12 Best Leave-In Conditioners for Dry Hair, According to Hairstylists

What a maddening feeling it is to look at your hair and realize it has lost its luster, whether it is dry and damaged from heat styling and coloring appointments or dulled by too much chlorine during your OOO escapes. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the best leave-in conditioners for dry hair can revive tired strands and bring them back to life.

Vogue‘s Favorite Leave-In Conditioners for Dry Hair:

Featured in this article

Best for Very Dry Hair

Aveda Nutriplenish Leave-in Conditioner

Jump to review

Best Bond Repair

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Biomimetic Hairscience HeatBounce Leave-In Conditioner

Jump to review

“Regardless of your hair type, hydration is important for the health of your hair,” explains celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin of a leave-in conditioner’s universal appeal for hair of all shapes, sizes, and textures. Plus, she adds, “It’s a perfect product to prep hair before heat styling, regardless of the type of styling tool.” When choosing your hero formula, the goal should be lightweight moisture, “so it won’t weigh down fine hair, which is especially important for anyone with fine, curly or coily hair types, but is still hydrating enough to be effective on thick hair,” the Ouai founder instructs.

Not all formulas are the same: some come as featherlight sprays, while others are richer creams that need to be combed through the ends. Many also multitask as heat protectants or detanglers, making them an all the more worth investment. Below, we asked leading hairstylists to share the leave-in conditioners they recommend to clients, what to keep in mind when using them, and how to get the most out of every application.

In This Story:

Best Overall: Color Wow Money Mist Leave-In Conditioner

• Why We Love It: If you want sleek, frizz-free, commercial-worthy hair, a few spritzes of Color Wow’s Money Mist is all you need. It not only has a fresh, pleasant scent but also delivers excellent hydration. According to stylist Sonia Amor, “It offers impressive anti-humidity control, making it especially effective for frizz management. It’s an ideal choice for color-treated and dry, frizzy hair, as it helps maintain smoothness and shine without weighing hair down.” Show us the money!
• Key Ingredients: Baolized amino complex, amaranthus extract, baobab extract
• Type: Mist
• Size: 1.7 oz, 5 oz

Best for Very Dry Hair: Aveda Nutri Plenish Leave-in Conditioner

• Why We Love It: “Aveda’s Nutri Plenish is all about rich hydration,” says Diaz. “Packed with plant-based oils, it works beautifully on dry or textured hair to restore softness and shine while still feeling lightweight.” Pro hairstylist Karen Miller sings its praises too. Super hydrating and multitasking, it detangles, protects from thermal styling up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and can be used on both wet and dry hair when you need a boost.
• Key Ingredients: Pro-vitamin B5, shea oil, hazelnut oil
• Type: Spray
• Size: 6.7 oz, 16.7 oz

Best Smoothing: Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner

• Why We Love It: “This is a fantastic, lightweight leave-in conditioner that does more than just detangle,” says stylist Nicolas Flores. “Infused with honey, it provides a powerful layer of protection against heat damage while smoothing the hair cuticle for a silky, frizz-free finish.” The light formula makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of hair types, and it even offers UV protection, so whether you’re in the city or on an Italian getaway, your hair is in the clear.
• Key Ingredients: Honey, argan oil, baobab extract
• Type: Spray
• Size: 60 mL, 150 mL

Best Bond Repair: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience HeatBounce Leave-In Conditioner

• Why We Love It: Flores describes this leave-in conditioner as a “game-changer,” especially for clients with color-treated hair or those who heat-style frequently. “It utilizes advanced peptide technology to not only condition but also repair the damage caused by heat, coloring, and other chemical services,” he explains. “It’s a powerful and reparative option for those looking to restore their hair’s health and vitality.” The formula also protects from heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so even on the highest setting of your straightener, your strands are covered.
• Key Ingredients: Resilicore
• Type: Spray
• Size: Standard: 4 oz

Best for Fine-to-Medium Hair: Crown Affair The Leave-In Conditioner Cream

• Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist Marco Diaz describes this leave-in conditioner cream as “luxurious yet lightweight,” perfect for fine to medium hair that needs hydration without being weighed down. “I love it for creating a polished, frizz-free finish on air-dried styles.” I can confirm—my hair looks ready to go straight out of the shower, letting me skip the hot tools in favor of soft, beachy waves. The travel size makes the look just as attainable on vacation, too.
• Key Ingredients: Tsubaki meadows, field mustard flower extract, sugar beet extract
• Type: Cream
• Size: 1.7 oz, 5.1 oz

Best Multitasking Treatment: Ouai Leave In Conditioner

• Why We Love It: Described by Diaz as a “true all-in-one,” this is the product to keep in your repertoire if you only choose one. “It detangles beautifully, protects against heat, and gives a silky slip that makes blow dries faster and smoother,” he says. It also leaves behind a light citrusy floral scent that lingers even after a subway ride, and it comes in a smaller size so you can take it on the go.
• Key Ingredients: Tamarind seed extract, panthenol, vitamin E
• Type: Spray
• Size: 1.5 oz, 4.7 oz

Best Hair Serum: Rōz Milk Hair Serum

• Why We Love It: Allow us to introduce (or reintroduce) you to this layerable, lightweight serum-cream hybrid with a refined, herbal-clean fragrance. “Formulated with natural ingredients, it provides effective heat protection while keeping the hair soft and manageable,” says Amor. For those with curly or textured hair, she notes that it never feels heavy, making it especially well-suited for medium to fine hair or normal to dry textures in need of nourishment and shine.
• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, red algae extract, botanicomplex™
• Type: Serum
• Size: 0.85 oz, 3.38 oz

Best for Damaged Hair: Virtue Purifying Leave-In Hair Conditioner

• Why We Love It: If you’ve spent too much time in the salon chair or feel like you might have carpal tunnel from constant heat styling, Virtue’s leave-in is all about repair. “The Alpha Keratin technology helps strengthen fragile or damaged strands, so I recommend it for anyone who heat-styles regularly or is trying to grow their hair longer,” says Diaz. Consider it rehab for your strands.
• Key Ingredients: Amino acid blend, white horehound extract, alpha keratin 60ku
• Type: Spray
• Size: 5 oz

Best for Wavy Hair: Odele Leave-In Conditioner

• Why We Love It: “Odele is a fantastic option for curls and waves,” says Diaz. Its slightly heavier formula helps define shape and tame frizz, while still feeling clean and accessible for everyday use. The affordable travel sizes are another plus, making it easy to toss in your bag so TSA is never the thing standing between you and good hair on holiday.
• Key Ingredients: Rice protein, amino acids, propanediol
• Type: Cream
• Size: 8 oz, 32 oz

Best for Flyaways: Kérastase Genesis Heat Protecting Leave-In Treatment

• Why We Love It: Flores describes the Kérastase Genesis treatment as a versatile product suitable for all hair types. Its primary strength is its ability to act as a potent heat protectant while also reducing frizz and controlling flyaways. “This makes it an excellent choice for anyone who frequently uses heat styling tools,” he says. It also smells amazing, with woody citrus notes of lime, bergamot zest, and cedrat.
• Key Ingredients: Edelweiss native cells, ginger root
• Type: Spray
• Size: 5.1 oz

Best for Frizz: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray

• Why We Love It: This conditioning spray is a hero product for anyone battling frizz. “It’s specifically formulated to provide up to 48 hours of moisture retention and frizz reduction, which makes it an ideal solution for humid conditions or for those with naturally dry hair,” says Flores. The lightweight, sprayable formula makes it quick and easy to apply—just spritz onto clean, damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends before combing through.
• Key Ingredients: Rosehip oil, argan oil, coconut oil
• Type: Spray
• Size: 5 oz

Best for Sensitive Scalps: Seen Leave-In Conditioner

• Why We Love It: “SEEN is great for anyone with sensitive scalps or fine hair,” says Diaz, noting that it is dermatologist-developed, non-comedogenic, and won’t clog pores. The formula nourishes without irritation or heaviness, while its lightweight texture ensures it will not weigh hair down. It also offers heat, pollution, and UV protection—multitasking benefits that make it easy to justify adding to cart.
• Key Ingredients: Hemisqualene, squalane, bisabolol
• Type: Cream
• Size: 5 oz