Okay, let’s agree to this one, we often skip conditioner when we’re in a rush. The conditioner is supposed to leave it on for a few minutes to work, and once the hair feels squeaky clean from the shampoo, we usually head out straight to save ourselves that extra step. It is especially because the conditioner makes your hair feel sticky, greasy, and weighed down. Does it sound familiar to you? If yes, then you might be using this must-have hair product wrong.
A conditioner to hair is like a moisturizer to the skin. It hydrates, nourishes, and protects every strand from damage. The ideal way to apply conditioner is from the mid-length to the ends, leave it on for a few minutes, massage it onto hair, gently moving it out to emulsify, and smoothen your dry ends. Shampoo opens up the hair cuticles and the conditioner’s job is to close it and lay it glossy and smooth. It’s like your hair embraces a protective layer to be more manageable, frizz-free, and shiny. So, if you are not getting the desired results, then here’s what you might be doing wrong. And, we promise that once you read this, you will never skip the conditioner again.
Mistake #1: Applying it On The Roots
Using conditioner to the roots is one of the most common mistakes. Our scalp produces natural sebum to nourish the roots. Applying conditioner can overdo it and make roots greasy and flat resulting in the build-up on the scalp. The trick to using the conditioner the right way is to apply it from mid-length to the tips of your hair, let it sit for one or two minutes, and gently rinse it off with cold water to seal the cuticles.
Mistake #2: You’re using too much or too little
Hair conditioning is one important step in the hair care regime, and ditching it will make your hair more fragile. However, using it too much will be counterproductive too. Applying too much of the product can cause product build-up and make your hair look greasy. The amount of conditioner depends upon the length and volume of your hair. But the thumb rule is to use one or two quarter-sized dollops.
Mistake #3: You’re not using the right conditioner
Deep conditioning masks are rich in natural oils and often used directly on the scalp, but if it is applied on fine hair, it will weigh it down. Lightweight formulation is perfect for fine hair, and once in a while, you can treat the hair with a deep-conditioning mask. In case, you use heat tools or have colored hair, pick a conditioner with amino acids and mineral oil to deeply nourish it.
Mistake #4: You’re not keeping it on for the required duration
It is essential to massage in and let the mask blend into the hair. Just dabbing it on and rinsing it off like a shampoo, won’t do a thing. For deep conditioning masks, apply them in sections and leave them for at least 10-30 minutes with a shower cap on. This activity will leave your hair nourished and hydrated to the tip.
