Hair conditioner, how to use it?

Who doesn't want to have healthy shiny hair? One way to make this happen is to wash your hair regularly. Not only that, there are many hair care products available to support this, including conditioners.

What do hair conditioners do?

Conditioner is a care product to make hair easier to manage. Apart from that, conditioners also help increase the volume of the hair which impacts appearance. In fact, the use of conditioner aims to keep hair strands from rubbing together when combed.

Using the right conditioner according to your hair type can reduce split ends. In fact, this one hair treatment helps strengthen the follicles (hair roots) to prevent damaged hair.

Even so, some people still believe that washing your hair is enough to keep it clean. In fact, shampooing without shampoo and conditioner removes the natural oils your hair needs to stay healthy.

That is why shampoo and conditioner are needed in your shampooing routine. However, the proper way to wash your hair will depend on the type and length of each person's hair.

How a conditioner works

When viewed from a microscope, the hair strands will look like flakes that have piled on top of each other. These flakes are dead cells that form a layer of the cuticle to protect the inside of the hair, which is brittle and easily damaged.

When the hair expands and looks tangled, it means that the cuticle layer has been damaged. Like a rope whose fibers start to come loose, the flakes in the cuticle layer do not accumulate evenly.

Over time, the chemical structures that bind the cells to the cuticle lining weaken. The cells then become stretched and rub against the cuticle layer on the other hair strands. As a result, hair becomes damaged, breaks easily, and becomes tangled.

The role of conditioner is very important. The reason is, conditioners contain cationic surfactants, which are compounds that can bind to negative ions in hair strands.

The bonds between the cationic surfactant and the hair strands form a layer that protects the hair cuticles. In fact, the acid content in this care product also makes the cuticle layers bond together, leaving hair feeling smooth.

Ideally, conditioner should not only contain surfactants, but also silicone (dimethicone) . Silicone functions to form a waterproof sheath that locks the moisture in the hair so it doesn't dry out or get damaged quickly.

Type of conditioner for hair

Most people probably choose a conditioner to use after rinsing their hair from the shampoo. In fact, there are a number of different types of conditioners available in the market. However, whether this treatment product is suitable or not depends on your hair type.

Mask conditioner

Mask conditioner or better known as hair mask is designed to penetrate hair follicles. This is so that the hair follicles get protein and moisture intake. As a result, hair looks healthy, shiny, and beautiful.

Deep conditioner

Different from ordinary conditioner, deep conditioner is a product commonly used by owners of dry and damaged hair. This is because deep conditioner offers more moisture than regular conditioner.

Even so, this product is not recommended for normal hair. The reason is, the extra oil and emulsifier in it actually causes hair to look limp.

Conditioner rinse

This conditioner is the most commonly used product. How to use it is fairly easy. You only need to apply this hair care product to your hair after shampooing.

The purpose of this rinse conditioner is to protect your hair as it dries. This type is also more friendly to all hair types, whether normal, dry, or oily.

Leave-in conditioner

Actually, the function of a conditioner without rinse is the same as a conditioner in general. However, this one hair conditioner does not contain oil, so you don't need to rinse it.

Therefore, this type of conditioner is enough to help owners of fine and oily hair.

How to use conditioner

Before using conditioner, you should read the rules of use first. Many products recommend using conditioner after using your shampoo. This is because shampoo usually removes moisture from your hair and dries it out.

By using conditioner after shampooing product, the moisture in your hair may come back again. In addition, avoid using conditioner to the roots of the hair. You only need to apply this product from the shaft to the ends of the hair.

Also, don't put it on too much conditioner which can actually make hair look volume and just like that. We recommend that you use conditioner sparingly.

Why conditioner can't it get on the scalp?

If you use conditioner to hit your scalp, the silicone in the conditioner can clog the pores in that area. As a result, natural oils from within the follicle cannot reach the hair strands, so they become dry.

Although it can form a protective sheath for hair, silicone has its drawbacks. These minerals can remove nutrients and natural oils from the hair strands. This can leave hair prone to breakage.

However, this condition may not apply to everyone. For people with a scalp that can produce a lot of oil, the silicone in conditioner can clog pores and cause scalp problems.

On the other hand, owners of dry, damaged, or chemical-treated hair may be able to do it every now and then. The reason is, conditioners that sometimes get into the scalp can actually keep the hair moisturized.

Are there any side effects of conditioner?

In fact, the side effects caused by conditioners are quite rare. Even so, shampoos and conditioners with an acidity level (pH) higher than 5.5 run the risk of irritating the scalp.

For those of you who have sensitive skin, you should do a patch test before using conditioner. It aims to prevent allergic reactions or skin irritation with this hair care product.

If you have further questions, consult a dermatologist or dermatologist to find the right solution.