Choosing the right conditioner for your hair is an essential element to achieving healthy hair. Conditioning is a process that helps to keep your hair strands hydrated. Knowing how and when to use conditioner can bring the ultimate benefits to the overall health of your hair. It can also be handy to incorporate different types of conditioners into your haircare routine.
Conditioners are great to use before your hair wash, and after, especially if you wear human hair extensions. Conditioners can be made from different formulations, and they can offer different benefits which cater to different hair needs. Finding a hair conditioner that matches your needs will depend on your hair type, length, density, hair damage, hair color (and if it is color treated) sensitivity, volume and of course, your budget.
Conditioners are not all made the same, and they can serve different purposes. Here we will guide you through the three main conditioners you could add to your haircare routine, and explain what benefits they offer, the disadvantages, and how you can effectively use them to gain the optimal results.
1.RINSE-OUT CONDITIONER
Rinse-out conditioner is used after shampooing the hair and it should be used every time you wash your hair. Rinse-out conditioner is a moisturizing agent made up of silicones, oils, humectants, fatty alcohols, and emollients. These ingredients replenish lost moisture making the hair soft and easy to manage. Most shampoos include ingredients that are rough on the hair cuticle as they are formulated to strip the hair of dirt and oil.
Hair is composed of a protein known as keratin, which is made up of a negative charge. Conditioners hold a positive charge which counteracts the excess negative charge caused by shampooing. Rinse-out conditioners usually coat the hair shaft and help the cuticle to lay flat, bringing you shinier, smoother, silkier, and healthy-looking hair.
Benefits
The primary benefit of rinse-out conditioner is that it makes the hair malleable and easy to comb through. Rinse-out conditioner also:
●Rehydrates hair from dryness caused by shampoo.
●Moisturizes hair making it smooth and silky.
●Smoothens cuticles.
●Helps tame frizz.
●Increases shine.
●Makes hair nicer to touch.
Cons
●Using excessive rinse-out conditioners with a high concentration of oil can leave hair greasy, flat, and without volume.
●It can weigh down hair – particularly if you have fine hair.
●It is limited in its moisturizing properties, as the product is only meant to coat the hair shaft and not penetrate it.
●If you are allergic to any ingredients in a conditioner it can cause contact dermatitis.
2.DEEP CONDITIONER
Deep conditioner usually comes in the form of an intensive hair treatment or a hair mask that is specifically formulated to restore hair moisture on a deeper level. Deep conditioners improve the overall health and manageability of hair. Deep conditioning is an essential part of a healthy hair routine. Unlike rinse-out conditioners, deep conditioners have a thicker and richer formula which can repair and strengthen hair on a deeper level. They are made of emollients, oils, humectants, and sometimes hydrolyzed protein that restores and repairs the hair.
Deep conditioners are more powerful and potent than rinse-out conditioners, as they are usually formulated with molecules that are small enough to penetrate into the hair shaft and hydrate the hair strands while filling any damaged gaps. Deep conditioners will hydrate the hair and reduce breakage and shedding.
Due to its potency, deep conditioner should be used a few times a month or weekly if your hair suffers from excessive dryness or damage. Deep conditioner is great for hair damage or color treated hair that needs an added boost of TLC.
Benefits
●Restores hair moisture levels.
●Hair becomes easier to detangle.
●Hair feels softer and silkier.
●Penetrates the hair shaft bringing long-term positive effects to the hair.
●Repairs damage to the hair strands.
●Improves overall hair health if used consistently.
Cons
●If used too often, can lead to moisture overload. This will leave hair feeling too soft and mush-like, not bouncy, and hairstyles won’t hold.
●Some deep conditioners can leave the hair greasy and weighed down especially if you have fine hair.
●Time-consuming. Deep conditioning requires 10-30 minutes for optimum absorption, depending on the product’s guidelines.
●Some deep conditioners can irritate the scalp if you are allergic to the ingredients.
3.LEAVE-IN CONDITIONERS
Unlike rinse-out conditioners and deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners are used post-hair wash. These conditioners are not rinsed out. This is an optional step for after you wash your hair, and it shouldn’t replace the use of other main conditioners. Leave-in conditioners are great as they add an extra boost of hydration to your hair by increasing moisture which improves the overall health to your hair. Leave-ins are also ideal for use before styling the hair as they help to hold hairstyles. Moreover, leave-in conditioners are also perfect to use before putting on human hair extensions.
Leave-in conditioners will keep your hair protected and seal in moisture under a wig.
Benefits
●Softens and moisturizes hair.
●Some leave-in conditioners contain formulas that protect the hair from sun damage and environmental factors such as pollution.
●Unlike rinse-out conditioners, leave-in conditioners are lightweight and will not weigh the hair down or leave it greasy.
●Leave-in conditioners are great for fine hair.
●Helps protect against styling damage.
●Great for detangling due to the added slip.
●Helps fight frizz.
Cons
●If used in excess, it can cause product build-up.
HOW TO APPLY CONDITIONER
The general rule of thumb when using any conditioner is to not to apply them on soaking wet hair. Excess water on your stands will only dilute your conditioner. Remember that your hair is porous meaning it only takes what it needs and discards the rest. Products will not penetrate or coat your hair if water is at the maximum holding capacity. Follow the guidelines provided on your conditioner and slightly adjust it to suit your hair needs for optimum results.
Step 1: Be gentle and shampoo your hair with warm water. Rinse out. Gently use a cotton fiber towel to blot out excess water.
Step 2: Apply your rinse-out conditioner. Focus on the ends. Avoid the scalp. Leave for 5 minutes. Use your fingers followed by a wide-tooth comb to detangle and get rid of any knots, snags, or shedding hair. Evenly disperse the product throughout your hair. Rinse out gently.
Step 3: Apply a hydrating deep conditioner to your hair. Put on a shower cap to trap heat and to allow a deeper penetration of the product into your hair strands. Leave in for 15-30 minutes. This is a great time to detangle if needs be. Rinse out.
Step 4: Once your hair is dried, on slightly damp hair, evenly apply your leave-in conditioner. Style your hair to wear or put on your wig.
If your hair is going through excess dryness, thinning, heat damage, or excessive shedding, and is not so easy to detangle, the best option is to leave your hair alone after your conditioning routine. Deep conditioners require time and a consistent hair routine to help hair recover from any damage. There are always wigs for sale that you can purchase, so feel free to rock a cute wig or hair extensions while your hair recovers.