How to Use Hair Conditioner

Shampoo can often leave your hair dry and frizzy — and that’s where hair conditioner comes in. Hair conditioners have ingredients that can make your locks feel soft and manageable after shampooing, but there are a few different types of conditioners available.

Because of that, 5-Minute Crafts created a guide on the different types of hair conditioners and a step-by-step guide on how to use and make the most out of them.

Types of conditioners

In order to pick what conditioner will work best for you, here is a brief explanation of the most common types of hair conditioners available:

Rinse-out conditioner: This type of hair conditioner is almost always used after shampoo and is probably the one you’re most familiar with. These conditioners work by treating the outside surface of the hair, smoothing it out, and protecting it from heat.
Deep conditioner: As the name implies, these products are used to condition your hair more deeply. If you have dry and damaged hair, go for deep conditioners. But if your hair is more on the oily side, pick another one, as these can make it look even oilier.
Leave-in conditioner: If you have thin or curly hair, these conditioners can do wonders. They’re lightweight, easy to use, and moisturizing. Leave-in conditioners are especially useful to detangle your hair.

How to use rinse-out conditioner

Step 1: Conditioner is used after shampoo, so wash your hair first and rinse all the shampoo out. Focus most of your shampoo on the scalp and roots, as that’s where it gets the oiliest.

Step 2: Now, get the necessary amount of your rinse-out conditioner and apply it to your hair in sections. It’s common to just apply the conditioner to the outside of the hair, but that neglects a lot of the hair on the inside. Separate your hair into 2-4 sections (depending on how much hair you have) and apply conditioner, section by section. Avoid the scalp.

Step 3 (optional): If you want to get the most out of your conditioner, wrap your hair up in a towel or shower cap. By doing this, you allow the conditioner ingredients to penetrate your hair much better and make it even softer.

Step 4: You can now rinse all the conditioner out of your hair.

How to use deep conditioner

Step 1: Scoop the necessary amount of deep conditioner for your hair — this will vary depending on how much hair you have.

Note: Depending on the product, this conditioner can be used on wet or dry hair, so read the label prior to using it.

Step 2: Apply the deep conditioner to your hair and let it sit for the time specified on the product label, which can be anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes or even more. Feel free to put your hair up and do other tasks while the conditioner sits.