Everything about conditioner!
Most of us know that shampoo makes our hair shine and cleanses it, but when it comes to conditioner, there’s often some confusion. What exactly does it do? Does it make your hair limp or weigh it down? Should you only use it when your hair feels dry and damaged? And if we use it, should we apply it only to the ends? These are all questions we’ll answer in this blog post. We’ll list a few things you probably didn’t know about conditioner, also known as rinse-out conditioner. This will finally make it clear why you use conditioner and how to care for your hair in the best way!
What exactly is conditioner?
Most of us probably have conditioner in our bathroom. But when asked what exactly conditioner is and what it does, we often don’t have an answer ready, because we don’t usually give it much thought. It’s just one step in our hair-washing routine that we do on autopilot. Conditioner is an important part of hair care. It essentially does for hair what moisturizer does for skin. It helps your hair absorb moisturizing ingredients. Usually, extra ingredients come along too, such as vitamins, repairing ingredients, and plant extracts.
Some conditioners have a lower acidity level, also known as a pH value. These conditioners close the hair cuticles. Depending on the type of conditioner, your hair may also be given a coating, UV filter, anti-frizz protection, hold, or color pigment.
What types of conditioners are there?
Balm conditioner
This is the best-known type of conditioner: a general conditioner that provides extra care for the hair.
Deep-penetrating conditioner/hair mask
This is an intensive conditioner for brittle, coarse, and damaged hair. Consider, for example, the Repair hair mask by Waterclouds or the algae-formula hair mask by L’Alga. (Read our blog about algae and the effect they can have on your hair.)
Intensive restorative repair treatment
This restorative treatment is for chemically treated/damaged hair and restores hair intensively and thoroughly. Consider restorative treatments such as Olaplex No.3 and the Keratin Complex Vitalshot Bond Rebuilder. The Deep Brilliance line by CHI is also promoted for its restorative properties on severely chemically treated/damaged hair. Would you like more tips that really help restore severely damaged hair? Then read our blog about severely damaged hair.
Leave-in conditioner
You don't rinse out leave-in conditioner, and it's usually used to maintain the hair's moisture level, making it easier to comb and protecting it from heat from a hair dryer and the sun, for example. There are two types of leave-in conditioner: cream or spray. The first type is best for thick, long, or curly hair, as it weighs it down a little. The spray is better for fine or straight hair because it's a little lighter. If your hair is severely damaged, we recommend the CHI Keratin Mist Leave-in conditioner. It's a favorite among our loyal beauty customers. Do you have extremely frizzy, curly hair? Then go for the KMS California Tamefrizz Curl Leave-in Conditioner.
Most products recommend applying a pea-sized amount for medium-length, average-thickness hair, but the amount varies from person to person. You can always add more, so start with less than you think you need.
Shop for your leave-in conditioner here
How do you choose a conditioner?
Choose the conditioner that suits your hair type. That's the only way to get the best results. How you apply it is also important, so read the instructions and follow the guidelines below. Do you have dry and damaged hair? Choose a deeply nourishing conditioner, such as CHI Keratin conditioner. If your hair is colored and keeping your hair color on point is important, choose, for example, Waterclouds Color Conditioner.
How should you apply conditioner, and how long should you leave it in?
Put enough conditioner in the palm of your hands and rub them together. Is your hair very long? You may need a whole palmful. Apply it with your fingers spread, combing it through your hair. Start at the middle of your hair and work it through to the ends. The ends need conditioner the most. They are the oldest and often the most damaged part. Always keep your fingers spread to distribute it gently and evenly. If you apply conditioner to your scalp or roots, you can clog your hair follicles and slow hair growth, or your hair may become greasy. Try to avoid this.
Another important tip is to squeeze the excess water out of your hair after shampooing. This prevents the conditioner from being diluted. If your hair is too wet, it won't absorb the moisturizing and repairing ingredients properly, so you won't get the results you want from the conditioner.
How long should you leave conditioner in?
For regular conditioner, two minutes is enough for your hair. Going for a deep conditioner to give your damaged hair a boost? Leave it in for at least three to five minutes. You can leave it in longer, of course!
How often should I use conditioner?
It's very simple. After every shampoo, you should moisturize your hair with conditioner. A shampoo is primarily intended to clean your hair. This can often leave your hair a little dry and less manageable after use. Conditioner makes your hair soft, nourished, and easy to comb again. This reduces the risk of split ends (also read our blog about how to prevent split ends).
Can conditioner have negative effects on hair?
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by conditioner
It's uncommon, but it does happen. It hardly ever occurs, but conditioners can cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). This is an acute skin inflammation caused by irritants or allergens. The main symptom is itching. Again, the percentage of people this happens to is very low.
Prone to acne?
If you're prone to acne, not rinsing your conditioner out properly can also have negative effects. Just like with any other oil-based beauty product, your pores can get clogged if you don't rinse the conditioner off your skin properly, which can lead to breakouts on your face, neck, or back.
Can weigh hair down
For example, if you use too much conditioner (more than a palmful), it can weigh your hair down, making it look thinner. The amount of oils and emollients in the conditioner can also have an effect. Your hair may look greasy and limp. So always read the label on the bottle carefully before buying a conditioner. However, this is more common in people who naturally have fine hair.
What are the benefits of conditioner? (6 benefits)
1.) Conditioner works instantly
You don't need to leave conditioner in for long. Leaving it in longer doesn't make it work better. You can see the results of conditioner straight away! So if you're in a hurry in the morning and don't have time for a hair mask, conditioner can become your best hair friend.
2.) Conditioner is hair care
As we mentioned earlier, conditioner is to hair what moisturizer is to skin. Thanks to conditioner, hair absorbs moisturizing and repairing ingredients.
3.) Repairing chronically dry or damaged hair?
A deep conditioner repairs severely dry or damaged hair. There aren't many different types of deep conditioners, just different brands. Find a deep conditioner that suits your needs and budget. Follow the instructions on your conditioner and leave it in. It often takes 20-30 minutes for the deep conditioner to work. To enhance the results, you can warm the conditioner with a hair dryer while it sets. Some deep conditioners recommended by our customers are: Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner and Intensive Repair by SachaJuan (also based on a magical algae formula; read all about it in our blog.
4.) Conditioners add shine
Conditioners nourish the hair, make it soft, and fight frizz. In short, your hair feels and looks healthier, softer, and shinier after you care for it with conditioner.
5.) Strengthens the hair cuticles!
Conditioners strengthen the hair cuticles with an extra protective layer. This allows the hair to grow without breaking. Compare it to maintaining an asphalt road. The road is constantly exposed to external factors. Cars driving over it nonstop (these are the brushes, heat tools, or hair accessories we use every day), the sun, rain, and the list goes on. The hair cuticles become damaged. This is where conditioner becomes your saving grace. Conditioner fills in the cracks and holes in the road and provides the hair cuticles with a protective layer. That way, they can take on anything again!
6.) It reduces towel damage
Conditioner protects your hair from towel damage. Yes, you read that right: towel damage. When your hair is wet, it's extra vulnerable. Rubbing it vigorously dry with a towel can cause your hair to break and damage your skin. If you've used conditioner, the risk is much lower!
What happens if you stop using conditioner?
The answer is very simple: nothing good! If you don't use conditioner, your hair becomes more prone to breakage and tangles. You'll also notice that without conditioner, your hair is harder to comb through. Your hair will break more easily while styling, too. And you can count on frizzy hair and split ends if you don't use conditioner. Do yourself a favor and use conditioner ;-).
JohnBeerens.com conditioner favorites
Curious about our customers' favorite conditioners? Below are five favorite conditioners that our beauties love.
An intensive moisturizing conditioner that restores your hair's moisture balance with natural essential oils and the power of keratin, leaving your hair wonderfully smooth and looking fantastic. Read about keratin in our blog to find out what it can do for your hair.
CHI Argan Oil Conditioner is enriched with argan oil, moringa oil, and vitamins to optimally nourish and hydrate hair. The conditioner is suitable for dry, damaged, and lifeless hair. It contains a four-part system consisting of Vitamin E, omega fatty acids, essential oils, and moisture to nourish hair immediately and intensively.
3). SachaJuan Intensive Repair Conditioner
SachaJuan Intensive Repair Conditioner is specially formulated for damaged, porous, dry, or compromised hair. The conditioner contains Ocean Silk technology and UV protectants. Read all about Ocean Silk technology in our blog. These keep hair supple and provide maximum protection.
4.) BioSilk Silk Therapy with Coconut Oil Moisturizing Conditioner
The BioSilk Silk Therapy Coconut Oil line is designed to cleanse, nourish, and hydrate hair. Thanks to organic coconut oil and silk, the line is suitable for daily use. The formula improves hair condition and prevents further damage.
5). BioSilk Color Therapy Conditioner
BioSilk Color Therapy Conditioner is the ideal conditioner for color-treated hair. It regulates moisture and provides ultimate protection for color-treated hair!
Order conditioner at JohnBeerens.com?
Looking for a good conditioner that will keep your hair looking its best? Then JohnBeerens.com is the place for you! Here you'll find a wide range of conditioners from various brands, such as Kérastase, L'Oréal Paris, Schwarzkopf, CHI and Waterclouds. For optimal hair care, choose a matching shampoo too. Dealing with dandruff or a dry scalp? Browse all our articles about hair problems and discover which products are right for you!
Do you have any questions or would you like some personal advice? Please contact our Beauty Care team. Whatever your question, we're here to help.
Conditioner deal
Would you like to buy the best conditioner at a great price? Keep an eye on our online deals for the best conditioner offers!
