While cleaning your hair is essential, it’s every bit as important to condition your hair too. If this is a new step in your hair and skin regime, this inclusive guide will give you the hows, whys, and whens to making your locks say all the right things.
In this article, you'll learn:
- What does conditioner do?
- What is conditioner used for?
- How much conditioner should you use?
- How often should you use conditioner?
What does conditioner do?
Hair conditioner does a lot of things for your hair. Anyone who has ever grown their hair long knows that without it, your locks can quickly become a tangled mess. That’s great if you’re growing dreadlocks, disaster if you show up that way for a job interview. The reason conditioner makes hair easier to manage is simple: it brings back moisture to your hair by restoring the natural oils and minerals that shampooing -- and the environment -- take away. And when hair is softer and more supple, it’s less prone to breaking and split ends.
What is conditioner used for?
Conditioner has a lot of utility. As we mentioned earlier, shampooing can strip hair. That’s great and necessary, since hair can be a magnet for dirt and other environmental pollutants. But after stripping away the bad stuff, conditioner restores the good stuff, i.e., natural oils and nutrients our bodies make to keep our hair looking and feeling its best. Conditioner replaces those essentials, making hair softer and more resilient — qualities that make hair look healthier and more attractive.
How much conditioner should you use?
Depending on how long, thick or damaged your hair is, you want to use one or two palm-sized dabs every time you condition. Also, how you use a conditioner is very important. Unlike shampoo, where you really want to get down to the scalp to clean hair follicles and pores, you should apply conditioner about a hair-inch away from your skin. After all, you don’t want to block those follicles with the oil, silicones, and other emollients coating the scalp you’ve just cleaned. Then work the conditioner away from your scalp toward the end of your hair. Leave it on for about three minutes (unless you’re doing a deep condition) then rinse thoroughly. Those of you with longer hair might want to use a comb or brush to detangle while the conditioner is still in your hair.
How often should you use conditioner?
The answer to this question really depends on how long or damaged your hair is. For longer hair, you’ll want to condition every day (to keep the knots away). Those of us with shorter hair can get by with two or three times per week.
Of course, if your hair is suffering from moderate to severe damage or dryness, you should think about using a leave-in conditioner at least once a week. Leave-in conditioners aren’t rinsed right away. They stay in the hair to repair the strands that have been dried, while replacing the moisture you’ve lost. And when in doubt, check the directions on the bottle to make sure you’re doing it right.
If you follow all the above, you should have lustrous locks worthy of a mid-1980s metal video in no time.
Our Strengthening Conditioner moisturizes the scalp and hair, for smoother, frizz-free hair. It’s formulated with the following:
- Rice Protein and Vitamin B5: Sometimes referred to as panthenol, this combination seals in moisture to follicles, giving hair a shine and softness without layering on greasy oils.
- Avocado oils: Avocado oils nourish both the scalp and hair.
- Squalane: Squalane helps to replenish hair and protect it from further damage. It softens and adds shine without greasiness.
