Dealing with hair issues can be so frustrating. Your strands could be dried out and more prone to damage. You could be experiencing super-dull hair that is anything but shiny and bouncy. Or you could be working with damaged locks from getting your hair colored or going a little too crazy on hot tools. Whatever the case, none of the above is fun.
Luckily, there are a lot of solutions for this. You can switch up your shampoos and conditioners. You can apply a hair mask. You can get a cut to get rid of dead ends. You might even want to lay off the hot tools and hair dryer for a while. There are so many options out there to try depending on the specific problem you’re experiencing.
One other solution is to apply a leave-in conditioner. These products will moisturize, repair, and protect your hair, and it takes very minimal effort on your end. All you have to do is apply and let it do the work for you. And the good news is there are so many affordable options out there. Take a look at some of the best drugstore leave-in conditioners, based on reviews.
This spray conditioner will soften and help style your hair. Just spray onto clean, damp strands and blow-dry or style as usual. What the reviews say: “Excellent product. My hair looks healthy and shiny. This item controls my high porosity hair very well. I look like a different person with tamed hair.”
If you’ve got dried-out strands, this hair treatment will seal split ends, align cuticles, and hydrate. Just apply on damp hair from root to tips. What the reviews say: “[I] use every day, especially when spending days in the sun. It quenches the thirst of your hair. I have color-treated blonde hair and it keeps it feeling soft and not frizzy.”
This conditioning cream contains argan oil to control and smooth frizzy, dry hair. Apply a quarter-size amount to damp or dry hair, and let it soak in. What the reviews say: “First, you can’t go wrong with the price. The bottle is a great size for being so darn cheap. I have found no other product out there that actually works that has this amount of product for such an amazing value. Second, it actually works without leaving your hair sticky, oily, or stiff.”
This lightweight detangler makes hair so easy to style while repairing and restoring damaged strands. It also contains antioxidants to help protect and strengthen. What the reviews say: “I have fine hair that I’m growing long after many years of wearing it short. It was tangling unmercifully and I felt like I was pulling my hair out trying to get the tangles out. (Sometimes I was.) Other products haven’t helped. So frustrated. Silly as it sounds, this product has been life changing for me!”
Made with argan oil, shea butter, jojoba protein, and quinoa extract, this detangler works to soften, nourish, and separate hair. It’s made without parabens, sulfates, or synthetic dyes, and it’s gentle enough to use every day. What the reviews say: “I love this stuff. It smells AMAZING, and it’s pretty much one of the few detanglers that actually works on my fine but thick hair. It also doesn’t weigh my hair down or make it feel greasy, and I use it liberally. It just makes my hair gloriously soft.”
If you’ve got long, damaged hair, this product can help. It’s formulated with castor oil and vitamins B3 and B5 to seal split ends and reduce further damage or breakage. What the reviews say: “I love this! It works great, price is fair, and the scent is amazing. I have long, fine, dry hair that tangles way too easily. I can easily get a brush through as soon as I use this. Keeps my hair from tangling all day. And the scent… LOVE!”
Created for overly processed and damaged hair, this leave-in treatment helps lock in moisture, soothes, and conditions. And if you’ve got split ends, it can help improve that too. What the reviews say: “My hair has been bleached and while it is still pretty healthy I have some dryness and frizz issues. For the record my hair is curly and almost waist length. After the first time using this I already saw an improvement. My hair felt so soft and strong. The price is sustainable and worth a shot if your hair needs some TLC but you don’t want to spend a bunch to get there.”
In addition to coconut oil, this leave-in conditioner spray contains monoi oil and amino acids to nourish, smooth, and detangle. Spray on damp hair and comb through to the ends so every strand is coated. What the reviews say: “Excellent conditioner! Works well to detangle hair, and leaves it with a light, pretty scent of coconut (no worries, you don’t smell like suntan lotion, which was my concern prior to trying this product for the first time!). I just love the ease of being able to spray on a leave-in conditioner, and then immediately comb through my almost waist-length hair.”
All it takes is a small amount of this conditioner applied to damp hair to work its magic. It smoothes, prevents dryness, reduces static, and balances moisture. What the reviews say: “I usually don’t like leave-in products but I thought I’d give it a shot. I used it for the first time this morning and I was pleasantly surprised. I followed the suggested directions and towel-dried my hair until damp. I used a tiny dime-sized amount of the product and rubbed it between my hands until it turned from blue to white and rubbed it on the ends of my hair. Another reviewer mentioned that it added to their blow dry time but I didn’t have a problem. My hair feels clean like it has no product in it and I love it.”
This three-in-one formula will detangle, condition, and protect hair. It can also slow color fading, too. Spritz into your hands, rub together, and run your fingers through your hair and comb. What the reviews say: “I have very long, blonde, easily dried and damaged hair with a million split ends. Sometimes my hair, even after conditioning with a great conditioner, still feels dry and brittle and is completely tangled out of the shower. Like tough to finger comb. A bit of this and I can use a fine-toothed comb easily. It doesn’t even weigh down my super fine, super long hair and it makes it so shiny.”
Formulated with vitamins A, C, and E, plus green tea extract, this leave-in is super moisturizing. It will detangle while repairing and protecting against damage. It’s also safe to use on chemical- and color-treated hair. What the reviews say: “This is the best product I’ve ever used for static in my hair! I never have static or flyaway hair anymore. And this is great to use on the second day if you don’t have to wash your hair… just spray this in and it refreshes and makes your hair smell so good! I have used it for so many years, I don’t know what I’d do if they ever discontinued it!”
If you use a lot of hot tools, this leave-in treatment offers thermal protection up to 450ºF. And it also provides moisture and leaves your hair shiny. What the reviews say: “I love this product. I put it on my hair after my shower and comb my hair out without any fuss. My hair is down to my belly button and it never lets me down. My hair brushes out as smooth as can be. My brush won’t tug or rip my hair out after using this product.”
Repair and reduce split ends with this conditioning spray. Users can expect to see results after three uses. The lightweight formula also won’t leave your hair weighed down. What the reviews say: “I bought this product because my hair is a bit damaged, I straighten it more than I should and it became lifeless and dull. With this product my hair becomes much softer and smoother and more bouncy! Even if I straighten it, if I put this product in while/before straightening it my hair looks 20 times better!”
The formula infuses keratin into your strands and seals cuticles. You’ll get 48 hours of frizz control with each use. What the reviews say: “Since I have dry hair, I HAVE tried NUMEROUS different leave-in conditioners. This one is definitely a favorite. It helped make my hair look and feel softer, healthier and smoother instantly on it’s own. When I applied it before styling my hair with my flat iron, it DID help make styling it and de-frizzing it with the iron faster and easier.”
Redken’s formula does it all. It’s a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant in one. It works to protect against breakage, preps hair for styling, and controls frizz. You can use it as a leave-in or rinse it out after shampooing. What the reviews say: “Heat protector, conditioner and styling product all in one. I don’t use any other products on my hair now. I have fine hair that tends to frizz but otherwise has no body. This helps with damage from styling products and makes my hair soft but doesn’t weigh it down like so many other products. In fact, my hair actually has more body than normal! Love it!” Next up, the best hair masks for dry hair.
