A long, curly hair would get easily tangled, making it more susceptible to frizz and damage. If you want your curls to live their best life, a leave-in conditioner is a must-have addition in your hair care routine.
After hopping out of the shower, apply a leave-in conditioner to damp hair, focusing on mid-lengths and ends, but skip the roots. Comb carefully to detangle strands, and let your hair dry naturally—or use a blow dryer for styling. You may even apply it before bed, leaving it overnight to nourish your strands.
What Exactly Are Leave-in Conditioners—and How They Work?
Leave-in conditioners are typically applied after you wash and shampoo, usually while your hair is damp.
Do you know they’re one of the best products to keep your curls hydrated since they don’t have to be rinsed? These products come in creams, serums, and sprays that hydrate your strands while keeping them strong and shiny.
A great thing, some are formulated with nourishing ingredients that repair and protect, while others even double up as a styling cream, hairspray, or heat protectant.
Also Read: Best Shampoos for Curly Hair That Actually Work!
Is Leave-in Conditioner Good for Curly Hair?
Yes, and it’s one of the products you should reach for when dealing with dryness, frizz, flyaway strands, split ends, dullness, and unmanageable hair. While the leave-in conditioner can be beneficial for all hair types, it can give more advantages to curly hair.
Most of them will leave curls detangled, hydrated, and shiny while protecting your hair from damage.
If you have coarse, kinky hair, the right product will make it easier to style. If you’ve got fine curls, it can add volume and movement to your hair.
Also Read: 7 Tips on How to Sleep with Curly Hair
A Step-by-Step Guide on Using Leave-In Conditioner
1. Start with a freshly washed hair
To nourish your strands, you must have clean hair first. Use shampoo and conditioner for your hair type, especially those formulated without sulfates and paraben.
If you’ve recently colored your hair, use hair products designed for color-treated hair, which won’t strip natural oil and moisture from your strands.
2. Apply leave-in conditioner while your hair is damp
Do you know you can lock the moisture into your hair better when you apply leave-in conditioner right after showering? More than that, the product will likely minimize frizz and leave your hair soft.
Use the right product whether you’ve got fine curls, thick curls, coarse texture, or kinky strands. Massage the product on a damp or towel-dried hair, focusing on ends and mid-lengths then carefully comb your strands. To avoid feeling sticky or greasy, skip your roots, especially if you’ve got fine hair.
Depending on the thickness of your hair, a little product goes a long way. It’s a leave-in product so you don’t have to rinse it—you may even leave it overnight.
3. Comb your hair and style as you wish
Instead of using fine-tooth comb and brushes, opt for a wide-tooth comb, and start combing from ends working your way up to the roots. Depending on the hairstyle you want to get, you may air-dry or blow-dry your hair.
How to Blow-Dry Your Hair
If you want to use heat styling tools, apply a heat protectant first, or even a leave-in conditioner that protects hair from heat. Typically, blow-drying can last up to 10 to 20 minutes with low or medium heat.
Tip #1: Add volume to your hair with metal styling clips
Even if you’re using a volumizing leave-in conditioner, the way you blow-dry your hair can contribute to the final look you want to achieve.
Just place the metal clips at an angle into the roots in a way they’ll gently lift your hair, then, blow-dry. This way, you’ll naturally add volume to your curls, avoiding the flat look. No professional hairstylist needed.
Tip #2: Avoid touching your hair to prevent frizz.
When blow-drying, avoid touching your hair that causes curls to lose their shape, as well as create frizz. Also, don’t pull or tug your hair—just let your diffuser or blow dryer do the work.
Also Read: 7 Best Hair Dryers For Curly Hair That Actually Work!
How to Air-Dry Your Hair
If you want to save your strands from heat damage, towel-dry your hair, but follow with a styling product that tames frizz and flyaway strands.
Tip #1: To avoid frizz, mist your hair with a styling spray
Once your hair is dry, apply a styling cream or spray—some leave-in conditioners control frizz and double as a styling product so you don’t have to re-apply, but you can use a different anti-frizz product if you need to.
Tip #2: Apply a hair mask and leave it overnight
Hair masks are great for nourishing your strands, but if you don’t have one, simply use a leave-in conditioner as a product substitute.
This is a great trick if you’re looking for that woke-up-like-this look, as it provides extra moisture while detangling your strands.
The Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair
When selecting a hair product, opt for ones formulated to address your hair concerns. Some curly hair deal with dry, brittle strands, while others with frizzy and even damaged locks.
Also, your curls might need nourishment beyond hydration and shine. To keep your curls smooth and frizz-free, you need moisture on a daily basis, which makes a leave-in conditioner handy.
An organic conditioner that nourishes your strands
If you’re not into chemical-laden products, think of Mielle Organics Pomegranate and Honey Leave-In Conditioner(link to Amazon) that’s formulated with citrus extracts and babassu oil.
It’s best for hydrating your curls and locking in moisture. But it also prevents breakage and split ends. However, this product works best for thick curls, as it can be too heavy for fine hair.
A hydrating, non-greasy formula for dry, looser curls
If you live in a tropical region with a humid climate, it’s better to opt for non-greasy formula over cream-based products.
The Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner(link to Amazon) is ideal for dry hair, hydrating your strands without weighing them down. More than that, it can be great for adding shine to your hair, as well as taming your flyaway strands.
A softening conditioner to give curls a boost
Do you have a coarse hair texture or your curls are feeling a bit dull? The It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product(link to Amazon) consists of green tea leaf extract and silk amino acids that will amp up your curls, leaving them soft and silky. A great thing, they can be used as a leave-in conditioner on damp hair or styling cream on dry hair.
A volumizing conditioner for fine curls
If you’ve got fine hair, opt for DevaCurl B’Leave-In Miracle Curl Plumper(link to Amazon) that will add volume to your curls.
It consists of lemongrass, chamomile, and a blend of wheat protein that nourishes your strands without leaving them greasy. A great thing, the product is vegan and formulated without paraben and sulfates.
An all-in-one product for manageable hair
Are you looking for a hair treatment that does it all? The Mane Choice Soft As Can Be Revitalize & Refresh 3-in-1(link to Amazon) product can be used as a co-wash, a detangler, and a leave-in conditioner.
It also supports natural hair growth since it’s formulated with tea tree and biotin, promoting longer, thicker hair while preventing breakage.
A leave-in conditioner spray that protects hair from heat
If you feel like leave-in conditioners weigh down your curls, opt for a leave-in hair spray like Davines All In One Milk Lotion(link to Amazon).
It consists of amino acids, ellagic acid, and oil that encourage hair growth while protecting your strands from heat. The product is also best for hydrating, softening, detangling, and taming frizz.
Also Read: How to Straighten Curly Hair
Related Questions:
Is hair butter good for curly hair?
Yes, it’s a kind of leave-in conditioner designed for coarser hair types, usually for kinky textures with the tightly coiled curl pattern. It is formulated with a higher fat, lipid content to nourish hair.
On the other hand, leave-in spray and mousse are lighter, which made for soft curls. Creamy leave-in conditioners have a thicker consistency and perfect for voluminous curls.
Are leave-in conditioners safe for color-treated hair?
These products don’t contain any clarifying agent that strips the color from your hair. Still, it’s best to read the labels. If you’ve recently colored your hair, leave-in conditioner will help to keep it vibrant, lustrous, and healthy.
You may even choose nourishing types that contain coconut oil, rosehip, argan oil, and such to hydrate hair and prevent breakage at the same time.