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Conditioning your hair is an important step after shampooing. Here’s the correct way to apply conditioner -
- Shampoo your hair with a paraben- and sulphate-free product.
- Rinse out all the shampoo.
- Wring out excess water from your hair.
- Apply conditioner to your hair from the mid-lengths to the tips. The amount of conditioner you dab depends on your hair length and texture.
- Distribute the conditioner evenly using a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to gently detangle.
- Leave the conditioner on for 5-7 minutes to lock moisture into your strands.
- Rinse it off thoroughly with cool water to seal your hair cuticles for maximum smoothness, hydration, and shine.
If you’re still wondering how to use conditioner correctly, read on to for more information.
Your hair is in constant need of care, the obvious reason being that it is always exposed to seasonal and weather changes, pollution, hard water, and lifestyle changes. The more your hair is exposed to these factors, the more it needs maintenance. While shampoo gets all the attention for your smooth, soft, and healthy hair, the real hero is a conditioner. Continue reading as we deep dive into how to use a conditioner correctly.
What is a hair conditioner?
When it comes to cleaning and washing your hair, shampoo and conditioner go hand in hand. A shampoo opens your hair cuticles to clean your scalp off dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells, but it also removes sebum – your hair’s natural conditioner. The sebaceous glands in the skin produce sebum, an oily or waxy substance that moisturises your hair. Therefore, conditioning your hair is a necessity, as it acts as a moisturiser and seals your cuticles. It makes your strands smooth and helps your hair stay shiny and bouncy.
Benefits of applying a conditioner
A hair conditioner is basically your best friend in a bottle. If it’s already not a part of your hair care routine, it’s high time you change that to experience the following benefits -
- Conditioning keeps your hair hydrated.
- We are often at war with our tangled hair. But a conditioner acts as a peace maker. It smooths your hair, making it easier to detangle. This means no more painful brushing and less hair loss.
- A good conditioner builds a protective shield around your hair, thereby reducing the damage from environmental stressors.
What is the correct way to apply the conditioner to your hair?
If you think having shampoo and conditioner means you have all you need, you’re only partly correct. It all boils down to the correct way to apply conditioner to your hair.
- Shampoo your hair thoroughly with a nourishing paraben- and sulfate-free product to clean your scalp.
- Rinse out all the shampoo completely.
- Squeeze out the excess water gently from your hair with your hands or a microfiber towel.
- Apply a small quantity of conditioner to damp hair, ensuring it is not dripping wet to avoid diluting the product.
- Work the conditioner through your locks with your fingers or use a wide-toothed comb to ensure even distribution.
- Wait 5–7 minutes for the conditioner to be absorbed into the hair cuticles.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water until it no longer feels slippery to ensure the product is completely washed off.
How often should you condition your hair?
Once you’ve mastered how to use a conditioner correctly, the next thing is the frequency at which you condition your hair. It depends on your hair texture, the extent of damage, and your lifestyle.
Over-conditioning can make your hair look limp, greasy, and lacklustre, while under-conditioning can cause it to dry out and break easily. It might take some permutations and combinations to find that sweet spot of applying hair conditioner to your hair, but it’ll be worth it.
How much conditioner should you use?
Knowing how much conditioner to apply can be a slippery slope. The amount of conditioner you apply depends on your hair’s length and type.
- For short hair (particularly pixies or ear-length bob cuts), you can dab some conditioner about the size of a blueberry.
- For medium/shoulder-length hair, dab some conditioner the size of a quarter.
- For long hair, dab conditioner that’s equivalent to two quarters or a palm-sized amount.
Advanced hair conditioning techniques
When normal conditioners don’t do the deed, you can depend on other advanced techniques, such as -
- Leave-in conditioner – As the name suggests, you have to leave this conditioner in your damp hair without rinsing it out. It’s made with different ingredients that don’t weigh your hair down. Since you keep this product in your hair for a longer time, it protects your hair shaft and also acts as a heat protectant tool before using any heat styling equipment.
- Deep conditioning – This technique is meant for individuals with dry, damaged, or unmanageable hair. The correct way to apply a conditioner is from the mid-length to the hair tips, keeping it on for 10-20 minutes, so the product penetrates your hair. You can use this method once a week if your hair is damaged or once a month if you have healthy hair which just needs a boost.
- Hair masks – You can use a hair mask every once in a while, to deeply condition and repair your hair.
Choosing the right conditioner for your hair type and how to apply it
Conditioners are not one-size-fits-all; your hair texture has a big say in determining which conditioner you should add to your hair care kit.
- Dry ends receive the least amount of attention, which may lead to split ends or frays and limp ends. This indicates that your hair needs extra love. So, if you have dry and fine hair, opt for a gel-based conditioner that locks in moisture into your strands instead of weighing them down. Apply a small amount of the conditioner to your strands from mid-length to the ends, and to any parts that feel dry. Avoid the roots completely.
- If you’re blessed with thick hair, you can go ahead with a root-to-tip application, while avoiding the scalp. You can also use a wide-toothed comb to ensure even distribution.
- Curly hair can be difficult to manage, but not impossible. Apply the conditioner generously and smooth it down your hair with your palms pressed against each other.
A conditioner isn’t enough
You’ve mastered the correct way to apply a conditioner. But it’s not enough. You can use Traya’s Ultimate Hair Supplements Combo. Backed by the power of Ayurveda, Allopathy, and Nutrition, Traya’s Hair Ras and Hair Vitamin capsules promote hair follicle growth.
Frequently Asked Questions -
1. What is a hair conditioner made up of?
Hair conditioners contain the following ingredients:
- Occlusive substances like silicones help lock moisture in the hair.
- Humectants (such as glycerin, sodium lactate, and panthenol) help hair absorb water, making it look bouncier.
- Emollients (such as plant butters, fatty alcohols, oils, and waxes) fill the gaps between cuticle cells.
- Cationic compounds (positively charged molecules) reduce static in the hair and improve combability.
- pH levels within the range of our hair’s natural pH (which is around 4.5 and 5.5).
2. Can you use a conditioner without shampoo?
Yes, you can use a conditioner without shampooing your hair. This method is known as co-washing. If you’re someone who has very dry and brittle hair, which has undergone chemical treatments, then any further shampooing will only strip your hair off more oil. So, you can condition your hair to clean it and trap moisture into your locks while still removing dirt.
However, you’d still need to use shampoo every now and then to keep your scalp clean. Do note that co-washing is not for all hair types; it’s only meant for dry, coarse, and curly hair textures.
3. Does conditioner cause hair loss or thinning?
While conditioners don’t directly cause hair loss or thinning, excessive usage of conditioners, applying it on the scalp, and also not rinsing it off properly – these factors may cause temporary hair shedding.
4. What are some common conditioning mistakes?
- Avoid using an excess conditioner on your scalp.
- If the conditioner is not properly rinsed out, it can make your hair look dull and weighed down.
- Skipping hair conditioner as a whole can make your hair dry, frizzy, and more prone to split ends and breakage.
References:
- https://naturalhair.org/blogs/news/how-to-use-hair-conditioner?srsltid=AfmBOooFGwTFGotCNvD8Bnr18eENEC2Q9I5JYpdUvAmtZKmoh2Iwq7TD
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-use-hair-conditioner#should-i-use-conditioner
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