In order to keep your hair healthy and shiny, it is not enough to wash your hair regularly with shampoo. To ensure the excellent condition of the hair, it is necessary to use additional tools, one of them - conditioner. It is a great cosmetic product that complements the action of the shampoo. It is the conditioner that restores the pH of the scalp, gives the hair shine, and makes it easier to comb the hair. In order to have a noticeable effect on use, it is important to choose the right type of conditioner that matches the texture of your hair and to know the useful composition and characteristics of use of hair conditioners.
What makes hair conditioner different from hair balm?
It is a mistake to think that conditioner and balm are one and the same. These are tools with fundamental differences.
Hair conditioner is an additional care product, and the balm is a tool that can solve a specific problem. The structure of the conditioner is creamy, the balm is viscous. Their use also differs, conditioners are applied to the entire length of the hair, avoiding the roots, balms - applied to the entire length of the hair and the roots.
Types of conditioners with different effects:
Moisturizing. The purpose of such conditioners is to maintain the moisture of the hair, they are intended for the care of normal, dry, prone to brittle hair.
Regenerative. The purpose of these conditioners is to restore damaged hair, this type of conditioner is most suitable for damaged and worn hair.
Heat protective. Such conditioners protect the hair from the harmful effects of high temperatures, it is recommended to choose such hair conditioner frequently using a hair dryer, curling iron or straightener.
For dyed hair. Intended to keep dyed hair’s rich colour for longer due to frequent washing.
For curly hair. Conditioner for curly hair forms curls, giving them firmness, making them more elastic, easier to comb.
Selection rules for the choice of conditioner according to the ingredients of the composition and their properties:
Silicones and oils – part of hair conditioner. Silicones are often presented as creators of a deceptive effect - they do not restore the hair, only mask the problem, but it is worth noting where in the composition they are marked. If silicones are listed at the very end of the label, there is not much silicone. The main purpose of using silicone is protection against temperature, external influences, mechanical damage or loss of moisture. The various oils in hair conditioners do not protect against these factors, but they make the hair soft and shiny after use. Therefore, silicones and oils are sometimes needed, but it is important to give priority to hair conditioners with low concentrations of volatile silicones.
Proteins – fills the cavities of the hair trunk. Protein contributes to the restoration of damaged hair. Compared to silicone products, proteins have the advantage of penetrating deep into the hair. It is important to know that frequent and excessive use of protein-containing conditioners can lead to hair dryness. To prevent this, it is important to allow your hair to rest and not to use a protein-containing conditioner every time you wash your hair.
Naturalness. It is best to choose hair conditioners that contain the composition of coconut, animal milk, egg, banana, avocado or honey. Natural remedies best moisturize hair and make it easier to comb.
When using conditioners it is useful to know:
1. Conditioners moisturize hair follicles. This is especially true during the cold season, when the scalp dries out. Moisturizing conditioner will help to restore the general condition of the hair and make the hair soft and slippery.
2. It is not recommended to use the conditioner on the hair roots. It is recommended to apply it from the ends of the hair to about the middle of the hair and strictly avoid use at the hair roots.
3. The conditioner can also be used without shampoo. Rubbing the head daily with shampoo is not recommended due to the tendency to dry them out or cause the tips to crack, but the conditioner can be used daily. This will protect your hair from drying out and breaking.
