However, if you have coily hair that is also extremely dry, you may find that you can leave regular conditioner in your hair with no negative effects. While leave-in conditioner is a non-negotiable for curly and coily hair, it has amazing benefits for ALL hair types! This multi-purpose product belongs in every hair-care and styling routine. A leave-in conditioner, the 3rd step to wash day, is normally used after shampooing and the treatment . Its purpose is to protect, seal in moisture, and nourish the hair.
Before we get into the basics of how exactly you should be applying a leave-in conditioner, here are two important things to know. The right time to apply your leave-in conditioner is just after showering, on slightly damp or towel-dried hair. It should always be applied before styling in order to function as an extra layer of protection against heat damage. If you have not washed your hair, slightly wet it with water to open up the fibers and facilitate better absorption of the formula. It’s universally recommended that you build a deep-conditioning treatment into your hair care routine. If you have fine or thin hair, a couple of times a month is enough.
Leave-in conditioner coats every strand to protect your hair from cold and dry air. Also, apply a leave-in conditioner before hitting the swimming pool as it will prevent chlorine and salt from damaging your hair. When your clean hair is damp or towel-tried, smooth the conditioning product thoroughly throughout, while focusing on the shafts and ends of your hair. Adam Federico, vice president of technical education at R+Co, turns to R+Co BLEU F-Layer Conditioning Serum ($64).
Moisturizing conditioner contains more oils to soften and smooth the hair. It should be used for moderately dry, curly, or thick hair as these hair types need extra moisture. Leave-in conditioner is an optional, added step after washing and conditioning hair that isn’t meant to be rinsed out. Leave-in conditioner may lighter roots and darker ends be a part of your regular hair care routine to add moisture and help detangle your hair. It can be especially beneficial if you have dry hair or use tools or products that tend to damage the hair, like heat-styling tools, bleach, or chemical perms. Deep conditioner has a thicker consistency than regular conditioner.
It’s best suited for curly, coily, or color-treated hair because these hair types tend to be dry or damaged. They are designed on purpose to have a much lighter amount of active ingredients than deep conditioners. By default, this means a much higher concentration of water.ii The goal is to leave a small amount of basic conditioner chemicals on the surface of the hair. The result here would be to simply keep the hair from being tangled up, with minimum amount of friction.
“Plus, it melted away any tangles I had with the quickness, creating the perfect base for me to style my hair.” If you’re asking if it’s ok to use little bit of rinse out conditioner and leave it in your hair, the answer is yes as long as it leaves your hair looking and feeling the way you want. Remember, the type of hair you have determines the type of conditioner that will best suit your hair. To nourish your hair properly, you need to use a conditioner that’s formulated for your hair type. Leave-in conditioners are usually lightweight, fragranced, and non-oily; your hair should soak-up the leave-in conditioner when applied. If used consistently and correctly, leave-in conditioner delivers smoother, stronger and healthier strands.
Those with oily hair may also have low porosity hair, or hair that tends to be more dense and oily and takes longer to dry. Leave-in conditioners, which are also called no-rinse or leave-on conditioners, are used after you wash your hair and before you style it. A coconut-milk-infused treatment that fights frizz for up to 24 hours, it’s also formulated with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to soften and smooth hair.
“Think of a leave-in conditioner as a balm that kind of does it all,” says Giannetos. “It can tame flyaways and add shine — even if the hair is a bit dry or damaged.” Use a leave-in conditioning product that is suited to your distinct hair type; shoppers will find products for dry, oily, normal, or processed hair widely. However, because they are richer and creamier, we recommend them for those with high porosity hair and/or type 3 or 4 curls. (Learn more about hair type and curl pattern.) High porosity hair absorbs water well, but also loses it quickly. Similarly, type 3 and 4 curls require a higher level of moisture than wavy or straight hair.