Conditioner is a miracle-in-a-tube. With just a dollop, this superhero transforms flyaways and frizzy strands into silky smooth and shiny tresses. But if you use the wrong conditioner for your hair type or use way too much every time you wash your manes, you may end up with greasy-looking roots and hair that just looks weighed down. To get all the benefits from your shampoo and be left with gorgeous locks, using conditioner is essential. Did you know that applying conditioner is not simply ‘slather on and rinse out’? Continue reading and find out how to use conditioner to get healthy-looking, beautiful hair.
What does conditioner do?
Shampoo and conditioner go together like peas and carrots. Step 1, shampoo, cleans your hair from dead skin cells, and removes build-up from hair products like gel. Step 2 in your hair care routine is applying conditioner. Conditioners hydrate and nourish your hair, strengthen the shaft, and put a protective coating on the cuticle. This helps protect your hair from damage and gives your manes a glossy finish.
Is conditioner good for hair?
In short, the answer is YES! The extended answer: conditioner is the backbone of your haircare routine. The right conditioner for your hair type replenishes hair’s moisture that can be stripped from shampooing. Shampoo is designed to cleanse hair of impurities, but can leave the hair more vulnerable. Conditioner helps replenish lost nutrients and leaves your hair hydrated, and less prone to flyaways and frizz.
How to use conditioner
There are 4 ways you can use a conditioner. It’s worth experimenting with these ways to see what works best for your hair type.
#1 Use conditioner after shampoo
After shampoo, your hair needs a moisturizer to add back nutrients and help seal down the cuticle, so it will look and feel its best. Wring out the excess water from your hair, and apply a dollop of conditioner. Make sure you don’t apply any conditioner on your roots! Comb your hair through and let the conditioner sink in for 1 to 5 minutes before rinsing it. It’s totally fine to stay in the shower and let the steam do the work. You can use this time to shave your legs!
#2 Use conditioner as a co-wash
With the co-washing, or no-poo method, you skip the shampoo and use a conditioner to clean your hair. A special co-washing conditioner will gently cleanse your scalp while hydrating the ends. If your hair starts to feel oversaturated or when it looks dull, you can alternate with a shampoo. Just look at what your hair needs.
#3 Don’t rinse out the conditioner all the way
This one is tricky and will take some trial and error, but it’s worth a try. After washing and conditioning your hair, don’t rinse the conditioner out all the way so some residue is left on the strands. The residue will leave a coating, making your hair feel silky smooth and super soft.
Note: This will work best if you have thick, dry and curly hair. Please don’t try this if you have fine or thin hair.
#4 Use conditioner before shampoo
If you have fine or thin hair and feel like conditioners always way down your hair and make it feel greasy, this might be your go-to! The idea is simple: hop in the shower, wet your hair, and apply conditioner all over. Let it sink in for a few minutes (enough time to shave and exfoliate!) before rinsing. Now apply shampoo only at the roots and rinse it out. You’ll be left with hydrated strands and a clean scalp.
Types of conditioner
Conditioners are like people: they come in a variety of forms to suit hair types and individual needs. Here are the most common types of conditioners.
Daily conditioner
The basic among conditioners is the daily conditioner. It’s light enough for daily use and can be rinsed out right away.
Leave-in conditioner
Are you in a hurry or does your hair need some TLC? Then a leave-in conditioner is your go-to! They generally come in a spray and provide additional moisture to your locks.
Deep conditioner
A deep conditioner, aka hair mask, is the more intensive version of a daily conditioner. It penetrates deeper into the hair fibre than any other conditioner, and makes your locks feel silky smooth and soft for days. It’s great to use if you want to give dry or damaged strands an extra moisture boost.
7x biggest mistakes you can make with conditioner
Dull and lifeless hair is often the result of using too much conditioner or the wrong formula for your hair type. We’ve all been there: trying to avoid a bad hair day, and in the never-ending search for lustrous hair, we end up with a ‘do that falls flat. If you’re missing the extra oomph to get beautiful manes, you might be making one of these 7 mistakes.
Mistake #1: Skip conditioner entirely
Some people have experienced that conditioner weighs down their hair, but the catch 22 is that without conditioner, your hair will become brittle leaving you with split ends. Conditioner helps restore moisture and adds nutrients, even if you have an oily scalp by nature.
Mistake #2: You always use a 2-in-1 to save time
In theory, using a 2-in-1 shampoo sounds ideal, but these formulas are not effective if your hair is chin-length or longer. Chin-length hair is over a year old and has seen many blow-drying and combing sessions, meaning the ends need a more targeted conditioner.
Mistake #3: You use way too much conditioner
Easy tiger! A little conditioner goes a long, long way. Using conditioner weighs your hair down and you’ll be left with greasy-looking strands. You only need a dollop of conditioner if you want to avoid OD-ing on conditioner.
Mistake #4: Using conditioner on the roots of your hair
Your scalp produces a natural oil, sebum, meaning your roots never need any conditioner. Another fact: your roots are always the healthiest part of your hair and have less damage than the end of your manes. To get beautiful, healthy-looking strands, focus on conditioning the last 3 inches of your hair shaft.
Mistake #5: Using the wrong conditioner for your hair type
‘One size fits none’ and this definitely goes for conditioner. Whatever conditioner you use, it should be tailored to your hair type and hair needs if you want to avoid build-up (and trust us, you do!). There are different conditioners for different types of hair and all have their specific purposes. Before you pick out a conditioner that suits your hair, carefully read the labels first.
- Processed or damaged hair needs a formula to strengthen the hair bonds
- Colour-treated hair needs a formula with UV filters to protect the hair colour from fading
- Frizzy hair needs a hydrating formula that helps to combat frizz
- Wavy or curly hair needs a curling formula to nourish and redefine curls. Be diligent about spreading the conditioner evenly over your head, and use a wide-tooth comb to run through your hair after applying the conditioner.
- Textured hair needs a stronger conditioner that will better heal and protect your hair
Mistake #6 Use matching conditioner and shampoo
Matching your ‘poo and conditioner brand seems to make sense, but it might stop your precious locks from reaching their peak. Actually, matching these two is like treating two different hair textures. You use shampoo from the scalp to the mid-shaft, and conditioner from the mid-shaft to the ends. Lots of women have an oily scalp and dry ends. It’s best to use a shampoo that works best for greasy roots, and a conditioner that hydrates the ends.
Mistake #7 You let your conditioner sit too long
Yes, you have to follow the directions before you use your conditioner! Leaving conditioner on for too long can weigh hair down, and make it feel and look oily. Yikes! If the letters on the bottle are too small, and you don’t want to wear your glasses in the shower (very understandable :) ), letting it sit for 2 to 3 minutes will generally do the trick.
