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Kicking off 2022 with ourList Beauty Awardsseemed like a no-brainer.

The List stamp with As I Am leave-in conditioner

Enter one of our most trusted items:leave-in conditioner.

These high-end itemsweregreat, but our favorite leave-in conditioner was actually the least expensive of the bunch.

This product is cruelty-free, and it’s also free from dyes, aluminum, and parabens.

As I Am leave in conditioner bottle

Then you’re able to brush and style your hair normally!

In addition to providing added hydration, leave-in conditioners prevent breakage and protect your hair against heat styling.

More specifically, we tried theCactus Flower Leave-In Conditionerfrom Dae, which retails for $26 at Sephora.

dae cactus flower leave in conditioner bottle

Dae’s Cactus Flower Leave-In Conditioner is also vegan, gluten-free, and comes in recyclable packaging.

Plus, it’s free from harmful ingredients and it smells absolutely amazing.

What a dream, right?

Ouai x Byredo leave in conditioner bottle

We noticed our hair was curlier and felt healthier than usual when using this brand.

Awkwafina, for example,swears by Living Proof’s dry shampoo.

To try it out, we shampooed our hair regularly before running a bit of conditioner through our ends.

Mielle leave in conditioner bottle

Reader: the results did not improve.

Our hair somehow felt drier and oilier at the same time and the overall experience was disappointing.

We’ll be sticking with our favorite from here on out.

Living Proof leave in conditioner bottle