HHCB: Conditioner

Decades ago hair conditioner was developed by a well known perfumer to soften men's hair, mustaches, and beards. Decades later silicone was added to this product and it became what we now have and know as modern hair conditioners.

The benefits derived from hair conditioners depend on the type of hair conditioner that is used. It is important to know that all hair conditioners are not created equally. There are thick conditioners, leave-in, ordinary, and hold conditioners. Thick conditioners are typically what many refer to as your deep conditioner. Ordinary conditioners are less thick and work well for many as a cowashing conditioner. Leave-in conditioners are even lighter and are applied and left on the hair after the washing process. Hold conditioners, not use often by many naturals, are conditioner the act like gels by which they are used to hold and set styles.

Conditioner and Natural Hair
For natural hair, conditioners can enable the detangling process to be easier by giving the hair some "slip." If your hair is ever extremely tangled, try applying a lot of conditioner and finger detangling first before using a detangling comb/brush. One of the biggest debates that you may notice in the natural hair community is the -cone vs non -cone conditioner. This is a decision that you will need to make for yourself as to which conditioner you prefer. Some individuals do just fine with silicone conditioners while others hate the way that their hair responds to the -cones in those conditioners. -Cones are ingredients used in some conditioners that can leave a plastic-like coating on the hair and may prevent the hair from absorbing moisture. Note: I said "may." I personally use -cone conditioners with no problem.

Co-washing is frequently mentioned with the topic of conditioners. Co-washing stands for Conditioner washing and it simply means to use conditioner as you would a shampoo for washing your hair. -Cone free conditioners are typically favored for this hair care technique. I prefer to co-wash by applying my deep conditioner to dry hair and then rinsing thoroughly.


What conditioner is best for you?
Choosing a conditioner can be overwhelming when you don't know your hair's needs. So the first step is to access your hair. Choosing a moisturizing conditioner for dry hair. Choose a protein-enriched conditioner for weak hair or choose a reconstructing conditioner for damaged hair. It is important to keep in mind that not all conditioners will work the same for all people and just because the bottle says it will do something does not mean that it is true. When selecting a conditioner to try, look for some samples. Save your hard earn dollars and avoid buying full sized products that may not work for you.

Get the Most Out of Your Conditioner
If your hair is thick, apply the conditioner in small sections. You will actually use up more product by just slapping on the conditioner in any kind of way. Read reviews and ratings, make your purchase decision based on what is important to you. I live by the "5-ingredient" rule before I purchase something new. Once you figure out which ingredients your hair loves, purchasing products will become easier.

Some Helpful Links
-Cone free conditioners
Chlorine fighting Conditioners
Deep Conditioning Tips


My Favorite conditioners: My Regimen

Read the other Healthy Hair Care Basics posts.

HHCB: Shampoo Basics

This post ended up long so here is the outline:

• Don't let someone dictate when and how you clean/shampoo your hair
• Sulfates are harsh ingredients that strip the hair of natural oils
• Your shampoo choice should be based on your hair's needs
• Prepooing is helpful for protecting your stranding from being stripped during shampoos
• There are various cleansing methods for your hair's needs: shampoo, low poo, no poo

If you want more....keep reading. If not, thanks for stopping by :)

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When embarking on your natural/healthy hair journey it is likely that you will come across a number of individuals that have differing views on shampooing or the types of shampoo that you should use. Some will tell you that shampoo is not good for your hair and you should not use it because it is too drying. Others may tell you that that you can use shampoo but you should be sure to only use certain kinds/brands of shampoos. I am not going to tell you what to do but I will try to instead supply you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for your hair.

One of the ways to best understand the product you are using is to understand the ingredients that are in the product. Some of the common ingredients found in shampoos and their meanings can be found here.

Before selecting a shampoo you should access your hair care needs. Is you hair oily, dry, or maybe you have a lot of product build up? Individuals with oily hair may find it beneficial to shampoo more often than someone with dry hair. Then again a person with dry hair may opt to not shampoo at all and stick with the co-washing method. Keep in mind when shopping for shampoos that not all of them will do what the bottle says that they should do.

Many naturals find it helpful to prepoo before shampooing. This is actually a method I love to do. I coat my hair from roots (not scalp) to ends with oil, the oil choice is up to you, and let the oil sit on my hair for about an hour. Then I shampoo my scalp only and the suds run down the length of my hair to cleanse the strands. See my wash regimen here: (23) Wash Day Regimen.

If you find that some shampoos are too harsh on your hair you may want to look into sulfate-free shampoos. Sulfates are harsh ingredients used in shampoos that strip the natural oils from our hair. Afro-textured hair has a tendency to be dry so the need to keep our natural oils is crucial to our hair’s health.

If you find every shampoo that you have tried to be too drying for your hair there are options for cleaning your hair that do not include soap suds. Those include baking soda, Apple Cider Vinegar rinses, and/or the Deva-Curl NoPoo.

Still confused? Try this guideline:
Oily hair/scalp – try to shampoo weekly, more if needed

Dry hair – if you choose to shampoo, prepoo ahead of time or use only a low/no poo method

In-between dry and oily – shampoo when or if needed

Listen to your hair (not someone else’s) and it will tell you what it needs and when it needs it.

To see my shampoo choices, view My Regimen

What are your thoughts on the shampoo process?

See the other Healthy Hair Care Basics posts