Best Leave In Conditioner? 2,581 Reviews of amika, Briogeo and Kristin Ess

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Review-analysis guide: 2,581 customer reviews read on Ulta, Sephora and Target (October 27, 2026), sorted and counted by us; product details from Amazon listings checked October 27, 2026.

By The Beauty Read · Checked October 27, 2026 · AI-assisted research and editing · Contains Amazon affiliate links

No leave in conditioner here won on everything. The amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner (paid link) drew the most softness praise (49% of 542 usable reviews). The Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray (paid link) drew the most frizz praise (24% of 1,085, mostly 2015 to 2021 reviews). The Kristin Ess leave-in spray (paid link) (349 Target reviews, where it has a different name) drew the most detangling praise (18%) and the most scent complaints (22%).

Best leave in conditioner: what 2,581 reviews say

A leave in conditioner stays in your hair after washing, and shoppers want different things from it: softer hair, less frizz, easier detangling or a light feel. We read 2,581 Ulta, Sephora and Target reviews of three popular picks and counted how often reviewers reported each result or complaint: the amika Hydro Rush leave-in, the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk spray and the Kristin Ess leave-in spray. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE] [A1] [A2] [A3]

The amika leave-in drew softness praise from 49% of 542 usable reviews and no-change reports from 8%. Briogeo drew frizz praise from 24% of 1,085 and lightweight praise from 25%, while 9% said hair stayed frizzy or got frizzier. Kristin Ess drew detangling praise from 18% of 349 and shine praise from 20%, but 22% disliked the scent or found it too strong and 19% saw no difference. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

Star ratings differ by store, so we compare what reviewers describe rather than stars. For context, one- and two-star shares were 5% for amika on Ulta and 21% on Sephora, 27% for Briogeo on Ulta and 17% on Sephora, and 36% for Kristin Ess on Target. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

Which reviews we read, and the 605 we set aside

Ulta's pages stop after about 300 reviews: they served 272 of 738 shown for amika and 148 of 153 for Briogeo. On Sephora we read every US English review except those marked incentivized or written by staff: 592 for amika (133 skipped unread) and 1,214 for Briogeo (85 skipped unread). On Target we read the 355 reviews written there for the Kristin Ess spray and skipped 264 copied from other sites. We kept 1,976 and set aside 605. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

What we set aside: three bursts of reviews. On Sephora, amika drew 283 reviews from July to September 2022, the first three months in Sephora's feed; 57 said the product was free, and 3 of the 224 others we could use gave one or two stars (1%), against 21% of the Sephora amika reviews we kept. On Ulta, we set aside June 2025 (31 amika reviews) because 4 of them said the product was free (4 of the 6 free reviews we found on that page) and none of the 27 others we could use gave one or two stars, against 5% of the Ulta reviews we kept. January 2025 had a similar count (31 reviews) with no free reviews, so we kept it. Briogeo drew 204 Sephora reviews from July to September 2017, several times its usual monthly count; 5 said it was free, and 13 of the 198 others we could use gave one or two stars (7%), against 17% of the Sephora Briogeo reviews we kept. [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-BRI]

We also set aside 66 more reviews that said the product was free and 21 about another product, repeated, about shipping, not used yet or with no text. Some cautions: 932 of Briogeo's 1,085 usable reviews are from 2015 to 2021, 282 of Kristin Ess's 349 are from 2017 to 2023, and Ulta reviews were not screened for incentives the way Sephora's were. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

The amika leave in conditioner drew the most softness praise

The Amazon listing for amika Hydro Rush describes a leave-in conditioner with hyaluronic acid that detangles while reducing flyaways and frizz, and makes asterisked claims of 3x more hydrated hair and 72 hours of hydration. We link the 6.7 fl oz option shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A1]

Across 542 usable reviews (237 Ulta, 305 Sephora), 263 (49%) said hair felt moisturized, softer or less dry, 160 (30%) liked the scent, 86 (16%) would buy it again or call it a staple, 78 (14%) called it lightweight and 73 (13%) said it detangles. Complaints: 41 (8%) saw no difference, 33 (6%) found it greasy, heavy or left buildup, 30 (6%) said hair felt dry, crunchy or stiff and 29 (5%) had a packaging problem such as a pump or sprayer that broke, clogged or leaked. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI]

By store, 5% of the Ulta reviews and 21% of the Sephora reviews gave one or two stars. Ulta reviews were not screened for incentives the way Sephora's were, so read the Ulta share with care. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI]

See amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner, 6.7 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 6.7 fl oz leave-in shipped and sold by Amazon.com; another option is on the same page.

Briogeo Farewell Frizz drew the most frizz praise, mostly in older reviews

Briogeo's Amazon listing describes Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk as a lightweight, milky detangling spray with rosehip, argan and coconut oils, silicone-free and vegan, for straight, wavy, curly and coily hair, and claims it decreases frizz for up to 48 hours. We link the 5 fl oz spray sold by Briogeo and shipped by Amazon. [A2]

In 1,085 usable reviews (139 Ulta, 946 Sephora), 416 (38%) said hair felt softer or less dry, 274 (25%) called it lightweight, 262 (24%) reported less frizz or fewer flyaways, the highest share of the three, and 229 (21%) would buy it again or call it a staple. 123 (11%) saw no difference and 97 (9%) said hair stayed frizzy or got frizzier. [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI]

Most of these reviews are years old: 932 are from 2015 to 2021. Of the 61 usable reviews from 2024 on, 18 (30%) gave one or two stars, against 17% of earlier ones, and 4 of those 61 said the formula or scent changed and they like it less. That is a small recent sample. [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI]

See Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray, 5 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 5 fl oz spray sold by Briogeo and shipped by Amazon; other options are on the same page.

Kristin Ess drew the most detangling praise and the most scent complaints

Target's 8.45 fl oz Kristin Ess spray is named Weightless Shine Leave In Conditioner Spray + Detangler; Amazon's 8.45 fl oz Kristin Ess spray is titled Hydrating Salon Leave In Conditioner Spray. We describe the Amazon spray only from its Amazon listing, and the two pages do not show whether the formula stayed the same over the years our Target reviews cover. Those reviews are mostly from 2017 to 2023 (282 of 349). [A3] [R-TGT-KRE]

Amazon's listing describes a sulfate- and paraben-free, color-safe, vegan spray with castor oil that hydrates, detangles and tames frizz, and says it won't weigh hair down, including fine, wavy and curly hair. Its directions: towel dry, then, while hair is still completely wet, spray 5 to 10 times all over and blow dry or air dry. The listing describes the scent two ways, as floral and herbal with notes of ambrette seed, pear, rose and amber, and as white amber, magnolia, pear water and sandalwood. We link the 8.45 fl oz bottle shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A3]

In 349 usable Target reviews, 127 (36%) liked the scent, 106 (30%) said hair felt softer or less dry, 79 (23%) called it lightweight, 69 (20%) mentioned shinier or healthier-looking hair and 62 (18%) said it detangles, the highest shine and detangling shares of the three. Complaints ran higher too: 76 (22%) disliked the scent or found it too strong, 68 (19%) saw no difference and 37 (11%) said hair felt dry, crunchy or stiff. 124 (36%) gave one or two stars on Target. [R-TGT-KRE]

Of the 67 usable reviews from 2024 on, 35 (52%) gave one or two stars, against 32% of earlier ones. That is a small recent sample. Only 2 reviewers in all said the formula or scent changed, so the reviews do not show a cause. [R-TGT-KRE]

See Kristin Ess Hydrating Salon Leave In Conditioner Spray, 8.45 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 8.45 fl oz spray shipped and sold by Amazon.com; a 10.15 fl oz size is on the same page. Target's 8.45 fl oz Kristin Ess spray has a different name.

How each leave in conditioner feels, by hair type

Leave in conditioner for fine hair: of reviewers who said their hair is fine or thin, 13 of 148 for Briogeo, 7 of 42 for amika and 9 of 52 for Kristin Ess found it greasy, heavy or left buildup, while 20 of those 42 amika, 66 of 148 Briogeo and 22 of 52 Kristin Ess reviewers called it lightweight. The amika and Kristin Ess groups are small. [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

For a leave in conditioner for curly hair, frizz was the clearest split: of reviewers with curly, coily or wavy hair, 78 of 237 for Briogeo, 14 of 87 for amika and 7 of 41 for Kristin Ess reported less frizz, and 45 of those 87 amika reviewers said hair felt softer or less dry. Curl definition praise was similar for amika and Briogeo (15 of 87 and 43 of 237). [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

If you are shopping for a leave in conditioner for dry hair, softness reports are the closest signal we counted: 49% of amika reviews said hair felt moisturized, softer or less dry, against 38% for Briogeo and 30% for Kristin Ess. On feel, greasy, heavy or buildup complaints were close for all three (6% to 7%), and dry, crunchy or stiff reports were highest for Kristin Ess (11%). [R-ULT-AMI] [R-SEP-AMI] [R-ULT-BRI] [R-SEP-BRI] [R-TGT-KRE]

Keep reading

• Best curl cream: Curlsmith, PATTERN and OUAI
• Clarifying shampoo: Redken, Paul Mitchell and Olaplex
• Curly hair shampoo: Briogeo, Bumble and Color Wow

Frequently asked questions

What is leave in conditioner?

It is a conditioner you leave in after washing instead of rinsing out. The three listings here describe different jobs: hydration with hyaluronic acid for amika, frizz control and detangling with plant oils for Briogeo, and detangling, frizz taming and moisture with castor oil for Kristin Ess. In reviews, softer or less dry hair was the top praise for amika and Briogeo; for Kristin Ess, the scent came first.

How to use leave in conditioner spray?

The Kristin Ess listing gives the clearest directions: towel dry your hair, then, while it is still completely wet, spray 5 to 10 times all over and blow dry or air dry. The parts of the amika and Briogeo Amazon listings we read do not give directions, so follow the label on the bottle you receive.

Is there a leave in conditioner for fine hair that is not heavy?

Among reviewers with fine or thin hair, Briogeo drew the lowest share of greasy, heavy or left-buildup reports: 13 of 148 (9%), against 7 of 42 (17%) for amika and 9 of 52 (17%) for Kristin Ess. Between 42% and 48% of each group called it lightweight. The amika and Kristin Ess groups are small, so treat this as a lean.

What do reviews say about amika leave in conditioner?

Of 542 usable Ulta and Sephora reviews of amika Hydro Rush, 49% said hair felt moisturized, softer or less dry, 30% liked the scent and 16% would buy it again. 8% saw no difference and 5% had a packaging problem. We set aside 283 Sephora reviews from its first three months there and 31 Ulta reviews from June 2025.