My flyaways annoyed me to no end. It seemed that no matter how much hair spray or smoothing product I’d put on my hair, they’d pop back up again an hour later. They were always out of control, sticking up in all the wrong places. One time, the little strands of hair even blocked my friend’s face in a photo. I know, I know. It was getting out of hand, but it seemed like I was out of options!
For the most part, my hair is pretty healthy. I don’t dye it, and I use heat tools and my hair dryer very sparingly. Sure, I’ve got split ends that need to be trimmed, but who doesn’t? My biggest hair gripe was the dang flyaways.
When I got tired of smoothing my hair down with hair spray and failing, I decided to venture out and try a new product: leave-in conditioner. I always thought that leave-in conditioners were for dried-out and damaged hair only. I also pictured them as greasy, too creamy, and too heavy for my stick-straight hair that already needed a bit of help in the volume department. Boy was I wrong on both fronts.
After trying out the leave-in conditioner on my damp hair and air-drying it, I noticed the frizzy flyaways were tamed a little bit more. Sure, a few popped up here and there, but it was still a big difference pre-product. And the best part? It stayed that way throughout the day and for a few days after. Now, I apply the product every time I wash my hair (so a couple of times a week), and I think it’s really helping nourish my hair and controlling the unruly strands.
If flyaways aren’t your big hair problem, leave-in conditioner can help solve a lot of other ones, too. There are plenty of formulations for different hair needs, so choose one that fits yours exactly. Personally, I needed something lightweight, but you might need something thicker and creamier if your hair is super dried out. Or you might need a product that offers thermal protection from heat tools if you use them a lot.
Take a look at some of the leave-in conditioners I’ve tried for my flyaways and others for different hair needs.
I love Ouai’s Leave In Conditioner because it’s a lightweight spray that really fights my frizz and flyaways. I find it makes my hair ultra shiny, too. It also hydrates, detangles, and protects against heat.
This one from Living Proof has nourishing ingredients and glycolic acid to make your hair smoother and softer. It also blocks against humidity, so no frizz here.
The consistency of this conditioner is on the thicker and creamier side. It works well on all sorts of hair types, but especially for curly and wavy hair. Ingredients include lavender and rosemary leaf oils and nettle extract.
This spray may be lightweight, but it’s still a deep-conditioning treatment. It contains monoi to fix damage and frizz and coconut milk to nourish and strengthen.
This super-rich leave-in conditioner is so powerful at repairing, strengthening, and moisturizing hair. But you’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t leave a greasy finish or residue. Ingredients include raw shea butter, black castor oil, peppermint, and omegas.
For wavy, tight, and coily hair, this conditioner locks in hydration, promotes hair health, and softens your curls. It has beneficial botanical extracts like arnica and prickly pear as well as antioxidants like green tea and vitamin B5.
You’ll really say goodbye to frizz as this conditioner’s name suggests. Rosehip oil in the formula protects hair from radical damage and reduces frizz, while argan oil conditions and coconut oil locks in moisture. It’s good for both straight and curly hair types.
While it’s best to use this conditioner on damp hair, you can still use it on dry hair to give it a little more oomph and to restyle. The lightweight formula detangles and moisturizes.
Another option for curly hair types, this one not only strengthens and softens hair, but it also adds some shine. The lotion-like formula contains nourishing ingredients like sunflower-seed extract, coconut oil, and shea butter.
Repair your damaged hair and protect against any future split ends with this product. It also works to protect against heat. Use it on wet hair or on dry hair as a styling cream.
The cool thing about this treatment is that it has UV protection thanks to morete oil, which is made from an Amazonian fruit that’s rich with vitamins and antioxidants. It also detangles and prevents breakage.
If your curls are in need of moisture and volume, this leave-in can help. It doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or silicone. Plus, it has a nice lemongrass scent.
You’ll get powerful thermal protection from this conditioner—up to 450º to be exact. Additionally, it works to hydrate your hair while guarding against any damaging UV rays.
Use this conditioning lotion on curly hair to prep it before heat styling. It has ingredients like olive, avocado, and jojoba oils to moisturize, soften, and protect from even more dryness.
Say goodbye to frizz and dryness with this leave-in cream. It works on all hair types, even if your hair is colored or chemically treated. If you’re particular about what’s in your products, you’ll be happy to find out that it’s free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and oil. Next up, Celeb Colorists Told Us Their Most Strategic Tips for Healthy and Youthful Hair
