4.5/5
- Affordability – 4/5
Leonor Greyl Paris Tonique Hydratant Leave-In Mist
Best Spray Leave In Conditioner For Dry Hair
This Paris-based product is a favorite of many celeb hair stylists. And I can see why! The main reason why I wanted to test out this product is because it’s completely vegan and cruelty-free.
You won’t find any harsh chemicals in here. So that means no silicones, parabens, SLS, SLES or mineral oils which I really appreciated!
Instead the formulation contains natural proteins, plant extracts, and essential oils. So this is an all out natural formula that helps nourish your strands.
I loved the fact that it is one of the best leave-in conditioners for color-treated hair thanks to its UV filter technology that prevents your hair dye from fading in the sunlight.
I found it very easy to use on my hair as it’s a spray-based conditioners that I rarely see in the market.
So is it perfect? No not really. The price is almost thrice as what you’d pay for Carol’s Daughter or any other drugstore leave in conditioner.
But if you have fine, damaged and color treated hair, it’s actually worth it. But if you have African American or curly hair types I’d suggest SheaMoisture instead.
Pros:
- Lightweight formula that won’t weigh down hair
- Strengthens hair as it contains Matricaria extract that nourish hair follicle
- Good for fine hair as the formula is liquid based and won’t stick to hair
- Easy to apply spray formula
- Vegan and cruelty free
- Contains UV filter that prevent color-treated hair from fading
Cons:
- Too lightweight for curly or coily 4c hair types
- Very very expensive
- Contains artificial fragrance
Silicone-Free – Yes
Alcohol Free – Yes
My Ratings:
- Moisturizing – 3.5/5
- Shine – 4/5
- Frizz-Control – 3.5/5
- Affordability – 3.5/5
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
Best Leave In Conditioner For Black Hair
A good leave-in conditioner for dry hair is so much more important to black, type 4 hair textures than other cacuasian hair types.
Afro hair tends to be coarser with high porosity (loses moisture quickly), and is more prone to knots and tangles.
So a conditioner like this one by SheaMoisture with its super-rich formula is the best option.
The conditioner comes packed with ingredients like shea butter, Jamaican black castor oil, peppermint oil, and apple cider vinegar.
These keep frizz at bay, moisturize dry hair, and make it easier to style your curls.
We loved how all ingredients in this product are sourced from ethical, free-