A few months ago and on hairdresser’s orders, I went looking for a leave-in conditioner and found they were nearing extinction.

Leave-ins seemed to be everywhere a decade or so ago. I could only assume that, like me, most consumers had forgotten how valuable they are in preventing hair damage in return for the lowest possible effort. As I wonder what to do about my chronically over-bleached ends, I wish I’d come to my senses sooner.

Leave-in conditioners don’t replace the regular kind, and are not even for conditioning the hair per se – although they do this a little bit. Where they excel is in trapping the moisture of your in-shower conditioner before air- or blow-drying, when the hair is at its most fragile. They also add slip to give your brush a gentler ride, and can make a huge difference if you’re struggling to grow hair long because damage is causing breakage towards the ends.

The most famous leave-in conditioner and one that is still selling millions is Redken’s Extreme Anti-Snap Treatment (£26). It’s so popular and so widely adored by hairdressers that I wonder if it has cornered the market and is killing off rival products. It is brilliant, leaving hair smooth, silky, without frizz and noticeably less prone to breakage – though why the market leader can’t mitigate the projectile pump spray to ensure better product dispersal remains a mystery at this high price point (it was ever thus).

If Anti-Snap has a contender, it’s Pureology’s Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray (£31.20). Don’t concern yourself with the “color” part here – everyone’s hair will feel the benefit of this very light, detangling moisture spray, whether it’s dyed, bleached or virgin. The mist here is much lighter and more monsoon-like, and consequently your not insignificant spend goes further.

Beauty Pie’s Super Healthy Hair Always On Leave-In Conditioning Treatment (£20, £12 to members) is a delicious-smelling, very fine mist that can be applied liberally without either weighing down or flattening even thin hair like mine.

Moroccan Oil All In One Leave-In Conditioner (from £12) feels more substantial, making it a better option for thicker, denser hair. Some leave-ins, including this one, claim to double as heat protectors, and on moderate dryer heat they may make a good fist of it. But if using tools like straighteners, tongs and hot brushes, which are much hotter and thus more damaging, follow your leave-in with a dedicated heat protectant cream or spray.

Lighting tech: Declan Slattery. Hair styling: Sarah Cherry. Brush: La Bonne Brosse