It’s common hair knowledge that conditioners are a great way to make your hair softer and more manageable, but did you know that the type of conditioner you use and how often you use it can make a huge difference?
Sick of never conditioning enough or too much? Read on to learn how often you need to use a leave-in conditioner and how to tell if you’re overdoing it or not doing it enough.
How long should you leave your leave-in conditioner?
As the name suggests, a leave-in conditioner is meant to be left in your hair until the next time you wash it. Ideally, 1-2 days is preferred. Leaving it any longer than that could potentially backfire. A leave-in conditioner is perfect for anyone with moderate to dehydrated hair. It aims to lock in moisture in the hair cuticles by reversing the damage due to excessive styling, harsh chemicals and product build-up.
As a general rule thumb, try applying a leave-in conditioner only once a week, especially if your hair is curly or dry and damaged.
How to apply a leave-in conditioner
Believe it or not, the way you apply your conditioner can determine your hair's overall appearance! And while it may be tempting to lather conditioner all over your hair, you really shouldn't if you don’t have coarse or curly hair.
Instead, try focusing the conditioner on the lengths of your hair only, since it's the ends mainly which tend to get damaged over time.
How to tell if you’re overdoing it?
We've talked repeatedly about the importance of striking a balance, and this rule applies to conditioners as well. Signs you're over-conditioning your hair include:
- Greasiness and excessive shine
- Lack of volume
- Difficulty styling your hair, especially with the heat
How to tell if you’re not doing it enough?
Just as harmful as over-conditioning is, under-conditioning is just as problematic. Signs your hair are under-conditioned include:
- Dry, brittle hair
- Frizz
- Excessive tangling