Kristina is the founder of Lockenbox & Lockenexpertin. She has been intensively involved with the topic of curly hair care since her youth, when her straight hair suddenly turned into curls.
Conditioner is on everyone's lips when it comes to hair care. However, the correct application is not always clear and it is easy to lose track in the seemingly endless jungle of products.
The word conditioner is derived from the English verb “to condition” and literally means “to prepare” or “to put into the right condition” – and that is exactly what a conditioner does to your hair. In German, the word “hair rinse” has become established.
A conditioner is not a shampoo or a hair treatment , but a care product with its own effects. Below we will explain the effects and application of a conditioner in more detail.
What exactly is a conditioner?
In contrast to a shampoo , whose main task is to clean the hair , a conditioner primarily has a nourishing and protective effect .
Even though shampoos, especially curly shampoos , have a clarifying effect on the hair, curly and wavy hair in particular benefits from an additional level of care with nourishing and protective ingredients.
There are mainly two reasons for this:
- On the one hand, the hair is particularly receptive to care products after washing because the cuticle of the hair is opened by a shampoo.
- On the other hand, conditioners add nourishing ingredients and - depending on the type of hair conditioner - strengthening protein back into the hair .
Furthermore, conditioners have the ability to give the hair a lot of slip, i.e. increase its slipperiness, which is particularly relevant for curls, as it makes the laborious task of untangling the curls considerably easier.
Find out which conditioner is best for your curls.
pH value of shampoo vs. conditioner
While shampoo has only a minimally acidic pH value and roughens and lifts the outer cuticle layer of the hair, the conditioner seals it again.
This is due to the conditioner's medium-acidic pH value of 3.5 to 4. Conditioner, in combination with shampoo, can help to balance the hair's pH value and bring the hair and scalp back into the skin-neutral pH range of 4.5 to 5.5.
This has a positive effect on the appearance of the hair , because a conditioner gives shine and makes the curls soft and silky. A shampoo in combination with a hair conditioner forms a perfect team to care for and keep your curls healthy.
Choosing a conditioner: Avoid silicones
When choosing a suitable conditioner for your curly hair, we recommend that you avoid adding silicones . Although at first glance they help to lock in moisture in the hair and make the hair look healthy, unfortunately silicones are usually insoluble in water and can only be removed with the help of shampoos that contain sulfates.
In order to get rid of silicones , a harsh cleaner is needed. In addition, if you regularly use shampoos that contain silicone, the silicone layers build up on top of each other and this can lead to a severe build-up.
Silicones prevent further nutrients and moisture from reaching the hair. This is because the artificial protective layer made of silicone seals your hair, which in the long run causes your curls to wither under this seal.
As a result, your curls become dull and brittle. This is why silicones are a no-go when using the Curly Girl method , for example.
What is the benefit of a conditioner?
Conditioner supports your hair in many ways:
- It has a nourishing effect and makes the hair look healthier, shinier and silkier. The cuticle of the hair is smoothed, which has a particularly positive effect on natural curls, as these are naturally rougher and more brittle than straight hair.
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Conditioner is suitable for regular use after every hair wash . If you have fine hair, you should make sure to focus on the lengths of your hair when applying it so as not to weigh it down too much.
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Conditioner also protects the hair from environmental influences such as UV rays, car exhaust fumes, salt or chlorinated water and makes it more resilient. This also prevents the formation of frizz.
- A hair conditioner makes the hair soft and smooth thanks to its formula. This makes it easier to detangle and untie the hair. By smoothing the outer cuticle layer, the formation of new knots is reduced right from the start.
Find out which conditioner is best for your curls.
When do I need a conditioner?
Conditioner is an essential care product and hair of all lengths and textures benefits from its use. Without using a conditioner after washing your hair, the hair cuticles will not be closed. As a result, the hair remains brittle and loses moisture faster than it should. Shampoo and conditioner therefore work best hand in hand.
- If you are blessed with short and very easy-care hair that gets a regular cut, then irregular use of the hair conditioner is fine.
- However, regular use is highly recommended, especially for long, curly or wavy hair . Curly hair needs care! There is a myth that you can do without a conditioner if you use a hair treatment occasionally, but this is not true!
Expert tip: Even if a hair treatment or hair mask brings intensive care ingredients into the hair, it does not replace the individual care properties of a hair conditioner .
How to Use Conditioner Correctly: A Step-by-Step Guide
There are a few things to consider when using conditioner . Only when the conditioner's nourishing effect can fully unfold will your curls receive the optimal care boost they so long for.
1. After washing your hair, first gently squeeze the excess water out of your hair.
2. Use a walnut-sized amount of conditioner - if you have curly hair, you can use a little more. Natural curls usually need a lot of care. The conditioner also makes the curls easier to untangle, so be generous when applying it, otherwise your hair will become more slippery.
3. Then distribute the conditioner with gentle movements from the length of the hair to the ends. Depending on the product, the exposure time is between 1 - 3 minutes.
It's best to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the product packaging. While the conditioner is working, you can use the time to detangle your curls.
The slip of the conditioner makes it much easier for your fingers, comb or brush to glide through your hair. This is good for both your nerves and your beautiful curls!
4. Then simply rinse the conditioner out thoroughly with clean water.
Do you have to wash out every conditioner?
Not every conditioner needs to be rinsed out . There are also so-called leave-in conditioners , but their care effect is completely different from that of a conventional rinse-out conditioner.
When we talk about a leave-in conditioner, we are talking about a completely different product. Leave-ins are designed to remain in the hair after washing and give the curls extra care and definition so that your curls can curl perfectly.
Leave-in products also make your curly hair softer and provide it with even more additional moisture. Another plus is that a leave-in conditioner helps the hair keep its outer cuticle closed. This ensures shiny curls and keeps the moisture inside the hair.
How often should you use conditioner?
Immediately after shampooing, your hair is particularly receptive to nourishing care products , but is also particularly susceptible to damage that can be caused by strenuous procedures such as towel-drying or blow-drying.
As already described, using shampoo opens the hair cuticle, while conditioner closes it again. It is therefore a good idea to use conditioner after every hair wash, as both products combined offer an optimal curl care routine for your hair.
Frequently asked questions about conditioners
Can I wash my hair with just conditioner?
Washing your hair with just conditioner is possible in principle, but you should look for the hair conditioner labeled “ co-wash .” These special products are less powerful in cleansing and contain fewer detergent substances than a shampoo.
In the curly world, the method of washing hair without shampoo is also known as no-poo (no shampoo). However, whether this method works for you depends very much on the type of curl, the hair density and the porosity.
It should not be forgotten that constant and exclusive washing with co-washes does not have sufficient cleansing power on the hair and scalp in the long term. This can very quickly lead to
- build-up,
- oily hair
- and an uncomfortable feeling of inadequate cleaning.
That's why we recommend cleaning your hair with a good curly shampoo from time to time. In your curly hair care routine, you can, for example, alternate between a regular Curly Girl Method-approved curly shampoo and a co-wash as needed.
Can you put conditioner in dry hair?
Applying conditioner to dry hair is theoretically possible, but usually makes little sense. Conditioner is designed as a product that is applied to wet hair after shampooing. This is the only way to lock in moisture in the hair and close the cuticle.
If you add conditioner to dry hair, the curls can quickly look stringy and greasy . It is also very likely that the hair will be weighed down too much and your curls will start to hang out.
Therefore, we recommend using the conditioner on wet hair .
What is the difference between a rinse and a conditioner?
The difference between conditioner and rinse is only in the name. Conditioner is the English term for hair rinse. Nowadays, product packaging in German often only contains the English name Conditioner. However, it is the name for the same product.
Conclusion
Even if it takes a few extra minutes to treat your hair with a conditioner, this care step is worth it and your hair will thank you with shine and bounce.
When choosing a conditioner, make sure you only use high-quality , Curly Girl Method-approved products without silicones and choose a conditioner that suits your hair type and texture. There are wonderful, special curl conditioners available these days that offer everything that curly hair loves!
Are you ready to take your hair to the next level ? Then take our exciting curl quiz now! We are excited to get to know you and understand your unique hair needs and goals.
With just a few questions, we can put together your perfect curl routine . Whether your hair is slightly wavy, curly or very curly - our curl quiz will find the right products for every hair type.
What are you waiting for? Immerse yourself in the world of the perfect curly look and take part in the quiz now!
