Best Leave-In Hair Styling Creams of 2025

Lisa Bechard Avatar
Lisa Bechard
Last Updated: Jan 9, 2025

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Leave-in hair styling creams are a popular option for those looking for a low-maintenance hair styling routine. They are designed to be applied to damp hair and left in, providing hair with nourishment and hold throughout the day. These creams can help to tame frizz, add shine, and define curls or waves. They come in a variety of formulas to suit different hair types and needs, from lightweight options for fine hair to thicker creams for coarse or curly hair. Leave-in hair styling creams are a versatile option for those looking for an effortless, yet polished look.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Hair Cream Cover #TOP 1
Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Hair Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Kristin Ess Curl Defining Cream Cover #TOP 2
Kristin Ess Curl Defining Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Nexxus Smooth and Full Blow Dry Balm Cover #TOP 3
Nexxus Smooth and Full Blow Dry Balm
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Leave-In Hair Styling Creams

#TOP 1

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Hair Cream

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Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Hair Cream Cover
Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother, Leave-In Styling Hair Cream Treatment, Smooths, Conditions, & Strengthens, Frizz Control for Up to 72 Hours, For All Hair Types, 3.3 fl oz

Olaplex Bond Smoother is a versatile leave-in hair cream designed to keep your hair looking its best. With up to 72 hours of frizz control, it effectively combats humidity, ensuring your hair remains smooth and sleek throughout the day. The cream also provides deep moisture, which helps keep your hair hydrated and nourished. Additionally, it detangles easily, making your styling routine quicker and simpler. Not only does it condition your hair, but it also strengthens and repairs, reducing breakage for healthier locks.

What We Like
Frizz control for 72 hours
Moisturizes and hydrates
Detangles for easier styling
Strengthens and repairs hair
#TOP 2

Kristin Ess Curl Defining Cream

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Cream
5 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Kristin Ess Curl Defining Cream Cover
Kristin Ess Castor Oil Curl Defining Cream - Leave In Cream - Texture, Hydration, Shine, Soften, Smooth, Calms Frizz - Womens Styling Product for Curly Hair - Serum for Frizzy + Dry Damaged Hair

The Kristin Ess Curl Cream is designed to enhance your hair's natural beauty, regardless of its texture. It smooths and adds shine, helping you achieve a polished appearance effortlessly. If you're struggling with frizz, this cream works wonders to calm unruly strands, making it ideal for sleek, slicked-back styles. It's perfect for all hair types, saving you time while providing hydration and softness. Plus, it's cruelty-free and free of harmful chemicals, ensuring your hair stays healthy while you style.

What We Like
Reduces frizz
Enhances shine
Softens hair
Time-saving styling
#TOP 3

Nexxus Smooth and Full Blow Dry Balm

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6 Ounce (Pack of 1)
Nexxus Smooth and Full Blow Dry Balm Cover
Nexxus Smooth & Full Blow Dry Balm Weightless Style Frizz Control, Volume & Heat Protect Styling Cream for Smooth & Full Hair 6 oz

Nexxus Smooth and Full Blow Dry Balm is a weightless styling cream that provides heat protection, volume boost, and frizz control. It is enriched with the PROTEINLOCK formula to form a protective barrier, making it safe to use for all hair types, including color-treated and chemically processed hair. It can be used after applying the Weightless Leave-In Spray and is part of the Nexxus Weightless Style collection, which includes various styling products.

What We Like
Provides heat protection, volume boost, and frizz control
Enriched with PROTEINLOCK formula to protect hair from damage
Safe for all hair types, including color-treated and chemically processed hair
#TOP 4

MATRIX A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Leave-in Cream

MATRIX
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MATRIX A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Leave-in Cream Cover
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Leave-in Cream | Moisturizes & Defines Curls | For Curly, Coily, and Wavy Hair | Protects from Heat Styling | Frizz Control & Detangler | 16.9 Fl. Oz.

MATRIX Curl Cream is a moisturizing leave-in cream that is specially formulated for curly and coily hair. Infused with Manuka honey extract, this cream provides the feeling of moisture and definition, helping to revive curl patterns. It is free from silicones, giving your hair a natural feel without leaving any flake or crunch. Whether you have fine hair or thick hair, you can easily customize the amount of product to use. Simply apply it to soaking wet hair from root to tip, sectioning off as you go. Scrunch your curls and follow it up with a light hold gel for the full effect. With MATRIX Curl Cream, you can enjoy hydrated and defined curls without any hassle.

What We Like
Moisturizing
Revives curl patterns
Free from silicones

Argan Magic Nourishing Hair Cream

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Argan Magic Nourishing Hair Cream Cover
Argan Magic Nourishing Hair Cream - Hydrates, Conditions, and Eliminates Frizz for All Hair Types | Seals in Shine | Made in USA, Paraben Free, Cruelty Free (8.5 oz)

Looking for a leave-in styling cream that can help you with frizz, definition, and shine? Look no further than Argan Magic Nourishing Hair Cream. This highly concentrated formula is perfect for all hair types and is made with the highest quality Argan Oil and antioxidants, blended with Vitamin E and shea butter. It can boost your hair shine, revive elasticity, and restore moisture. The Moroccan beauty secret is now available to you, so you can experience the benefits of generations-old beauty traditions.

What We Like
Eliminates frizz, adds definition and seals in brilliant shine
Perfect for all hair types
Enriched with the highest quality Argan Oil and antioxidants
Paraben-free, cruelty-free, and made in the USA
Highly concentrated formula drenches hair with moisture and restores elasticity

CHI Straight Guard Styling Cream, 8.5 FL Oz

CHI
CHI5208
CHI Straight Guard Styling Cream, 8.5 FL Oz Cover
CHI Straight Guard Smoothing Styling Cream, Eliminates Frizz For Sleek & Shiny Hair, Maximum Control, 8.5 Oz

The CHI Straight Guard Styling Cream is designed to control hair and eliminate frizz, providing a superior shine. Its creamy consistency allows for easy styling of smooth and sleek hairstyles, while its brush glide formula makes the application process quick and effortless. This styling cream is perfect for transforming frizzy and curly hair into sleek styles. Additionally, it contains Ionic and Catatonic Hydration Interlink technology to ensure healthy, hydrated hair.

What We Like
Eliminates frizz and provides superior shine
Creamy consistency and easy brush glide formula for effortless styling
Transforms frizzy and curly hair into sleek styles

OUAI Anti Frizz Cream

5652
6 Ounce (Pack of 1)
OUAI Anti Frizz Cream Cover
OUAI Anti Frizz Cream - Moisturizing Hair Cream with Frizz Control & Heat Protection - Provides Lasting Hydration with Jackfruit & Beetroot Extract - Paraben, Phthalate & Sulfate Free (6 oz)

OUAI Frizz Control Cream offers immediate frizz control for up to 72 hours, moisturizes and hydrates hair, helps reduce split ends, and provides intense thermal protection. The formula includes Jackfruit and Beetroot Extract for long-lasting results. With a single pump, you can easily apply it to dry ends and areas prone to frizz, making it suitable for all hair types. Use it between wash days for touch-ups and lasting hydration, simplifying your hair care routine.

What We Like
72-hour frizz control
Moisturizes and hydrates
Intense thermal protection

GK HAIR Global Keratin Leave in Cashmere Hair Smoothing and Styling Cream

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GK HAIR Global Keratin Leave in Cashmere Hair Smoothing and Styling Cream Cover
GK HAIR Global Keratin Leave in Cashmere Hair Smoothing and Styling Cream (1.69 Fl Oz/50ml) Argan Oil for Anti-Frizz Sleek Shine and Hydrates Dry Damaged and Unmanageable Hair Repair

Transform parched hair into smooth, glossy locks with GK HAIR Global Keratin Leave in Cashmere Hair Smoothing and Styling Cream. The cream tames frizz and flyaways, adds shine, and sets the stage for smooth, hydrated, and frizz-free hair. It contains natural ingredients such as anti-aging keratin and argan oil, which provide nourishment and promote softness. This non-harsh and nourishing cream can be used for daily styling and is free from silicone, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and petroleum.

What We Like
Transforms parched hair into smooth, glossy locks
Tames frizz and flyaways, adds shine, and sets the stage for smooth, hydrated, and frizz-free hair
Contains natural ingredients such as anti-aging keratin and argan oil, which provide nourishment and promote softness

Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Defining Creme

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6 Ounce (Pack of 1)
Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Defining Creme Cover
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Crème, Anti Frizz Hair Styling Moisturizer, Leave In Cream for Wavy, Curly, Coily Hair, Boosts Hydration, Vegan, Cruelty-Free, 6 fl oz

Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Defining Creme is a vegan, phthalate & paraben-free defining curl cream suitable for wavy, curly and coily hair texture types - 2A to 4C. It defines curl pattern, minimizes frizz, and provides soft, flexible control. The cream contains rice amino acids to lock out frizz-causing humidity, tomato fruit ferment to enhance moisture retention, and ultra-hydrating avocado oil to create soft and bouncy curls. It is safe for color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically-treated, and relaxed hair.

What We Like
Boosts hydration and defines curl pattern
Minimizes frizz and provides soft, flexible control
Contains rice amino acids, tomato fruit ferment, and ultra-hydrating avocado oil
#TOP 10

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Cream

Kérastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Cream Cover
Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Leave-In Cream, Deeply Conditioning, Reduces Frizz, With Plant-Based Proteins, For Medium to Thick Hair, 1.7 Fl Oz

The Kérastase Heat Protecting Cream is designed to nourish and protect your hair from heat damage up to 450°F. This leave-in cream deeply conditions, making your hair stronger and more manageable, especially if you have medium to thick hair. It contains plant-based proteins that provide essential nutrients while keeping your hair hydrated. Additionally, it helps reduce frizz and flyaways, leaving your hair shiny and easy to style. For best results, use it after washing your hair and enjoy a smooth, detangled finish.

What We Like
Heat protection up to 450°F
Deeply conditions and nourishes
Reduces frizz and flyaways
Enhances shine and manageability
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our leave-in hair styling cream research, we found 48 leave-in hair styling cream products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 283,314 customer reviews through our big data system to write the leave-in hair styling creams list. We found that most customers choose leave-in hair styling creams with an average price of $14.87.

The leave-in hair styling creams are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of leave-in hair styling creams, including Olaplex, Kristin Ess, Nexxus, MATRIX, Argan Magic. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Lisa Bechard Avatar

Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.