A good leave-in conditioner does wonders for your hair. They keep your natural curls smooth, prevent against dry brittle strands, and guarantee healthier hair growth.
However, if you have 4c hair which is usually dry and fragile it can be a struggle to keep your kinky curls moisturized. This struggle is especially familiar to anyone who has low porosity 4c hair.
I also understand the struggle between having to introduce a leave-in conditioner into your hair regime or picking out the right leave-in product which would be great for your 4c curls and wouldn't weigh them down.
While it's okay to not have this all figured out, I decided to find out and share with you, the best leave-in conditioners you can use for your 4c hair.
But first,
What Is A Leave-in Conditioner?
After you shampoo and condition your hair, the next thing you should apply to your hair is the leave-in conditioner. Unlike a regular conditioner which you rinse out after a couple of minutes, the leave-in conditioner stays in your hair until your next wash day.
Leave-in conditioners help to add and lock in extra moisture into your natural curls. They are a must-have for your styling routine too, the leave-in conditioner softens the hair, making it more manageable and easier to style.
A good leave-in conditioner nourishes and hydrates the hair. They contain ingredients that add slip and softness to knotted hair and make the detangling process easier. You can get your favorite leave-in conditioner in either liquid, thick cream, or spray.
5 Best Leave-in Conditioner For Your 4c Hair
1. Camille Rose Naturals Curl Moisture Milk
The Camille Rose Naturals Curl Moisture Milk contains essential vitamins that strengthen your hair, prevents breakage, encourages hair growth, and makes for easy detangling of the hair strands.
4 honest reviews of Camille Rose Naturals Curl Moisture Milk
"Honestly, my hair has never felt so soft in my entire life. This product is AMAZING it leaves my hair feeling like butter. This with the almond jai twisting butter gives the BEST results for braid outs/twist outs. I had so much definition and my hair was left so soft and shiny. Definitely will be buying again." -Taomie
"This curl love is so moisturizing. I usually keep my hair in twists for a couple of days before I take them down and my hair was still soft and full of moisture." -Triny
"Love the smell of this product! It is so nice and light on the hair and does not leave any gunk on the scalp. I use it to moisturize my soft curls when I want to leave my hair down. I also use it to tame frizzy baby hairs when my hair is slicked back in a bun." -Shereen M.
"I’m beyond happy with this purchase. It moisturizes my hair amazingly! My hair looks great and is very soft. I will have to stock up on this." -Johanna
2. Kinky Curly Knot Today
The Kinky Curly Knot Today is both a conditioner and detangler. When you apply this leave-in conditioner to the hair and comb through, It leaves your 4c hair with a smooth and silky feel to it.
3 honest reviews of Kinky Curly Knot Today
"Miracle product! As a new curly my hair was forever getting tangled! When I straightened it I could brush it but I can't now. I tried this and I honestly don't know how it works so well! Just apply to very wet hair, and use a wide-tooth comb to comb through starting at the bottom. It now takes me a minute or 2 to detangle my long hair in the shower. Love it." -Laura
"I love love LOVE this leave-in. It adds more moisture than any other leave-in I’ve tried. It has AWESOME slip so it really works great as a detangler too or if you wanted to use it as a pre-poo. I squish this into my hair with some water before getting out of the shower and I feel like it just seals in that moisture and allows styling to go more smoothly :) I’ve repurchased twice and will continue to repurchase." -Emily Vondy
"My hair is type 3a curls, during the winter it needs a lot more moisture so this gel is perfect, it is not too thick (i apply when wet) and it leaves my hair smooth and lightweight when dry. No stickiness and no flakes and has a lovely scent. I have sworn by this product for more than 3 years and never disappointed. A small blob goes a long way!"
3. Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner
The Giovanni Direct Leave-in Weightless Moisture Conditioner is lightweight, easy on your curls, and won't leave them feeling weighed down. Its ingredients are rich in protein which helps to repair damaged hair and keep your hair healthy.
5 honest reviews of Giovanni Direct Leave-in Weightless Moisture Conditioner
"My hair ABSOLUTELY LOVES this leave-in, my 3c/4a curls seem to come alive when I use it. So much bounce and moisture, it’s AWESOME!!!!" -Tina Caldwell
"This is 100% as good as people say it is. It’s very hydrating but not heavy or thick. It’s very lightweight and leaves me with bouncy soft curls. Love this product!" -Candis
"Perfect leave-in for LOW POROSITY hair! Does flawlessly its job: it moisturizes, infuses body but it's very light-weight! You need just a tiny bit on damp hair and you'll get super defined curls. Works well pretty much with any other product. I'm on my third bottle!" -Giulia
"This leave-in is…. magic? I’m obsessed!! It leaves my hair incredibly soft!! It is the only leave-in I’ve used that doesn’t leave my hair greasy or weighed down. It is absolutely incredible!! I wish they sold this at retailers it is so worth it!!!!" -Kriss
"Love this leave-in! I have fine hair that gets weighed down by heavy products, but this leaves my curls feeling soft and bouncy!" -Brittany
4. Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-in Hair Conditioner
This leave-in conditioner is glycerin-free, lightweight, and contains herbal ingredients and moisturizing butters that add sheen to your natural tresses. The Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-in Hair Conditioner is great for hydrating, moisturizing, softening and detangling your 4c coils. If you need an extra bit of protection from the harsh elements, then this leave-in conditioner should be a top priority on your list.
3 honest reviews of Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-in Hair Conditioner
"My, my, my, I've finally found a product that works miracles on my 4c hair... besides the softness, my hair smells so good. I'm gonna order more because the bottle is so small and I use it on my daughters' hair too. The seller packaged my product with such care. It arrived in a timely manner and the bottle was sealed (not tampered with, yay!)." -Mrs. Thompson
"Honestly, this is my favorite leave-in conditioner, especially during the winter months. The smell is amazing and I've been using it for years. I have tightly coiled hair and this leaves my hair soft without experiencing a lot of product build-up." -Brittany Kelly
"I have tangled, poofy hair that I thought was 4b until I put this on my hair and realized I had curls, low porosity 3c fine strands with medium density. Gurl this is a one-stop-shop I am done looking this is my baby right here" -Tara
5. tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer
The tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer is made for naturals who struggle with dry hair often. This is a daily moisturizer packed with natural ingredients and formulated with antioxidants that restore dry tangled hair, encourages hair growth and prevents frizz. The Shea butter ingredient present in this leave-in conditioner softens, adds shine, and makes your hair more manageable.
5 honest reviews of tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer
"This stuff is the holy grail of moisturizers. The smell is lovely, not too strong or fruity or overpowering. This is the first moisturizer I’ve EVER used that keeps my hair supple and soft for days. Before my hair would feel brittle after a few hours and I’d have to apply twice a day. This stuff I don’t even have to (if I don’t want to) put it in every day, even though I do. I absolutely love the way it’s made a difference in my hair. I have natural short 4C hair." -Kasie
"I have searched fruitlessly for a long time for a moisturizer that works for my daughter's low porosity hair. This works great." -Nichole
"Very thick and moisturizing, wish it was a little less wet but I like it overall. I gave some to my mom and she likes it too. It seems to penetrate very thick and nappy hair like me and my daughter have." -Channiebug
"This moisturizer is a holy grail. I use it on my hair and my toddler's hair. We both have a 3c/4a hair type. I use it on wash day to style and even in between washes. It keeps our hair hydrated and the scent is wonderful." -Leti
"I love this product it gives you the best definition it allows you to keep your hair moisturizer throughout the week. It makes my hair feel so soft. My hair type is 4A/4b and it keeps my curls feeling great I would definitely recommend anyone who hasn’t tried it to go get it." -Eboni
Links to the reviews
Camille Rose Naturals Curl Moisture Milk:
Kinky Curly Knot Today:
Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner:
Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-in Hair Conditioner:
Naturallycurly
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer: