Joico made this leave-in for hair that is thick, coarse or curly and feels extremely dry or dehydrated: strands that tangle easily, lose moisture quickly and frizz. It is color-safe, so it suits color-treated and chemically treated hair that feels dry.

It is a salon brand sold for everyday home use; no special technique is needed. For fine to medium hair that is dry, Joico points to its lighter HydraSplash Replenishing Leave-In instead.

Most leave-ins for very dry hair rely on silicones to make hair feel smooth. 24HR Moisture Recharge gets its slip from Olive Ester instead, and pairs it with Sea Kelp to put moisture back into parched strands. What sets it apart in the Moisture Recovery line is Joico's SmartRelease liposome delivery, which keeps releasing Rosehip Oil, Arginine and vegan Keratin after application rather than all at once, aimed at repairing and strengthening hair worn down by daily styling.

It also covers more than one job: detangling, frizz protection and heat protection to 450°F, with Joico reporting less split-end appearance and better resistance to breakage with each use. For thick, coarse or curly hair that is dry again by midday, it is a single step that handles all of that.

• Wash and condition, then towel-dry so hair is damp.
• Pump a small amount into your palms and apply evenly through the lengths and ends, avoiding the root area.
• Style as desired; it can go on before blow-drying or hot tools, with heat protection up to 450°F / 232°C.
• Do not rinse out.

It can also be used on dry hair to refresh dry ends, either on its own or as the final step after Moisture Recovery Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment Balm.

Pros

• Silicone-free slip from Olive Ester, so it softens and detangles without silicone build-up
• Doubles as a heat protectant (up to 450°F / 232°C), which saves a step before blow-drying or hot tools
• Works on wet or dry hair, so it can be reapplied to refresh dry ends between washes
• Color-safe and free of parabens and SLS/SLES sulfates

Cons

• Made for thick, coarse or curly hair; on fine hair it can feel heavy, which is why Joico steers fine hair to HydraSplash
• Needs to be kept off the roots, so it takes a little care to apply
• Contains added fragrance, which may not suit people avoiding scented products
• The smoothness and softness figures are Joico's own test results