How to use conditioner
Ends or full length, and what the AAD says conditioner does.
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What conditioner does
The AAD says conditioner moisturizes and detangles your hair, and makes it easier to manage.
After every shampoo
The AAD says to use conditioner after every shampoo.
Ends or full length
The AAD says that if you have fine or straight hair, apply conditioner to the ends of your hair. If your hair is dry or curly, it says to apply conditioner to the entire length of your hair.
Combing
The AAD says hair is delicate when it is wet. For thick, curly hair, it says to comb in the shower before rinsing out your conditioner, using a wide-tooth comb. For straight hair, it says to let your hair dry a bit before combing.
Deep conditioner
After swimming, the AAD says to rinse your hair, wash it with a specially formulated swimmers' shampoo, and follow with a deep conditioner.
Rinse-off is not leave-in
A dermatologist quoted by the AAD says rinse-off conditioners often contain detergent, and that leaving one on your hair can damage it. Our leave-in guide covers the difference.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Tips for healthy hair; AAD, 10 hair care habits that can damage your hair; AAD, Must-try summer hair care; AAD, Dermatologists' top tips for using leave-in conditioner.
FAQ
General information, not medical advice. Follow the label. We suggest testing a new hair product on a small patch of skin first. Keep it out of your eyes, and stop use if irritation occurs. For hair dye, the FDA says to do a patch test every time and never to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. See a doctor or dermatologist about scalp problems or hair loss.
Next: leave-in conditioner
Who it helps, how to apply.
