7 Best Leave-In Conditioner For 4C Hair 2024 | For Natural & Curly Hair

If you’re embracing your natural hair texture than you must use the best leave-in conditioner for 4c hair to keep it looking good. Kinky, coily hair requires more nourishment and is more prone to tangles and frizz.

So it’s necessary to use a good leave-in conditioner for 4c hair to keep your curls looking soft, bouncy, and healthy.

Here are some of my favorite picks for African American type 4 hair!

Leave-In Conditioners For 4c Hair	Best For	Chief Ingredients
TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Protective Leave-In Conditioner	Split Ends	– Coconut oil -Black castor oil -biotin -Agave extract -Monoi seed oil -Vitamin E
Camille Rose Naturals Curl Moisture Milk	Oily Scalps	Rice milk Macadamia seed oil Elm bark
Kinky Curly Knot Today Detangler	Removing Knots and Tangles	Marshmallow root Mango extract Slippery elm extract
SheaMoisture Hydrate + Repair Leave-In	Damaged Hair	Manuka honey Yogurt extracts Shea butter Baobab seed oil
Uncle Funky’s Daughter Thirsty Curls Leave-In Curl Revitalizer	Low Porosity Hair	Coconut milk Nettle extract Chamomile flower extract
Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding	Dry Hair and Scalp	Shea butter Cocoa butter Sweet almond oil
Taliah Wajid Shea-Coco Condition Daily Leave-In	Frizz Control	Shea butter Coconut oil

What is the best leave-in conditioner for 4c hair?

After looking at the all the parameters like affordability, frizz control, damage repair, etc., we’ve decided that the best leave in conditioner for natural 4c hair is the SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Leave-In.

The SheaMoisture Leave-In conditioner for 4c hair is super nourishing and slips through natural, type 4c hair with ease. You will find that most ingredients in this product are obtained through fair trade. This leave-in conditioner is also good for repairing split ends and working out the knots and tangles in coily, kinky 4c hair.

Top Leave-In Conditioner For 4C Hair 2023

How to choose the best leave-in conditioner for 4c hair?

It’s difficult to get a leave-in conditioner for 4c hair that’s also tailored to suit low porosity hair.

Nourishing Ingredients: Most leave-in conditioners are formulated with heavy, nourishing ingredients that add moisture to your tresses. The best example of these are products with shea butter or cocoa butter.

Humectants: This type of hair doesn’t easily retain moisture. So the best leave-in conditioners for 4c hair would be products with humectants like glycerin, honey, rice protein, aloe vera, and the like.

Lightweight Formula: These conditioners should also be lightweight as low-porosity hair is prone to get limp and greasy easily. Also, heavy leave-in conditoners might nourish your hair but they can leave your curls limp if they’re too greasy.

How To Use Leave In Conditioner 4c Hair

If you have type 4C hair, you know how challenging it can be to maintain it. This hair type is the most delicate and requires a lot of love and care to keep it moisturized and healthy. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using a leave-in conditioner.

A leave-in conditioner will not only hydrate your hair but also make it softer, shinier and more manageable. In this section, I will be discussing how to use a leave-in conditioner on type 4C hair.

Step 1: Shampoo and Conditioner Routine
Before applying a leave-in conditioner, ensure that you have washed your hair with a shampoo and followed up with a deep conditioning treatment. Shampoo your hair using a sulfate-free shampoo that will not strip your hair of its natural oils.

After shampooing, apply conditioner to your hair, focusing on the ends as they tend to be the driest. Detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb, and then rinse the conditioner off with cold water. This process prepares your hair to receive the leave-in conditioner.

Step 2: Separating Your Hair
Separate your hair into manageable sections; this will make it easier to work with. Part your hair into four or more sections, depending on the thickness of your hair.

Applying leave-in conditioner to smaller sections will ensure that the product is being distributed evenly throughout your hair.

Step 3: Applying the Leave-In Conditioner
Apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to each section of your hair, starting from the ends and gradually working your way up to the roots.

Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to distribute the product through your hair. Pay special attention to the ends of your hair, which tend to be the driest. Avoid applying the product directly to your scalp, as it may lead to product build-up and a greasy appearance.

Step 4: Moisturizing Your Hair
Afts will help distribute the product evenly and prevent breakage.

Step 5: Seal Your Hair

The final step in using a leave-in conditioner for 4C hair is to seal in the moisture using an oil or butter. Some of the best oils for 4C hair include jojoba oil or grapeseed oil.

You can also use a hair butter such as Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie. Simply take a small amount of oil or butter and work it into your hair, paying particular attention to the ends.

In conclusion, leave-in conditioner is a must-have product for those with 4C hair. It provides much-needed moisture and nourishment to your curls, making them soft, bouncy, and easy to manage.

To get the most out of your leave-in conditioner, remember to start with clean hair, choose the right product, apply it evenly, detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb, and seal in the moisture with an oil or butter. With a little bit of effort, you can achieve healthy, manageable, and beautiful 4C hair!

How I rated these leave-in conditioners for 4c hair?

I selected the most popular leave-in conditioners for 4c hair and used them myself. With some help from my hair care team, I then rated them based on the following factors. These products are rated on a scale of 1-5 on these parameters.

• Moisturizing – The leave-in conditioner should have nourishing, hydrating properties.
• Damage Repair – It should help repair damage to 4c hair as this hair type is very fragile
• Frizz Control – As 4c hair is prone to frizz, the conditioner should smoothen the curls, while retaining definition.
• Shine – the leave-in conditioner should add shine to tresses.
• Affordability – And last of all, it shouldn’t be too heavy on your pockets!

TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Protective Leave-In Conditioner

tGin has long been considered a fantastic brand for black hair products. So it’s no wonder their RepairRx cream is such a good leave-in conditioner for 4c hair.  

The formula is super hydrating and very lightweight, a combination you don’t get to see often.

So it keeps your tresses moisturized and helps those coarse, kinky curls stay protected without leaving them greasy.

And this makes it a wonderful product for those with oily scalps. 

There is black castor oil, coconut oil, agave extract, and several other nourishing ingredients to keep curls hydrated.

But the one let down was the presence of dimethicone. This is a type of silicone used to give hair a brilliant shine and softness.

And though not exactly harmful. It can build-up over time causing scalp problems and weighing your curls down.

Our suggestion is to use a good clarifying shampoo or apple cider vinegar rinse if you’re using this leave-in conditioner. 

Pros	Cons
– Hydrating -Doesn’t weigh hair down -Repairs split ends -Good for fine hair -Good for oily hair	– Not moisturizing enough – Contains silicones so can build-up in the long run

Moisturizing – 3.5/5

Damage Repair – 4.5/5

Frizz Control – 3.5/5

Shine – 5/5

Affordability – 4/5

Camille Rose Naturals Curl Moisture Milk

Best Budget Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair

This product by Camille has a cult status right now. Every black YouTuber seems to be talking about how great it is for low porosity hair.

But is it really? We were impressed by the Moisture Milk leave-in conditioner, but it’s not out of the ordinary.

The product is affordable and there lies its first win. And it’s very moisturizing too! 

There’s rice milk, macadamia seed oil, avocado oil, castor oil, and other very nourishing ingredients that help hydrate your 4c curls.

But despite these oils, you’ll find the product to be very lightweight. 

It smells amazing, like cake or some yummy dessert! But unfortunately, that’s due to the fragrance added in the formulation.

So if you have very fine dry hair, we do not recommend this one. 

If you want something to use to add shine to your curls, the Camille Rose Naturals conditioner is great. 

But it’s not a good product to use as a detangler. We suggest something more rich like the Kinky Curly conditioner reviewed below. 

Pros	Cons
Affordable Moisturizing Smells great Good for taming baby hairs Lightweight	Contains alcohol Contains fragrance Not for detangling hair Not for very dry hair

Moisturizing – 4/5

Damage Repair – 3.5/5

Frizz Control – 4/5

Shine – 4.5/5

Affordability – 4.5/5

Related: Best leave in conditioner for dry hair

Related: Best leave in conditioner for split ends

Kinky Curly Knot Today Detangler

Best Detangling Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair

A good leave-in conditioner for 4c hair shouldn’t just be hydrating.It should help detangle your curls too. 

And this is exactly what this Kinky Curly Knot Today conditioner does! The formulation is very slippery thanks to the elm extract and spreads easily through hair.

It helps minimize friction between your strands making it easier to comb through.  

We liked how it mostly contained natural ingredients and didn’t use silicones to add shine to your hair. 

Pros	Cons
Excellent at detangling Adds shine Spreads through hair easily	Contains fragrance Contains alcohol

Moisturizing – 3.5/5

Damage Repair – 3.5/5

Detangling – 5/5

Shine – 4/5

Affordability – 4/5

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Leave-In

Best Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair

Perhaps on the best leave-in conditioner for 4c hair, this SheaMoisture product is a holy grail for African American hair.

We love the super nourishing formula of manuka honey, yogurt, and organic shea butter. And the best part? These are certified fair trade ingredients too.

This conditioner comes in the form of a spray. So it’s very easy to use.

If you have very dry, brittle hair. Or have damaged dresses due to constant heat styling and chemical treatments, this conditioner can add life back to your tresses. 

This SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner smells amazing too. But the fragrance is due to a blend of essential oils and not perfume. So we give it a pass. 

Pros	Cons
Nourishes dry hair Promotes growth Repairs damage	Not for oily scalps Contains alcohol

Moisturizing – 4.5/5

Damage Repair – 5/5

Frizz Control – 4/5

Shine – 4/5

Affordability – 4/5

Uncle Funky’s Daughter Thirsty Curls Leave-In Curl Revitalizer

Best Smoothing Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair

Another spray based leave-in conditioner for 4c hair is this one by Uncle Funky’s Daughter.

This is black-owned brand and makes amazing products for type 4 curls. 

And this Curl Revitalizer is one of them. The coconut milk and nettle extract formulation makes it very hydrating.

All you need to do is spray it on to keep frizz at bay. And it has a very pleasant fragrance too.

But we don’t think this will suit very dry, low-porosity hair. And the added perfume in the formula makes it worse. 

If you’re using a separate conditioner after washing your hair and using this frizz-control, it might work out well.

Pros	Cons
Lightweight Controls frizz Smells good Easy to use	Contains fragrance Not for very dry hair

Moisturizing – 3.5/5

Damage Repair – 3.5/5

Frizz Control – 5/5

Shine – 4/5

Affordability – 4/5

Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding

Best Natural Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair

Now here’s a multitasking product! This Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding can be used all over your body.

It functions as a hair cream, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, body lotion, hand cream, and face cream. Phew! Now that’s called being busy.

It’s a great pick if you have natural 4c hair. And what we liked best about this conditioner is that it doesn’t have silicones, alcohol, or parabens in the formula.

The Whipped Pudding cream contains shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and aloe vera among others. 

So you’ll see how nourishing it is for very dry, kinky curls.

On the flip side, this can get a bit tricky to use if you have an oily scalp. But it should go well with high porosity curls.

Want to know a little hack? You can mix some of this Oyin cream with honey to create a homemade leave-in conditioner for 4c hair.

Pros	Cons
Can be used on hair and body Super moisturizing No silicones or alcohol Choco-vanilla scent	Contains perfume

Moisturizing – 5/5

Damage Repair – 4/5

Frizz Control – 4.5/5

Shine – 4/5

Affordability – 4/5

Taliah Wajid Shea-Coco Condition Daily Leave-In

Best Spray Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair

This lightweight spray-on conditioner by Taliah Wajid is your go-to product for styling black hair. 

Whether it’s braids or locs, you can’t go wrong with this leave in conditioner for natural 4c hair. 

The hair mist formula contains coconut oil, shea butter, glycerin as chief ingredients. But despite being hydrating, it never leaves hair greasy.

It doesn’t weigh your curls down and gives an amazing definition. 

However, this light, refreshing formula might not be the best thing for very dry, kinky curls.

So we suggest you use it as a pick me up after using a leave-in conditioner or cream on your curls. 

It’ll suit oily tresses just fine. But as it has alcohol and perfume, it’s a no go for people with very sensitive scalps. 

Pros	Cons
98 percent natural ingredients Prevents shrinkage Moisturizes dry hair Lightweight	Contains alcohol Contains perfume Leaves flakes after prolonged use

Moisturizing – 4/5

Damage Repair – 3.5/5

Frizz Control – 4.5/5

Shine – 4/5

Affordability – 4.5/5

FAQs – Best Leave-In Conditioner For 4c Hair and Natural Hair

If you’ve decided to wear your natural hair with pride, don’t forget to get all the products necessary to take care of them.

The foremost being a good leave-in conditioner for 4c hair that is nourishing and won’t weigh down your curls.

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Also Read:

Is Fino Hair Mask Good For Curly Hair?

Why hair conditioner is important

Best Hydration Treatment For Natural Hair

Best Foaming Mousse For Braids And Natural Hair