7 Best Hairstylist-Approved Leave-In Conditioners For Relaxed Hair – 2024
Give your relaxed hair a lightweight, non-greasy, and hydrating finish after washing it.
Alicia Igess is an accomplished and award-winning stylist with over two decades of experience in hair design. She is the owner and founder of Urban Tangles, a hair and makeup studio focusing on makeovers. She, along with her team, has experienced tremendous success in building an exclusive “referral-only” clientele consisting of many of the who’s who of Atlanta.
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Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
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Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
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Experience: 8 yearsArshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
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As fun as relaxed hair may look, it is vulnerable to damage and frizz. All the chemical treatments need more care and supplements to grow and shine. That is why you need to use the best leave-in conditioners for relaxed hair to revive it from damage. Using a hydrating conditioner will nourish the hair follicles and make them smoother. They will also detangle easily and stay shiny. Here are 7 conditioners you must try for gorgeous, healthy locks. These products are selected after a careful and in-depth analysis of their honest reviews online.
In This Article
7 Best Leave-In Conditioners For Relaxed Hair – 2024 Updated
1. Best Lightweight Formula:Carol’s Daughter Divine Strength Leave-In Conditioner
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The Divine Strength Leave-In Conditioner from Carol’s Daughter is a holy grail for weak, breakage-prone hair. It coats each hair strand and reinforces weak strands after every use. The formula has castor oil that hydrates your scalp and relieves inflammation, giving soft and shiny straight hair while reducing dandruff. Black seed is rich in antifungal, antibacterial properties, while ginger stimulates blood circulation, strengthens hair follicles, and prevents hair loss. The conditioner is proved to reduce hair breakage by 94%.
Key Ingredients: Castor oil, Black Cumin seed, and Ginger
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Lightweight
- Non-greasy
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
Cons
- Overpowering, strong smell
2. Best Color-Safe:Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
The Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner is created by professionals and is perfect for all hair types, including low-porosity curly and wavy hair. The lightweight moisturizing conditioner adds strength to each hair strand and acts as a heat protectant while repairing damage, treating dryness, and taming frizz. It is enriched with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and fennel seed oil that hydrates and strengthens the hair while preventing damage. It further penetrates deeply into the hair shaft and protects the strands from environmental aggressors. It offers maximum frizz control and leaves your hair feeling soft, smooth, stronger, and more manageable. Watch this video to learn about the reviewer’s experience of testing this deep conditioner.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil and Fennel seed oil
Pros
- Lightweight
- Color-safe
- Suitable for all hair texture types
- Pleasing fragrance
Cons
- Might leave residue
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has gained over 883 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.
3. Best Non-Drying:Tgin Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner
The Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner from Tgin is a lightweight blend of moisture and antioxidants. The hydrating formula smoothens hair by eliminating frizz and transforming brittle, dry hair into soft, smooth, healthy hair. This restorative product consists of natural ingredients like green tea and argan oil. These nourishing and antioxidant ingredients of this deep conditioner help to increase hair elasticity and make it manageable while restoring shine and natural moisture. Further, the conditioner also encourages hair growth and alleviates hair loss. This video can help you learn about the tester’s experience of using this product.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil and Green tea
Pros
- Lightweight
- No residue
- Non-drying
- Mild fragrance
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Lanolin-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Artificial color-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Contains phenoxyethanol
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The overwhelming 3,688 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.
4. Best Cruelty-Free:Design Essentials Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
The Design Essentials Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner’s hydrating and anti-breakage properties make your dry, brittle, and damaged hair softer, silkier, and healthier. The salon-quality formula contains kukui extract rich in fatty acids that easily penetrate hair shafts to make them soft and shiny. In addition, the coconut oil infused in the conditioner stimulates hair growth, intensely repairs damaged strands, restores moisture, and reduces breakage. The blend is highly nourishing, and it leaves behind a clean scent with every use. Several reviewers highly recommend this product for boosting hair hydration and leaving it silky. Plus, this brand prides itself on testing on humans, not animals.
Key Ingredients: Kukui extract and Coconut oil
Pros
- Botanical extracts
- Pleasant fragrance
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Contains mineral oil
CautionAvoid getting leave-in conditioner on your face if you consistently deal with acne and breakouts.
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received over 1,967 rave reviews on Amazon, proving it is a mass favorite.
5. Best For Brittle Hair:Flawless by Gabrielle Union Detangling Leave-In Hair Conditioner
The Flawless by Gabrielle Union Detangling Leave-in Hair Conditioner detangles and hydrates hair. It is formulated with natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and Brazilian bacuri butter, rich in fatty acids. This breakthrough formula works in tandem to revitalize dry and brittle hair, making them smoother and shinier. It is also rich in anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce scalp irritation without clogging pores. In addition, the marshmallow extract infused in the formula acts as an antioxidant that makes your hair look fuller and easy to style. Finally, it has biotin, which stimulates hair growth and improves the overall quality of hair.
Key Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Brazilian Bacuri Butter, Marshmallow Extract, Biotin, and Creatine
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Color safe
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Might not work on low porosity hair
Quick TipComb through after applying the product to ensure even distribution and coverage on the strands.
6. Best Natural Ingredients:Dr. Miracle’s Leave In Conditioner
If you are looking for a deep treatment conditioner that keeps your curls intact, this is the product for you. The Leave In Conditioner by Dr. Miracle’s is specially formulated to nourish wavy and curly hair. The formula has a thick, buttery texture that coats every strand with all-day moisture in just a few minutes. It is enriched with aloe vera and coconut oil that nourishes and hydrates the hair. The curl-enhancing conditioner also contains honey, rich in emollients, that smoothens the hair follicles and restores natural, lustrous hair. In addition, jojoba and olive oil infused in the formula contains antioxidants that maintain scalp health and prevent future breakouts.
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, Coconut oil, Honey, Jojoba oil, and Olive oil
Pros
- Lightweight
- Natural ingredients
- Subtle, pleasing fragrance
Cons
- Might make hair greasy
7. Best For Detangling:Eden BodyWorks Almond Marshmallow Therapy Leave-In Conditioner
The Eden BodyWorks Almond Marshmallow Therapy Leave-In Conditioner comes in the form of mist that smoothens and softens the hair. The fast-absorbing conditioner penetrates hair shafts easily without being heavy. It contains marshmallow roots, ideal for low porosity hair, and is rich in vitamins and proteins. The formula detangles your damp hair strands easily by deeply nourishing them. Sweet almond oil contains biotin, which promotes hair growth and prevents thinning of hair. Plus, this hair care brand does not believe in compromising quality for ethics and comprises products that are not tested on animals.
Key Ingredients: Marshmallow root and Almond
Pros
- Lightweight
- Absorbed easily
- Color-safe
- Ideal for chemically treated hair
Cons
- None
All these leave-in conditioners have received numerous positive reviews and can bring you one step closer to reaching your hair goals. Relaxed hair needs special care since it is chemically treated using relaxers. Leave-in conditioners are no-rinse treatments that condition the relaxed hair deeply and detangle it. They also revive damaged, relaxed hair by making it smooth, strong, and shiny. However, here are a few essential things to consider before buying the perfect product. So, here is a buying guide to help you choose the best leave-in conditioner for relaxed hair.
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Leave-in Conditioners For Relaxed Hair
- Lightweight and Non-Greasy
For relaxed hair, it is essential to go for a leave-in conditioner that feels light on the strands. It doesn’t make your hair weigh down. Instead, it makes them soft and frizz-free. They also add strength to the hair, making them soft and manageable. Opt for a non-greasy leave-in conditioner that revitalizes strands from top to bottom.
- Natural Ingredients
Relaxed hair needs extra hydration so look for natural extracts in your products to alleviate moisture and nourish the scalp. For example, look for leave-in conditioners enriched with nourishing ingredients such as almonds, aloe vera, and coconut oil that nourishes and keeps your strands healthy. Other ingredients, such as biotin, shea butter, and kukui extracts, revitalize brittle and dry hair. These ingredients penetrate deeply into the shafts to make them soft, silky, and healthy.
- Chemical Free
Leave-in conditioners for relaxed hair should be free from harmful chemicals such as silicone, paraben, sulfate, lanolin, mineral oil, etc. These chemicals take away the natural moisture of the hair leaving the hair dry and brittle. Instead, look for a leave-in conditioner with no synthetic fragrances or artificial colors.
- Long-lasting
The best leave-in conditioner should be long-lasting and protective for hair from environmental aggressions.
- Other Features
If you have a sensitive scalp, look for anti-inflammatory ingredients in your leave-in conditioner. Also, you can perform a patch test to ensure product safety and avert any adverse reaction to the product. You can also look for professional-grade conditioners with ingredients like lavender oil, thyme oil, and eucalyptus oil to reduce scalp irritation without clogging pores. For colored hair, choose color-safe options that seal in the hair cuticles and retain dye for a longer duration. You can also go for vegan and gluten-free leave-in conditioners free from animal-derived ingredients.
Infographic: Top 6 Benefits Of Using Leave-In Conditioners
Adding a leave-in conditioner to your hair care regimen can provide numerous advantages for your hair. The lightweight and non-greasy formula nourishes your hair, improving its health and manageability. By enhancing elasticity, it infuses your hair with vibrancy and vitality. Check out the top 6 benefits of using leave-in conditioners in the infographic below.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Relaxed hair needs extra care and attention to ensure it is healthy and strong. Leave-in conditioners are a great blessing for people with relaxed hair. These formulas are designed to eliminate frizz, nourish the strands, support shine-boosting, and keep the hair hydrated. Try the Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner for its lightweight formula that protects from environmental aggressors, or the tgin Green Tea Super Moist Leave-In Conditioner if you want to aid hairgrowth as well, or the Design Essentials Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner for it makes the hair soft and shiny from within.
Conditioners that are non-greasy, paraben-free, sulfate-free, lightweight, and formulated with safe ingredients add the extra oomph factor to your hair. You must leave behind conditioners with a strong fragrance or ones that leave residue and contain harmful chemicals that damage your hair.
Alicia Igess Jones, a certified hairstylist, suggests, “Leave-in conditioners work best on wet hair. Pick up your hair and apply the leave-in conditioner to make sure all of your strands are getting the product. Once it’s applied, rub the product through your hair to get bouncy and luscious tresses.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a leave-in conditioner on relaxed hair?
Yes, leave-in conditioners are great for relaxed hair. They nourish the scalp, add shine to the strands, and also help in strengthening the hair.
How often should I use a leave-in conditioner on relaxed hair?
Use leave-in conditioner for a maximum of twice a week on relaxed hair.
What can I use to moisturize my relaxed hair?
You can use a lightweight formula such as the Carol’s Daughter Divine Strength Leave-In Conditioner or natural oils such as coconut oil or jojoba oil on your wet hair.
How can I make my relaxed hair silky?
Applying products made with ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, egg whites, and aloe vera moisturizes relaxed hair and makes it silky.
How do you make a natural leave-in hair conditioner?
Combine 1/3rd cup of water, 2 tbsp of aloe vera, 1 tbsp honey, and 2 tbsp coconut milk to make a natural leave-in conditioner.
Can you use castor oil on relaxed hair?
Although castor oil offers multiple benefits to relaxed hair, it tends to weigh the hair down if kept on for a long time.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Shiboli Chakraborti is a hair care enthusiast who has an in-depth understanding of hair care brands, products, and formulations. She is well aware of the science behind these formulations and how it affects the various hair types. To choose the best leave-in conditioners for relaxed hair, she has done her share of research and reviewed several customer reviews. Choosing any of these moisturizing and nourishing hair products would not only give you smooth and shiny frizz-free hair but also help strengthen and protect it from environmental stressors as well.
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