How Often Should You Condition Your Hair? The Secret’s Out!
Is it your shampoo day today according to your hair washing schedule?
You roll off your bed, step into the shower, and shampoo your hair. While rinsing, you see the conditioner peeking at you through the glass of the shower cubicle.
Should you bust it out or is it better to wait until the next shower?
If you often get confused about how often you should condition your hair, you aren’t alone!
The never-ceasing hair fallout and hair damage issues seem to make it worse!
You might always condition your hair every time you take a shower – but is it the right thing to do?
What does the conditioner do to your hair and how can it promote your hair health and growth?
Experts say that daily hair washing may not be what you should treat your hair with. And based on the general rule of thumb, you’re supposed to condition your hair every time you shampoo. So, does this mean that daily conditioning is a bad idea too? Over-washing causes damage because of shampoo. This led to women using their conditioner on non-shampoo days. Conditioning shouldn’t make your hair look flat and greasy. If it has that effect, daily conditioning isn’t for you!
Then what should be your conditioning frequency?
Get ready to take notes, this guide will tell you everything!
How Often Should You Condition Your Hair?
Before we get into the details, you should understand what a conditioner can do to your hair.
Hair experts stress so much over the use of conditioner is that it moisturizes and protects the hair. Good conditioners tend to contain essential ingredients and nutrients. They work together to replenish the level of moisture on your scalp and strengthen your hair.
This is a crucial function considering that your scalp and hair are robbed of moisture every day. You can thank sun exposure, shampooing, and heat styling for this.
If you stop conditioning your hair, it becomes dry, weak, and brittle. The dehydrated strands will lose their shine and will start to look rough. Moreover, your chances of facing hair breakage and hair fall issues increases.
So, one thing is established – conditioning your hair is an important step in any hair care routine. And the more you condition your hair, the better!
Let’s make one thing clear: your hair and scalp are unique and what works for everyone may not work for you. If daily conditioning makes your hair all greasy and lifeless, stop doing it!
On the other hand, if daily conditioning makes your hair shine, keep it up!
Special Considerations for Women with Natural Hair
Determining the unique needs of your hair is crucial for choosing the best conditioner. If you have dry hair, you’d want to go for a product that offers extra moisturization. But, if your hair is chemically-treated or damaged, consider using a conditioner that contains protein. This will help strengthen your hair.
Is It Bad to Condition Your Hair Every Day?
Some experts believe that daily conditioning isn’t healthy for your hair. But, they forget to highlight that most hair damage is due to the daily use of shampoo and not conditioner.
If daily conditioner doesn’t ruin the look and feel of your hair, its fine!
In fact, many women are starting to wash their hair solely with conditioner on their non-shampooing days. This tempts women who have stopped shampooing their hair daily because of the risks it poses. But they don’t like the idea of going out with an oily scalp and flat-looking hair.
Can I Condition My Hair without Shampooing?
So, co-washing has become a new favorite trend for many women. They condition their hair every day without using shampoo first. This trick allows you to rock grease-free hair on days when you don’t shampoo. But, it may weigh down your locks due to too much lathering.
This usually happens with women who have fine hair. It may be best for you to use conditioner less and/or only after you shampoo your hair.
How Is Too Much Conditioner Bad for Your Hair?
Over-conditioning can make your hair look limp and leave them difficult to style. Your hair will lose its natural grip and become unmanageable.
Conditioning is a critical step that needs monitoring for best results. Otherwise, you’ll have to get rid of the gunk to bring back the strength, shine, and bounce of your natural hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes a Good Curling Iron for Thick Hair?
Curling irons for thick hair must have a high-temperature setting (heat up to at least 400F) to hold thick hair into curls all-day if not for a few days!
The best curling irons for thick hair use an advanced ionic or infrared technology to reduce frizz and keep your hair moisturized.
What size barrel is best for thick hair?
For thick hair, a curling iron with a barrel sized 1.5 inches is the most suitable option for everyday use.
Depending on your desired hairstyle, you can section your hair into smaller or thicker sections to create both tight and loose curls.
How do you make curls last all day with thick hair?
Use a mousse and heat protectant before you blow-dry in order to give the hair more hold. Prepping with a setting spray is also great for locking in your curls. Many of them offer heat protection, too!
Does conditioner make hair curly?
Conditioners that contain silicones are likely to make your curls look dull and limp. They may make your hair shiny at first but eventually, they’ll build up and make them dry and frizzy. So, make sure that you choose a silicone-free conditioner.
How often should you deep condition?
To maintain the moisture balance of your hair you should deep condition your hair twice a week. Your hair will give you signs indicating that you’re over-doing it.
What does over-conditioned hair look like?
If you condition your hair too often, it causes hygral fatigue. This condition is characterized by limp, lifeless, and mushy hair. It is caused due to over-moisturization.
The quickest solution to revive the natural look of your hair is to get a protein treatment. Also, if you were conditioning your hair more than once a week, you should reduce conditioning to once a week.
Who should condition their hair more frequently?
The core purpose of conditioning your hair is to keep it moisturized and prevent dehydration. Women who fall into the following categories need extra moisture. So, they should consider conditioning their hair more than others.
- Regular swimmers
- Women who use heat tools
- Women who have recently had a color treatment done
- Women who spend a lot of time in the sun
- Women who have damaged hair
The Bottom Line
Based on experts’ recommendations, conditioning frequency varies from person to person. So, you should first identify your hair type. Then determine your specific needs to assess how much moisturization it needs.
Conditioning shouldn’t make your hair unmanageable and limp. If it does, you should reduce your conditioning frequency. But, if your hair needs extra moisture, daily conditioning will make it look shiny, fresh, and healthy.