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Plus, why you need to stop skipping the nourishing post-wash step. If you apply heat, colour or chemical treatments to your hair – listen up. A leave-in conditioner is a moisturising step your hair care routine should never be without. Designed to detangle and nourish, while adding softness and suppleness to the hair, leave-in conditioners come in a myriad of formats, ranging from mists and sprays to creams and balms. So, instead of washing and going, let’s add one more step into the equation: leave-in conditioning. Here’s why it’s so important and the nine we really rate. Why you should use a leave-in conditioner“Think of your leave-in conditioner as being a bit like a serum or light moisturiser for your skin. Generally, they have a much lower molecular weight than the standard ‘rinse out’ conditioners, meaning they can add softness and shine without weighing down your hair or making it feel or look lank,” says hairstylist Tom Smith. “A suitable leave-in conditioner should provide instant detangling benefits, add softness and shine and make the hair feel smoother. Modern technology also means that really effective products can provide your hair with UV protection, humidity protection, as well as heat protection.” How to choose the best leave-in conditioner for your hair type and texture“The success of a leave-in conditioner is all in its compatibility with your hair type, so consider the thickness of each strand of your hair rather than the amount of hair you have,” says Smith. If you have fine hair“Finer strand hair types will benefit from lighter textured leave-in conditioner mists. When sprayed into the hand these should be water-like in texture. This will mean they won’t overburden fine hair types.” If you have thick or coarse hair“Thicker and coarser strand hair types need a thicker textured leave-in conditioner like a leave-in conditioning cream or balm. Although, if you prefer a lightweight or natural feel to the hair, you can still use a light leave-in conditioner.” If you have curly hair“For best results on curly hair, consider layering a couple of leave-in conditioners, starting with the lightest and layering up to the heaviest. “This is because curly hair tends to be more porous and the layering of ingredients ‘fills in the cracks’ of the hair allowing the natural curl pattern to be supported, flexible, supple and resistant to humidity.” How often to use a leave-in conditioner“If you have very healthy hair and don’t use colouring products or heat on your hair, a leave-in conditioner may not be necessary or essential – but it certainly wouldn’t do any harm,” says Smith. “However, the vast majority of hair types can benefit from some form of a leave-in product. For my very short-haired clients, I apply a small amount of light skincare oil to the scalp and hair to deliver lasting moisture and shine which helps with dry scalps and fluffy hair types.”
Main image: Stylist Well, if you're curly or wavy and fine-haired, there's no better lightweight product than Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner—it'll keep your hair bouncy all day. If you want a little more weight to tamp down frizz, Rene Furterer Leave-In Nourishing Cream is a great, slightly richer option. For limp, straight hair, try Verb Leave-In Mist. It detangles and hydrates, but it's so light that even wispy curls won't get pulled down. Got a favorite? Tell us below.
Byrdie / Chloe Jeong The right ingredients can help fine hair appear thicker, more lustrous, and achieve greater volume.Many conditioners out there make big promises about their ability to strengthen, plump, and thicken hair. These claims might seem too good to be true—and some certainly are—but we found several rinses that actually live up to the hype. From strengtheners and fortifiers to volumizers and thickeners, we rounded up standout options for every budget. To give your mane the va-va-voom it craves, check out the best conditioners for fine hair below. Courtesy of Sephora What We Like
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Who else recommends it? PureWow and Today both picked Christophe Robin Volumizing Conditioner. "I would choose the Christophe Robin Volume Conditioner with Rose extracts," says hairstylist Sky Kim of Serge Normant at John Frieda in New York City. This protective, detangling rinse is formulated specifically for fine strands. Thanks to hero ingredients, it works to strengthen and volumize while restoring individual hair fibers and leaving a natural shine in its wake. Plus, as Kim notes, "It's super light and smells good." Key Ingredients: Baobab leaf, omega-3s, rice protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.33 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes What We Like
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OGX Biotin & Collagen Conditioner is formulated with hydrolyzed wheat and B vitamins, a powerhouse blend. The result? Plumped-up strands and a noticeably fuller, better-looking mop. Key Ingredients: Wheat protein, vitamin B complex | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 13.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes What We Like
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If you're going to splurge on hair care products, Oribe is always a safe bet. The brand's Conditioner for Magnificent Volume leans on natural ingredients like Japanese bamboo and shea butter, plus high-tech polymers meant to plump your locks without weighing them down. Key Ingredients: Shea butter, bamboo, hydrolyzed proteins | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No Courtesy of Briogeo Hair What We Like
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If it's volume you're after, Briogeo's Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Conditioner has you covered. Whether you have coily, wavy, or straight hair, this fortifying formula is meant to immediately thicken and lift the follicles while delivering long-term nourishment. Key Ingredients: Biotin, ginseng, maltodextrin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes What We Like
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The TGIN Miracle RepaiRx line is designed to strengthen and nourish brittle hair. By replenishing your scalp with coconut oil and black honey, this conditioner promises stronger, shinier, smoother hair without any added weight. Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, honey | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 13.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes Courtesy of Sephora What We Like
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This thickening conditioner pulls out all the stops for fine hair. According to the brand, the nourishing formula contains emblica, a strand-swelling ingredient sourced from Indian gooseberries. What's more, feather-light silk fibers are meant to help detangle and moisturize without weighing you down. Key Ingredients: Indian gooseberry, silk, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No Courtesy of Walmart What We Like
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Caprice Hammon, a hairstylist at Session Studio LLC in Portland, Oregon, tells Byrdie, "Out of the lines I use, I like the Plumping Rinse by Kevin Murphy. It has ingredients to help stimulate hair growth." Key Ingredients: Amino acids, shea butter, nettle extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No Courtesy of Sephora What We Like
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Featuring the brand's patented "Healthy Hair Molecule," Living Proof's Full Conditioner is formulated to give thin, limp hair new life. You can expect fuller, plumper locks that behave just like naturally thick tresses. Key Ingredients: Healthy Hair Molecule (patented), wheat protein, soy protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No What We Like
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Keranique Volumizing Keratin Conditioner is designed to protect and strengthen fine or brittle hair. The unique cream-gel formula coats and enriches each strand with a fortifying keratin complex to create a smoother, more voluminous mane, according to the brand. Key Ingredients: Ginseng root extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No What We Like
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If you're dealing with thin, frizzy hair, you'll want something that smooths without weighing you down, like Verb Ghost Conditioner. Signature ingredients coat each strand with lightweight protection while addressing split ends and leaving a shiny, sleek finish in its wake. Key Ingredients: Moringa seed oil, quinoa protein, sunflower seed extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 12.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No What We Like
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Containing kalahari, mongongo, and baobab oils, this conditioner by The Mane Choice is inspired by the formulas used by ancient Egyptians. It's lightweight and gentle enough for daily use and delivers nourished, restored, and strengthened locks. Key Ingredients: Baobab oil, castor oil, silk amino acids, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes What We Like
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For fine, curly hair, we recommend CHI Magnified Volume Conditioner. It effortlessly detangles while working to strengthen, volumize, and smooth coily strands, leaving your hair shiny, bouncy, and more manageable. Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, panthenol | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 12.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No What We Like
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"Another option is Virtue's Full Conditioner, which smells good and is nourishing, too," says Kim. This thickening rinse delivers weightless moisture while creating lift and body that lasts all day. Key Ingredients: Pink pomelo, artichoke leaf | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 6.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No What We Like
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R+Co Dallas Conditioner leans on hydrating ingredients to soften fine hair while coating each strand with the strength and protection it needs. And with saw palmetto berry extract, you can expect thicker-looking hair with the body you crave. Key Ingredients: Provitamin B5, biotin, coconut oil, saw palmetto extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No Final VerdictWhen it comes to conditioners for fine hair, Christophe Robin Delicate Volumizing Conditioner With Rose Extracts shines above the rest. Featuring rice protein, omega-3s, and baobab extract, the lightweight formula promises to volumize, restore, and strengthen hair while leaving behind natural shine and a delicious scent. For something a little more affordable, you can't go wrong with OGX Extra Volume Biotin & Collagen Conditioner. And if you're all-in for a high-end product, you won't regret splurging on Oribe Conditioner for Magnificent Volume. What to Look For When Buying Conditioner for Fine HairIntended Hair TypeOne of the most important things to look for when buying conditioner for fine hair is the intended hair type. Many options indicate that they're made for thin strands on the label or product description. However, if it doesn't say so explicitly, look for keywords like "volumizing," "thickening," or "full." These terms typically imply a conditioner is formulated to either plump the strands or at least make them look thicker. BiotinMany shampoos and conditioners for fine hair contain biotin (vitamin B7). The nutrient is often claimed to help nourish and fortify thin strands while encouraging hair growth. Other IngredientsAside from biotin, there are a few other ingredients to look out for when buying conditioners for fine hair. These include nourishing ingredients like collagen, coconut oil, shea butter, avocado, and other omegas. If you want something that promises to plump your hair, look for conditioners with niacinamide, amino acids, emblica, hydrolyzed soy protein, saw palmetto, peptides, silk powder, or silica silylate. These thickening agents are meant to either swell the individual strands or wrap them in a starchy texture that makes them temporarily thicker. FAQ
How We ResearchedTo compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list. Why Trust ByrdieByrdie contributor Theresa Holland specializes in cosmetics and self-care products. As someone with inherently fine hair, she's tried many thickening conditioners over the years. From this list, she's partial to Kevin Murphy Plumping Rinse, R+Co Dallas Conditioner, and CHI Magnified Volume Conditioner. Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Which is the best leaveIt totally depends on your hair type as to which the best leave-in conditioner for you is. For example, the best leave-in conditioner for frizzy hair is the Aussie SOS Instant Humidity Saviour while the best leave-in conditioner for curly hair is Moroccan Oil's Intense Curl Cream. Keep scrolling to shop the best leave-in conditioner for your needs.
How do I choose the best lightweight conditioner?When it comes to seeking out the best lightweight conditioners, look for products that are designed for fine or thin hair, or, scan the label for words like “weightless” or “volumizing” — those are indicators that the conditioner won’t make your hair feel heavy or greasy.
What are the benefits of leave in conditioners?Leave-in conditioners are the best way to treat heat damage, dullness, and dryness on all hair types. They also boost shine, moisturize, and detangle. Shop 17 of the best leave-in conditioners for 2020 and find the product that works best for you.
What is the refresh purifying leaveThe REFRESH Purifying Leave-In Conditioner by VIRTUE is a weightless, gentle mist that protects, detangles, and nourishes damaged hair. It fights humidity to define curls and the natural texture of fine hair.
Is leaveSome of the top advantages of using a leave-in conditioner for fine hair is that it prepares your fine hair for styles, helps detangle your hair, offers heat protection, adds moisture and keeps conditioning your hair throughout the day, even after your hair is dry.
Which leave11 Best Leave-In Conditioners For Fine Hair 2022. Best Lightweight:Style Factor Wigout Leave-In Conditioner. ... . Best For Detangling:Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Leave-In Conditioner. ... . Natural Therapy System 6 Therapeutic Oils Leave-In Conditioner.. How can I condition my fine hair without weighing it down?Once properly cleaned, it's also highly recommended that you avoid applying conditioner to your scalp as it can weigh the hair down. Instead, apply just enough to coat the strands from the mid-shafts down, as this will help keep your hair looking fresh and voluminous up top.
Does leaveCompared with regular conditioners that you rinse out in the shower, leave-in conditioners are typically formulated to be more lightweight. This prevents weighing the hair down. These products don't form rigid bonds and instead provide a detangling effect to help with combing and maintaining your desired style.
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