Soft And Shiny Locks: Here’s How To Use Conditioner The Right Way

Good hair starts with good hair care, and one of the key components of a good hair routine is a hair conditioner. Conditioner is a hair care product which helps protect the hair from frizz, sun and heat damage, split ends, tangles, knots,  and much more. Hair conditioners are of various types tackling different needs such as moisturising, volumising, smoothening, hair fall control etc. 
The main use of shampoo is to clean your scalp by removing oils and dirt which can cause dryness and dullness to your hair. Once this is done, your hair needs nourishing as the strands often lose moisture with the shampoo. With the use of hair conditioner, you can rejuvenate your hair, and make them soft, shiny and lustrous.
How do they do that you ask? Hair conditioners usually contain fatty alcohols, humectants, and oils which make the hair soft and smooth. Apart from these, some conditioners also contain proteins which temporarily bind the split ends.

Benefits of using hair conditioners

For the uninitiated, let’s first understand what are the benefits or advantages of hair conditioner over simply shampooing your hair:

1. Smoothens- A hair conditioner makes your hair feel smooth and shiny with its moisture-rich formulation and keeps the locks tangle-free. 
2. Reduces frizz- The hair conditioner gives you frizz-free hair. For this however, you need to be very aware of the hair type, and how to use conditioner for the specific type, but once you do, it’s bye bye frizz, hello stunning hair! 
3. Repairs split ends- Hair conditioner helps in reducing split ends. Bond repair-specific conditioners have been researched to reverse the damage and give you much healthier-looking hair. 
4. Reduces colour fading- Hair conditioners, especially the ones formulated for post-colour care also save coloured hair from fading. Apart from these, there are also hair conditioners with added pigments to help intensify your hair colour post every wash.

How to use the conditioner

While the benefits and advantages of hair conditioner are plenty, you need to know how to use conditioner for hair properly to avail them. The first step is to understand your hair better. Whether you have straight hair, wavy hair, or curly hair makes a massive difference when it comes to how to use the conditioner. Another thing to keep in mind is the hair porosity. Hair porosity is the ability of your hair to absorb or retain moisture.
If you have low porosity hair, you should opt for lightweight conditioners, protein-free conditioners or deep conditioning treatments. On the other hand, if you have high porosity hair look for moisturising, protein-rich conditioners or leave-in conditioners. You can give your hair the best care if you choose the right conditioner according to your hair type and porosity.

How to use conditioner for hair 

1. The best way to use conditioner is, after washing your hair with shampoo remove the excess water from your hair just till it's not dripping wet.
2. Take a generous amount of conditioner according to the length and thickness of your hair.
3. Then apply the hair conditioner starting from the ends to the mid-lengths of your hair. 
4. Avoid applying the hair conditioner to the roots of your hair as it makes the hair look flat.
5. Leave the hair conditioner on for 3-5 minutes according to your hair needs. 
6. Use your fingers or a hair-detangling brush to distribute the conditioner in your hair evenly.
7. Rinse your hair thoroughly (making sure that there is no residue left in the hair) with cold water to lock the moisture in your hair. Then gently towel dry your hair.
8. Wait till your hair is completely dry to comb them for minimum hair breakage.
9. Lastly, style your shiny and frizz-free hair as you like.

How to use leave-in conditioner

As the name suggests a leave-in conditioner is not supposed to be washed off your hair as it is lighter than other hair conditioners. This conditioner is said to provide better hair protection and nourishment by providing a barrier as it is left in your hair. The best way to use conditioner is:

1. After showering, towel dry your hair a little so it's damp but not dripping.
2. Use a coin size amount of conditioner (according to your hair length and thickness)
3. Apply the leave-in conditioner in your hair from ends to the mid-lengths.
4. Comb your hair gently with a detangler brush or your fingers.
5. Let your hair air dry and then style it as usual.

How to use a deep conditioner

Deep conditioners are useful for coloured, bleached, or those which are regularly styled with heat tools. It is suggested to use deep conditioners only once or twice a week.

1. First, wash your hair with shampoo to remove all the dirt and build-up on your scalp.
2. Remove the excess water in your hair with a towel.
3. Apply the deep conditioner to the length of your hair and tips.
4. Cover your hair with a warm towel or a shower cap.
5. Then wait for about 15-30 minutes as specified on the conditioner.
6. Rinse the conditioner from your hair thoroughly with cool water to lock in the moisture.
7. Dry and style your hair as usual.