Everything you wanted to know about hair conditioner

Although many people’s hair care routines include hair conditioner as a must, there’s much more to it than just slathering it in after shampooing. Conditioners do more than just make your hair feel nice; they are essential for preserving the health of your hair and making it easier to manage.

We’ll explore the fundamentals of hair conditioner in this post, including its various forms and how it functions. Knowing what conditioner is best for your hair type and needs can help you make better decisions, whether you’re trying to strengthen, add shine, or tame frizz.

We’ll also examine some widespread misunderstandings and myths regarding conditioners to assist you in distinguishing fact from fiction. Thus, continue reading to learn everything you need to know if you’ve ever wondered how to get the most out of your conditioner or if you’re just interested in learning about its advantages.

Question	Answer
What is a hair conditioner?	A hair conditioner is a product used after shampoo to soften and smooth your hair, making it easier to manage.
How do I use hair conditioner?	Apply it to wet hair after rinsing out your shampoo, focusing on the ends. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse.
What does conditioner do?	It moisturizes, detangles, reduces frizz, and protects your hair from damage.
Can I use conditioner every day?	Yes, if your hair feels dry or frizzy. For oily hair, use less frequently, focusing on the ends.
Is leave-in conditioner different?	Yes, leave-in conditioner stays in your hair, providing longer-lasting moisture and protection.

Intro

Recently, an interesting video went viral on the Internet: a girl applies a large amount of conditioner to her hair after washing, puts on a shower cap, then wraps her head in a towel and goes to bed to wash off the product with regular water in the morning. To be honest, I couldn’t resist and tried it. It was uncomfortable to sleep: the cap rustled, the towel got in the way, and the cat, who usually sleeps with me in an embrace, contemptuously went to the sofa. But the result pleasantly surprised me! After this execution, my hair became soft and silky — and I have dry, porous curls.

Give up if you’ve already hurriedly tried this approach. It came to light after my experiment that suffering a great deal was not at all necessary to get a great outcome. All you have to do is learn how hair conditioner functions, select the appropriate one, and figure out how long your hair needs to be exposed, depending on its type. which we are going to do right now.

How does hair conditioner work

What benefits does using hair conditioner offer, and is it necessary? The cuticle scales naturally lift when shampoo is used to clean the hair; this is required to get rid of all pollutants, leave-in conditioner, and styling residue. Typically, the scales don’t go down after washing. Because of this, hair frequently appears unhealthy and dry after a shower. And this is where the hair conditioner comes in!

The primary function of conditioner is to make hair "as it was and even better" by smoothing the cuticle (the appearance of hair with and without conditioner differs significantly). This task can be expanded to include moisturizing, nourishing, restorative, etc. The varieties of hair conditioners that follow will be discussed. In other words, you must use a smoothing product after every hair wash. Stylists typically advise leave-in serum, light lamellar water, or conditioner. Occasionally—a hair mask.

Because curly hair is porous and dry by nature, it requires intense hydration constantly. For this reason, you can use the mask A Curl Can Dream right away after shampooing, omitting the conditioner step.

How conditioner differs from hair mask?

• They have different tasks: conditioner smoothes, seals the cuticle, and the mask works deeper in the hair structure and solves a specific problem (porosity, brittleness, dullness).

• They have different textures: conditioner is light, the mask is thicker and more nourishing.

It is preferable to use both, occasionally (once or twice a week) switching out conditioner with a mask in an ideal world where you and I have plenty of time for hair care.

Experts at SalonSecret provide a life hack. You should occasionally decline a traditional thick conditioner. For instance, instead of using High Amplify by Matrix, consider using lamellar water with conditioning properties if you have fine, short- to medium-length, undamaged hair.

Its weightless texture accomplishes what we typically expect from a professional conditioner without making us feel heavy.

Hair conditioner is a basic yet necessary product that adds moisture and shields hair from damage to keep it manageable, soft, and smooth. Knowing how to use conditioner correctly can have a significant impact on the health and appearance of your hair, regardless of whether you have dry, curly, or colored hair.

Rating of the best hair conditioners according to SalonSecret

I won’t keep you waiting too long; let’s get to SalonSecret experts’ rankings of the best hair conditioners.

Instacure by Matrix

A light conditioner with a floral scent that prevents breakage of hair thanks to a professional formula made of liquid protein. It is advised by our knowledgeable staff to repair dry, porous, and damaged hair. The secondary cause of damage can be chemical (carving, bleaching) or mechanical (tight styling, metal clips, friction).

Metal Detox by L"Oréal Professionnel

A unique product! Glycoamine in its composition effectively copes with the consequences of copper particles accumulation in the hair cortex. Such particles are brought by tap water – hard due to the geography of your region or wear of pipes. Rinse-off care helps to preserve the effect of salon coloring, provides color protection from solar ultraviolet radiation and reduces hair breakage. By the way, you can only find it in a beauty salon, the conditioner is intended exclusively for professionals.

Unbreak My Blonde by Matrix

Citric acid is added to the conditioner formula, which is intended to nourish delicately bleached hair. After the bleaching process, a professional product deeply nourishes and strengthens hair strands every day, ensuring that blondes only feel happy.

Strength Recovery by Biolage

Care as well as spa. Whatever the case, this creamy conditioner’s aroma is incredibly calming and helps you unwind after a demanding day. Mineral oils, which are common in many nutritional formulas, are not present in it. Squalane and vegetable oils (shea and sunflower) have a strengthening and restoring effect. Additionally, supporters of natural cosmetics will appreciate that 97% of the conditioner’s ingredients are naturally sourced.

Scalp Advanced from L’Oréal Professionnel

Gentle gel care that doesn’t weigh down hair and has a light texture for sensitive scalps. effectively lessens tingling and itching discomfort and facilitates easier combing. In rare instances, conditioner can be used on both the hair and the scalp.

Pro Longer from L’Oréal Professionnel

An additional formula without a counterpart in our collection. It was developed for people who want to grow gorgeous, long hair free of split ends. And particularly for those who aren’t prepared to turn down stain and style experiments in the name of opulent length. When combined, the active ingredients function as a filler to give hair its uniform density and smoothness.

Color Obsessed by Matrix

Because it provides the strands with everything they need after coloring—smoothness, friability, balanced nutrition, and long-lasting color brightness—a long-standing favorite of the salon brand never goes out of style. Those with dry, porous colored hair can use the conditioner. Because the product’s antioxidant-rich formula slows down the rate of fading and washing away from the shade, combing after the care routine is quick and easy. And it makes sense that fragility is decreased when the comb does not forcefully rip through the hair.

ColorBalm by Biolage

You can condition your hair and simultaneously give it a shade. With a gamma ColorBalm this will take from 5 to 10 minutes. Conditioners allow you to maintain the intensity of the color after coloring or change the tone when the previous coloring is washed off. The range includes several shades, including trendy copper, cold red and pastel lavender.

Brass Off by Matrix

The conditioner in Matrix’s "Cold Blond" system, which is based on the Brass Off range, is in charge of nutrition. Its purpose is not to balance out undesirable warm undertones or provide care for blonde hair. Vitaminized oil in the formula provides elasticity and softness to dry, brittle hair.

VolumeBloom from Biolage

Because thin hair frequently lacks volume, using conditioner will suddenly weigh it down. In such cases, you should avoid using it at all. VolumeBloom forbids itself from acting in this way. It nourishes, lifts, and moisturizes hair at the roots for a natural volume that is airy and long-lasting when used in conjunction with shampoo and leave-in care from the same line. An excellent foundation for thick 90s-inspired hairstyles.

Types of hair conditioners

As we already know, hair conditioner’s primary function is to smooth down the cuticle scales that are raised during cleaning. But manufacturers also add nice extras to this feature, which is fantastic! Consider the type of hair conditioner you want to use in addition to sultry features like attractive packaging and a nice scent.

• moisturizing: suitable for dry and dehydrated hair;

• nourishing: suitable for porous and unruly hair;

• restorative: suitable for damaged and bleached hair;

• soothing: suitable for dry scalp and dry sensitive hair;

• color fixing: suitable for colored hair.

How to choose a hair conditioner

It’s crucial to take into account the product’s texture in addition to the conditioner’s primary functions of moisturizing, repairing, and nourishing. How light—or, on the other hand, dense—the conditioner is will determine the outcome and the state of your hair.

Select a light-textured conditioner if:

• your strands do not hold volume well;

• you have thin and light hair;

• you have soft curls or ringlets.

Select a conditioner with a thick texture and a high oil content if

• your hair needs intensive nutrition and hydration;

• your hair is very dry or damaged;

• your hair needs discipline, prone to frizz;

• your curls are tightly curled.

Hair conditioner is essential for maintaining healthy, manageable, and soft hair. Whether your hair is frizzing, dry, or damaged, the correct conditioner can significantly improve the way it looks and feels.

It’s critical to select a conditioner based on your hair type and requirements. Frequent use can make your hair care routine simpler and more efficient by enhancing hair texture, reducing tangles, and adding shine.

In the end, you can significantly improve the health and appearance of your hair by taking the time to learn what your hair needs and choosing the best conditioner.

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