Hair conditioner isn’t the most glamorous step of your hair care routine. Put a dollop on, rub, and rinse out….right? There's more than what meets the eye. The truth is, while beauty experts can tout suggestions for any beauty regimen, the best routine is one that yields the best results for YOUR hair type and needs!
The Basics
Starting from square one, we need to understand what hair conditioner is and its important role in your hair routine. Considered a supplement to a hair wash routine, conditioners function is bigger than you think. It provides much-needed hydration after shampoo strips the natural oils from your hair follicles. Just like your carefully crafted skincare routine, it’s important to provide balance to your hair and scalp. Conditioning just does that, by providing an essential boost of hydration after you lather with shampoo.
When to Condition
Like yin and yang, shampoo and conditioner balance each other out. Remember to always follow up with hair conditioner after shampooing! That being said, you don’t need to wash your hair on a daily basis.
Try these hair care schedules based on your hair type:
- Normal Hair - The grey area of hair types, it is considered normal when your hair is not dry, too oily, or has no need for damage repair. Those who have normal hair should wash and condition every 2 days.
- Fine/Thin Hair - Fine hair’s lack of volume can make oil buildup more noticeable, so you may believe washing your hair every day is best. That’s not the case! You can retrain your hair to ban excess oil, without dehydrating your scalp. Try shampooing every 2 days, and using a conditioner to prevent over-drying of the strands and follicles.
- Greasy Hair - It’s hard for those who have oily scalps to resist the urge of washing more frequently to get rid of that oil. In reality, over-washing does the opposite of what you may think it will do. Yes, it will temporarily relieve you of that extra oil, but it can kickstart oil production to compensate for the oils you’ve stripped out. Combat this by training your hair to go multiple days without washing. If you wash your hair every day, try washing it every other day to start. Build your way to washing and conditioning it every 2 days until you see your hair getting less greasy on day 1.
- Thick Hair - While it may appear lush and full, those with thick hair are still susceptible to oily, flaky irritated, and itchy scalp concerns like everyone else. The biggest difference is that thick hair can mask these issues by physically covering more of the scalp. Try washing your hair 1 to 2 times a week to thoroughly clarify buildup of dirt and oil, and conditioning to replenish the moisture.
- Dry Hair - Try washing every 2 to 3 days with a super hydrating shampoo, specifically designed to combat damaged hair. Look for nourishing natural ingredients like our Moroccan Argan Oil or Coconut Milk lines to achieve gloriously glossy locks Conditioning is a critical step in your hair care routine to seal split ends, fight frizz, and get that shine you’ve been looking for.
- Curly Hair - Shampooing 1 to 2 times a week is the ideal amount to keep your hair in proper shape. Look for a powerful shampoo that will clarify scalp build-up, while hydrating to alleviate dryness for sleek, sexy curls. Intense conditioning hair oils and masks are also great to boost moisture in your hair!
How to Condition
While the most common method of hair washing consists of shampooing, rinsing, followed by conditioning, there’s no overarching rule to follow. Even on a non-hair wash day, you can still condition your hair to give it a boost of hydration, especially those who have dry, damaged, or curly hair. Or, perhaps you would like to condition first to help soften the follicles before washing, then by all means go for it! There’s really no right or wrong way, as restoring moisture by conditioning can only help provide optimal health for your hair.
To optimize your hair care routine, check out these do’s and don’ts to give you a great hair day, every day.
- Keep conditioner away from the roots. Instead, focus on the most damaged or moisture-deprived ends of your hair first to ensure those critical areas receive the most amount of product. Any conditioner residue on your roots can cause hair to be heavier and weigh it down. Your scalp’s sebum has that handled, so keep conditioner below the ears.
- Don't apply conditioner to sopping-wet hair. If your hair is too wet, the conditioner slides off and can’t penetrate or coat your hair well. Be sure to wring out your hair before applying conditioner to maximize hydration penetration.
- Even distribution is key, using our Scalp Massager Brush to detangle and distribute conditioner will ensure each part of the strand will be properly nourished.
- Don’t over saturate. The amount of conditioner you use is key. If your hair feels overly slick and greasy, you may be using too much conditioner for your hair type. Those with thick and/or curly hair can use be more liberal with product, but those with fine hair should start off with just a dollop and increase if your hair still feels dry.
- Give the conditioner time to soak in. To optimize your hair care routine, let the shampoo and conditioner sit for 2-3 minutes to allow the conditioning elements to fully soak in, and do their job.
- Rinse out properly, ensuring that your strands feel smoother but not slick with product. For optimal absorption, try rinsing out the conditioner with cool water to seal the hair follicle, thus effectively locking in moisture.
Why You Should Condition
Reality is, everyone’s hair can benefit from conditioning. The nourishing and hydrating properties support your hair health. Even if you were born with gorgeous, strong locks, outside factors such as weather, sun damage, air pollutants, and styling products can affect the overall health.
Even in your weekly routine, shampooing alone strips your hair of the necessary oils to maintain balance. For those who have color-treated, dry, or damaged hair, conditioner is a must-have to restore moisture and health. Folks with curly hair can especially benefit from conditioning, as the added moisture seals the strands for sleek, bouncy curls. Hair’s higher propensity for dryness means conditioning is a step you can’t skip. While maintaining the regular washing and conditioning routine, using a hair mask once or even twice weekly will work to provide a concentrated boost of hydration and nourishment to accelerate the restoration process.
What Type of Conditioners to Use
The best nourishing care for your hair comes from natural actives known to provide optimal hydration. For the best possible results, we recommended you use separate shampoos and conditioners, rather than 2 in 1 combination types. Conditioning alone is intended to restore what has been stripped from shampooing, therefore it works so much better as a standalone product. WOW Skin Science prides itself on using the most effective, natural ingredients without harsh chemicals that damage your hair further. WOW’s products are always vegan, cruelty-free, and free of harmful parabens and sulfates.
Look for ultra-hydrating ingredients like Moroccan argan oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and almond oil. Any combination of these oils create an incredible blend of nature’s best-kept secrets. They work to provide deep hydration, restoration, and nourishment from the high concentration of vitamins and minerals. Depending on what your hair type needs, you can find the perfect conditioner with our haircare quiz!
Who knew that there was so much to learn about conditioning? This very underrated and under-appreciated part of the hair care process has so much importance. The good thing is, conditioning really doesn’t take a ton of effort but has a very high reward. Knowing the right ingredients to look out for, and which to avoid, will ensure you’re stocked with the best products for your hair care needs. Let us do the hard work for you, and find your perfect hair care regimen here.
Sources:
Recommended Products
No recommended products
Related Articles
Quick and Easy Way To Measure Your Hair Density
Catherine Abel
6 mins
7 Benefits That Come From Using a Scalp Brush on Your Hair
Nancy Smith
6 mins
What Is Type 4B Hair and How To Care For It
Catherine Abel
6 mins
Latest posts: