Hair conditioners come in various forms, from thick liquids to lighter lotions and sprays. After shampooing, conditioner is usually applied and either rinsed out shortly later or left in for longer-term benefits.
Careful consideration must be given when choosing the appropriate conditioner for your hair type; using too much can leave it looking and feeling oily.
Protein-containing conditioners
Protein treatments can be very helpful in strengthening and repairing damaged hair from within, strengthening and repairing each strand from within. Many contain hydrolyzed proteins which penetrate more easily.
Breakage prevention products can also help by minimizing moisture loss (some proteins form a clear film to limit water loss) and by improving hydration for dry or brittle locks. Be careful, however; too many may leave your locks stiff or brittle!
Consider products containing both small and large vegetable proteins such as soy, corn, quinoa, and oat to provide maximum support for all types of hair. Also opt for deep conditioners containing moisturizing ingredients to keep strands hydrated – Verb has created one such deep conditioner featuring shea butter, baobab oil, avocado oil and quinoa protein which help detangle while strengthening and hydrating. It can be used both OTC or as leave-in protein treatment; biweekly is advised.
Moisture-rich conditioners
This conditioner gently detangles hair while providing optimal amounts of moisture for soft, supple, healthy-looking locks. Crafted with Shea Butter, Baobab Oil and Kukui Oil – proven hydratants formulated to strengthen fibers from within! You won’t want to miss this conditioner’s beautiful results!
TRESemme Rich Moisture Conditioner for Dry Hair contains Hyaluronic Plex (TM), which nourishes every strand to give luxurious texture without weight. It leaves hair feeling hydrated, soft, luscious and salon-level shine.
This conditioner is packed with vitamin E and Green Tea Leaf Extract to protect from further damage while offering your hair a natural look and feel. Shea Butter, Babassu Oil, and Rosehip Oil help hydrate locks while providing essential vitamins and minerals essential to healthy locks. Perfect for all hair types but especially beneficial to damaged or chemically treated locks; its color-loving system preserves vibrant hues up to 95% longer!
Conditioners for specific hair types
While all conditioners serve the same basic function of replenishing moisture to your locks, different formulas are tailored to meet specific hair care needs – for instance rinse-out conditioners are designed for everyday use while leave-in, deep, and co-wash conditioners can all meet individual demands.
For fine hair, find a rinse-out conditioner that won’t weigh down or leave behind filmy buildup. Formulas featuring glycerin provide weightless hydration without squashing strands.
Curly or coily hair requires a thicker, deeper conditioner to control frizz and define its curl patterns, typically one formulated with moisturizing oils like shea butter or argan oil to keep strands soft and hydrated. Damaged strands require something even deeper such as Olaplex No. 5, known for its bond-building formula that relinks broken bonds; in addition, strengthening proteins such as keratin and collagen help foster healthy hair growth.
Conditioners for specific hair problems
Conditioners come with customized formulations designed to address specific hair problems. Some contain peptides to plump up each individual fiber of hair for fuller looking locks; others reduce frizz by creating more shine; still others protect strands against heat-styling tools like blow dryers.
Conditioners do not exacerbate hair fall; rather, when you wash your hair after using conditioner, any loose hairs that fall out are likely ones that were going to come loose eventually anyway and thus clog the drain almost instantly after shampooing.
Conditioners also have the added advantage of sealing down hair cuticles, leaving hair softer and smoother. But over-conditioning or improper rinsing may damage it further; to find out your hair type and find an appropriate conditioner, consult a skin expert – ask them for samples to test on your scalp!
