how to use hair conditioner

Use of conditioner

Today, the shampoos we use are made up of harsh chemicals that are also harmful to our hair and scalp. On the other hand, cleaning hair with shampoo makes hair dull, dry and loose which is not quite possible to style it.

Conditioners are made up of alcohol and oils that tend to make dull hair soft and flexible to style. Little conditioners are made up of proteins that protect against split ends and makes the hair thicker. So, hair conditioning is a must, and its proper use is crucial.

Conditioner vs Shampoo

Shampoos are cleansing agents with added fragrance and detergents that help remove dirt, sweat, pollution and oils from the hair and scalp.

While conditioner, on the other hand, contains natural oils and proteins that make the hair softer, give a shiny texture and also make it denser and smoother. They form a thin layer over the hair follicle to protect the hair from potential damage.

Benefits of Using Conditioner

1. Protects cuticles

The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair strand. Usually, the cuticles act as a protective layer for the hair follicle as they are cell-like structures that overlap and form the protective layer.

But this cuticle is affected due to the various chemicals we put on our skin, pollution, sun exposure, medical conditions, etc. And when the cuticle is damaged, the hair looks frizzy, thin and dry. Conditioner plays a key role in protecting this cuticle as it forms another thin layer that protects the cuticle and leaves hair smooth and frizz-free.

2. Brings shine to hair

Our hair follicles tend to glow when hydrated and properly hydrated. Dryness and split ends are the reason behind messy hair appearance. Applying conditioner to these cases can give your hair a smooth texture, detangle the hair, and minimize any frizz on the hair. Conditioners contain protein and oil that provide intense hydration to the hair making it shine.

3. Helps prevent hair breakage

Hair is damaged for various reasons, when exposed to pollution, UV rays and harsh chemicals, hair is damaged which leads to split ends and hair breakage. Regular conditioning of the hair can protect it from hair breakage and gives you healthy and silky hair.

4. Repair damaged hair

As mentioned earlier, hair gets damaged for a variety of reasons, primarily due to the styling agents we use on our hair and scalp. these chemicals make our hair weaker, dehydrated, messy look, dandruff and also a reason for hair thinning.

Use conditioners regularly can moisturize hair in no time, helps fight dandruff, moisturizes the scalp and gives thick hair making it fuller.

5. Keeps hair hydrated

It is not possible to keep our hair away from shampoo, because the shampoo helps remove dirt and cleanses the hair. But then it also erases the natural oils extracted by our skin and makes the skin dry. Regaining natural moisture takes time, and in the meantime, dandruff and hair damage can form. So, applying conditioner can keep the skin moisturized and hydrated and also helps fight hair loss.

When to use conditioner before or after shampooing

The general way to clean our hair is to wash it first. As shampoo is a cleansing agent and contains surfactants and detergents which help to cleanse and remove sweat, oil, pollution and dirt that has accumulated on the hair and scalp.

As the shampoo washes away everything including the natural oil that keeps the hair moisturized, a conditioner is applied to bring moisture back to the hair and protect it from further damage.

Regular conditioner process is after shampooing hair, the reverse is also tried, where the hair is first conditioned and then shampooed. There are no studies or evidence that it is beneficial or harmful to hair or scalp. So, people go for the ones that actually suit their hair. But the current procedure is to cleanse your hair with shampoo and restore moisture using conditioner.

Is conditioner necessary for the hair?

The answer is yes, our hair accumulates a lot of dirt and dust, and that’s the only reason we wash it every once in a while. But shampoo not only removes dirt from our hair, but also removes useful and natural oils produced by our scalp to give texture to our hair and protect it from potential damage. So, conditioning right after shampooing helps form a protective layer over the cuticle and keeps our hair hydrated and hydrated.

Conditioner Side Effects

Apart from all this help, there is disadvantages of using a conditioner too.

1. Not all conditioners are right for you:

There are tons of conditioners on the market. Conditioners are not guaranteed to be suitable for all skin types. Some Conditioners are made up of harmful chemicals that, instead of moisturizing your hair, in turn affect its health.

2. Makes you greasy:

As mentioned earlier, not all conditioners are suitable for your hair. So if we use the bad, instead of doing good, they damage the hair more. They spoil the texture, make the hair disheveled and can bring gray hair, dandruff, hair loss, thinning hair, etc.

3. Hair loss:

The composition of the conditioner may not be suitable for our hair and skin type, which can affect hair health and lead to massive hair loss. Misuse can also lead to this problem, hair conditioning should be done right after shampooing and rinsed out properly after three to four minutes. If proper care is not taken, it can lead to chemical makeup on the scalp and fatal hair loss.

Take away

Not all products on the market are suitable for us or our skin type. Speak to your dermatologist before considering using any product. Coconut is the best natural conditioner that one can use without possible side effects. The only downside one can find is that it makes the hair look heavier and flattens it. Other than that, it has no harm to our skin or hair.

FAQs

Is it okay to use conditioner every day?

No, daily hair conditioning can weaken skin tissue and cause it to lose its natural ability to produce oils. And regular application can make hair greasy.